Thursday 30 June 2011

1847 Vegetarian bistro, Booth St & Mosely St


1847 was the year that the UK Vegetarian Society was founded. Their HQ are in the grounds of a mansion in Cheshire, but today's photo is a separate business concern- a city centre vegetarian bistro that takes its name from that auspicious year.

Wonderful food, melts in your mouth, and all in beautiful surroundings too.

Wednesday 29 June 2011

The Studios and Media City


Two of the many new buildings at a regenerated part of Salford Quays, rebranded Media City UK, where several departments of BBC radio and tv are currently moving to.

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Hard Times at Murrays' Mills


A Library Theatre production of Charles Dickens' Hard Times is currently taking place here at Murrays' Mills in Ancoats. Hard Times is set in the fictional industrial city of Coketown (I think Dickens based it on Preston in Lancashire). Thomas Gradgrind and businessman Bounderby dominate Coketown where thousands slave away in the cotton mills.

The significance of Murrays' Mills, from: http://www.ancoatsbpt.co.uk/projects_mills.htm
Manchester became the boom town of the late 18th century. Ancoats was the first suburb to combine industry and housing, and in 1798 George and Adam Murray completed the first phase of what is now Manchester's and the world's oldest surviving steam-powered urban cotton mill.

Each day over a 1,000 operatives would arrive before 7.00 a.m. - late arrivals were locked out and lost a day's wages. Apart from controlling operatives, the layout was a defence against theft, vandalism and riot.


When completed, Murrays' Mills were a marvel. Visitors came from the rest of Britain, Europe and America to see these vast buildings, housing powered machinery, illuminated by gas light and operated by 1,300 men, women and children. At a time when Napoleon sought one future for Europe, Murrays' Mills showed the way the modern world was really going.

Within ten years of completion, the Mills were radically re-structured to take larger and more efficient spinning frames. The buildings had originally been constructed to carry light loads and efforts were regularly made to increase carrying capacity as machinery became bigger and heavier. They remained in use for cotton spinning until the late 1950s - an amazing 160 years, following which they were used for a variety of light industrial uses, most of them still related to textiles.

Monday 27 June 2011

Get up, stand up for your rights: Marley in Manchester


Bob Marley played Manchester four times: in May and November 1973, then at the Hard Rock in July 1975 and at Belle Vue on this day, 27 June, in 1976. This contemporary artwork is in a private garden near St George's Island in Cornbrook.

"...Get up, stand up!
Stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up!
Don't give up the fight!..."

Bob Marley, Peter Tosh

Sunday 26 June 2011

Knutsford afternoon


A sunny afternoon in the lovely Cheshire town of Knutsford, where Elizabeth Gaskell set her 1851 novel "Cranford".

Saturday 25 June 2011

Holly rose


The rose bush was planted for Holly at her christening. Both Holly and her rose are now in their teenage years.

Thursday 23 June 2011

Wimbledon at Screenfields


Sporting events and films are shown here at Screenfields in the summer. This includes a fortnight of live tennis coverage from Wimbledon, which commenced on Monday.

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Dhol drummers


Dhol drummers and dancers at yesterday's two hour Indian festival which included complimentary samosas, onion bhajis, curries, rice and Indian sweets. There was a queue of at least 150 hungry office workers outside the modest-sized food tent from the very start-it was like the feeding of the 5000 (or, rather, its Hindu equivalent). Indian head massages were also on offer but the drummers and dancers were the show stoppers for me. 

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Midsummer's day: The Manchester Time Piece


An interesting concept to mark Midsummer's Day, and they even have a plan for a grey day.  Today the "Tern Collective will transform Manchester into a giant sundial, with the Beetham Tower as the gnomon (shadow-maker). We will spend the longest day following the shadow. Hour by hour, we will mark its position, and the passage of time, by leaving a photograph of the Tower. Tern Collective is a collaboration between Annie Harrison, Jude Macpherson and Jacqueline Wylie."
Follow them on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/McrTimePiece

It was sunny when I took this photo yesterday evening of the 47 storey Beetham Tower. At 168 metres / 551 ft, it is evidently currently the 8th tallest building in the United Kingdom. It's visible from 10 of the 38 English counties on a clear day and is the tallest residential building in the country.

