Manchester – a popular city – and forever updating its place on the UK map
Manchester is famous for football, Coronation Street and the pop group Oasis to name but a few highlights of note to those hailing from this warm friendly city. Manchester also has its own trams, cathedral and Lowry art museum showing works by L S Lowry who painted matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs while working as a civil servant during the day and moonlighting as an artist in the evenings. He knew the city as industrial with a lot of what is now called smog and felt for the factory workers and those trapped in poverty there. Not far from Manchester Cathedral is Salford Cathedral just over the bridge.
Mamucium as it was formerly known was founded by “brigands” – built by Roman general Gnaeus Julius Agricola. The English meaning of Mamucium is “breast shaped hill”. Railway construction has now destroyed the old Roman remains – Manchester’s Castlefield district has a reproduction of the Roman castle however.
The Anglo Saxons arrived in the area in the seventh century after the Romans. The village near the old fortress was named Mameceaster which they founded. Wood “manufacturing” and linen production were growing industries there. The Industrial Revolution and particularly the invention of the steam engine improved the factories and transportation of goods. Manchester was Britain’s number one textile industry until World War 11. The glass skyscrapers of Manchester’s new Millennium Quarter are not far from the Old Town much of which is Victorian. There are no London style taxis but there is a provision of shuttle buses and rail network – Metrolink.
There has been new buildings with stylish coffee bars and shops some near Exchange Square. The North Quarter offers designer clothing at discount prices. Sports fans may want to visit Old Trafford Stadium and the velodrome or the County Cricket Club together with souvenir shops.
The most modern part of Manchester is the aforementioned Millennium Quarter however. Crossing the new Trinity Footbridge over the Irwell River to the renovated Salford Quays is an experience. The architect Santiago Calatrava designed it and it is a sight to behold or walk on.
The Urbis cultural centre has a glass elevator which rises at a disorientating 45 degree angle from the ground to just below the roof. The city’s arts and cultural scene ranks high on the list of Manchester’s priorities for municipal development. It has several theatres and shows come there from London and vice versa. Already over fifty galleries and museums are open to visitors free of charge notably the Manchester Art Gallery and the Old Library which has been in continuous use since the fifteenth century.
Other features of Manchester include the canal area where there is enticing red brick constructions with the bricks manufactured in a smaller style than usual – namely with an Italian influence. Near there you can find the Youth Hostel. Piccadilly Gardens with its fountains feature and the surrounding area of the centre of the city is always buzzing and apparently there are many casinos within easy reach from there! The Brittannia Hotel in the city centre sports a huge chandelier in the reception area and harks back to another era in architecture.
There are two train stations near the city centre – Piccadilly and Oxford Road. The city has three universities and the medical course is said to be one of the best in the country. Of course Manchester also has a very large airport and many other amenities which make it a desirable destination, place to study or place to live. The BBC now has much larger premises there and it is the home of the original Guardian newspaper – formerly The Manchester Guardian. The Manchester Ship Canal was once the busiest in the country and the smog levels once a problem are now under control. The countryside is within easy reach and most of the city dwellers are friendly and amenable. So why not put in on your list of places to visit? Enjoy.
Penny Nair Price