Archives+

15/08/2023

On Thursday 24 August we are pleased to be joined by the fantastic volunteers from LGBT Foundation
LGBT Foundation Archive Pop-Up: Queerly Beloved
11:00am - 2:00pm | Ground Floor (by the Glass Lifts) - Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester
Immerse yourself in LGBTQ+ history at the pop-up exhibition in Manchester Central Library. Discover selected items from LGBT Foundation's extensive archive collection, celebrating the transformative power of the dance floor for LGBTQ+ communities through the decades.
No booking needed, just come along to the library between 11am-2pm

12/08/2023

New blog! A lovely piece about the Special Collections held in Archives+ written by Diyar, a student on work placement from
Co-op Academy Manchester
Many thanks Diyar 👏👏

Introduction Manchester Central Library’s archives are full to the brim with enchanting, engaging and educational records of time, some of which are in the form of inspirational literature. T…

01/08/2023

Read about our fantastic day trip out to the salt mines to see where some of our collections are safely stored!

On Friday 7th July 2023 members of the archives team, both staff and volunteers, from Central Library visited DeepStore. DeepStore is part of a working rock salt mine that doubles as an offsite arc…

30/01/2023

Usman, student from Manchester college currently digitising this image collection, found these wonderful old images of his local area today. The photos show Dickenson Rd market back in 1974 and Usman doesn't think it has changed, it looks the same as it does now! What do you think?
Dickenson Rd Block 7- Market- Longsight ref: 1974-1936

07/12/2022

29/11/2022

LGBT Foundation Archive Pop-up for World AIDS Day – 1st December 2022, 11am-1pm at Central Library (Ground Floor)

Drop in to Manchester Central Library on World AIDS Day, to see a selection of items from the LGBT Foundation Archive at Archives+ which tell the story of HIV and AIDS awareness and activism in Manchester.

We will also be joined by our Sexual Health Team, who will be on hand to discuss HIV testing and support through the years and what is accessible in Greater Manchester today!

FREE, no need to book.

25/11/2022

Shelagh Delaney, in memory of the Salford writer who was born in Broughton on 25th November 1938.

22/11/2022

Join us on Monday next week for a free film screening of this brilliant film from Oxygen Arts. Two and a half questions is a film exploring the lives and aspirations of the Windrush generation and those who came after them. Carol Ann from The Zebra Partnership will be with us too to chair the Q&A following the film with the producer and director Oxygen Arts

Don’t miss it! Monday 28 November, 5:30pm - 7pm

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/film-screening-of-two-and-a-half-questions-plus-qa-tickets-454893718357?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Two and a Half Questions is an exploration of the lives and aspirations of the Windrush generation and those who came after them.

26/09/2022

Read North West Sounds Heritage's latest blog and hear about the North West Mixtape film and how two sound artists from the region made personal works responding to the sound archive. All these archive recording where recently 'unlocked' and are now available as part of the Lottery Heritage Fund's Unlocking Our Sound Heritage project: https://northwestsoundheritage.org/2022/09/24/north-west-mixtape-with-freda-wallace-gary-fisher/

07/06/2022

takes place next week & we’ve got a fantastic line up of events for you. On 15 June, 4-7pm at Central Library, we invite you to explore Activism past, present & future at our archives handling showcase. Get inspired & add your views to our Wall of Activism. 🪧Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre and Education Trust North West Film Archive Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society LGBT Foundation GMCDP Taking Action - Young Disabled People

05/06/2022

Today as people celebrate the at street parties across the country, let’s take a look back at how we celebrated back in 1977 for the Silver bit.ly/3NTzlBs 🎉🎊🥳

How Manchester celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977

21/04/2022

https://northwestsoundheritage.org/2022/04/12/chorlton-sound-walk/

Test our new Chorlton Soundwalk and get a free OBSOLETE SOUND ARCHIVE CD!

Are you available to test out the walk using your own mobile device on Tuesday 26th April at any time between 3pm and 5.30pm? We would like to carry out a quick informal 5-minute interview with you to gather your thoughts after the walk.

Please feel free to bring or invite anyone else to join us. We’ll be at Chorlton Green – follow the Archives+ banner!

We would still love to hear you thoughts even if you are unable to attend on this day. Would you like to test out the walk remotely in your browser at home (instructions in the blog link).

