A Manchester View

[Phil Blinkhorn]

David Boardman is currently updating his site which contains useful information/pictures on Manchester in general and Longsight/Belle Vue etc. in particular.

His new gateway which leads into the multi-faceted site is:
Untitled Document... I promise this DOES lead to the correct page!!

Well worth a look.

[Mamucium Son]

Cheers for that Phil. Looks like an interesting little site. I love the picture of the bridge across Hanging Ditch, in fact that's the first time I have seen it set in context with the Cathedral.

[Seabee443]

Thanks Phil it was well worth a look at that little site I hope he develops it further. puts Manchester history in context

[aidanorourke]

I would say it's more than a little site, it's quite a substantial repository of local information from the 1950s and 60s when the author was growing up in that area - very close to where I live now. I love the way he mixes family photos taken in the area with other old photos as well as contemporary ones. There are maps too, showing the location of playgrounds, for instance the Sand Park, which I never knew existed.

Go to the home page for the entire Manchester History net site here Untitled Document

I've been in contact with David on and off for quite a few years and met him once in Manchester.

I can't help feeling, looking at the photos and accounts of growing up in that area, that the failed urban planning projects of the 1960s and 70s ended up destroying much that was good in that district.

The Grove Village development over on the other side of Stockport Rd appears to be achieving something better in contemporary times. And there is quite a nice new play area there, where I visited recently with 6 year old Adele. It doesn't have a 'witches hat' roundabout though!

[Henry Mantell]

David's site has long been a wonderful source of memories and collection of images and the new material mixes history and personal recollection of discoveries.
As Aidan indicated the correspondence from former Mancunians around the world supports the view that this is a popular and well supported site.I've found it informative and reminds me of the 1960's in the area. Phil's contributions about Belle Vue are invaluable of course!
Long may David continue to build the site! Beautifully illustrated and methodically compiled.

[Ashtonian]

I've been looking for pictures of Exchange Station for ages what a great link Phil