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Published: December 27th 2010
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I made a few trips to Manchester during the autumn. It is so easy going across as it is only an hour's train journey from Leeds. I thought I will sum up some highlights from my recent visits to the world's first industrial city.
The Royal Exchange Theatre I saw
Dr Faustus there in October. I thoroughly enjoyed the play and gained a better understanding from studying the play on one of my humanities modules. The Royal Exchange Theatre is a grade II listed Victorian building and this present building exchanged goods until 1968 and from 1972 the building was used as a theatre. You can admite the external and internal architectual beauty and how some things were left as they were when used for trading.
Manchester Christmas Markets I joined a Virtual Tourist Meeting at the end of November. We mainly explored the Christmas Markets that were dotted around in the City Centre. I did not buy anything but appreciated the hot chocolate and the cognac which warmed me up on this cold day! The markets were interesting to wander round even if I found them claustophobic with the crowds at times. In between market stalls,
I took the opportunities to check out
The Rylands Library,
St Mary's (Hidden Gem) Catholic Church,
Manchester Cathedral and
St Ann's Church. Later on, we reconvened and had a meal at The Printworks Complex and I eventually got the train home. In all it was a great day out where I met new friends and appreciating the sights in Mancheter.
Museum of Science and Industry On another trip, my Dad, a family friend and I made a trip to the
MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) in Castlefield. We spent four hours there but still we felt we had not give the museum justice because it is big. I had to miss some sections out. However, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Station Building and the Power Hall.
The Station Building used to house the booking halls of the first passenger railway station (although the then Darlington to Stockton Railway Company had disputed this) which carried passengers to and from Liverpool. I learnt more about the station's history and its surrounding history at the time. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the industry in the city with which Manchester grew from a small market town to becoming the world's first industry city with cotton being a major exporter and
this attracted mass immigration. I also appreciated some of the mill owners and entrepreneurs including Robert Peel who tried to make a difference for their workers which led to legislation for protecting mill and factory workers.
I enjoyed learning how Manchester began in Castlefied as a Roman Fort from 410 after which the Romans reigned until AD1400. It was know as Mancuian and Chester is the Saxon word for a Roman Fort. On the way, I saw the canals where the Manchester Ship Canal was established in 1894.
I had a tour of the 'Underground Manchester' and learnt about the sanitation of the city over its history. The Sanctuary Reform Movement, in the 19th Century, was lead by Edwin Chadwick who was a leading Sanctuary Reformer and the establishment of The Manchester and Salford Sanctuary Association in 1852.
In all it was a pleasant visit although cold and had to spend some of the time in the coffee shop in betwen exhibitions to warm up with the coffee. Love to return there on a future visit to Manchester.
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Jay Smallwood
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I remember drinking there...not too long ago!