Manchester's Great Buildings
The Architectural Heritage of Manchester

Manchester Cathedral

Minshull Street Police Station

Shambles Square

Portico Library, Mosley Street

Manchester Town Hall

Urbis - Museum of the
Modern City

Manchester Buildings

Manchester can trace its origins way back to Roman times, and the city has many fine buildings from all periods of history and architecture. In many ways, Manchester's buildings give visible evidence to its history, as well as to its regional identity, its social, economic and cultural growth over the years.

Menu:

Alphabetical Listing:

• Academic & Educational Institutions
• Banking Halls
• Beetham Tower
• Castlefield
• City Centre Churches
• Civic Buildings
• Fire Stations & Railway Stations
• Imperial War Museum North
• Insurance & Other Commercial Buildings
• Libraries
• Manchester Blue Plaques
• Manchester's Listed Buildings
• Manchester Squares & Public Spaces
• Manchester Town Hall
• Mills
• New Bridges
• No.1 Deansgate
• Prisons & Police Courts
• Railway Stations
• Suburban Churches
  
• Statues, Monuments & Public Memorials
• The Edge
• Town Hall Extension
• Twentieth Century Buildings
• University of Manchester
• Urbis - Museum of the Modern City
• Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road
• Warehouses
• Who Built Manchester? Part 1 (Architects A-K)
• Who Built Manchester? Part 2 (Architects L-Y)

  A short walk through the city reveals the evident rapid growth and development that took place during the Victorian era of the nineteenth century. This was when Manchester grew up and came into its own. The fabulous palatial mill and warehouse buildings, offices, libraries and other civic buildings show immense civic pride. They show self-confidence. This was the city that demanded to be recognised - it was the first truly industrialised city - it was where the Industrial Revolution began.
  The City of Manchester enjoyed both wealth and political power by the end of the nineteenth century - the growth of expensive and highly ornate banking halls in King Street demonstrates this.
  But there have also been 20th century masterpieces too. The Central Reference Library in St Peter's Street and the neighbouring Town Hall Extensions demonstrate the determination of the city fathers to improve the civic amenities of the city. Later, award winning buildings in the banking zone, and recently, the erection of fine new bridges across rivers, canals and roadways.
  Comment should also be made of the City Council's imaginative thinking on the refurbishment of old, (and often derelict) buildings. It is heart-warming to see old beloved buildings rising Pheonix-like again into current use, often in new and imaginative reincarnations - the Corn Exchange became the Triangle, Watts Warehouse becomes a hotel, Joshua Hoyle's fine warehouse converted into the Malmaison Hotel in Piccadilly. All these evidence a city which is in a state of constant renewal and reinvention - a city that is alive, organic and growing.

Back to Top

See also:

"Looking at Buildings "
http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk
Launched in 2001, this is the latest venture from the Pevsner Architectural guides, and an expanding guide to understanding and exploring the build environment. The site contains hundreds of illustrations, interactives and reference resources for all enthusiasts.