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Consett Steel Works FF98_00247
Consett Steel Works, County Durham, 1945-80. Eric de Mare (1910-2002) cellulose acetate negative. Steel-making dominated Consett for 140 years from 1840, and the steelworks, employing 6, 000 workers in the 1960s, loomed over rows of terraced houses. Eric de Mares elevated view of Consett Steel Works captures their gargantuan scale, echoing the work of pre-war photographers such as Albert Renger-Patzsch in Germany and Charles Sheeler in the United States who emphasised the strong forms of industrial structures. De Mare used colour photography here, recognising that this required a different vision from black-and-white film. The massive tube in the foreground reflects his view that a close shot filling or almost filling the frame will usually be more effective and more interesting. Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places. © Historic England
Media ID 10929043
Filename: FF98_00247.jpg
Size: 4196 x 4167 (18.3MB)
Date: 18th June 2015
Source: Historic England
Credit: Historic England
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/nmr/enquiry-and-research-services/terms-and-conditions/
Archive Industrial Picturing England Rust
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> Architecture > Modern Architecture > Material, shape and design
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> Historic Images > Picturing England
> Industry > Metalworks > Steelworks
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph, titled FF98_00247, showcases the imposing presence of Consett Steel Works in County Durham, captured by the skilled lens of Eric de Mare in the mid-1900s. The steel industry had shaped Consett's identity for an impressive 140 years by the 1960s, with the works employing a staggering 6,000 workers. De Mare's elevated perspective in this image underscores the gargantuan scale of the structures, drawing parallels to the powerful industrial compositions of pre-war photographers such as Albert Renger-Patzsch in Germany and Charles Sheeler in the United States. De Mare's innovative approach to documenting the steelworks extended beyond the traditional black-and-white film. Instead, he embraced the vibrant hues of colour photography, recognizing that this medium demanded a unique and captivating vision. The massive tube in the foreground, which fills a significant portion of the frame, is a testament to De Mare's belief that a close-up shot can be more effective and intriguing than a distant view. The rust-covered surfaces of the steelworks add an element of raw, organic texture to the image, emphasizing the industrial process's inherent beauty and the passage of time. This photograph, preserved by Historic England, offers a poignant glimpse into the past, showcasing a bygone era of industrial might and the indelible mark it left on the landscape of Consett.
