THIS IS TIB STREET, in Manchester's Northern Quarter, and the building on the right is Affleck's Palace, where you'll find shops selling second hand clothes, records and magazines and other weird and wonderful stuff.

It's a bohemian place full of way out people and reflects the character of the Northern Quarter.

Affleck's Palace is housed in the building which was once Affleck and Brown's Department Store, hence the name.

THE JUNCTION OF OLDHAM STREET AND DALE STREET is about half way between Piccadilly and Great Ancoats Street, which you'll reach if you continue down along Oldham Street on the left of the picture.

Oldham Street is lined with some fascinating facades, more and more of which are being renovated after years of neglect.

STEVENSON SQUARE is close to the heart of Manchester city centre's bohemian Northern Quarter.

We are looking south west from Lever Street towards Newton Street. On all sides are mainly 19th century facades which at first sight look rather plain and shabby, but on closer inspection reveal themselves to be quite attractive and worthy of renovation.

In this area there are lots of textile stores run by Asian entrepreneurs. A branch of the Habib Bank (Zurich) is on the left.

EWM says: I can see Stevenson Square as a pedestrianised area full of shops and cafes. But while millions of pounds are being wasted on an ill-conceived scheme two minutes away in Piccadilly, Stevenson Square remains untouched and used only for car and bus parking.

STEVENSON SQUARE is close to the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter, only a couple of minutes walk from Piccadilly.

It is cut in two by Lever Street which we see here.

Habib House, owned by the Habib Bank Zurich AG is on the right. The brick facade on the left appears to have been rebuilt in the original style of buildings on the square.

This whole area retains the character of 'old' Manchester, being largely untouched by post-war development, except for one or two eyesores: What's that modern building along Lever St to the right?

EWM says: Stevenson Square is run down and neglected but it could be turned into an attractive Parisian-style square.

STEVENSON SQUARE has for years been important as a bus terminus, though nowadays it is used mostly as a layover area while drivers are taking their breaks.

This is a 730 bus displaying 'Not In Service'. The driver is taking a break before proceeding to the bus stop round the corner on Oldham Street to pick up more passengers.

The bus is operated by Mayne, based in Clayton. Mayne is the only independent bus company to have remained independent during the years of amalgamation from the early 70's to 1986. Still very much in business today, their traditional-style red and cream livery remains unchanged.

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | EWM home page