Manchester city centre

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Coordinates: 53°28′45″N 2°14′39″W / 53.479167°N 2.244167°W / 53.479167; -2.244167

Manchester city Centre
Aerial photograph of Manchester city centre.jpg
Aerial view of Manchester city centre
Manchester city Centre is located in Greater Manchester
Manchester city Centre

 Manchester city Centre shown within Greater Manchester
Area  2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2)
Population 11,689 (2001 Census)
    - Density  5,460 /sq mi (2,110 /km2)
OS grid reference SJ839980
    - London  163 mi (262 km) SE 
Metropolitan borough Manchester & Salford
Metropolitan county Greater Manchester
Region North West
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MANCHESTER
Postcode district M1 - M4 & M15
Dialling code 0161
Police Greater Manchester
Fire Greater Manchester
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK Parliament Manchester Central
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Manchester city centre – known formally as City Centre or Central Manchester[1] – is the central business district of both Manchester and Greater Manchester,[2] in North West England. The city centre, as defined by Manchester City Council, lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, straddling the River Irwell, and thereby encompassing a small part of the neighbouring City of Salford.[3] The electoral ward of Manchester Central has an area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) and a population of 11,689.[4]

The city centre evolved from the civilian vicus of the Roman fort of Mamucium, on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell.[5] In the Middle Ages, what is now the city centre was the township of Manchester.

Extensively redeveloped since the Manchester Blitz of 1941 and 1996 IRA bomb, the city centre remains the commercial and cultural centre of Manchester. The majority of the tallest buildings and structures in Manchester are located in the city centre, including Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square and the Beetham Tower, the tallest building in the United Kingdom outside London.

Contents

[edit] History

Main article: History of Manchester
One of the boundary signs of the former township of Manchester on the banks of the Medlock

Manchester evolved from the civilian vicus associated with the Roman fort of Mamucium, which was established c. AD 79 on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell, in a position defensible from the Brigantes.[5] Once the Romans had abandoned Britain, the focus of settlement in Manchester shifted to the confluence of the rivers Irwell and Irk.[6] During the Dark Ages which followed – and persisted until the Norman Conquest – the settlement at Manchester was in the territory of several different petty kingdoms.[7] In the Middle Ages, what is now the city centre was the township of Manchester.

Manchester Castle – a medieval fortification, probably taking the form of a ringwork – was located on a bluff where the rivers Irk and Irwell meet.[8] The castle was first mentioned in 1184 and was recorded in 1215 as belonging to the barons of Manchester, the Grelley family.[9] It has been described as "of no political or military importance".[10] The Grelleys replaced the castle with a fortified manor house, which in turn was replaced by a college of priests (founded in 1421).[11] In 1547 the college was dissolved and the property acquired by the Earl of Derby and early in the reign of King Charles II it was sold to the Governors who had been appointed in the will of Humphrey Chetham. By royal charter in 1665 Chetham's Hospital was established and eventually this became Chetham's School of Music.[12]

[edit] Particular areas

Piccadilly Gardens, a green space in the city (view towards Market Street)
Western section
  • The Northern Quarter is in the northwest (east of Victoria Station and northwest of Piccadilly Gardens).
  • The Millennium Quarter is the area around Manchester Cathedral, which has been extensively redeveloped after the IRA bomb of 1996, containing Shambles Square, Exchange Square, and Cathedral Gardens.
  • Spinningfields is an area in the west adjoining the middle part of Deansgate which has undergone much large-scale redevelopment.
  • Castlefield is an area in the extreme southwest between Deansgate and the River Irwell with the sites of the Roman fort and Liverpool Road Railway Station.
Eastern section
  • Piccadilly: the largest public square in the centre and the most important transport interchange. The area known as Piccadilly runs eastwards from the end of Market Street to a point where London Road begins: to the south of this are the gardens and paved areas.
  • Chinatown is an area to the south of Piccadilly Gardens with many oriental restaurants and other facilities of a far eastern character.
  • The Gay Village is a part of the centre east of Portland Street and west of Whitworth Street through which runs the Rochdale Canal; it contains many bars, clubs and other facilities for the gay community.

[edit] Transport

Manchester City Centre has a total of 5 train stations.

