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I went out around Manchester to test out my new camera in daylight...
And if you've come to my site looking for porn (as so many do) you're going to
be bitterly disappointed to arrive at this page and find a photo of a library!
Yes this is Manchester's Central Library building, built around 1930. In fact
the library service here is currently celebrating its 150th anniversay.
Soon after I moved back to Manchester in 1997, they had a special event where
they kept this building open all night, with coffee and guided tours. We went,
and I thought the idea was inspired. But they haven't repeated it...
It's hard to get a good shot of this building now, because of the tram platforms
and clutter in front on it.
Around the corner, some kind of filming was in progress at the Town Hall. This
Victorian building often doubles as the Houses of Parliament, in movies and on
TV.
It was still warm enough for people to sit out sipping coffee on King Street.
NEXT, the Royal Exchange. I'd never taken a photo in here before... Amazing fact
for the day: at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, more
than 80% of all the world trade in finished cloth was controlled from here.
Unfortunately the building was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World
War and it took 13 years to restore it. By which time other countries had begun
to take control of the cotton and other industries. The Exchange closed to that
business in 1968.
However, in 1976, a theatre opened, housed in a high-tech modern structure in
the centre of the hall. In 1996, the building was seriously damaged by another
bomb. This one planted by the IRA in the street outside. Luckily no one was hurt.
Two years, and £30m, later the Royal Exchange reopened again, with an enlarged
theatre.
A bit of a visual joke by the designer I guess... The concrete blocks seem to
echo the tower in the background. I get the strong feeling that someone visualised
this view on a computer. Everything seems to fit together too perfectly!
A colourful tattooist shop. Nooooo, you won't get me into one of those places.
I can't imagine what I would have as a tattoo. I would be too afraid of it looking
old fashioned and embarrassing after just a few years.
More pics from this day >>
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