A little bit of retail history ………. in the Arndale

Now I have never lost my liking for this bit of early 21st century retail technology.

It is in part the quirky shape, and the bold colours which I know someone will point out was less silly and more the demands of  logical technical design.

But I liked it, and now its gone.

Location; the Arndale, Manchester

Picture; Retail furniture, Manchester, 2003, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The art of 1938 ..... and a bit more

 This is the front cover of the 1938 October edition of Homes and Garden which my friend Beba sent over a few minutes ago.

What struck me was the design and that was enough to set me off with a story.

And that might have been it had Beba not then included an article on how to train a servant and heaps of adverts for the sort of things all homes should have.

From old fashioned kitchen ranges to  steel window frames, and of course that advice to an employer'. So its got the lot and over the next few weeks the blog will cover it all.

With a special thanks to Barbarella Bonvento.

Location; 1938

Pictures; from Home and Gardens, 1938, courtesy of Bebe Bonvento

Shopping in a palace ……….

So, The Trafford Centre is one those places I have pretty much taken for granted and is not a place I often go to.

Shopping in a palace, 2022

Which for some will amount to a confession of snobbery.

But I have always preferred Manchester, more because in between the endless trawling for bargains and looking for those essential and fashionable items, there are heaps of side streets to dip into and uncover bits of the city’s history.

Added to which on busy days there are just too many people.

That said, on a wet day in February there is a certain attraction to shopping under one roof, added to which Timmy tram will whisk me there with just the one change at Cornbrook.

And while it’s a slightly longer journey than the 23/25, from Chorlton I never miss up an opportunity to do the tram.

Busy day, 2022

My Wikipedia tells me that “The Trafford Centre is a large indoor shopping centre and leisure complex in Greater Manchester, England. 

Located in Urmston in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, the centre is within the Trafford Park industrial estate, five miles west of Manchester city centre.

The Trafford Centre opened in 1998 and is the third largest shopping centre in the United Kingdom by retail size.

The Trafford Centre's unorthodox style of architecture was prompted by the wish to offer a unique shopping experience. John Whittaker, chairman of Peel Holdings, had to convince architects that a lavish design would not alienate shoppers. 

Even the retail furniture is in gold and marble

Although the extravagant Rococo and Baroque design may be viewed as gaudy the prospect of the shopping centre ageing and becoming dated is greatly mitigated”.*

And it goes without saying that even those bits of retail furniture are adorned in gold and marble.

Over the years all our kids have done Trafford Centre, which I suppose was because it was easy to get to, simple to negotiate and free to roam over.

Anything but ordinary, M&S 2022

And was always a place they and we felt was safe.

All of which meant that on Saturday we zipped across, ostensibly to return something, and while Tina and her mum then went onto window shop for what seemed an eternity, I took a few pictures.

Location; Trafford Centre

Pictures; Saturday in Trafford Centre, 2022, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*The Trafford Centre, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafford_Centre