Photographing the Old Photography College

I voluntered to work Saturday and Sunday night over this weekend. I enjoy it, and there's plenty of time between the first two jobs to go and do some night time photography.

The blip photo shows the Old Art College on Clarence Place, Newport, that is in the process of being converted into luxury riverside apartments. The College formerly housed the famous Newport College of Photography.Many years ago, I had one of the students take bath time photo's of my kids as part of the course. It was pre-digital and we still have the black & white photo's. Can't see that happening these days! Here's an edited version of it's history.

1899
Lord Tredegar sold the land in Clarence Place to Newport College for £4,500, for the new Technical Institute to be built. It took ten more years before the foundation stone was laid and on 29th September 1910, the building was officially opened by Mayor William Blackburn.

1910 - 1996
The building was the home of the Newport Technical Institute from 1910 to 1958 and subsequently the Newport College of Art until 1975. From 1975 to its closure in 1996, the magnificent building was home to the Gwent College of Further Education.

It wasn’t until 1973 that the Art School’s then home at Clarence Place saw the development of photography in its modern form at Newport. Magnum Collective Photographer, David Hurn who had originally joined the University as a Guest Lecturer, set up the Diploma in Documentary Photography, ushering in one of Newport’s most famous disciplines.

2012
Today, the building has undergone an outstanding transformation, offering the opportunity for you to create your own history.
The Grade II listed building has been thoughtfully converted into a range of apartments to suite all the needs of modern living, within an historic environment.

The blip photo shows Clarence Place and the sales office infront of the famous Green Dome that is now a penthouse apartment.