The beauty of Manchester

[Fat Chance]

Hulmes wood

 

[jitsubluedan]

I used to work there. It was my first job. As you’re stood on Oxford Rd, say with your back to The Salisbury. Our office was the very top right hand side. We had to go up a marble staircase to the office. All the windows had Refuge Assurance imprinted on them. All newcomers to the company went on a weeks course at the start of employment to learn all about the background of the Refuge. It was one of those times where you never appreciated what you had. Just like the song goes “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”.

Lovely video that. It evoked memories of my first job after school, working as a clerical assistant at Refuge, in 1979. I've been past the building many times since, but not been inside. I've determined to pay a visit very soon.

I remember a lot of the places featured in the film. Fond memories of playing table tennis in the basement during our breaks. My colleagues programmed a golf game on an early programmable calculator.

My brother worked in the building opposite, for PZ. He once told our dad that he had taken a couple of days leave when in fact he had been suspended for throwing a filing cabinet out of the top window into the River Medlock, below.

My first job after leaving school in 1979 - joined on 2nd July and left in 1986 (before the planned move to Wilmslow).

Knew every inch of it (apart from the Director‘s offices on 2nd floor) because I had To deliver the memo’s from our dept (Field Staff) to all the other dept’s.

Beautiful building.

 

[lazerblue]

The Secret Lake is by the Mike Doyle Centre. Highfield Country Park and Nelstrop Lane on the Leve/Reddish border are pleasant enough, with the Thirlmere Aquaduct flowing by.

Loads of good suggestions so far. That's next Sunday sorted. Cheers.

we used to walk through that tunnel as kids, there was a swing made from a pit lift shaft cable fixed to the railings you can see above the tunnel entrance, happy days

 

[jimharri]

I used to work there. It was my first job. As you’re stood on Oxford Rd, say with your back to The Salisbury. Our office was the very top right hand side. We had to go up a marble staircase to the office. All the windows had Refuge Assurance imprinted on them. All newcomers to the company went on a weeks course at the start of employment to learn all about the background of the Refuge. It was one of those times where you never appreciated what you had. Just like the song goes “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”.

That's a great video. Thanks for posting it. It must have been a dream to work in such a building. Just a pity the extension was done in white, instead of matching the original building.

 

[normskih]

That's a great video. Thanks for posting it. It must have been a dream to work in such a building. Just a pity the extension was done in white, instead of matching the original building.

The video was by another poster but yes it was a great video. I cannot remember the reasoning for the extension to the building not being of the same because you can bet your bottom dollar today’s regs they would have to be. It’s a pity Manchester is losing all its character with these soulless sky scrapers, I’m really not a fan of them.

 

[Mike N]

I worked for Manchester Council for 25 years and I always loved going to the Town Hall for meetings, events etc. From the fantastic stairs and corridors, committee rooms, Council Chamber to the tiny offices in the eaves, it was a treat to be there.

It’s the absolute pride of Manchester and to think it was suggested to demolish it in the 1950’s!

Let’s hope it comes back better than ever when they finish the refurbishment.

 

[jimharri]

The video was by another poster but yes it was a great video. I cannot remember the reasoning for the extension to the building not being of the same because you can bet your bottom dollar today’s regs they would have to be. It’s a pity Manchester is losing all its character with these soulless sky scrapers, I’m really not a fan of them.

Agreed. For all its reputation for being a shithole, Manchester has some stunning old buildings. The Refuge, Town Hall, Central Library (though I've not been in since it was renovated), Chetham's, the Cathedral, Shambles Square, the Midland Hotel, etc etc. These buildings need to be cherished and protected from "progress". Compare the Beetham/Hilton tower to the Refuge. In terms of scale, there's no contest, obviously. But I know which one I'd choose to stay in for a night, ghost or no ghost!

 

[mancityvstoke]

BBC1 now....Gorton Monastery

 

[Starr Gate Blue]

During the 2nd World War my Uncle John was sent to South Africa to train as a pilot. While he was over there he met a local lass and became smitten. On completion of his training he gave her his address so they could exchange letters. She saw "Cornbrook" in his address and remarked that it sounded idyllic. He didn't have the heart to tell her what it was really like.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

"From this foul drain a great stream of human industry flows out to fertilize the whole world. From this filthy sewer pure gold flows. Here humanity attains its most complete development and its most brutish. Here civilization works its miracles and civilized man is turned almost into a savage."
- Alexis de Tocqueville, c. 1830.

I miss the old city centre, John Rylands and the Central Library with the round reading room, and the Free Trade Hall where we had our school speech/prize days which ended with singing "Jerusalem" in hope of better days to come.