Manchester Fabric - Part 1
Manchester
is a world famous city for many reasons. Here, the Industrial
Revolution had a full steam power ahead, making it 'the parent' of
all modern cities around the world. The city gave the world the weather report, the atom, the railway, the computer. The city where both socialism and capitalism were pioneered, and the Suffragettes fought so fiercely for women's right. Above all, the city's story is stepped in the global textile industry (it is almost impossible to live without fashion).
The city unique way to develop as a world metropolis, came from its special moist climate along with the supply of soft water from its three rivers. This allowed cotton processing on a huge scale and in the best setting. Cotton mills, factories and elaborate warehouses had risen in the city’s in the 19th century to clothe millions of people and their furniture.
Nicknamed 'Cottonopolis', Manchester accumulated wealth which enabled to built many extraordinary buildings, adopting all the modern inventions in engineering and science. Many remarkable buildings still remain despite damage caused by bombing during Second World War.
Since ancient times, charms in the shape of a bee are said to bring good luck for attracting prosperity after all the necessary efforts had been put in place.
This is quite right for Manchester. The bee has been the city emblem for over 150 years. It represents Mancunian character: industrious, well organised, detailed, hard-work ethic, within the hive of activity. The bees symbolism also relates to the sense of unity and commitment to the larger community where everybody knows her or his place and tasks.
Mancunians adopted the bee on their coat of arms during the Industrial Revolution when their city was showcasing the world the newly found mass production yet at the same time raised its voice to improve working class conditions.
Red Brick Buildings
The distinct architecture of richly designed red brick buildings in Manchester is one of the main features of the cityscape. It's splendid, ornate, magnificent, elegant, and grandiose.
Most of the buildings are elegant warehouses and grand commercial and public buildings. The widespread use of red brick characterises the city, reminiscent of Manchester global stage for the textile trade. The centre of the cotton industry was the Northern Quarter.
Midland Hotel (lower left) Opened in 1903, highly individualistic Edwardian Baroque style, described it as a "Twentieth century palace". Adolf Hitler allegedly considered it as a possible Nazi headquarters in Britain. It the Midland Charles Rolls met Henry Royce leading to the formation of Rolls-Royce Limited in 1904. The Beatles were famously refused access to hotel's the French Restaurant for being "inappropriately dressed".
Victoria Buildings (lower left) is one of the finest examples of sharp triangular architecture, Italianate style. Served as a warehouses and workshop, for shoe manufacturers.
Key Manchester Buildings
Eye-catchers, and some examples of Manchester best historic heritage.
Corn Exchange (upper left) originally used as a produce exchange, mostly corn, of course - the gathering spot for thousands of traders from all over the region. This continued until the Great Depression of the 1930s. After WWII the trade gradually declined. Heavily damaged by the 1996 IRA bomb it was renovated and reopened as a Shopping Centre, now it serves as a food outlet for many bars and cafes with an artistic lean.
Midland Hotel (as above)
At the heart of St Ann’s Square stands the only surviving 18th century church in the city. St Ann's tower marks the geographical centre of the old city. The surveyor’s benchmark can be seen carved into the stone by the tower door.
Manchester Waterways
Three rivers cross Manchester city centre, Irwell, Medlock and Irk. Its confluences were used to built an extensive canal system, that eventually linked Manchester with the Irish Sea, and the city became an extraordinary inland port.
Bridgewater Canal, the world's first industrial canal, built in the mid 18th century. Rochdale Canal, and a network of private branch canals joined the Bridgewater in Castlefield. In the 1830s they were linked with the River Mersey.
This enormous, titanic enterprise - to connect Manchester to the sea - was a way to make the city independent from the port of Liverpool. It is said to be the start of mutual resentments of the two cities, that lasts to this day.
Manchester Liverpool Road station, in the Castlefields area, was the world's first passenger railway station in the world. Over the years the interconnecting railway system with many cast iron viaducts around the city, replaced canals in transportation of goods.
Manchester has now four railway station withing the city centre: Deansgate, Oxford Road, Piccadilly and Victoria. Liverpool Road railway station and Manchester Central were transformed for other uses - the first as Museum of Science and Industry, (upper right) where replica of the first computer in the world (lovably reffered to as 'the baby') can be see among other amazing displays. The second is a conference centre.
During the 20th century both canal and railway transport declined and Manchester suffered plummet in growth - until it has reinvented itself to a new levels of strength in the 21st century.
Manchester Railways
The central viaduct of Deansgate Station (upper, left) is the high-level iron construction of 1877, known as Cornbrook Viaduct.
During the 20th century both canal and railway transport declined and Manchester suffered plummet in growth - until it has reinvented itself to a new levels of strength in the 21st century.
Manchester Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square is the most revealing municipal structure in the United Kingdom. Built in the Gothic revival style, it is also considered to be one of the most important Victorian buildings in England.
As the size and wealth of the city had grown, there was a need to tangibly match the ambitions - the city hall has to rise to prosperous reputation. The existing facilities on King Street were too small, anyway. Manchester Corporation demanded the design for a new town hall to be, 'equal if not superior, to any similar building in the country at any cost which may be reasonably required'.
The hall was completed in 1877, and it was breathtaking, also in terms of money spend which nowadays would be around £100,000,000. The exterior is reminiscent of a church with a clock tower of similar appearance to Big Ben, and houses Great Abel, the clock bell.
