Opened in 1891 in a disused rag factory in Ancoats, Hood Street Home offered men a place to stay, in return for work at the Pott Street Men’s workshop. Poverty rates were high in the city though, and demand for the home outstripped the supply of work and accommodation available. Sheltered livesBut with the help of Sam Collier, the driving force behind Hood Street, and the Superintendent at the Central Hall, funds were secured to expand the Home and, in 1900, it reopened. Men continued to use the Home but by 1936 problems started to creep in. Poverty proved to be a constant battle and the shelter was eventually closed in June 1951, despite years of success getting men off the streets and into work. “As the men grew older and were unable to work, Hood Street found itself caring for over 100 men who could not pay their way,” says photographer Vanessa Bagley. Finding the Home | | Wash basin at the Home |
“The Home was really successful and it helped a lot of people but, due to the constraints it was faced with, it had to close down and it has been derelict ever since.” Vanessa, who works in the regeneration department at Manchester City Council, stumbled across the building on a site visit. Taking an interest in the Home, Vanessa decided to photograph it. Her photographs can be seen in her first exhibition, Let Light Shine out of Darkness, at the Central Library. “I took the photographs for my college assignment but the Library was really interested in my work and asked me to provide a commentary on the building to go with the pictures," says Vanessa.  | | Inside the Home |
“On their own, the pictures may just look like a crumbly building, but there's loads of history behind it. You can see some of the original features, such as the old basins and the bedrooms. You can see how it would have been used in its time.” Building for the futureThe building is closed off the public but will soon be converted for workers in Ancoats, a fitting end for the building says Vanessa. “I thought it was quite sad that it was going to be converted into office space but now I think that it is right that the building is going to be used for today’s workers." Vanessa’s exhibition can be seen in the Local History section at the Central Library until May 26. | 
