Another source of inspiration has been the Belle Vue archive collection, held by Chethams Library. It was a fascinating and eyeopening experience to visit the library archive and learn about Belle Vue fairground as i had not previously even heard of it.
Collections of photographs, postcards, brochures and objects are all thats left to tell the story of the once huge attraction and i find it really interesting how all the memories and experiences of Belle Vue are contained in these fragile artefacts. I am keen to bring some of what i found out into my project.
What stood out to me was the mixture of happy and sad elements of Belle Vue. It seemed to be a conflicted place. This postcard in the archive sums it up well. It reads "We had a grand day here yesterday. Some of the animals looked dreadful."
Collections of photographs, postcards, brochures and objects are all thats left to tell the story of the once huge attraction and i find it really interesting how all the memories and experiences of Belle Vue are contained in these fragile artefacts. I am keen to bring some of what i found out into my project.
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| Iconic 'Arsenical green' flyer for Bell Vue |
The magical world provided an escape from the drudgery of working life and industrial towns;
people put on their sunday best and came from all over the country for a day at Belle Vue. It was a family run business with its own brewery and firework production. This make shift/ DIY attitude has a romantic notion and it made me think of travelling circuses and how they live on the edges of society.
I am also interested in the side shows and oddities of fairgrounds. Looking through the photographs, many seem quite bizarre. There is a sinister undertone to the fairground life that is disturbing and leaves you feeling uneasy. It is this contrast of light and dark that is really intriguing to me.
Belle Vue flickr
However i think if you look closer you can see that it wasn't idyllic, there is a shabbiness to Belle Vue and it obviously became more and more run down before it closed. I want to explore the hidden details and complex layers of the place.
I am also interested in the side shows and oddities of fairgrounds. Looking through the photographs, many seem quite bizarre. There is a sinister undertone to the fairground life that is disturbing and leaves you feeling uneasy. It is this contrast of light and dark that is really intriguing to me.
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| Figure skater at Belle Vue (source-online archive) |
Belle Vue flickr
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