Victoria Baths, Manchester

Victoria Baths is a phenomenal building - winner of the first BBC 'Restoration' programme. Named from the local estate, it is an Edwardian masterpiece that is in the process of being restored. I visited as part of the Heritage Open Day programme - it's well worth a visit at any time.

It contains a welter of fantastic glass that is worth a visit just to see this. Really superb detail and vibrant colours.










It was of course a multi-functional building, with swimming as one of the major facilities available. Not all the pools are open as some still need repair, but this reflection shot gives some idea of the magnificent pool architecture there is.














The building contains a mass of incredible detail, such as the mosaic floors in the reception areas. Showing the impact of many years of wear now, they demonstrate the incredible expense that was incurred in the construction of this building.












The complex was not solely for swimming though, and this shot of part of the renovated Turkish Bath really demonstrates the variety of facilities available, and the fantastic architecture.

Manchester Pride 2013

Every year Manchester has its pride parade - a fantastic celebration which the whole city enjoys - gay and straight.

Always makes me feel proud to be part of such a vibrant place, and a son of such a welcoming city that embraces diversity

Manchester Details

Just wandering through the city this morning, and was struck by some of the details surrounding me.

Ancoats in Manchester

So much of this major part of the world's first industrial city has been lost, that I spent the day trying to record what is left.  I didn't want to simply note the new shiny Ancoats. This district has a long history of industry and workers living cheek by jowl, the grime from the mills and other factories permeating even into the front rooms of the millworkers. From Ancoats Mrs Bing was one of the official party unveiling the Manchester cenotaph after the Great War – having lost her sons in the horrific episode. It is one of the settings for a fantastic book that is not particularly well known now called ‘Fame is the Spur’ by Howard Spring, about the life of one of the first Labour politicians. Walking through it today it’s hard to recognise the realities of life in Victorian Ancoats. But the photos provide some kind of record, I hope, of what remains in the early part of the twenty-first century, before the last remnants of the neighbourhood finally disappear.

Many people see this wonderful iron bridge  across the Rochdale Canal from Great Ancoats Street. The immediate area has been substantially landscaped over later years, providing modern seating and a pleasant place to sit and relax – so very different from the original Ancoats 

The interior of this mill is really different. These are the main steps up to the offices and they contain the only bow windows in the entire mill. As such they would allow an uninterrupted view across the loading area as barges carrying goods in or out were loaded in the mills own canal basin. This mill was one of the few to have their own basin within the mill complex.

The remains of some of the buildings show how nature is
reclaiming many of the abandoned buildings

Many of the older buildings have been preserved and developed for housing and commercial use. Whilst many (myself included) decry the loss of so much of our heritage, I also do appreciate that these need to be living buildings, in some form, if they are to survive.