Two local photographers have had their work handpicked as part of an initiative documenting changing high streets

Historic England has shared photos taken of high streets across the UK which will be added to the its national
archive – including images taken by two photographers hailing from Haringey.

Nico Toselli, from Crouch End, and Seán Anthony, from Tottenham, have had their photos immortalised in the archive alongside 297 other entries as part of the Picturing High Streets project.

The images document a year’s progression of English high streets, with entrants responding to a variety of themes over the course of 2023. Resident photographers also took part.

The project marks the final year of Historic England’s high streets cultural programme and the £95million high streets heritage action zones programme and was a partnership with Photoworks.

Nico told HCP: “I captured this photo on a sunny day during one of my regular walks in the area. The lighting accentuated the architecture of the building, and I was particularly drawn to the way the building’s ornamental details looked under that light. I decided to grab my phone and snap the photo to capture the moment.”

Seán added: “These two images are part of a larger, ongoing personal project on the people, spaces and intersecting narratives of Tottenham. I’m incredibly proud knowing that these images will contribute to the Historic England National Archive and play a small role in preserving a fragment of Tottenham’s sociocultural heritage.”

Duncan Wilson, Historic England chief executive, said: “We were overwhelmed by the amazing responses from the public and artists to our call out for photographs of high streets across England. Through contemporary photography, people have captured what makes high streets such special places for social connection, revealed the histories hidden behind shopfronts and celebrated the communities that are keeping them alive today. This new national collection is a truly brilliant historic record of high streets today for generations to come.”

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