Before the Renaissance: the state of Manchester in the 1950s and 1960s

Before the Renaissance: the state of Manchester in the 1950s and 1960s

Join us for an intriguing journey back in time as we explore the fascinating history of Manchester in the 1950s and 1960s. "In the mid-1950s Manchester was in a sorry state. The city had been physically battered by the war, while its economic base had been badly damaged by forty years of decline in key industries. Public health was poor, pollution of air and water was exceptionally high, the housing stock was deteriorating, the transport infrastructure was decaying, and to many observers it seemed that Manchester had had its day. But the City Council had other plans: carrying on the pre-war policy of 'decentralising' population by building overspill estates; wholesale redevelopment of vast swathes of the urban fabric; replanning the city centre; building urban motorways; and ensuring that gleaming white concrete replaced the sooty black brick and stone. It was a utopian vision, and with the benefit of hindsight we know that it quickly went sour and left a bitter legacy. The 1950s and 1960s made an indelible mark on Manchester - not only physically but also socially, even emotionally. For better or for worse, this is one of the key periods in the city's long history."