Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024

Manchester is an old friend who I do not recognise anymore.  My undergraduate degree was in dentistry and after a year, I returned to undertake research, obtaining both a masters and my doctorate degree. I then took up a clinical academic appointment at the University of Birmingham. However I still look back on Manchester as a good friend to me during my early years.  There were so many good times in the City.  Shopping in Kendal Milne, watching Manchester City at Maine Road and nights out on the town when I was a student in the late seventies and early eighties.  All that was several decades ago and since 1985, Birmingham has moved on from being a stranger to a very close friend.  Birmingham and Solihull are now home.  The city of Birmingham has undergone so many positive changes that it is barely recognisable from when we first arrived.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
China Lane

Manchester has also changed.  All those old haunts are either no longer there or gentrification has changed them beyond recognition.   A good friend, Tony Jacobs, invited me up to visit Manchester for the day to take photographs.  I know Tony was excited about my visit as he had researched locations and had several plans in place for our walk.   We met up at Piccadilly station and our enthusiasm about the day ahead led to our conversation jumping around several subjects.  Interestingly dentistry was not one of them and the subject of teeth was only touched upon much later in the day.  Once our greetings were completed, we walked down the station approach and set off on our photographic walk. 

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Overlooking the Rochdale canal from Ducie Street

Tony took me along Ducie Street where we admired the street murals.  Tony had planned for us to walk along the Rochdale canal by Piccadilly basin.  We marvelled at the renovated warehouses which were now repurposed as either accommodation or businesses.   The area was not a place I would have visited as a student and I was enjoying seeing the developments taking place.  We selected China street to walk along to gain access to the canal.  The day was bright with reflections everywhere.  We came across artwork showing the city of Manchester which was created by Mehaart . The mural was colourful and stunning to view. The various iron bridges along the Rochdale canal have been restored with some new additions. All this gives real character to the area.   

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Manchester mural on the Rochdale canal by MehaArt
https://www.instagram.com/mehaart/
The cobbled towpath along the Rochdale Canal
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
The Kitty bridge central to all the reflections.

The Kitty bridge is a uniquely designed structure which allows access to Redhill street.  There the old cotton warehouses blend in with the new surroundings. Tony was taking me to Cotton Field Wharf Marina which leads onto New Islington marina, a recently restored canal basin.  All this is in striking distance of the Manchester City Etihad stadium.  My camera was working overtime.  I had never seen this area of Manchester when I was a student and was amazed at the new developments.  It was now lunchtime and our next stop was Hallé St Peter’s where the Café Cotton served up a delicious meal. 

https://www.instagram.com/mehaart/
I ‘m not a number.
https://www.instagram.com/mehaart/
New Islington and a part of Manchester that I had not seen before.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Artwork outside the Cafe Halle

After lunch, we picked up an Uber that took us to Castle street in Castlefield, an area that I have been to before.  The canal basin is under the railway and tramlines which provide an atmospheric feel to the area.  We stumbled upon the place being set up for TV/filming.  There were local street artists, dndwalls, painting a backdrop to the area.  One of the steel supports was being transformed into a surreal covering of various objects as my pictures show.  We chatted to Teresa, whose barge had been loaned to the film set that was being prepared.  Everyone we met were on non-disclosure agreements but, as we were in a public space, we could take photographs of the installations.  I will be interested to see where this filming ends up.  We wait and see.  

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Through the arch, the new world beckons.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Underneath the rail and tram tracks at Castlefield.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Street artists, Dillon and Dutch (aka @dndwalls)
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Graffiti backdrop for the film set.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Portrait of Teresa one of the participants helping in the installations being set up.

On the other side of the train and tram tracks is Castlefield basin where the Bridgewater canal passes through onto the Rochdale canal.  This area has become a hive of residential property.  Overlooking the older buildings are the imposing high rise Deansgate Square residencies.  I attempted to get pictures of the old and the new but the buildings are so tall and required sticking two photographs together. We walked around the Castlefield basin and then picked up the river Medlock that flows past the Deansgate Square residencies.  I ended up with many pictures of these high-rise buildings. I am not sure what it must be like living in these flats but I expect you have super cityscape views.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
A panorama of the Deansgate buildings with the canal basin in the foreground.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Tony standing in front of the Tram bridge.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
An enthusiastic resident says hello.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Another view of the old and new buildings.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Looking up the Rochdale canal.

