I've been looking around for old pics/drawings/paintings of Manchester and just thought you'd like to see 'em. Enjoy.

Roman times

http://www.roman-britain.org/places/images/mamucium.jpg

<Big Gap>

1200's, i think. Not much there.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=3688&size=600x432

Medieval Ages

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5089&size=600x379

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5090&size=517x600

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=3686

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=70090&size=600x469

Tudor/1500's

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=8636

1650 - They smuggled a camera & a helicopter back in time.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5091

1700's

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=3687&size=600x403

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5093

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=1577&size=600x328

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=67517

1800's/victorian age

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=8633

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=7909

Look at those proposals for piccadilly gardens /\

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=1653

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5103

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=3685

Anyone seen this before? Proposed extensions to the royal infirmary \/

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=71223

http://www.tasc.ac.uk/depart/history/mh/images/EverettJ1834/general200.jpg

20th century

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=9506&size=291x399

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=80222

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=47911

Now

http://freake.demon.co.uk/sscpics/man123.jpg

I found these fascinating to view. I think it's interesting to see how the city has developed over the ages. (obviously with the largest growth spurt early 1800's). Of course there's plenty more drawings/paintings out there, so feel free to post some. :)

Excellent thread, great idea.

Nice Kit, I've got a few as well but need to scan'em in.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=80222

This must be the CIS tower?

There is beautiful painting in Manchester Art gallery showing Manchester at the beginning of the C19th but cant remember who its by.
Loving the Roman image with Deansgate going off the the right.

Also loving that building to the right of Midland Bank with the funny roof detail which has now been replaced by some PoMo rubbish.
http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=47911

I love that proposal for the building above the old MRI when it was what is now Piccadilly Gardens. It's like the bottom half of the Eiffel Tower, with a chateau on top. As much as I love the facades of the MRI buildings on Oxford Road, I'd have preferred this weird concoction a lot more.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=7909

Look at those proposals for piccadilly gardens /\



Makes you weep to think what we could have had and then look at what we got a big pile of concrete shite.

Hope I've picked the correct one you were on about or I'll look a right numpty now.

That would have been so spectacular, it's obvious from some old pics that Manchester was busy building empire's while other cities were merely playing catch up.

Makes you weep to think what we could have had and then look at what we got a big pile of concrete shite.



Fact is though, only the Royal Infirmary was built (in fact was already there before these plans). I have to be honest and say I prefer the buildings we have on the Oldham Street side of Piccadilly. They're a great mix of buildings and the Primark side is Ok and so is the Portland Street side (at least when you could see it before they ruined the view with no.1 Piccadilly). Also I still like the City Tower complex (esp when it and Piccadilly hotel are done up).

I can see the attraction of what would have been the Piccadilly equivalent of Newcastle's Grey Street, but somehow all that Georgian just looks so twee and boring when it's too extensive. All in all I prefer what we ended up with, though I can see why that sounds bizarrre when you look at what these plans show.

Excellent, most enjoyable, and, remarkably, I havent seen most of those pics before!

oh ....seriously skymann? Well we can agree to disagree, but I'd much rather see a grand avenue/boulevard like that than the hotch potch mess we have there now. I'm thinking Rome Paris London, people don't visit Manchester to look at City Tower and they don't visit London to look at Canary Warf. It's the historic buildings that draw the punters in. I think.

Fact is though, only the Royal Infirmary was built (in fact was already there before these plans). I have to be honest and say I prefer the buildings we have on the Oldham Street side of Piccadilly. They're a great mix of buildings and the Primark side is Ok and so is the Portland Street side (at least when you could see it before they ruined the view with no.1 Piccadilly). Also I still like the City Tower complex (esp when it and Piccadilly hotel are done up).

I can see the attraction of what would have been the Piccadilly equivalent of Newcastle's Grey Street, but somehow all that Georgian just looks so twee and boring when it's too extensive. All in all I prefer what we ended up with, though I can see why that sounds bizarrre when you look at what these plans show.

I agree.

Cheers for the responses guys. Looking forward to any future pics. :)

Do you mean this one longy?

http://www.tasc.ac.uk/depart/history/mh/wildmanch.jpg

There's a better version of it hanging around somewhere. Commisioned by Queen Victoria herself :yes:

Do you mean this one longy?


Yes i do kidda, yes i do!
I do however remember it not being so......erm.....pixelly weirdy type thingy!

lol, yes, i don't suppose Queen Victoria would've been pleased with it like that!