What else is happening around the world today? See the other "My World Tuesday" blog posts at: http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Monday 20 June 2011

Village cricket


Two amateur teams in action on the cricket field last weekend. Ashley and Hale Barns in a Cheshire Cricket League Division 1 fixture.

Saturday 18 June 2011

Manchester Day Parade


Takes place today, details from: www.themanchesterparade.co.uk
"Manchester Day is an annual event that celebrates everything great about our city. It is a day for residents and visitors alike to get together and celebrate all things Mancunian that have helped Manchester emerge as one of the world’s most iconic cities.

The theme of this year’s parade is A Voyage of Discovery, inspiring a host of diverse and creative ideas from participating groups.

What does it mean to you, your family, and your city?
  • Manchester’s journey from village to 21st-century world-class city
  • Uncover the story of your family, community, city, or even country!
  • The future: 22nd-century Manchester. What might the city look and sound like?
  • Exploration and anniversaries of our city, country, world and beyond
  • From A to B: journeys by land, sea, canals and air, of people, animals and things
  • Inventors and innovators: Manchester is the birthplace of Alan Turing, computer scientist, inventor and code-breaker; the first and only swing aqueduct in the world was built at Barton and carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Ship Canal; Annie Horniman began the repertory movement; and Ernest Rutherford discovered how to split the atom at Manchester University
  • Sporting, creative, musical, digital Manchester.
For other Summer Stock Sunday photo blogs, see: http://aroundtheisland.blogspot.com/search/label/Summer%20Stock

Woodland walk, Alderley Edge

Friday 17 June 2011

Summer shoe shop show



Coming now to a High Street shoe shop near you...revenge of the killer wedges.

Thursday 16 June 2011

Inspiring in spring


As spring turns to summer in the northern hemisphere, I still have no idea what these blue flowers are, but they looked lovely.

Wednesday 15 June 2011

15 years since the IRA bomb


This photo is taken where Corporation Street runs into Cross St today. This is where, on 15 June 1996, the Provisional IRA (Irish Republican Army) set off the biggest peacetime bomb ever detonated on mainland Britain.

It was a busy Saturday morning with an estimated 80,000 people in the city centre- shopping, socialising, working and playing.  There was an advance warning and miraculously no-one was killed, although 200 people were injured.

The domes of ancient and cherished buildings were blown into the air at the blast, many other buildings were severely damaged, many businessess were forced to close down for good, and it took years to repair all the damage. For half a mile in all directions the windows were blasted out of shops, flats and offices, including every window you can see in this photo.

I remember wandering amidst the debris on the following Monday morning, with the city centre echoing to the sound of alarm bells still ringing, and the sound of glass being swept up off the pavements and roads. 

Respectful video coverage, made in 2008 by students Sam Mackay and Eleonara Ferrazzi, "After the 1996 IRA bomb" at: http://www.youtube.com/user/SixShot84

Footage from GM Police in 1996, only released in 2011 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncypcYxFuGs&feature=player_embedded

Monday 13 June 2011

Anniversary of death of Emmeline Pankhurst


This tourist barge is named after a famous Manchester daughter, Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928).  In 1889 Emmeline was one of the founders of the Women's Franchise League, who succeeded in promoting the passage of a law granting women the right to vote in local elections. In 1903 she founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Manchester.

She died in London on 14 June 1928, a few weeks after British women were granted full voting rights. Her Manchester home is now the Pankhurst women's community centre, which I shall post about in the autumn.

What else is happening around the world today? See the other "My World Tuesday" blog posts at: http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Willows and Fountain


Weeping willow trees and a fountain. This is an extension to the canal that was dug out in the early 1990s to set off the sparkling new Bridgewater Concert Hall. (which you can see a corner of jutting out on the right).

