A minute history of Manchester
December 11th 2007 00:11
The Roman invasion, the Danish marauders, the Saxon settlers, the Norman Conquest, the Industrial Revolution, the World War 2 Blitz and the IRA bombing, Manchester has endured and survived them all, rebuilding and reinventing itself for over almost two thousand years, to become the vibrant modern metropolis that it is today. Its streets and its architecture tell its long and fascinating story.
Manchester’s first century AD Roman past can be mainly seen in the reconstructions at North Gate which include walls, stables, barracks, granary and gardens, although excavations have uncovered defensive ditches and Salford’s Camp street marks the site where the first tents were pitched. The sole relic of Saxon times is the Angel Stone, which is mentioned in the Doomesday Book and was the foundation stone for the Church of St Mary, built at the end of Deansgate in the 8th century. The Danes 9th century legacy is found only fragments of language like “gat”, Danish for “street” found in today’s Millsgate and busy, commercial Deansgate.
The Norman Conquest and settlement of 1066 has left more of a mark on the city and its environs. The historic area of Castlefield, originally Castlefera, where the Norman town was established, still remains as a vibrant and picturesque part of the new city. In the surrounding countryside, Norman manors and castles still stand. The names of those early Norman settlers are prominent in the establishment of early Manchester, like Thomas de Gresley, who was granted the Great Manchester Charter, in 1301. It was De Gresley’s medieval successors who built the 15th century Hanging Bridge, founded the Chetham’s Music School library and established the Collegiate Church, in 1421. The Arch and the west wall of the Mediaeval Collegiate Church still stand within the tower of the present Manchester Cathedral.
With the sweeping progress of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester became the world’s first modern city. Soft water from the nearby Pennine Ranges made it the perfect place for cotton manufacture and in 1830, 80% of the world’s cotton was processed here. The city mushroomed as factories sprang up and eager workers flooded to them. The wealth and prosperity of 19th century Manchester have left a legacy of great monuments, streets, squares and buildings, like Picadilly Gardens with its statues of Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington, the grand old Corn Exchange, the Majestic Town Hall and lovely Albert Square with its Thomas Worthington statue. The first modern industrial city gave birth to many other world firsts. The Manchester Guardian was the world’s first workers’ newspaper, produced in the largest print works in the world. The world’s first passenger rail trip ran between Manchester and Liverpool. The Manchester ship canal was the first to link ocean-going ships to a British city. Finally, at this time, the church at the end of Deansgate became Manchester Cathedral under the name of the Cathedral Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George and the Victoria Porch, with a figure of the Queen sculpted by her daughter, Princess Louise was added. Sadly but inevitably, modern urban "ills" like slums, social problems and pollution followed in the wake of the great industrial growth of the period.
After the Blitz of World War II, much of the heart of Manchester was rebuilt, including the beautiful circular library and St Peter’s Square with its Cenotaph. At this time too the stained glass of the Cathedral replaced the windows shattered in the air raids.
The last fifty years in Manchester have seen enormous development and growth, with such greats as the giant 1960s Arndale Shopping Centre, one of Europe’s largest. Work continues to reverse the environmental damage of the Industrial Revolution and its aftermath. Run-down areas, such as the Salford Docks have been re-developed and the city has adjusted to accomodate new kind of urban dweller and to cater to their 21st century life-style. However, the catalyst for the most important changes of the last fifty years was the 1996 IRA bombing which destroyed much of the area surrounding Arndale and the Print Works. From the ashes of the destruction has come Manchester’s most exciting development yet. The old print works is now a buzzing neon entertainment centre, facing a square where the Manchester eye turns against a background of little mediaeval buildings. Behind them, the spire of Manchester Cathedral stands against the sky. It faces onto a small green park bounded by Chetham’s Music School, the Corn Exchange, now home to a complex of smart shops and the sensational Urbis exhibition Centre, which points like a giant glass and steel phoenix back towards the old city.
Manchester is a great city with great vibe. It is an exciting place to pass through, to pause for a some time and, I should imagine, to live in. It is vibrant, dynamic and alive with promise. There's subtext in the cityscape that sas "Watch this space!"
