Tony Robinson and the crew were in Manchester city centre digging in the car park area on Miller Street, directly opposite the CIS building.... I reckon this was probably about a year ago as the new tower development (the name?? I have momentarily forgotten) just to the north of this was well under way and the core/floor plates of the Beetham Tower were in an advanced state of construction. They were looking for evidence of one of Arkwright's first water-powered cotton mills in the city on the site and they actually uncovered some interesting sections where the waterwheel and underground living quarters were located.

I was wondering when exactly they descended in on the city to film this dig as I had never previously heard any word of them coming into town (nothing mentioned in the evening news or online websites, etc), otherwise I certainly would have gone along and watched them going about their business. It was an interesting program to say the least...especially as it involved excavating yet more history on our very own doorstep. :)

Who else saw the programme yesterday?

Yeah I saw it aswell. only saw the last 20 mins or so. they've now built on top of that site havent they.

YEP I DID! The words 'Manchester going into another economic boom' was said, But what was all that about communism and the working class!!!!???? And we saw in Chatam and John Rynolds. And urgghhh he said '' haha its raining in Manchester blah blah'' (bitch slap) but he pointed out that if it wasn't for the rain...! so yeah was a surprise when i saw a shiney cool skyscraper on TV and it was MANCHESTER! :)

Yeah I kind of deducted a few minus points for the blatant mis-use of said regional/meteorological cliché regarding the weather as well. Shame on the man! :no:

Minor gripe aside, it was one of the more interesting episodes (as it's been getting kind of slightly boring these past few years now in my opinion) but then that's obviously down to the fact that I could relate to the location!

Yeh ...I seen it on Dr.Who (round)about a thousand years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xx

Saw the program, so 'our' industrial revolution started sometime between 1775 and 1800.

Those living conditions were terrible, shows what the wealth of Manchester was built on during the industrial revolution.

Yeah I saw it, the living conditions were awful, shame some of those slum houses couldnt have been saved for a museum on the subject though, you to any county in Western Ireland and theres some tourist trap about olden days living, yet the most important period in our development and there isnt a dickybird on it, manchester city centre (Ancoats maybe) needs a working mill and living conditions museum, just a though....