23 June 2009, 8:52 pm

Royal Exchange Building 1910

The Baedeker guide recommends visiting the building, a “massive structure in the classical style” whilst in Manchester. It was constructed between 1864 – 74 by Mills & Murgatroyd and at the time had a Corinthian portico and a campanile 180foot high.

Edwardian visitors should go on a tuesday or friday (cotton market days) between 1pm – 2pm to witness “the scene of great bustle and apparent confusion”. It continues by informing the reader that “Strangers are admitted to the galleries on application to the keeper”.

The third Royal Exchange building described by the Baedeker guide was extensively extended and altered just four years later in 1914 to become the building standing today. The function of the building has since changed to become a theatre.


(c.1910) ^ (c) Manchester City Council – Local Image Collection


(more…)

Category: Baedeker's 1910 Manchester

15 June 2009, 9:25 pm

Central Post Office, 1910

The Baedeker guide from 1910 merely mentions the Post Office can be found on Spring Gardens. Unlike other locations it doesn’t include any detailed information. Historic photographs from around the time show the general form of the building.

Today, the Post office is still located between Spring Gardens and Brown Street in the new Zenith Building. Modern photographs are taken from Spring Gardens.


Building from Spring Gardens (c.1900)


Building from Brown Street (c.1877)

^ (c) Manchester City Council – Local Image Collection

(more…)

Category: Baedeker's 1910 Manchester

27 May 2009, 7:53 pm

Piccadilly Gardens, 1910

The Baedeker guide recommends first visiting the “pavement in front of the now vacant site of the old infirmary (founded 1753)”. At the time of writing in 1910, the building had recently been demolished, however statues of the Duke of Wellington (c.1856), surrounded by Dalton (c.1855), Watt (c.1857) & Peel (c.1853) were the attractions. The statue of Dalton was removed during the 1960s, to be replaced with an electricity sub-station. All remaining statues have been repositioned since the time of the book in 1910 but are still in existance. The book fails to mention the statue of Queen Victoria (c.1901) however. The historic photo is dated 1920 and shows a new structure built on the site of the old infirmary.


^ (c) Manchester City Council – Local Image Collection


(more…)

Category: Baedeker's 1910 Manchester

17 May 2009, 8:11 pm

London Road Station 1910

Upon arrival in Manchester at London Road Railway Station, the Baedeker guide recommends heading north, walking up Piccadilly to point of interest number 1.

The starting point today is unrecognisable to that of 99 years ago. The main station building and the adjacent goods depot such a prominent feature to the Edwardian traveller have long gone. The name of the railway station has now also changed to become Manchester Piccadilly.


^ (c) Manchester City Council – Local Image Collection

Category: Baedeker's 1910 Manchester

17 May 2009, 8:02 pm

Baedeker Tour of Manchester 1910

In the John Rylands library on Deansgate, there is a copy of a travel guide for towns and cities throughout Great Britain. The Baedeker Guides were the forerunner of the modern travel guides but for Victorian and Edwardian tourists. What will follow over the next few months is the guide to Manchester as described in the 1910 edition. It will be interesting to see what survives 99 years on.

Category: Baedeker's 1910 Manchester