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Siddall Street, MANCHESTER, M26 4AX

Backs are sometimes a more illuminating subject than their associated streets. Once again, the issue here is dustbins. In olden times, when one dustbin sufficed for the weekly output of houses, it was zealously guarded in the back-yard. Now, with up to four bins per household there simply isn't room inside to look after them all. At least the backs contain the menace, unlike other less-favoured areas with only 'fronts'.

Terraced houses are seen in Knowles Street close to its junction with Robertson Street.

Terraced housing on Knowles Street.

On the evening of 23 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in a television broadcast that measures to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak were to be tightened further, with wide-ranging restrictions made on freedom of movement, enforceable in law. The closure of many workplaces and the instruction to “work at home where possible” together with a reduction in public transport services, led to a dramatic fall in commuter numbers. This photo was taken on Ainsworth Road (B6292) at about 4.30 pm on a Monday afternoon. Normally, at this time, Ainsworth Road would be very busy with traffic often queuing from the traffic lights at the junction with Bolton Road/Water Street (A665). Today, it is almost deserted.

Standing at the corner of Smyrna Street and Ainsworth Road, "Nailing Home" is the work of local sculptor, Jack Wright. It is part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irwell_Sculpture_Trail#Nailing_Home ) The work was commissioned jointly by the Irwell Sculpture Trail and Irwell Valley Housing Association. It takes the form of enlarged frost nails. The stems of the nails are meant to suggest growth with the heads reminiscent of a house roof, thus representing The Irwell Valley Housing Association who have developed social housing on this site (Image]).

Terraced houses on Knowles Street.