“I love photographing buildings that have been forgotten by history”

This week, Claire Rigby shares some of her favourite photographs.

Claire, who lives in St Helens town centre, has always taken pictures of interesting and unusual things and her love of photography grew during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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St Helens Star Camera Club member Claire RIgby

When and why did you take up photography?

I have always taken pictures of what I see and unusual things along my journey through life, from flowers to unusual graffiti. I got more into photography during the Covid-19 pandemic and decided to focus on it to get through the difficulties of lockdowns. I used this time to try and take as many pictures as possible of our little town and document them. I used the knowledge I gained from stomping the entire town and turned it into a research project, finding out as much as I could about the people behind the buildings and the buildings’ own unique history.

Haydock

What do you love about taking pictures?

I have anxiety and when I am taking pictures it allows me to focus on something else. In high times of anxiety, I will go into my garden and take pictures and it will help me to calm down and focus my thoughts.

Pocket Nook

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The Town Hall

Where is your favourite place to take pictures and why?

I absolutely love to spend time outside of the urban areas and go into the countryside around us, particularly places like Crank and Rainford. I love that we live in a town where you can drive ten minutes in any direction and be greeted by the amazing nature that surrounds our town. We are blessed to have such beautiful green belt land. When I am unable to get into the outskirts, I will focus on the buildings I see when walking to and from work. Buildings like the The Beechams clock show something new each time if you look closely. The tiling and the intricate work tells a different story depending on which angle you photograph it. It is a lens into our past and the past of our families, not just the people who built it.

Bold

What is your favourite subject matter and why?

I love to take pictures of old buildings, particularly those that have been forgotten by history, at risk of destruction or have a significant heritage background, such as Beechams, Pilkington buildings and The George Street area. As this is my personal interest and my little business is involved with this too, I am very much into unravelling stories and records from our town, from the Rainford witches to the Suffragettes of St Helens and that spills over into my photography. Capturing old architecture is a passion of mine and I use that to build and deliver local history talks, bringing the story of the building, and the families that lived and worked there back to life. Old buildings in St Helens have a huge heritage importance and the architecture is wonderful. I have also been working with my best friend, Catherine Woods of Green Town St Helens, to find the best greenbelt land in St Helens to take families to get physical as being amongst nature can be a huge boost to your mental health. We age trees together, photograph the trees and then tell the story of the tree. We will hopefully work alongside Friends of Victoria Park to build a heritage trail around the park to bring families of all ages together and enjoy the park and its history.

Merton Bank

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“St Helens Camera Club is a wonderful place meet like-minded people”

World of Glass

What do you enjoy about being part of our Camera Club on Facebook?

I love that we all share ideas, help each other to find new places to photograph and navigate the places in town to get the best out of hobbies. Everyone is helpful and polite.

Ravenhead

If you could photograph anyone/any place/anything, who/what would it be?

I would love to go inside the old Pilks HQ on Prescot Road before it gets a complete refurbishment. Many families across St Helens have fond memories of the Alexander Park, Prescot Road site, with stories to tell and reminisce about the history of working at Pilkingtons. This can bring joy to many of the elderly and young residents alike as we have all been for a walk around there at some point in our childhood but most have never been inside. The Pilks HQ dominates the town’s skyline and has the potential to be wonderful again.

Victoria Park Lodge