I guess it's like that so people can't steal the print. However, as i've said there's a quality version around.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=7909

This image has all the attributes that the present day Piccadilly lacks. Scale, proportion, elegance and enclosure. I prefer the fact that there is greater architectural diversity in present day Piccadilly but I do not like how it has been excecuted - from an urban design point of view, present day Piccadilly is a shambles where as this proposal is significantly better (if a little too mannered and bland). The old infirmary however from the pictures I have seen seems to be the perfect fit for Piccadilly Gardens. Shame it was bombed.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=7909

This image has all the attributes that the present day Piccadilly lacks. Scale, proportion, elegance and enclosure. I prefer the fact that there is greater architectural diversity in present day Piccadilly but I do not like how it has been excecuted - from an urban design point of view, present day Piccadilly is a shambles where as this proposal is significantly better (if a little too mannered and bland). The old infirmary however from the pictures I have seen seems to be the perfect fit for Piccadilly Gardens. Shame it was bombed.
I agree

Sorry to be pedantic but the Infirmary was demolished way before the Luftwaffe had a good go at Piccadilly.
I like 'shambles'! As much as i like Brave New World town planning i prefer 'organic growth', which Piccadilly is.
Besides, the Georgian Piccadilly would never have survived the Victorians and their ruthlessness (no heritage nazis in them days).

Fair enough but allow us to wish we had something better without being too pedantic eh?

mmm, I know what you mean but I prefer the "shambles" of St John's Gardens, Parsonage Gardens, Albert Square or Cathedral Gardens. Well planned spaces with buildings that relate to each other and the space they front despite a melting pot of architectural style.

Well planned spaces with buildings that relate to each other and the space they front despite a melting pot of architectural style.

Unlike Piccadilly, much of which doesn't relate particularly well. A Georgian crescent would have been far preferable to the cacophany of different styles that constitutes Piccadilly now, especially the north side. I'm not saying it's ugly, but I don't like Victorian stuff as much as Georgian, which has so much more elegance.

Organic growth wouldn't have done much for vast swathes of West London, like Belgravia, Chelsea, Pimlico and Bayswater. These planned places make for a really beautiful urban environment, in my humble estimation. Piccadilly doesn't compare.

Unlike Piccadilly, much of which doesn't relate particularly well. A Georgian crescent would have been far preferable to the cacophany of different styles that constitutes Piccadilly now, especially the north side. I'm not saying it's ugly, but I don't like Victorian stuff as much as Georgian, which has so much more elegance.

Organic growth wouldn't have done much for vast swathes of West London, like Belgravia, Chelsea, Pimlico and Bayswater. These planned places make for a really beautiful urban environment, in my humble estimation. Piccadilly doesn't compare.
Fanfair...exactly. I wish people were allowed opinions without someone trying to make them look foolish. I'd rather have what's in that picture any day than what we have in Piccadilly now, it looks like a provincial dump. There is nothing elegant or even attractive about Piccadilly, a total mish mash. Sure some of the Victorian buildings are nice but some of them sit next to what can only be described as criminal architecture, oh and there's the small matter of the plaza and hotel complex, if anyone would seriously prefer that to those lovely Georgian buildings they need their head testing IMO.

Fanfair...exactly. I wish people were allowed opinions without someone trying to make them look foolish. I'd rather have what's in that picture any day than what we have in Piccadilly now, it looks like a provincial dump. There is nothing elegant or even attractive about Piccadilly, a total mish mash. Sure some of the Victorian buildings are nice but some of them sit next to what can only be described as criminal architecture, oh and there's the small matter of the plaza and hotel complex, if anyone would seriously prefer that to those lovely Georgian buildings they need their head testing IMO.

I completely understand and I can't grasp why I don't agree with you, because having such pristine, clean, ornate Georgian would have looked great. I like Georgian, but only in small amounts I think. Whole squares of the stuff bore me silly (whereas there are some individual Georgian Buildings like the Mechanics Institute and the Royal Bank of Scotland in ST. Annes Sq that I absolutely love). I can't deny that too much Bath, Edinburgh new town and Newcastle Grey Street just bores me after a bit.

Don't get me wrong though, I'd have no problem if they had built this large Georgian Square. It's logical that most people would prefer this to what we have.

Going to have to be pedantic here but those two buildinga aren't Georgian, they are Victorian copies of Renissance Florentine palazzi.

Like this

http://bri-den.com/casaitaliana.jpg

The blueprint for mid Victorian Manchester.

Going to have to be pedantic here but those two buildinga aren't Georgian, they are Victorian copies of Renissance Florentine palazzi.

Like this

http://bri-den.com/casaitaliana.jpg

The blueprint for mid Victorian Manchester.

You're right of course. Palazzo style more 1840s/50s to Victorian rather than Georgian. Do we know what date the Georgian plans for Piccadilly were, coz they defo look late Georgian very early Victorian.