Modern Manchester
Manchester’s first century AD Roman past can be mainly seen in the reconstructions at North Gate which include walls, stables, barracks, granary and gardens, although excavations have uncovered defensive ditches and Salford’s Camp street marks the site where the first tents were pitched. The sole relic of Saxon times is the Angel Stone, which is mentioned in the Doomesday Book and was the foundation stone for the Church of St Mary, built at the end of Deansgate in the 8th century. The Danes 9th century legacy is found only fragments of language like “gat”, Danish for “street” found in today’s Millsgate and busy, commercial Deansgate.
Manchester Cathedral today
The Norman Conquest and settlement of 1066 has left more of a mark on the city and its environs. The historic area of Castlefield, originally Castlefera, where the Norman town was established, still remains as a vibrant and picturesque part of the new city. In the surrounding countryside, Norman manors and castles still stand. The names of those early Norman settlers are prominent in the establishment of early Manchester, like Thomas de Gresley, who was granted the Great Manchester Charter, in 1301. It was De Gresley’s medieval successors who built the 15th century Hanging Bridge, founded the Chetham’s Music School library and established the Collegiate Church, in 1421. The Arch and the west wall of the Mediaeval Collegiate Church still stand within the tower of the present Manchester Cathedral.
Chetham's Music School
With the sweeping progress of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester became the world’s first modern city. Soft water from the nearby Pennine Ranges made it the perfect place for cotton manufacture and in 1830, 80% of the world’s cotton was processed here. The city mushroomed as factories sprang up and eager workers flooded to them. The wealth and prosperity of 19th century Manchester have left a legacy of great monuments, streets, squares and buildings, like Picadilly Gardens with its statues of Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington, the grand old Corn Exchange, the Majestic Town Hall and lovely Albert Square with its Thomas Worthington statue. The first modern industrial city gave birth to many other world firsts. The Manchester Guardian was the world’s first workers’ newspaper, produced in the largest print works in the world. The world’s first passenger rail trip ran between Manchester and Liverpool. The Manchester ship canal was the first to link ocean-going ships to a British city. Finally, at this time, the church at the end of Deansgate became Manchester Cathedral under the name of the Cathedral Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George and the Victoria Porch, with a figure of the Queen sculpted by her daughter, Princess Louise was added. Sadly but inevitably, modern urban "ills" like slums, social problems and pollution followed in the wake of the great industrial growth of the period.
The lobby of Manchester Town Hall
After the Blitz of World War II, much of the heart of Manchester was rebuilt, including the beautiful circular library and St Peter’s Square with its Cenotaph. At this time too the stained glass of the Cathedral replaced the windows shattered in the air raids.
Manchester Library
The last fifty years in Manchester have seen enormous development and growth, with such greats as the giant 1960s Arndale Shopping Centre, one of Europe’s largest. Work continues to reverse the environmental damage of the Industrial Revolution and its aftermath. Run-down areas, such as the Salford Docks have been re-developed and the city has adjusted to accomodate new kind of urban dweller and to cater to their 21st century life-style. However, the catalyst for the most important changes of the last fifty years was the 1996 IRA bombing which destroyed much of the area surrounding Arndale and the Print Works. From the ashes of the destruction has come Manchester’s most exciting development yet. The old print works is now a buzzing neon entertainment centre, facing a square where the Manchester eye turns against a background of little mediaeval buildings. Behind them, the spire of Manchester Cathedral stands against the sky. It faces onto a small green park bounded by Chetham’s Music School, the Corn Exchange, now home to a complex of smart shops and the sensational Urbis exhibition Centre, which points like a giant glass and steel phoenix back towards the old city.
Inside Manchester Print Works today
Manchester is a great city with great vibe. It is an exciting place to pass through, to pause for a some time and, I should imagine, to live in. It is vibrant, dynamic and alive with promise. There's subtext in the cityscape that sas "Watch this space!"
Urbis and the old Corn Exchange
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