Member Login:
 Not a member? Register free!

Manchester ARTICLES

Famous Manchester Landmarks Entertain Thousands

16th November 2008

The Free Trade Hall is a famous landmark of Manchester and was built in 1838 to house the meetings of the Anti-Corn Law League. Politicians and mill owners joined together to protest against the introduction of the Corn Law.

The hall was near to where the St Peter’s Fields massacre in 1819 occurred, which was known as Peterloo.

Architect Edward Walters designed the building and introduced carved stonework and ornamentation, which was an epiphany of 19th Century design.

During World War II the Free Trade Hall was bombed, leaving it closed until 1951.

The building was then turned into a concert hall with Bob Dylan Play in 1966.

The Free Trade Hall has now being converted into a hotel and has still preserved it Italianate frontage.

Another landmark of Manchester is The Town Hall, situated in Albert Square and was built in 1877. The design is neo-gothic and was designed by Alfred Waterhouse who was a leading architect of his time.

The building is on a triangular site and is made from pale stone with a grand frontage overlooking Albert Square. At the front of the Town Hall is a statue Roman Governor Agricola, who was the founder of Manchester.

The Great Hall displays 12 murals taking you through the different stages of Manchester’s history. Manchester’s symbol of bees is also represented in the mosaic tiles of the Great Hall.

In 1938 Vincent Harris built the Extension that joined together the Town Hall and the Central library with bridges.

Visitors to the Town Hall are allowed to wonder round or take a guided tour of the premises.

The Corn Exchange now called The Triangle, was completed in 1903 and is a dominant landmark of Manchester. The building was at the forefront of regional trading and agriculture produce and is now a Grade II listed building.

The building is encased with a magnificent glass dome and has tiered side offices.

The building were badly affected by the bombings of World War II, fortunately many of the originals features were saved in the devastation that followed.

During the 1980’s The Corn Exchange was damaged again due to a bomb planted by the IRA.

The building is now called The Triangle and was opened in 2000 with its state of the art shopping centre.

Source: Tour UK