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This plan from 1935 shows how Sir Ernest Simon - a former Lord Mayor of Manchester - imagined the city centre being redeveloped.
Almost a hundred years on, it's fascinating to see how close he was with some of it - and how far off in other respects.
THREAD.
Almost a hundred years on, it's fascinating to see how close he was with some of it - and how far off in other respects.
THREAD.
He felt it "highly unsatisfactory" that the "busiest shopping street" was also a "main trunk road".
His solution is shown below - setting aside Market Street for shopping and shifting traffic onto the parallel Cannon Street.
Market Street was finally pedestrianised in 1981.
His solution is shown below - setting aside Market Street for shopping and shifting traffic onto the parallel Cannon Street.
Market Street was finally pedestrianised in 1981.
He was less prescient with the other main change that extract shows - a new cathedral (he would have settled for an art gallery) and park on a huge chunk of what is now the Northern Quarter.
It would've been lovely though - much better than what's there at the minute.
It would've been lovely though - much better than what's there at the minute.
The new cathedral park was to mirror another park at the opposite end of Mosley Street.
This second new park included a much needed "new exhibition centre" just yards from Central Station - which is now Manchester Central exhibition centre!
This second new park included a much needed "new exhibition centre" just yards from Central Station - which is now Manchester Central exhibition centre!
Traffic congestion was a big issue too, so he proposed an inner ring road linking up and widening existing streets where possible.
That's almost what we have today.
This is the section on Water Street but you can trace the whole route on the first image in this thread.
That's almost what we have today.
This is the section on Water Street but you can trace the whole route on the first image in this thread.
The very centre of the city - shown with a thick black line -was to be closed to through-traffic. That's still an aspiration of @ManCityCouncil - they're getting closer and closer.
You can also see the enlarged civic centre either side of St Peter Square.
You can also see the enlarged civic centre either side of St Peter Square.
Like today, homes were an important part of the mix too.
Outside the very centre were to be "municipal flats" with a range of services and facilities. You can see another new park in the bottom right.
Again, that's not far from what @ManCityCouncil are trying to achieve today.
Outside the very centre were to be "municipal flats" with a range of services and facilities. You can see another new park in the bottom right.
Again, that's not far from what @ManCityCouncil are trying to achieve today.
It's striking how we're grappling with many of the same issues almost a hundred years on.
Traffic congestion
Pedestrian friendly streets
Sustainable communities
Central green spaces
I wonder whether those would be better or worse today if this had been delivered?
Traffic congestion Pedestrian friendly streets Sustainable communities Central green spacesI wonder whether those would be better or worse today if this had been delivered?
The plan is taken from "The Rebuilding of Manchester" by Sir Ernest Simon and John Inman (not that one), published in 1935.
It's a fascinating read if you can find a copy.
It's a fascinating read if you can find a copy.
