The Flickr Stretford Image Generatr

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This page simply reformats the Flickr public Atom feed for purposes of finding inspiration through random exploration. These images are not being copied or stored in any way by this website, nor are any links to them or any metadata about them. All images are © their owners unless otherwise specified.

This site is a busybee project and is supported by the generosity of viewers like you.

Mary Earps mural with words 'Welcome to Manchester', England, United Kingdom by Kokkai Ng

© Kokkai Ng, all rights reserved.

Mary Earps mural with words 'Welcome to Manchester', England, United Kingdom

Manchester, England - May 1, 2025: A mural of English goalkeeper Mary Earps with the words "Welcome to Manchester" on Partridge St, near Old Trafford, Stretford.

Jackhammer by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Jackhammer

Puffs of disintegrating concrete appear as the jackhammer thuds into the ground. A bucket attachment waits in the background, presumably to scrape up the fractured concrete later.

29/05/2025 08:39 by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

29/05/2025 08:39

The jackhammer attachment is back. Maybe the concrete is being broken up, ready for whatever new building work will happen eventually. It is a drizzly day and the refining of the rubble into something with more tilth isn't happening so far. Maybe the drizzle makes it too difficult.

After the Bank Holiday by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

After the Bank Holiday

Tuesday 27 May 2025. As I look out of the window, I'm learning more than I thought I needed to about the demolition process. The broken up rubble is taken by truck to a machine I can't see, where it is pulverised and then taken to the mound at the back of the photo, on the left. From here, bucketfuls are dropped onto the conveyor belt of another machine that pulverises the material further, before another JCB scoops it up and deposits it onto the pile at the back of the photo on the right. It is mesmerising to watch.

28/05/2025 16:51 by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

28/05/2025 16:51

A man has to stand and spray water onto the JCB that is scraping up the rubble. Where the building was looks like old photographs of bits of Manchester city centre in the 1960s, with the remains of the bomb damage from the Second World War still present.

28/05/2025 13:40 by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

28/05/2025 13:40

Most of the rubble is out of sight now, but I can still hear the machines crushing it up. Apart from when this photo was taken. They'd knocked off for lunch at this point.

Reducing the rubble by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Reducing the rubble

One of the excavators has a pneumatic drill attachment now. The other is scooping up the pulverised rubble and dumping it into shipping containers. It's nice to see more sky.

Alternative Ending by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Alternative Ending

It wasn't quite the end. There was still the empty sign holder on its RSJ legs to fell. I missed it because I was at work. This is the evening view of the flattened landscape.

Spectator Sport by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Spectator Sport

There are plenty of men in hi vis and hard hats around to watch the excavators pulverising and scooping up the rubble from the former RAC call centre.

I've been interested by the way the excavators are each perched on their own rubble mound.

It has been a bit like being on an urban safari, watching the demolition. Excavators as wild animals.

The End by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

The End

I missed the final moment on 19/05/25, I was on site at work. This was the scene that greeted me the following morning as I got ready for work.

I remember when it was all trees round here by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

I remember when it was all trees round here

14 July 2022, when the call centre was still operational and the trees still lush.

The sign on the side of the building always made me smile. Wryly. It read "A complete breakdown service as standard". I wasn't happy at work at the time. I'll let you fill in the blanks.

Spotlight glare by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Spotlight glare

The spotlights in the disused RAC call centre car park used to shine directly into our house. We knew something was about to happen when they were finally turned off ten months later.

Demolition 01/05/25 by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Demolition 01/05/25

Demolition of the former RAC call centre.

Demolition 12/05/25 by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Demolition 12/05/25

Demolition of the former RAC call centre.

Homeless by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Homeless

Homeless magpie following the felling of the established trees in the former RAC call centre car park.

Downed Tools and Security Guard by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Downed Tools and Security Guard

On Fridays, work stops in the middle of the day and doesn't resume until Monday.

Displaced by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Displaced

Displaced magpies during the felling of established trees in the former RAC call centre car park.

Demolition 25/04/25 by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Demolition 25/04/25

Demolition of the former RAC call centre.

Spotlights Off by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Spotlights Off

The spotlights in the car park of the former RAC call centre finally switched off. The site had been sold the previous year, shortly after which the trees were chopped down. The switching off of the lights was a blessing.

Pigeon by JRH70

© JRH70, all rights reserved.

Pigeon

A pigeon confused by the felling of established trees in the former RAC call centre car park.