Illuminating illustrations – part II

Recently, we uncovered the mystery behind the charity’s first logo which was created by Enid Blyton illustrator, Grace Lodge. Discovering this fact prompted the investigation into the illustrations of the charity’s early urban services that graced (excuse the pun) the pages of the early annual reports and charity magazines.

An illustration of the early Manchester and Salford Refuges and Homes

Some of the above illustrations are the only records we have left of our early buildings. The engraved images are copies of original photographs, some of which still survive in the archive.

Looking closely at the only surviving reproduction of the interior of the Mission Hall, the illustrator’s signature, reads ‘LANGTON’. Robert Langton (1825-1900) was a Manchester-based engraver and illustrator from Gravesend, Kent. An Associate of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, his most well-known work was The Youth and Childhood of Charles Dickens (1891) which he both authored and illustrated. The copying of photographic images to create wood engravings was a practice which Langton was said to have perfected with the co-operation of the Rev. Cannon Beechey of Worsley.[1]

Langton’s collection of illustrations of the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes, was one of a few select images from the Together Trust archive that were reproduced here at the Central Office for staff to have a go at colouring in as part of #ColourOurCollections week (3-7 February 2020). #Colo(u)rOurCollections is a week’s celebration and sharing of archive, museum, and other cultural institutions’ collections, as colouring pages and books. The annual campaign was created by The New York Academy of Medicine, who host many of the collections available for download. The campaign not only helps to increase awareness of historic collections, but also promotes relaxation and mindfulness.

We encouraged Together Trust staff to #ColourOurCollections, and to learn about the history of the Trust in the process.

[1] The Leeds Mercury, Issue 19492 (22 September 1900)