One of the things I like about photographs is that quite often there are stories within stories.
So here we are in 1969, with what I take to be a procession from Manchester Town Hall to the law courts, but what interested me more are the buildings in the background.
I suspect you would have to be born before 1980, and possibly even further back to remember them.
I on the other hand do, and mainly because in the long endless hours between lectures at the Commerce of Commerce on Aytoun Street, the choice between going to the library and taking off into the city centre, was an easy one.
From the September of 1969 well into the next two years, I wandered up into Albert Square, down towards Shudehill and on plenty of occasions crossed the river to explore Greengate.
And I remember those tall soot blackened impressive buildings which faced the Town Hall Hall.
They were typical of the sort you could find across Manchester, with shops and restaurants at ground level, and offices above.
I have to confess I don’t know when they came down and were replaced with those modern red brick boxes.
Comparing the two, I have to say I think the new ones do look clean and busines like, and I suspect their predecessors were cold draughty paces which would have needed much tender care and attention.
That said I think if they had received that care and had an exterior clean up, they would have better complimented the Town Hall, Prince Albert and the buildings to the north and south of the square.
Location; Manchester
Pictures; Albert Square, 1969, xxxx77 & xxxx79, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
No comments:
Post a Comment