Last chance: Celebrate independent shops and North Manchester with a documentary photography exhibition at the Modernist

Local photographer Brian Lomas has been snapping Manchester for over 40 years, and yet this is one of his first ever exhibitions. His photographs of Moston, Harpurhey and Newton Heath unlock a time forgotten, particularly through his architectural subjects.

The exhibition ends on Saturday 28 Aug but the accompanying book will still be available, featuring images of local independent shops in the 1980s, which already look like a bygone age.

Greengrocers, butchers, barbers, chip shops and florists, many adorned with old signage, are just some of the independent businesses featured. Not only have most of these businesses since disappeared, but many of the buildings that housed them have also now gone.

Amateur photographer Brian, who was at the time in his mid-twenties and working as a health service administrator, took the photographs on his Rolleiflex camera mostly in and around Moston, as well Blackley, Newton Heath and Harpurhey.

If you’re in or around the Northern Quarter over this next week, do make a beeline for this fantastic show.