Drawing out the story of our streets
Old buildings hold stories within every inch of their fabric. The people who lived and traded, endured wars, sickness, birth and death, fired the bricks, laid the tiles, made the windows. All these have left an invisible imprint which forms the unspoken character of our towns.
Why draw the whole street?
By drawing the street as a full length architectural elevation, we can see it from a wider perspective. We can see how one building relates to another and how the loss of one building affects its neighbours. We see the street as a whole rather than just an assortment of buildings.
Why so much detail?
Having formerly worked as a conservation architect, I understand the significance of some of the vital clues left behind: a run of corbelled eaves, a dated lead hopper head or the last remaining original window. By capturing these details I am leaving a record so our streets can be read and interpreted in future.
Who are the people on the drawings?
Whilst photographing the streets, passers-by at the time are included. The people who work, live or visit the streets today are keeping them alive with their presence. These are the people who are leaving their stories today.
Drawing the street together
I would love to know more about the history of the buildings I have drawn. Have you lived or worked in one of these buildings? Do you know it by another name? Have you any old photos of it? Do you know someone who lived in it that went on to do something significant?
Please get in touch by emailing me ronniecruwys@drawingthestreet.co.uk
or find me on Instagram @drawingthestreet
Former conservation architect in practice in Staffordshire until 2012, now living and working in the beautiful Clyde Valley, Scotland, drawing streets or painting and sketching our ancient orchard landscape.
From time to time the local streetscape features on hand-drawn labels for the independent German bottler Sansibar-Whisky.