  • Manchester Piccadilly station - The largest station in the City with 14 platforms plus 2 Metrolink tram platforms, located on the South-East side of the city centre close by to the Gay Village, Piccadilly Gardens and Northern Quarter.
  • Manchester Victoria station - The main terminus for services within the north and west of Greater Manchester, currently under a multi-million pound refurbishment plan due to bring the station up to date and prepare it for a major increases of services, for both train and metrolink. Victoria is located in the North of the city centre near Exchange Square, the Northern extremity of Deansgate and the Manchester Arndale, it is connected to the Manchester Arena.
  • Manchester Oxford Road - Serves the southern corridor of the city centre where both Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan Universities are located, as well as the Central Manchester Hospitals, Palace Theatre, Cornerhouse and a wide range of bars and restaurants.
  • Deansgate - Located in the South-west, situated between the bars and clubs of Densgate locks and nearby upmarket Castlefield on the southern extremity of Deansgate (which is over a mile long). It is also a short walk away from Beetham Tower, the tallest building outside London, as well as the Great Northern complex, housing an AMC Cinema, bars and leisure attractions. It is connected via link bridge to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station.
  • Salford Central - Situated in the far west of the centre, this station serves the Spinningfields, Bridge street, Chapel Street, Trinity Way and central Deansgate districts at the western corridor of the City Centre.


Metrolink is the light rail tram service that operates in Central Manchester. The services are usually 6 mins in the peak and 12 mins off-peak to most destinations, all of which are within Greater Manchester. There are Currently 5 lines operating, however between 2012 and 2016 the network will see new lines connecting the city centre with Droylsden and Ashton-Under-Lyne, Oldham & Rochdale, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport as well as a new line through the city centre with a new stop at Exchange Square. Metrolink stations/stops in the city centre currently are:

  • Piccadilly - Located beneath the main concourse, with services to Altrincham, Bury, Eccles & MediaCityUK as well as city centre stations/stops. Piccadilly will also handle services to Droylsden and Ashton-Under-Lyne once the line is complete.
  • Piccadilly Gardens - Located in the busiest bus/tram interchange in the city centre with services to Altrincham, Bury, Eccles & MediaCityUK as well as other city stations including Victoria and Piccadilly.
  • Deansgate-Castlefield - Services to Altrincham, Eccles, MediaCityUK and St Werberghs Road (Chorlton) as well as future services to East Didsbury & Manchester Airport operate/will operate from this station.
  • Market Street - located in one of the main shopping streets and close the Arndale Centre, serving passengers on the Altrincham, Bury, & St Werberghs Road lines.
  • Moseley Street - Outbound platform only for services to Altrincham, Eccles, MediaCityUK & St Werberghs Road situated west of Piccadilly Gardens.
  • Shudehill - an interchange station similar to Piccadilly Gardens located near to the Northern Quarter, Printworks and Shudehill bus station. Services to Altrincham, Bury and St Werberghs Road operate from this interchange.

St Peters Square' - Soon to be extended with the second city crossing, it serves the Altrincham, Bury, Eccles, MediaCityUK and St Werberghs Road lines. It is located close to the central library, town hall and top of the Oxford Road Corridor.

  • Victoria - Services to Altrincham, Bury & St Werberghs Road currently operate from this station, however once expansion of the Network is complete it will see new services from Oldham & Rochdale as well as East Didsbury and Manchester Airport.


There are also 3 major bus interchanges located in Piccadilly Gardens, Shudehill and Chorlton Street which all serve local bus services to areas in the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, as well as some from the surrounding counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Most services are operated by "First Manchester" for north and western Greater Manchester or "Stagecoach Manchester" for the south and east of the area.

[edit] Demography

Further information: Demography of Greater Manchester
Central compared
2001 UK census Central[13] City of Manchester[14] England
Total population 11,689 392,819 49,138,831
White 82.0% 81.0% 91.0%
Asian 4.3% 9.1% 4.6%
Black 2.8% 4.5% 2.3%
Chinese or other 8.0% 2.7% 0.9%
Mixed 2.8% 3.2% 1.3%

As of the 2001 UK census, the political ward of "Central", which covers an area of 2.14 square miles (5.54 km2), had a population of 11,689 with a population density of 5,460 inhabitants per square mile (2,108 /km2). While this was lower than the population density for the whole city (8,798 inhabitants per square mile (3,397 /km2)), the proportion of land dedicated to domestic buildings was lower in the ward than in the whole city (6.7% compared to 8.0%).[15] There was a female-to-male ratio of 100 to 113, much higher than the 100 to 95 ratio for all England.[16] Of those over 16 years old, 65.7% were single (never married), 13.7% married, and 8.7% divorced; this was significantly different from the national figures of 30.2% single, 43.5% married, and 8.2% divorced.[17] The ward's 6,188 households included 61.1% one-person, 8.6% married couples living together, 9.0% were co-habiting couples, and 12.4% single parents with their children; compared to national figures, there was a high proportion of single person households, and a low proportion of married couples living together.[18] Of those aged 16–74, 30.5% had no academic qualifications, lower than the figure for the City of Manchester (34.0%) but slightly above that of the whole of England (28.9%).[16] The ward had a significantly higher percentage of adults with a diploma or degree than the city or England as a whole. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 26.3% had an educational qualification such as first degree, higher degree, qualified teacher status, qualified medical doctor, qualified dentist, qualified nurse, midwife, or health visitor, compared to 21.4% in Manchester and 19.9% nationwide.[16]