Probably 1820-30 but I will need to consult my journals :)

That illustration is probably from the early 1830's. The Infirmary was refaced in 1835 to the way it looks in that illustration so i am guessing it was drawn up when the 'redevelopments' at the Infirmary were drawn up.

That illustration is probably from the early 1830's. The Infirmary was refaced in 1835 to the way it looks in that illustration so i am guessing it was drawn up when the 'redevelopments' at the Infirmary were drawn up.

Only just Georgian then - though of course in style it's more late Georgian than Victorian

^^ but it looks good right? No getting away from that, whatever period it's from/inspired by.

^^ but it looks good right? No getting away from that, whatever period it's from/inspired by.

Yes, the designs are superb. Great symmetry and style, the epitomy of elegance. As I say I'd have been proud if they'd built this whole square (they may even have kept the Infirmary instead of knocking it down in the 1920s when they'd already moved the MRI to Oxford Rd), but there are still things about the Piccadilly we got that I admire too, esp the mishmash of styles. I suppose the Oldham Street side is more like a northern european mix of gothic with their steep Dutch style roofs. They don't all match in style and height and sometimes I prefer this interesting chaos to the rigid elegance of Georgian style.

Well non of us want to live in a museum piece so I understand where you're coming from, but as great as some of Manchester's buildings are I wish we had sections/areas that resembled Bath for instance. Maybe I just love Georgian stuff, I don't know, I just wish we had some grand avenues like you see in Paris/London etc, saying that I LOVE MANCHESTER WITH A PASSION, it's very eclectic in a way that other cities in the UK could only wish to be. I think that's what gives it it's vibrancy.

The Infirmary was built in 1755 and bits added to it in subsequent years. It was refaced by Richard Lane in 1835. He also designed Chorlton on Medlock Town Hall and the Friends Meeting House behind the library.

The Infirmary was built in 1755 and bits added to it in subsequent years. It was refaced by Richard Lane in 1835. He also designed Chorlton on Medlock Town Hall and the Friends Meeting House behind the library.

I think we have the same 'journals' Sir Isaac! :)

quite possibly :)

Anyone seen the DVD thats availiable going by the same name of this thread, seems to have quite abit of old footage in it from the early 1900s, anyone got it. I saw it for 8 quid and was wondering is it worth it. May have some good shots of old manchester buildings, especially the G-Mex centre when it was a railway terminus.

No snife but that sounds really good. I just missed Central Station closing down, but I remember it as a cold, wet nasty car park in the 70s.

Just got a book out of the library with some great photos in it - here are a couple.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/extention.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/gardens.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/ringway.jpg

There area in the top pic has changed so much since when ever it was. Also there are some cranes in the back ground, thats not the Arndale being built is it?

And thus the demise of Piccadilly began......

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/gardens.jpg


:(




Interesting pics though. Particularly the top one showing an extended Mosely Street. Seems to work surprisingly well with that parade of buildings where the peace gardens are now.

There area in the top pic has changed so much since when ever it was. Also there are some cranes in the back ground, thats not the Arndale being built is it?

The pics are from 1966 so pre Arndale and besides the cranes are behind the Rylands building and too far to the left.
My guess is maybe the cranes are for Church Street carpark or maybe the 'Mister Livvys' building on the corner of High St and Church St.

that one sleepy pointed to looks rather good...

Piccadilly Plaza is to Sleepy what Ariel Sharon is to the Palestinians!

ha ha! I'm off to bed Longpost... its gone a bit quiet hasn't it....?

ha ha! I'm off to bed Longpost... its gone a bit quiet hasn't it....?
http://www.artnet.de/Images/magazine/reviews/mayer/mayer02-04-05-7s.jpg

Ooh, it's a cracker that one longredrum.
What was the film you mentioned being on t'other night (iyo - best film ever made)...lost which thread it was in?
Saw 'Hidden' at the weekend - highly recommended.

What was the film you mentioned being on t'other night (iyo - best film ever made)...lost which thread it was in?

Kes -best british film - not best film- but it all depends what mood i'm in. That particular night i was in a very Kes mood.

...but the photo you posted looked liked a tinted 1930's german flick?!?! Must clean my CTX!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/ringway.jpg

So the Original terminal is now Terminal 3, I think they still use the same control tower now? Time to get a new one like Heathrows :)

Ye Olde buildings in manc.

These were opposite M&S - on the site of the royal exchange

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=67136

Smithy door(?) - Very York.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=8629

Long Millgate (Cathedral gardens/victoria are)

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=1356

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5968

Hmm

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=1335

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=1352

This was taken in 1986 - anyone know when they were demolished? The 'poets corner'

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=9333

Seven Stars inn - Shudehill. I read somewhere that Guy Fawkes stayed here once.

