This exhibition celebrates the work of photographer Harold Crompton Robinson, whose photographs, taken in the 1950s in Northern England, provide memories of a bygone era.

Harold’s preference for working in black and white film captures the stark realism of the industrial landscape depicted in many of his photos.

Harold's son, Mark writes:

Born in Bolton in 1927 Harold Crompton Robinson studied at the Bolton College of Art. He worked in Manchester as a sign-writer and later in Bury as a commercial artist. In order to support a young family of six children Harold also worked as a freelance sign writer and in his “marginal” spare time was able to use his passion for photography to officiate at local weddings.

At every available opportunity Harold could be seen early in the morning searching locally for shots, which conveyed the Northern atmosphere. His preference for working in black and white film perfectly captured the stark realism of the industrial landscape depicted in many of his pictures.

Harold won many prizes for his work and is the only person to win the Bolton Evening News award in Bolton Camera Club’s annual exhibition three times in succession. Working mainly with either a Leica or a Rolleiflex camera, he remained dedicated to film developing and printing all his own work and never succumbed to digital photography.