[edit] Economy

Manchester City Centre Skyline Christmas Eve 2010

Deansgate and Market Street are the centre's principal retail streets and King Street (with high-class shops) and St Ann's Square are known for their specialist fashion and other shops. There is also a large indoor shopping mall called the Manchester Arndale Centre. Manchester city centre has several large department stores including Marks and Spencer and Debenhams on Market Street, House of Fraser on Deansgate, Harvey Nichols on New Cathedral Street and Selfridges in Exchange Square. There are many leisure facilities in the city centre including the Printworks, a large facility containing a cinema (including an IMAX screen), numerous bars, clubs and restaurants and also Manchester's first Hard Rock Cafe. The Northern Quarter, centred around Oldham Street, is known for its Bohemian atmosphere and independent shops and cafes. The landscaping of the city centre has provided several public spaces including the newly developed Piccadilly Gardens, which incorporates fountains, green spaces, a concrete wall, and a Metrolink station (it has not been improved by the construction of an office block to the east). Exchange Square is located near Urbis, formerly an exhibition centre focusing on city life but now closed and due to re-open in mid-2011 as the National Football Museum. Both Piccadilly and Exchange Square are used for screening public events. Two of the city centre's oldest buildings, The Old Wellington Inn and Sinclair's Oyster Bar, were dismantled, moved 300 yards and re-erected in 1999 to create the new Shambles Square adjacent to Manchester Cathedral.[19]

Beetham Tower on Deansgate is the tallest building in Manchester.

There are other museums in Manchester city centre including the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry in Castlefield which includes many hands-on exhibits and the People's History Museum.

There are a great variety of restaurants in the city centre including a number owned by Paul Heathcote the chef. There is also a good stock of hotels in the city centre which include the Midland, Jarvis Piccadilly and Ramada Renaissance.

[edit] Nightlife

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Manchester city centre has many nightclubs, many of which follow in the footsteps of the Haçienda nightclub which has now closed; the site has been redeveloped as a housing complex. There is a gay village around the Canal Street area in the east of the city centre, which plays host to an annual Gay Pride Festival, and a large Chinatown with numerous far eastern style restaurants. The area to the west which is bisected by Deansgate and crossed by Peter Street is also well-provided with bars and some clubs (e.g. The Moon under Water and Ampersand).

The city centre also has many bars, mostly located in the Northern Quarter, regarded by some as the central district's creative hub. The quarter is well-provided with bars of various sizes; these include 'TV 21', 'Bar Fringe', the cocktail bar 'Apotheca' and 'Trof'. Live music venues may also be found here, including the well-known 'Night & Day Cafe', newcomer 'MOHO Live' and jazz bar 'Matt & Phred's'.

[edit] Future developments

  • St Peters Square - St Peter's Square, home of Manchester Central Library, is set to undergo massive multi-million pound redevelopment which will include pedestrianising the square, redeveloping Elizabeth House (the current empty building opposite the Central Library), creation of a contemporary memorial to the 1819 Peterloo Massacre and refurbishing the Library.[20] A competition has been held to decide upon the new design of the square.[21] It has recently been suggested that the Cenotaph should be moved to make room for a further tram line.[22]
  • NOMA 53 - The Co-op has embarked on one of its most challenging projects to date, as it aims to transform a 20-acre (81,000 m2) section of Manchester into a new retail, office and residential quarter, where its own new headquarters will be housed. The site will be branded "NOMA 53" in reference to "NOrth MAnchester" and the locations co-ordinates. The £800 development includes the following developments:

1. The City Building will become the luxurious Hotel Indigo, which will include a Marco Pierre White restaurant and is set to open in autumn 2012.

2. Two buildings on the corner of Corporation Street and Balloon Street to be converted into 106,000 sq ft (9,800 m2) of grade A office accommodation. Completion by second half of 2013.

3. The Co-op's existing space in New Century House to be refurbished and brought to market when all staff have moved out, starting September 2012.

4. CIS Tower still to be occupied by the banking division, though parts may eventually be brought to market. The Co-op has the capacity to fund the revamp itself if necessary.

5. The Co-op's new HQ will house 4,000 of its staff and will be complete in September 2012.

6. Major new car park planned. Access to be gained from the inner ring-road, which is set to be re-routed.

7. Plot next to Angel Meadows has been identified as one of main areas for residential development.

8. Land opposite the CIS Tower, on the site of the former Arkwright's Mill earmarked for mixed-use development, comprising retail, residential and office space. Talks are underway with potential developers.

