Time travelling photographer’s plea for help to unlock bumper charity donation

Andy Marshall, now needs contributions from the public to find the missing piece of the jigsaw – a date stone from the year 1900

An incomplete artwork by award-winning Middleton architectural photographer and historian, Andy Marshall, now needs contributions from the public to find the missing piece of the jigsaw – a date stone from the year 1900.

Eagle-eyed members of the public are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for a date stone that could unlock a bumper charity donation.

Photographer, Andy Marshall, from Middleton is asking for help to finish a pictorial study of architectural date stones from the years 1800 to 1900, in a project that is now worth an undisclosed sum, close to £2,000 for charity.

Marshall has worked for many of Europe’s biggest architectural practices, but his mission to tell the histories which hide in the finer details of England’s most beautiful buildings has taken on new life as a one-off print to conclude the project has sold in advance to Somerset-based stone manufacturing firm, Artorius Faber for thousands.

Packing his camera for an epic road trip around the country to capture shots of unique date stones and secure the donation for The Churches Conservation Trust, he already has a keen online following helping him to locate historic buildings from Cornwall to Tyneside, but he wants the most important to be found closer to home.

He says: “I expect to be going all around England photographing date stones, but I really want the last one in the series to be in Manchester as it’s my home town and it represents completion of this marathon project. Once I have shots of these beautiful, unique date stones from 1800 to 1900, each a fascinating window into our history and the most remarkable period for architectural change, then we’ll make one print with 1900 the very last image to be included. There will be only one made and it’s great that our generous donors have recognised how valuable it will be as both an artwork and historical record.”

A journey not only around the country, but also through time, Marshall’s presence on various social networks has seen him become a Pied Piper figure for architecture, design and history enthusiasts. Finding that date stones, laid to mark the year of a building’s completion, are just the beginning of fascinating histories behind England’s buildings and their designers, Marshall caught the bug for seeking them out whenever he was out and about on photographic commissions. Carved stone embellishments and typography are just two elements of date stone design which he says can unlock stories about the architect, political and social issues of the day as well as local history.

Director of Artorius Faber, Edward Smith says: “When Andy told us of his project we thought it was an amazing idea. We are passionate about stone and to be able to see how the craft of stone carving developed over 100 years is extremely rare. We are delighted to be a part of it and also see the proceeds go to such a deserving cause as The Churches Conservation Trust.”

Anthony Bennett, Director of Development at The Churches Conservation Trust, said: “The Churches Conservation Trust has been working with Andy Marshall for years, and over that time his unique talents have helped us to capture the timeless beauty of a significant number of our unique collection of England’s historic churches. Andy is one of the best architectural photographers in the business and his 'Time Travel in Architecture’ project is typical of his innovative approach. We’re grateful to him and to Artorius Faber for their kind support, which will go straight back into conserving churches”.

Growing up in north Manchester, Marshall’s interest in the stories behind the buildings that surrounded him, many relics of the Victorian industrial boom, led him first to study architectural history before finding his way into photography. The Time Travel In Architecture Print Project draws on the overlap between his professional and personal interests. A second print, featuring date stones between 1800 and 1899 only will be produced for public sale in an edition of just 25 copies.