Following your walk please complete the ten questions in this survey:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/B208K3/

To prove our commitment to obsolete sound media we’ll be sending a sound archive CD to everybody who tests this sound walk. If you would like us to send you one, please leave your name and postal address at the end of the survey 🙂
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New Chorlton sound walk by Hayley Suviste

23/03/2022

Book a free behind the scenes tour this Saturday 26th March as part of to all National Lottery Players supporting the care of the the North West's most at risk audio collections.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/behind-the-scenes-tours-with-unlocking-our-sound-heritage-tickets-292288130667

22/03/2022

Book one of our North West Sound Heritage behind the scenes tours this Sat 26th March as part of National Lottery Open Week. https://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/projects/national-lottery-open-week/view/archives-unlocking-our-sound-heritage-behind-the-scenes-tours

Our Unlocking Our Sound Heritage team will be at Central Library for the Family History Fair on Saturday 26th March 10-4pm. Come and say hello and get a demonstration of how we digitise a reel-to-reel tapes to bring long-lost voices…

04/03/2022

A random selection of images from 1973 chosen by
The Manchester College students on work placement at A+
Image 1: Smithfield Market
Image 2: College of Adult Education
Image 3: Byrom St CPO
Student Chezy - "It's interesting to see how MCR has evolved"

13/01/2022

Corporation Dwellings 1916 - St George's Avenue m27026, Barrack Street (back view) m25501 and Barrack Street (side view) m25502. View more local images at https://bit.ly/3fitaHI

06/01/2022

now freely available to view for library members on 130 computers at Manchester Central Library!
https://bit.ly/3G2R8mb Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society

Manchester Central Library is from today playing a key role in making the 1921 Census for England and Wales freely available to view. It has been published today at Find My Past. Manchester Central…

04/01/2022

Happy New Year to all our followers!
Here's a treat for you, a fantastic photo of the Grosvenor Picture Palace c1947 (m19270). Trams ceased from this area in Jan 1949 so is definitely before this date. View is looking down Grosvenor St from Oxford Rd.

Update - Geoff Senior (Heaton Park Tramway) thinks its a pre war picture - both the 23 and 41 route were converted to buses in 1939 before the outbreak of war - although the 23 was reinstated in May 1940 until early 1945.
Can anyone date this photo?

31/12/2021

As plans to pedestrianise Stevenson Square to create a more accessible & thriving are under way, take a peek at how the square has changed through time.
Photo 1: 1890 m04566 Photo 2: 1891 m04564 Photo 3: 1921 m78530 Photo 4: 1939 m04561
https://bit.ly/32MC4dy

30/12/2021

This building, formerly The Midland Bank, was designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1928. It is now home to a 5* luxury hotel - do you know which one?
First image shows Spring Gardens in 1930, second image in 1940
third image in 1960, fourth image is an aerial view of St Andrews House, Midland Bank, Ship Canal House, King St 1965

29/12/2021

The area, once known for its notorious slums - now the setting for the impressive renewal project.
Photo 1: 77a Red Bank 1932
Photo 2: Red Bank 1936
Photo 3: Smithy & Stables, 47 Roger St, Red Bank 1904
Photo 4: 33-55 Red Bank 1937

25/12/2021

Seasons Greetings from everyone at Archives+. Here’s one of our favourites of Central Library when it was based temporarily in Piccadilly Gardens, 1929.

24/12/2021

With the Christmas period is fast approaching and we wanted to let you know when you will be able access your local library over the coming weeks. Manchester Libraries Christmas opening hours 2021 …

23/12/2021

Images of Great Bridgewater Street from our online collection. Does anyone recognise the much loved Grade II listed building in 1st photo, dated 1896?
Photo 2: no. 92 gable, 1896
Photo 3: looking from Deansgate, 1900
Photo 4: junction with Albion St 1900
Search for more local images https://bit.ly/3yQMqVT

17/11/2021

Emma, our fantastic volunteer at our Unlocking Our Sound Heritage project, has written this well researched and impactful blog reflecting on LGBTQ+ oral histories in Cumbria.

https://northwestsoundheritage.org/2021/11/15/lgbt-activism-and-legislation-in-cumbrian-oral-histories/

UOSH volunteer Emma Haggerstone reflects on the OutREACH Cumbria collection of oral histories held at Cumbria Archive Service.

