“Hulme? Stay away from there,” they said. “It’s dangerous, full of trouble.” That’s what everyone told me back in the day. But being told to avoid something only made me curious. So, I grabbed my camera and ventured into Hulme, a district south of Manchester city center. What I found wasn’t exactly paradise, but it wasn’t the wasteland everyone imagined either. It was alive, real, and full of stories waiting to be told. – Richard Davis
Hulme in the 80s and 90s was a patchwork of contrasts. Boarded-up buildings stood next to lively pubs. Graffiti-covered walls became canvases for street art. Empty lots transformed into makeshift football pitches where kids chased after dreams. It was rough around the edges, no doubt, but there was a sense of community, a spirit that refused to be broken.
The photos I took during those years capture the essence of Hulme. They show the decay, the neglect, but also the resilience and the spirit of the people who called it home. Families gathered on stoops, sharing stories and laughter. Kids played in the streets, their joy echoing through the empty spaces.
One photo shows a group of teenagers huddled around a boombox, their faces lost in the music. It’s a scene that could have played out anywhere, but in Hulme, it felt different. Music was an escape, a way to drown out the noise of demolition and the uncertainty of the future.
Another photo captures a woman sitting alone on her doorstep, her eyes reflecting a mixture of weariness and defiance. Hulme wasn’t an easy place to live, but it was her home, and she wasn’t giving it up without a fight.
These photos also document the changing landscape of Hulme. The towering Crescents, once symbols of modern living, stood as empty shells, awaiting their fate. The demolition of these iconic buildings marked the end of an era and the beginning of Hulme’s transformation.
Walking through Hulme was like stepping into a time capsule. You could feel the history in the crumbling brickwork and the worn cobblestone streets. It was a place where the past, present, and future collided, creating a unique atmosphere that was both unsettling and inspiring.
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