Inside the main hall are statues of people who have played an important role in Manchester's history, most notably John Dalton, who introduced the atomic theory, meteorology, and colour blindness, and James Joule after whom an international unit of energy had been named, the joule.
Not only red brick but white Portland stone adorns some of Manchester's most iconic buildings: Gotham Hotel, Central Library, House of Frazer, with modern additions.
Hotel Gotham (upper left) is one of Manchester’s most luxurious hotels, formerly the Midland Bank, constructed in 1933–35. Art Deco castle-like design is unusual for Manchester, the style more suitable for Liverpool, as most of Manchester's buildings were at the time Neo-gothic in Venetial style. The hotel allows only pre-booked visitors - it has privacy in its policy and thus it is favourite among the VIPs. Simon Cowell stays here when he visits Manchester on his quest to find another Britain's talent.
Manchester’s Central Library (upper right), constructed during the years of Great Depression, 1930 and 1934, with a style derived from the Roman Pantheon. When it was being built the people were quite intrigued about its shape – they were used to rectangular buildings. The roundness made little sense to them. Families were coming to "gawp". Eventually the public fell in love with the building. The portico became a favourite place to hang out and meet.
House of Fraser department store (lower left) is another much loved architectural feature in Manchester. Known as the Kendals from the 1830s until 2005, its Portland, Art-Deco shape dominates northern Deansgate, the main traffic artery. The present store was designed by famous Harrod's in-house architect, completed in 1939.
The Stick Men (lower right) climbing the Chorlton Street side of the Arthur House, built in 1963, a city centre office building.
Shiny Manchester - Glass Architecture
Greater Manchester is home to more multi-millionaires than anywhere outside London. Money brings innovation and since the last couple of decades, Manchester had acquired a number of modern buildings, glowing in the city's environment.
Beetham Tower (upper and lower right), also known as Hilton Tower, completed in 2006, is the first example of the new surge in high-rise building in Manchester. It was the tallest building in Manchester until 2019, surpassed by the South Tower at Deansgate Square. The structure is one of the thinnest skyscrapers in the world. The tower is known for emitting a loud unintentional hum or howl in windy weather, at became one of modern symbols of Manchester.
Printworks and Exchange Square
The Exchange Square was created after the IRA 1996 bombing in the area.
It is a major urban leisure centre with deluxe shopping and dining experience, including a branch of Selfridges, the Corn Exchange and the Manchester Arndale, one of the most-visited shopping centres in the United Kingdom.
To the north lies the Printworks, another iconic space. It used to be the largest newspaper printing house in Europe. Transformed into a buzzing entertainment complex - a world on its own. Restaurants, bars, game-rooms, the UK’s largest cinema, a rooftop garden with beehives. A hive of activity.
Manchester Fabric, Part 2
Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square is the most revealing municipal structure in the United Kingdom. Built in the Gothic revival style, it is also considered to be one of the most important Victorian buildings in England.
As the size and wealth of the city had grown, there was a need to tangibly match the ambitions - the city hall has to rise to prosperous reputation. The existing facilities on King Street were too small, anyway. Manchester Corporation demanded the design for a new town hall to be, 'equal if not superior, to any similar building in the country at any cost which may be reasonably required'.
The hall was completed in 1877, and it was breathtaking, also in terms of money spend which nowadays would be around £100,000,000. The exterior is reminiscent of a church with a clock tower of similar appearance to Big Ben, and houses Great Abel, the clock bell.
Inside the main hall are statues of people who have played an important role in Manchester's history, most notably John Dalton, who introduced the atomic theory, meteorology, and colour blindness, and James Joule after whom an international unit of energy had been named, the joule.
As the city was still happily developing in the 1930s, (contrary to other habitats suffering from the Great Depression) a detached Town Hall Extension (lower left) was completed with medieval-like connection by two covered bridges over Lloyd Street (lower right).
Manchester Prominent Buildings
Not only red brick but white Portland stone adorns some of Manchester's most iconic buildings: Gotham Hotel, Central Library, House of Frazer, with modern additions.
The Stick Men (lower right) climbing the Chorlton Street side of the Arthur House, built in 1963, a city centre office building.
Greater Manchester is home to more multi-millionaires than anywhere outside London. Money brings innovation and since the last couple of decades, Manchester had acquired a number of modern buildings, glowing in the city's environment.
National Football Museum (upper left), in an iconic building in Cathedral Gardens. It used to be a purpose-built modern art gallery and museum, Urbis. It closed in 2010 failing to attract visitors (pity, we loved it!). It gain popularity when displayed history of British music but finally the conversion to the National Football Museum gave boost to visitors numbers. It gives you a sense what is attractive for crowds, nowadays ;)
Printworks and Exchange Square
The Exchange Square was created after the IRA 1996 bombing in the area.
It is a major urban leisure centre with deluxe shopping and dining experience, including a branch of Selfridges, the Corn Exchange and the Manchester Arndale, one of the most-visited shopping centres in the United Kingdom.
To the north lies the Printworks, another iconic space. It used to be the largest newspaper printing house in Europe. Transformed into a buzzing entertainment complex - a world on its own. Restaurants, bars, game-rooms, the UK’s largest cinema, a rooftop garden with beehives. A hive of activity.
Manchester Fabric, Part 2