Geographers study change in Manchester
GEOGRAPHY students from a Widnes college visited Manchester for a day of investigation and study on how the city has changed over the last 100 years.
A total of 65 young people in their first year at Cronton Sixth Form College conducted an independent investigation as part of their course.
It focuses on how towns and cities have changed throughout time, with Manchester being a prime example.
The day began with a tour of the city centre’s landmarks to show the diverse and wide range of districts, from entertainment areas to retail, residential, political, quirky and cultural places.
Areas included Canal Street, China Town, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Library, Spinningfields, Market Street, The Arndale Centre and the Northern Quarter.
Some of the topics the students focused on included the distribution of homelessness, changes to Canal Street after the legalisation of homosexuality in 1969, and how historic locations such as Manchester Town Hall were not bombed during the Second World War.
Other issues being investigated include the constantly changing face of the city’s shops, how the Northern Powerhouse concept changed and will continue to change Manchester, and how HS2 will change the city.
Following the trip, one student said: “I never knew Manchester had changed so much over quite a short period of time.
“Manchester was famous for its cotton mills over 150 years ago to the stage that in Australia that bedding sheets are nicknamed ‘Manchester’ but now this industry is mainly gone but a thriving multi-cultural city has developed with high levels of regeneration.”
Another student was shocked to hear how many gay venues used to have two bars; the front bar and a secret bar behind which was only accessed with a secret password.
The bars were often raided by police in the 1950s and 1960s due to the then illegal status of homosexuality.
Canal Street is now a popular place to visit with more than 25 bars and restaurants open to all sexual orientations, with Manchester pride supported by many local community groups and the police.