History of Manchester

Birthplace of the industrial revolution

Birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester has been at the forefront of many social movements, bringing major issues to the world’s attention, rightfully claiming to be a city of firsts. So many of the ideas that continue to shape our world first found their voice in Manchester - Vegetarianism, the passenger railway station, the computer, the public lending library, the labour movement, the trade union movement, the Suffragettes, the cooperative movement and England’s professional football league were all created in Manchester.

Cottonopolis

However, Manchester has always been more than just Cottonopolis it was also a city of science and discovery: not just spinning jennies and beating looms, but John Dalton and atomic theory, James Joule and modern physics, later on Alan Turing and computing.

Technological advances

With time and technological advances, in turn, the city was itself transformed as Manchester lured Britain’s finest architects to design and build the ‘Florence of the North’. New warehouses along Portland and Princess Street, public buildings from Free Trade Hall to the Town Hall to Victoria Baths, and local parks all echoed the prosperity and pride of a purposefully ambitious city.

Since its emergence as an industrial powerhouse in the nineteenth century, a new and wealthy merchant class arose who brought to Manchester fine art and design from around the world. Subsequently clubs, institutes, colleges, churches and chapels honeycombed 19th Century Manchester: from the Literary and Philosophical Society to the Portico Library to the working-class Mechanics’ Institutes and Friendly Societies dedicated to improving the cultural outlook of the artisan and operative. Alongside them came the cricket greens, swimming baths and football clubs. And then there was the welter of pubs which dominated the city and suburbs.

Today Manchester is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city which has remained a bold and international home for art and culture. Evidence of the significant reforms and ideas Manchester has produced are still visible today. Visitors to the city are spoiled for choice with world class collections in museums and art galleries not to mention the award-winning attractions, exciting nightlife, superb shopping and spectacular events programme. Served by excellent air and rail links, Manchester is the perfect gateway to the UK and Europe.