From its fascinating architecture to its remarkable sporting history, Manchester is a major cultural hub, often referred to as England’s second city. But did you know that Manchester was also the world’s first industrial city?
This northern powerhouse was the birthplace of the UK Industrial Revolution, home to the country’s first-ever inter-city railway and working canal. It also became the largest primary producer of cotton. In the 19th century, the city was at the centre of a global trade network, with textiles as the driving force. With towering mills and busy warehouses at its core, Manchester became a melting pot of production and saw rapid expansion.
Today, Manchester is home to several fascinating heritage sites where you can learn more about its industrial history.
These sites include:
Read on as we take you through each of these locations and the part they played during the first Industrial Revolution.
Located in Deansgate, Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum is perhaps the best place to learn more about the first Industrial Revolution in England. Opened in 1983, the museum lies on the site of the world’s first inter-city railway station, Manchester Liverpool Street. For over 140 years, this site was a scene of constant activity, with people and goods travelling in and out of Manchester.
Inside the museum, you can explore Revolution Manchester, a permanent gallery full of impressive artefacts from the Industrial Revolution. Find out more about key engineers, such as Richard Roberts and Joseph Whitworth, who helped transform Manchester into a global powerhouse. Take a look around the Textiles Gallery and find out why the city was dubbed as ‘Cottonpolis’ and how cotton shaped Manchester into an urban metropolis.
Find out about up-to-date opening times and book your free tickets here.
Based in a restored Edwardian Pump House, Manchester’s People’s History Museum documents the history of working people in the UK. The museum’s main gallery features an entire theme dedicated to the Industrial Revolution.
Here you can learn about the effects of the Industrial Revolution and the struggles that working-class people faced. Many workers had to endure appalling living conditions, and because Manchester had little political structure, nothing could be done to improve people’s situations. Protests took place as a result.
The People’s History Museum is free to visit, but there is a suggested donation of £5.00. Find out about up-to-date opening times here.
Before the arrival of industry in the 1760s, Castlefield was a peaceful rural backwater situated on the northern bank of the River Medlock. During the Industrial Revolution, it became the central location of industrialisation in Britain. It was here that the world’s first industrial canal, The Bridgewater, opened in 1762. Castlefield is also home to the world’s first canal warehouse, built around 1770.
Ancoats is a significant landmark in the history of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester. The industrialisation of this area began in the late 18th century and expanded quickly after Rochdale Canal was opened in 1804. The opening of the canal meant that raw goods could be transported into the heart of Ancoats, and large mills were built in the neighbourhood as a result.
Ancoats became the home of the city’s first mills, including Victoria Mills, Dalton Mill and Lonsdale Mill. It soon became known as the ‘workshop of the world’, and by 1815, it was the most overcrowded area in Manchester. Many of Ancoats’ mills were involved in creating cotton, but the manufacturing of flint glass also became more frequent during the 19th century.
Today, Ancoats is full of modern office blocks and flats. However, you can still witness some of the impressive mills once used in the district – a reminder of Manchester’s industrial past.
Situated just outside of Manchester in the small village of Styal is the Quarry Bank Mill, a cotton mill built by Samuel Greg in 1784. This important historical hotspot is one of the best-preserved textile factories of the Industrial Revolution and sheds light on what life was like for a mill worker during this time. The mill is a grade II listed building and still retains its original appearance.
Take a look inside the mill and see the heritage machinery in action. Visitors can find out more about the Revolution’s global cotton trade and the conditions for those who worked in the mill. Learn about the life and legacy of Samuel Greg, who arrived in England from Belfast as a boy and went on to establish a cotton empire.
Quarry Bank Mill is open as a museum and is run by the National Trust. Find out about up-to-date opening times and ticket prices on the Quarry Bank website.
Venture slightly out of Manchester to Ramsbottom, Bury, where you’ll find the iconic Peel Tower. This monument pays tribute to Sir Robert Peel, the son of the wealthiest textile manufacturer of the Industrial Revolution. Peel was famous for founding the metropolitan police and served twice as Prime Minister.
This 1852 Peel Tower memorial stands 128-feet-high on Holcombe Hill and offers picturesque views across Manchester. It's definitely worth the steep climb up the hill to reach the Tower!
Planning a trip to Manchester? Whether you’re visiting the city’s heritage sites, seeing a show, or enjoying a spot of shopping, our Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels offer the perfect base in this dynamic city.
Located just minutes from Manchester Oxford Road station, our Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central hotel is the ideal home away from home, featuring spacious rooms, an outstanding restaurant and an all-day Costa Coffee bar.
Or enjoy complete relaxation at our Leonardo Hotel Manchester Piccadilly, with a modern on-site gym for guests to use during their stay.
Alternatively, book a room at our Midland Hotel. Located on Peter Street in the heart of the city, this historic hotel boasts total luxury and is a true Manchester icon. With their central locations, our Manchester hotels are only a short walk away from some of Manchester’s top attractions.
