Urban Wandering: Manchester

Firstly I have to apologise and point out that this is only the tiniest of urban wanders in what looks like an incredible city for that past time. We were only in this magnificent city for a mere 24 hours, and the primary reason for my visit was to take my eldest on the Old Trafford tour, and he, somewhat strangely if you ask me, would rather look at an old, sweaty pair of goalkeeper gloves that Peter Schmeichel once wore, than look at old factories, disused railway lines, ghost signs and wasteland-cum-edgeland. Each to their own I guess, but having said that, the Old Trafford tour was quite impressive, particularly the more historic parts of the exhibition.

Needless to say however, when he wasn't looking, or rather when he was looking embarrassed at how sad he thought we were, I did manage to take some photos. As already mentioned, these represent just the smallest fragment of a city that's waiting for me to return and explore it properly.

This first photo is of an abandoned post office, sat pretty much on its own. You can just about make out the words Post Office despite them beingnow painted black on a black background.

Abandoned Post Office, Manchester City Centre

This next picture is of the former entrance to the Granada TV Studios. Again, as with the abandoned post office above, an attempt has been made to disguise or camouflage the features of this signage, by painting the sign and background in the same colour. Wikipedia has a picture of what this used to look like here.

 Former entrance to the Granada TV Studios, Manchester

Hard to say whether this next picture shows something abandoned, or something still in use but not taken much care of. The condition of the lock gates suggest that some restoration has taken place, but the trees growing out of the lock walls suggest not too recently.

 Small lock on a canal linking up with the River Irwell, Manchester

I don't know about anyone else, but I find this next picture rather sad.What used to be the rather impressive looking Knott Mill Station, complete with sign, has bee replaced with Deansgate station, with a quite hideous new sign, slapped directly below the original one.

Knott Mill Station (now Deansgate station), Manchester

As we approach Old Trafford, there were two of these impressive sculptures and I just had enough time to snap this one before having to hurry so we weren't late for the tour.

One of the "Skyhooks" sculptures, Old Trafford, Manchester

 This photo came out a lot better than it looked on my phone, which just looked dark and grim. This is an old warehouse, complete with ghost sign, near Old Trafford.

Ghost sign for the Liverpool Warehousing Company, Old Trafford, Manchester