22/10/2021

Some fabulous colour images of Central Library and St Peter's Square dated 6 August 1973. So much has changed!

04/10/2021

A few images of taken on 4th October. Photo 1: Altrincham Rd, Benchill 1937. Photo 2: Greenbrow Rd, Newall Green 1950. Photo 3: Ruddpark Rd, Woodhouse Park 1950. Photo 4: Portway, Woodhouse Park 1950. WYTHENSHAWE WASTE WARRIORS WYTHENSHAWE OFFICIAL

17/09/2021

We're taking a look back at today. Wonderful images of Hardman Street (now School Lane). Photo 1: Hardman St 1913. Photo 2: Hardman St, view from William St looking towards Wilmslow Rd, 1924. Photo 3: Hardman St, view from Wilmslow Rd looking towards railway bridge, 1924. Photo 4: Hardman St, looking west 1938. Didsbury Civic Society

10/09/2021

10 Sept 1970 BBC Radio Manchester was launched. There's so much content in these images to explore! Telephones, typewriters, fashion, tech! Photo 1: Outside broadcast. Photo 2: Operations room. Photo 3: Newsroom. BBC Radio Manchester

09/09/2021

The Archive team visited Brunswick Church this week so this inspired us to look at what the area was like in the 1960's. 1. Brunswick Street entry 1960, 2. Brunswick Street 1967, 3. Christie Street 1967, 4. Brunswick Street 1967. S4B Manchester

09/09/2021

Deadline for applications: Friday 24th September 1pm

We are very excited to be recruiting for an access and inclusion worker to make the People's accessible to all.
Based at Central
In partnership with Archives+

https://gmcdp.com/were-hiring

04/09/2021

Looking forward to meeting a local group from Boggart Hole Clough today. Let's hope we don't come across any Boggarts!
Photo 1: Boating Lake 1930.
Photo 2: Refreshment rooms 1909.
Photo 3:Fountain 1907
Photo 4: View lake, opening day 1910.

03/09/2021

In September 1879 Lancashire Telephonic Exchange Ltd. opened the first telephone exchange in Manchester. This image of the exchange on Faulkner Street was taken in 1980.
Close by is the Chinese Arch on Faulkner Street, seen here during construction 1986.

31/08/2021

Photograph taken 100 years ago - Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, view from Moseley Road 31/08/1921.
There are over 80,000 local images available to view at https://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php
Take a look and see if you can find your street!

28/08/2021

Happy Manchester Pride weekend! 🌈
Here's a link to a special online memory box we created last year with help from young people
The Proud Trust

http://bit.ly/3BmXwC6

It’s PRIDE this weekend! Each week during lockdown, Archives+ have published an online memory box focusing on different areas in Manchester. This week, to tie in with the Alternative Man…

16/08/2021

16 August 1819 a meeting of between 60,000 & 80,000 people calling for parliamentary reform was held at St Peter’s Field in Manchester. Between 15-20 were killed & hundreds were injured. The event became known as the .

Archive album https://bit.ly/3yUcOx7

Explore this photo album by Manchester Archives+ on Flickr!

12/08/2021

Princess Road 1921 - 100 years ago! Photo 1: Princess Rd looking from Barlow Moor Rd. Photo 2 & 3: Concrete mixing. Photo 4: Making concrete kerbs.

10/08/2021

Launched in 1906, Crossley Motors was a major supplier of military vehicles during WW1 & WW2. Here's an interesting photo of a Crossley electric battery vehicle 1935 & an aerial shot of Gorton & Belle Vue, showing Crossley Motors in 1922.

09/08/2021

Before the era of car boot sales & recycling centres was the rag-and-bone-man calling out ‘rag n’ bone’ or ‘any old iron’. Does anyone remember running out with their unwanted items?
Photo 1: Ancoats, Price St 1939.
Photo 2: Ford Lane, Wythenshawe 1953.
Photo 3: Oldham Rd, Miles Platting 1961.
Photo 4: Egerton St, Denton 1971.

26/07/2021

racing up the medal table with 3 golds in the bag :)
White City High Diving 1910, cycling back in the 40s and the iconic "Olympic sized" Sharston Baths, if only for those pesky tiles!