Phil Portus Photography · Manchester

Salford Project

In 1977 I took part in a documentary photography project, along with 4 others photographers to record the people and the changes that where taking place in parts of Salford that covered Ordsall, Langworthy, Regent Road etc. We held an exhibition of our prints at the Players Theatre on Liverpool Rd. But afterwards, we all kept our own prints and they were never displayed again or officially archived.

I often wonder what became of the people and children who I photographed in this project in the late 70s. I have taken other photographs more recently in the last 10 years as a comparison and hope to put them together in a book or a short documentary film. Please follow the link to a book I have just published with many of the photographs I took. You can make the pages full screen and flick through the entire book.

In 2012 following a local newspaper article, I contacted and got together some of the people of the 70s in my shots and took up to date photos of the group in nearly the same location. I now have a new exhibition of these photographs at the Langworthy Cornerstone Community Centre, Salford, from 28th June to 29the August 2024.

If you recognize yourself or your friends, I would like know their names and contact details. Please get in touch.

Interview about SALFORD 77 Exhibition

Part one
Part two

The books

The 2 books I’ve recently published:

Salford photos 1977 – 2012

On Blurb — make the pages full screen and flick through the entire book.

Buy Book

Musicians

Includes 2 photos of early John Cooper Clarke – The Salford Bard.

Buy Book

White text on a black background presents a title and credits for a presentation.
01
A black and white book lies angled on a dark surface with text and an image visible on the cover.
02
A newspaper clipping displays a black and white photo of children in outdoor clothing.
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A black and white group portrait shows several people in casual clothing standing close together.
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A group of people stand outdoors near a large sign with text and graphics.
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Mr Joe Hunter on Nashville Street with sign "This house is occupied" during terraced house clearance. Ordsall, Salford, UK, 1978
Mr Joe Hunter on Nashville Street with sign "This house is occupied" during terraced house clearance. Ordsall, Salford, UK, 1978alamy06
A black and white view through an arched gateway reveals a large industrial area with cranes and vehicles.
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Two smiling children wearing sweaters look directly at the camera in a black and white portrait.
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Two smiling women stand close together outdoors, one wearing yellow and the other a patterned top with a jacket.
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Two smiling women stand close together, one arm around the other's shoulder in a black and white portrait.
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A black and white contact sheet displays multiple framed images arranged in rows.
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Five children stand near a fallen person in black and white.
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Three Salford lads, 1978, Regent Road,UK. Left hand boy is Stephen Lord the actor who plays Dom in Shameless age 8
Three Salford lads, 1978, Regent Road,UK. Left hand boy is Stephen Lord the actor who plays Dom in Shameless age 8alamy13
Three men stand close together outdoors, arms around each other, wearing casual clothing.
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Five adults stand together outdoors on a paved surface with greenery in the background.
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Salford lads, 1978, Regent Road, Salford,UK
Salford lads, 1978, Regent Road, Salford,UKalamy16
Three young people sit in a ride car at an amusement park, with other children visible behind them.
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Three children sit in a vintage amusement ride car amidst the wreckage of other rides.
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A man with glasses smiles at the camera while standing in front of green foliage.
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A group of men sit at a table in a pub, looking at a photo album.
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A residential street with brick apartment buildings and a detached house is visible under a bright sky.
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Black and white image shows a storefront with children gathered outside.
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A black and white image shows a storefront with signage reading "Brighter Homes" and a person walking away.
23
Three figures walk along a sidewalk next to a long wooden wall in black and white.
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A person pushes a wheeled street cleaning machine past a brick building with boarded windows.
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A street scene shows storefronts with signs and displays along a paved sidewalk.
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A row of brick buildings with boarded windows faces a paved walkway under a partly cloudy sky.
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Rows of brick houses with dark roofs are visible under a partly cloudy blue sky.
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Illuminated buildings reflect on dark water beneath a brightly lit red bridge at night.
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Two women sit at a small table in a dark booth with bottles and glasses.
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A three-story brick building with multiple windows and a sign reading "BRICKLAYERS ARMS" is visible under a blue sky.
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A black and white scene shows a group of people on an indoor amusement ride with string lights overhead.
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A woman with curly hair smiles while standing in a room filled with games and string lights.
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A black and white image shows a triangular wooden structure on a mound of dirt with figures nearby.
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A group of children and an adult stand in a debris-strewn area with damaged buildings visible in the background.
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A black and white scene shows a group of people gathered in an outdoor setting with a fairground structure visible.
36
A row of brick storefronts with large windows lines a paved sidewalk under a partly cloudy sky.
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Two people stand near a shopfront with posters; another person walks along a sidewalk on a street.
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A black and white view looks down a street lined with brick houses and a wrought iron fence in the foreground.
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Rows of houses painted a bright pink line both sides of a narrow street.
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A row of brick storefronts with closed shutters sits beneath a clear blue sky.
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A row of brick storefronts with signs for various businesses lines a street with a parked car in the foreground.
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Several construction cranes surround partially completed buildings under a partly cloudy blue sky.
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