A short walk along the river took us to Tony Wilson Place not far from where the Hacienda was situated. So good to see that Manchester remembers Tony who did so much to promote the music scene in the city.  I was an avid concert attender in the late seventies and one band that I wish I had seen was Joy Division.  Sadly it was not to be.  However I do remember their first appearance on Granda reports in 1978 which was hosted by Tony Wilson.  

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Bridge over Castlefield Basin
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Futuristic Manchester

I digress and after a coffee with a delicious slice of Pecan Pie in Essy’s coffee shop, we set off past Deansgate back to Piccadilly station.  It was nearly time to get the train home but Tony had one last place to visit, Mayfield park.  This is another area that has changed and the public park adjacent to the abandoned Mayfield train station was landscaped along the banks of the river Medlock.  A glimpse of this area was all that we had time for as my train waited to take me back to Birmingham. Standing on the platform at Piccadilly station, I was already thinking about when I would return.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
A bear at Tony Wilson place
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
A snapshot of the buildings overlooking Mayfield Park.

Thank you to Tony for the insight into the new and old Manchester and making the day so interesting. I found it fascinating to compare the two cities of Manchester and Birmingham.  

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
A last look at Piccadilly station.

So this was my recent view of Manchester and you may wish to view my last visit to the city in 2022. Enjoy

Selfridges Birmingham, Christmas, 2024.

The shop designers at Selfridges Birmingham are always ahead of the game when Christmas arrives. Yes I know Christmas is arriving earlier and earlier each year. These pictures were taken on 4th November when we went in for a shopping expedition. I love the ground floor of Selfridges and the attention to detail is wonderful to see. Seeing the Christmas decorations reminds me of when I was growing up in Manchester as a young boy, my parents took me into Kendals department store on Deansgate. I was so excited to see the store’s decorations and the feeling of expectation of what Father Christmas may bring me.

When we visited, the first port of call was the ground floor to see the various shops all set up for Christmas. I enjoy seeing the Lego sets (yes the boy in me is still there), looking at the Christmas cards and this time checking out the extensive Jellycats stand. I also visited the White company as I know that is the place Sandy likes. I was planning ahead for her birthday and Christmas in the next few months.

Selfridges Birmingham, Christmas, 2024.
Having a marmalade sandwich with Paddington.

We had brunch at the Medicine Bakery. Before Covid, I had a dental clinic at Boots every Monday. I used to spend an hour taking photographs before arriving at the Medicine Bakery for a coffee and a croissant. Then I hotfooted across town to Boots to start the day. Their pastries are wonderfully light and the filling is delicious. Just outside the café, Paddington was on a bench eating marmalade sandwiches. It would be rude not to have a picture of Siân and Mason with Paddington.

Selfridges Birmingham, Christmas, 2024.
The Bull at Selfridges.

The Selfridges Bull, not to be confused with the Bullring bull, was sporting some splendid Christmas decorations. The rest of the shopping centre was also getting into the spirit of Christmas and I am sure that I will be back again several times over the festive period.

Selfridges Birmingham, Christmas, 2024.
The Bull Ring shopping Centre is quiet on a Monday morning before the Christmas Shopping begins.

There will be many more blog posts before Christmas but if you wish to revisit Christmas 2023 then I have the following link for you to visit.

Manchester July 2022

I visited Manchester as part of a PhD examination at the Univeristy, and it gave me the chance to see the city again.  Manchester is part of my early life and as a dental student, I loved being in the city.  In the seventies, life was very different, but the music scene was a big part of my life including Punk Rock, and the rise of Joy Division and the Buzzcocks.  Manchester looks and feels very different today and I struggle to find the same landmarks in many parts of the city.  Old buildings have been renovated. High rise living is everywhere.  You can now stroll along the Rochdale canal rather than being able to walk on the water due to the rubbish.  

Manchester July 2022
The Manchester tram seen from Piccadilly station.

These are the pictures taken on my walk from Piccadilly Station to the University of Birmingham and back again.  I walked through the Gay Village along the canal and then onto Oxford Road.  I varied my route the next day to take in a few more areas as I returned to Piccadilly station.  Cities like Birmingham and Manchester are under constant change and all for the better in most cases.  I hope you enjoy my view of Manchester.

Manchester July 2022
Light and shadows on the canal
Manchester July 2022
Flowers on the canal
Manchester July 2022
Young people on the canal

Manchester July 2022
Colour on the canals
Manchester July 2022
Oxford road building