This post is based on a walk in town on a visit home, a few weeks before moving back – it made me see the changes in Manchester but I also like that the history of it’s industrial past had not been lost.
The walk up the side of Debenhams Department Store travels away from the busy shopping area that is Market St and towards the more ‘arty’ Northern Quarter, once a key part of the city’s manufacturing past – full of factories making and selling the wares of the textile trade.
A bright red sign reading ‘Sacha’s Hotel’ stands somewhat out of place to the right, in front of which stepping stones of contemplation direct the walker to Afflecks Palace – an indoor jewel of alternative fashion and culture. One of the stones reads “where the dying dust of dreams slides, where the ….feed,” the well worn pavement has led to missing letters so this story is lost, no one bothered replacing them, this was a project of a past council no doubt.
Paving stones – by poet Lemn Sissay
The outside of the Affleck’s building is an indicative clue of the treasure trove inside – a colourful tiled mural of Coronation Street characters past and present replaces some of the brickwork, I miss the giant metal flowers once attached to the top half shouting out wanting to be noticed. I haven’t wondered inside for over 6 years, but from what I remember – inside can be found three floors filled with tattoo parlours, specialist stores for the Goth look, a café – once the inside of a bus, body piercing salons, and any type of unusual fashion, gift shops, jewellery stores that can be imagined. And there is the wonderful culture of the place, in that regardless of the diversity of customers this place draws, each group readily accepts the other.
Afflecks how I remember it – with the flowers.
So past Afflecks and onto Thomas St, where the factory buildings of old still stand, although their use has changed considerably.
Many trendy café’s and bars now occupy the street level of these historic but functionally designed buildings. So, past ‘Home Sweet Home Bakery’ and many other similar eateries, until there it is ‘The Tea Cup’, the few chairs outside sit unused, the weather explains why. The window is painted with mini red love hearts and a large tea pot. Inside, little red wooden chairs sit happily either side of plain wood tables, the place has a lovely homely feel about it – the staff wear cute aprons. The whole area has the feel of London’s Spittlefields, or perhaps how it may have once been when still in development.
Tea Cup Cafe – Thomas St
On leaving the café the other side of the Thomas St has yet to be renovated and gives a better understanding of this changing place – next to the closed down ‘Akbar’s Trimmings’ sits a boarded up shop taken over by graffiti, and not the beautiful kind; Refugee Action is also closed – there seems to be a sad irony in that.
Fish Market
Finally, the street leads onto the old fish market, the exterior wall still stands, with its grand, imposing, yet decorative gate and panels above showing scenes of fishermen and their families that give some indication of life in the late 1800s. Now of course, behind this front sits a modern apartment complex – there’s something wonderful about this.
citywondering 