9. Space north of the CIS Tower is likely to be turned into office space, with a call centre one of the options being considered.[23]

  • Spinningfields - The major new Business District west of Deansgate is still undergoing large scale development, with numerous new buildings such as 2 & 3 Hardman Boulevard, 1 The Avenue, and 2 Hardman Square either under design or under construction.[24]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Ordnance Survey. "Source data - 1:25,000 Scale Colour Raster; Grid reference at centre - SJ 837 981 GB Grid". http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=SJ8379798104. Retrieved 7 November 2008. 
  2. ^ Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. "The Greater Manchester Area and its Regional Context". gmltp.co.uk. http://www.gmltp.co.uk/gmltp2_html/section_123173639918.html. Retrieved 11 April 2007. 
  3. ^ Manchester City Council. "City Centre Zoning Map" (GIF). manchester.gov.uk. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/CityCentreZoningMap.gif. Retrieved 9 June 2008. 
  4. ^ Central (Key Figures), neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. URL accessed March 20, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Gregory (2007), pp. 1, 3.
  6. ^ Hylton (2003), pp. 3, 8.
  7. ^ Hylton (2003), p. 7.
  8. ^ Newman (2006), p. 141.
  9. ^ Nevell (2008), p. 41.
  10. ^ Kidd (1996), p. 13.
  11. ^ Nevell (2008), p. 42.
  12. ^ McKechnie (1915), pp. 54–55.
  13. ^ "Central (ward): Ethnic group". Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5941650&c=M1+1AD&d=14&e=15&g=351218&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1241325606960&enc=1. Retrieved 3 May 2009. 
  14. ^ "Manchester (local authority): Ethnic group". Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276778&c=Manchester&d=13&e=15&g=351271&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1241326334581&enc=1&dsFamilyId=47. Retrieved 3 May 2009. 
  15. ^ "Central (ward): Key figures for physical environment". Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5941650&c=M1+1AD&d=14&e=8&g=351218&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=0&s=1241327115904&enc=1. Retrieved 3 May 2009. 
  16. ^ a b c "Central (ward): Key statistics". Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5941650&c=M1+1AD&d=14&e=15&g=351218&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1241325606960&enc=1. Retrieved 3 May 2009. 
  17. ^ "Central (ward): Marital status". Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=5941650&c=M1+1AD&d=14&e=15&g=351218&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1241327760415&enc=1&dsFamilyId=9. Retrieved 3 May 2009. 
  18. ^ "Central (ward): Household composition". Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=5941650&c=M1+1AD&d=14&e=15&g=351218&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1241327760400&enc=1&dsFamilyId=55. Retrieved 3 May 2009. 
  19. ^ Greater Manchester County Records Office: Wellington Inn
  20. ^ Thame, David (29 January 2008). "Plans for St Peter's Square". M.E.N. Media. http://menmedia.co.uk/news/business/s/1034096_plans_for_st_peters_square. 
  21. ^ http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200024/consultations/4749/st_peters_square_international_design_competition/1[dead link]
  22. ^ Keegan, Mike (8 March 2011). "Manchester's Cenotaph to be moved to make way for Metrolink tram line". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media). http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1410168_manchesters_cenotaph_to_be_moved_to_make_way_for_metrolink_tram_line. 
  23. ^ Jupp, Adam (7 July 2011). "Exciting times for the Co-op - it even flourishes in hard times". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media). http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1426089_exciting-times-for-the-co-op---it-even-flourishes-in-hard-times. 
  24. ^ http://www.spinningfieldsonline.com/spinningfields2/masterplan
Bibliography
  • Gregory, Richard (ed) (2007). Roman Manchester: The University of Manchester's Excavations within the Vicus 2001–5. Oxford: Oxbow Books. ISBN 978-1-84217-271-1. 
  • Hylton, Stuart (2003). A History of Manchester. Chichester: Phillimore and co. Ltd.. ISBN 1-86077-240-4. 
  • Kidd, Alan ([1996] 1993). Manchester. Keele: Keele University Press. ISBN 1-85331-028-X. 
  • McKechnie, H. M., ed. (1915). Manchester in Nineteen Hundred and Fifteen. Manchester: University of Manchester Press. 
  • Nevell, Mike (2008). Manchester: The Hidden History. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-4704-9. 
  • Newman, Caron (2006). "Medieval Period Resource Assessment". Archaeology North West 8: 115–144. ISSN 0962-4201. 

[edit] Further reading

  • Atkins, Philip (1976). Guide Across Manchester. Manchester: Civic Trust for the North West. ISBN 0-901347-29-9. 
  • Bradshaw, L. D. (1985). Origins of Street Names in the City of Manchester. Radcliffe: Neil Richardson. ISBN 0-907511-87-2. 

[edit] External links
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