Shopping in Manchester in 1969

Now, this is one of those stories where the pictures tell the story.

Lazy of me perhaps, but there is lots to see and who am I to stop everyone joining in the fun of discovering how we shopped?

What had first could my interest was the advert for Fry’s Turkish Delight, followed by the cigarette vending machine.

And then the full variety of what you could buy on any busy high street and indeed any strip of shops is fascinating.

It wasn't that long ago that there were shoe shops rubbing up against a newsagents, a greengrocers and that shop that seemed to sell everything that nobody else did, from boot polish,  paraffin, to waxed string, and a key cutting service.

But everyone will see something different.

And in the original post I wrote, somewhere in Manchester, POssibly Ashton Old Road, and in a Jiffy someone posted, "Definitely Ashton Old Road. On the north side, just west of Wood Street where the railway line crossed".

So there we have it.

Thank you

Location;  Ashton Old Road

Picture; Manchester shops, 1969, courtesy of Manchester Archives+ Town Hall Photographers' Collection,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/albums/72157684413651581?fbclid=IwAR35NR9v6lzJfkiSsHgHdQyL2CCuQUHuCuVr8xnd403q534MNgY5g1nAZfY,

What did you do on Market Street .... on the Saturday before New Year?

Now when you have been told to park yourself on a bench during a shopping expedition there are a few things you can do.

Corridors of clothes, 2023

One is to join in and offer advice knowing that it is as useful and relevant as looking for snow in the Sahara.

Retail shapes, 2023

Alternatively gaze across at the constant parade of shoppers, pondering on their stories and their shopping bargains, or just take pictures.

Till time, 2023

And I took pictures.

At which point I should launch into a story on shopping on Market Street a century ago, but I won't

Location, Uniqlo, Market Street, Manchester

Pictures, doing Uniqlo, Manchester, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Sunday at the shops ……… with an eye on the future

An occasional series, following the family across the city centre in pursuit of two tops and a pair of boots.

Uniqlo, Market Street, 2019

French Connection, St Ann's Square, 2019

We began on Market Street, and proceeded by degree into the Arndale, and out again into St Ann’s Square.

And as you do, I reflected on the swift changes  in retail fortunes, which offered up a few new shops, the loss of some favourites and those that never seem to disappear from the streets.

At which point I could claim that this was part of that big project to record the shops
in town over five decades, and with that in mind, I should dig out my old pictures, of Chelsea Girl, Lewis’s and On the Eighth Day, but they are all lost deep in the recesses of the collection.

Moss Bros, St Ann's Square, 2019

Which I suppose is another way of saying I can be as careless with our recent past as anyone.

In my case I wish I had been more active with recording Oldham Street and what is now the Northern Quarter during the 1970s and 80s, and also persevered with the photo sessions around St Ann’s Square and King Street before they became pedestrianized.

But I didn’t, so instead I shall just leave it at the three.


Location; Market Street, and St Ann’s Square

Pictures; Uniqlo, Market Street, French Connection & Moss Bros,  2019, from the collection of Andrew Simpson