Never let prejudice get in the way of history ….. walking New Islington

Now, I have a habit of getting sniffy about the new names developers and city planners give to old bits of Manchester.

The Ashton Canal, 2022

So, over the years I have been a bit dismissive of the names like The Northern Quarter, Spinnyfields, and New Islington.

Only to find that there is often a basis for these names.

And so, it is with New Islington which is that area roughly between the Rochdale and Ashton Canals.

In my ignorance I assumed the name had been dreamed up by some smart backroom young thing as an echo of that other place in London.

But not so apparently back in 2000, the residents of what was then called the Cardroom Estate were asked to choose a new name for the area in advance of regeneration plans and with the help of Urban Splash “choose the area’s new name (taking their inspiration from the name of a road that ran through the estate)”.*

New Islington, 1851

This was New Islington Road, which was cut sometime between 1844 and 1853, and in turn references the name New Islington which appears on maps dating back into the 18th century.

So once again the lesson is never get sniffy before looking back into the past.

And the history of the area pretty much confirms that simple observation that canals make for development.

In the late 18th century Green’s map of 1794 shows the area as open land but indicates the line of the “Intended Ashton Canal" while Johnson’s map of 1819 shows a only limited development.

Relics, 2022

That said between the OS map of 1844 and Adshead’s map of just seven years later New Islington has followed the patten of other parts of the city and is characterised by acres of densely packed terrace houses, textile mills, dye works, plenty of coal yards and a foundry.

All very different from the smart properties which today line the canal along with the equally smart bars, restaurants, and heaps more including a free school and the aptly named Cotton Field which is “an idyllic water park where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city. 

Improvement works have recently been completed, and it’s used daily by families and people young and old for fitness and sport, walking and picnics*.**

The multi coloured set of homes, 2022

I am glad I took Timmy tram yesterday and visited the area, motivated by curiosity and the sunshine.

The challenge now is to go back and wander the New Islington of 1851 and in particular to get a sense of who lived there and where they may have worked.

And while that is in progress I think a few more visits back to the area, perhaps looking at how many of the old streets have survived along with buildings from the mis 19th century, and matching those discoveries with the continued rose of the new tower blocks.

Rising blocks, 2022

Location; New Islington

Pictures; walking New Islington, 2022, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and in 1851 from Adshead’s map of Manchester, Digital Archives Association, http://www.digitalarchives.co.uk/ 

*The regeneration of New Islington - Creating Manchester's most thriving neighbourhood, urbansplash, https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/blog/the-regeneration-of-new-islington

**This is the place: why New Islington is now the best place to live in Manchester city centre, I Love Manchester, Chris Greenhalgh, January 10th 2020, https://ilovemanchester.com/new-islington-best-place-to-live-manchester-city-centre