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=73911

1856 skyline

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5109

Has anyone got any really early maps of Manchester - like before 1750?

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=1352

This was taken in 1986 - anyone know when they were demolished? The 'poets corner'


I think that was taken in 1886 not 1986!
They were mostly demolished in the 1920's


Has anyone got any really early maps of Manchester - like before 1750?

Got a little one from 1650 - just a small town of three or four streets really clustered around the river near the cathedral.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/skit_uk/skyscraper/manchester_salford_c1858fade_correc.jpg

Can't get it any bigger but i can email it to anyone if you want.

It's 1858

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=9333

Meant this one longy /\ Certainly doesn't look like 1986 does it! Error in its description. :bash:

Cheers for the map skit. It's amazing how much the city has expanded since with suburbs.

Good website for some old maps :)

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~genmaps/genfiles/COU_Pages/ENG_pages/lan.htm

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=9333

Meant this one longy /\

So did i funnily enough but deleted the wrong one - same comments apply - all part of the same area.

Heh, there's much discussion as to where text should go describing pics. Thought we had different ideas.

Skit that site's fantastic!

Flip, this is tiny! The town is too - 1620

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~genmaps/genfiles/COU_files/ENG/LAN/Wales_Manin1620_1824.jpg

1772:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~genmaps/genfiles/COU_files/ENG/LAN/Man_1772.gif

1788:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~genmaps/genfiles/COU_files/ENG/LAN/ManMap_1788.gif

I like the sound of "dungeon' and 'house of correction' on the second one!
Nothing much changes in manchester does it?

:D - Number 10 - Dark entry - They didn't beat around the bush did they. :|

Great for tourism.

I think they are all names of clubs in the Village arent they?

:ohno: You have stooped low longy, although, i always got kicks out of 'st annes passage'! :lol:

ahem..some great pics there Kids

:ohno: You have stooped low longy, although, i always got kicks out of 'st annes passage'! :lol:

There's a street called "back acton street" (sounds a bit like back-action...for those of us who are a bit slow) on the edge of the village near picadilly station. A few feet away is "south pump street" which also sounds a bit rude.

They always tickle me.

Would be interesting to know where some of these names come from historically.

There's a street called "back acton street" (sounds a bit like back-action...for those of us who are a bit slow) on the edge of the village near picadilly station. A few feet away is "south pump street" which also sounds a bit rude.

They always tickle me.

Would be interesting to know where some of these names come from historically.

It's all tongue in cheek :runaway:

It's all tongue in cheek :runaway:
that's a bum joke...

Ive been looking at old photos of Chorlton-on-Medlock, i don't know the area very well so can someone tell me if any of these buildings actually survived? Some of the pictures had tags like 'clearance area 3'....have they all been bulldozed for the uni?

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=36999

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37052

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37051

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37059

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37130

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37137

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37193

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37230

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37479

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37511

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=38104

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=38133

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=38163

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=38312

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=36787

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=59734

I dont recognise any of them mate. shame.

I dont recognise any of them mate. shame.

:(

ahhrrr dammit, that's abit of a bummer...

I would say almost all of those are along Upper Brook St and roads leading off it.
There are some remnants of what it used to be like left near Tesco petrol station and also where Sand Bar is, but they all look like the Upper Brook st area to me.
I think the large building in the fifth picture survived up until quite recently and was demolished to make way for one of those shitty new university buildings that have just gone up.

You mean Upper Brook Street used to be lined with houses and full of life and joyfulness? I hate Upper Brook Street, its sooo boring. there's next to nothing that appeals.

When I walk up it I can empathise with those people who's car has broken down on the motorway and have to make that long solitary journey to the SOS Phone.

Its a shame the new University buildings don't do more to address this problem.

I like these houses, with the playschool shapes on the second floor windows, the living room bay window that is much grander than the entrance and the balcony looking thing on the roof (thought I know it isn't a balcony). What sort are they? Is there any of these knocking around anywhere?

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37511

You mean Upper Brook Street used to be lined with houses and full of life and joyfulness? I hate Upper Brook Street, its sooo boring. there's next to nothing that appeals.

When I walk up it I can empathise with those people who's car has broken down on the motorway and have to make that long solitary journey to the SOS Phone.

Its a shame the new University buildings don't do more to address this problem.

I like these houses, with the playschool shapes on the second floor windows, the living room bay window that is much grander than the entrance and the balcony looking thing on the roof (thought I know it isn't a balcony). What sort are they? Is there any of these knocking around anywhere?

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=37511
Looks like Ladbrooke Grove before the Notting Hill millionaires moved in.