These illustrations tell stories about the River Medlock, a 16km body of water, which runs from Strinesdale, just above Oldham, to its confluence with the Irwell, in turn, becoming the Manchester Ship Canal, flowing into the Mersey Estuary and the Irish Sea. The Medlock is currently a neglected, polluted and frequently hidden river, with a complex legacy of human entanglement. Approximately 20-23% of its length is culverted, unseen by most people, particularly in the city centre, though populated by birds and vegetation. It is also a river which many people care about, work to conserve and has a rich and growing body of stories. The images came from intertwining research and location walks and visits, with histories and myths (old ones and new ones) adding a little more material to the River Medlock’s tales. Each is shot in-camera as a miniature set and, except for the paper collages, made from everyday scrap materials. These include ones that come from or relate to the locations and research, such as plastics, sticks, sand and stones. The images also connect closely here and there with Charlotte Shevchenko Knight’s evocative poem about the Medlock*, as we shared our research and stories whilst responding to this project. Many thanks to Andy Dean, aquatic and microbial scientist at Manchester Metropolitan University, for sharing his subject knowledge and for an illuminating and eye-opening guided walk, tracing the hidden Medlock through Manchester city centre. 

 *SPEECH ACT: A river in eight culverts