Sunday 12 June 2011

The Manchester Craft Centre


Eighteen studios full of a variety of bespoke creations, plus a cafe, exhibitions space and Saturday workshops (make your own jewellery etc.)

Manchester Craft and Design Centre is "the North West's leading retail, production and exhibition centre for handmade art, craft and design work, selling jewellery, ceramics, textiles, cards, mosaics, sculpture and furniture in wood, fabric, metal and plastic."

For Summer Stock photo blogs, see: http://aroundtheisland.blogspot.com/search/label/Summer%20Stock

Saturday 11 June 2011

Seen but not herd?


One of a herd of impressive looking longhorn cattle grazing at Oversley Farm. 

Friday 10 June 2011

Make mine a double (century)


The Briton's Protection pub celebrates 200 years this weekend. It is a traditional looking British pub both inside and out, although it appears a lot roomier on the inside than you might imagine. They are putting on some special offers including beer at 10p a pint for the first 200 people to arrive on Friday and Saturday (the current cost of a pint would be about £2.50 I think, but not sure as I don't drink them!)

My favourite part is their inside mural of the Peterloo Massacre - the 1819 protest for parliamentary reform which took place just outside the Briton's front door, in which 15 demonstrators were killed and 700 injured by the sabre-wielding cavalry who charged the 80,000 strong crowd. I will post more on this on the 16 August anniversary.

"Step through the tiny doors of The Briton's Protection and you can see why it's been voted 'The Best Pub in Manchester' at The Pride Of Manchester Awards for two years on a trot. The tardis like interior oozes Manchester's history - you can imagine Henry Hunt and his supporters sipping their last ale or two in here back on that hot August day in 1819, before they were brutally killed outside by the King's Hussars. If you really want a taste of Manchester... The Briton's Protection should be your first call!" ~ http://www.manchesterbars.com/ (Aug 2010)

Thursday 9 June 2011

Alfresco at Dimitri's


One of my favourite bars in the city is Dimitri's, with a good atmosphere every night of the week. It is also a busy Greek tapas restaurant, which includes this arcade area.

For a typical night at Dimitri's watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/user/dimitrikissoff#p/u/10/KZcyttZWGzo

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Foxglove love


My favourite flowers are in full bloom right now- the majestic foxgloves

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Early morning chores


It's just after 0715 a.m. and someone is already hard at work cleaning windows on the Park View terraces on Charter Street in Altrincham.

Thanks to the automated timer feature on Blogger for the postings whilst I was in Italy last week!

Monday 6 June 2011

Looking down on Whitworth Street


The view looking eastwards along Whitworth Street. Opened in 1899, it is named after the engineer Joseph Whitworth, whose works building was located on this street.

Sunday 5 June 2011

Norcliffe Chapel, Styal


Norcliffe Chapel in Styal village, Cheshire. In 1784 Samuel Greg founded Quarry Bank Mill, a cotton mill, at Styal. The village that was built for his workers included this chapel, which opened in 1823.

Saturday 4 June 2011

On the border


The city of Salford is to the left (west), the city of Manchester to the right (east). The 39 miles/65km long River Irwell starts in Lancashire, then goes on to divide these two cities, before flowing into the River Mersey.

"Irwell" comes from the Anglo Saxon meaning "white spring", and not an indecisive sub-committee of 19th century city councillors who, when asked if they had come up with a new name for the river yet, responded "Er...well..."

Friday 3 June 2011

Architects on Dulcie Street


BDP Architects Practice, on Dulcie St, was completed in 2008 at a cost of £4.1 million. The other side is built in a different, more open style and faces the Rochdale canal. We will look at that on other day...

Professor Sir George Grenfell Baines set up the BDP practice in Preston, Lancashire in 1937. In 1951 Grenfell Baines was the only northern architect appointed to design a building for the Festival of Britain in London. (itself the subject of a 50th anniversary retrospective this summer on London's South Bank).

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Theme Day: "Under construction"


The cranes prepare to fill in the patches of blue sky on the Manchester horizon... 
The first of each month is the City Daily Photo community's theme day. For June the theme is "under construction."

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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