I am using the same methodology to research a new location in Manchester for practice 3. I have not yet decided upon an area to research but am initially drawn to an area called Chorlton on Medlock, which is around Oxford Road in Manchester. I have started by looking at maps of the area from the 1840s. This area is diverse in terms of both residential properties and public buildings.
I am primarily interested in places where people gathered, public buildings such as libraries, churches, hospitals, shopping arcades, theatres and dance halls. Chorlton on Medlock has a lot of these buildings. Many of these buildings exist today, although some have undergone changes of use.
In terms of residential buildings of that time, the poorest citizens lived nearest the city centre and properties increased in size and value as one moved outwards through Chorlton on Medlock. The poorest part of this area was 'Little Ireland', where mill workers lived in single rooms, this area was completely demolished in the 1880s, so no houses survive from that time.The houses on Waterloo Place had small front gardens and larger rear gardens, whilst the mansions of Victoria park were much more substantial. See below left to right.
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