The Bavarian strudel stall is doing a brisk trade whilst the windmill bar behind it dispenses seasonal cheer. Both are watched over by a statue of Oliver Heywood (1825-1888) whose family made a fortune through banking and slavery.
The Heywood family's bank was called Heywood's and was run between 1788 and 1874. The building they built in the 1840s is now a Royal Bank of Scotland branch, at 25 St. Ann Street.
The Revealing Histories website: http://www.revealinghistories.org.uk states that the bank "prospered in the Victorian period and Oliver was able to devote considerable time to assist charities and liberal causes in both Manchester and Salford. Education was a particular interest and he supported schemes ranging from the establishment of working men’s colleges to Owens College, the forerunner of the University of Manchester.
Heywood’s willingness to devote both time and money to improve the city was viewed as exemplary, especially at a time when many wealthy citizens were moving to the suburbs and ignoring such public duties. Heywood was a supporter of many progressive causes and it is not surprising to find him attending meetings against slavery, such as the one held in Manchester in November 1872 which was concerned with the trade in enslaved Africans in east Africa."
What an adventure this market can become. Thank you for your thoughtful eye. Please have a good Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteWow, now I really have a craving for strudel.
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