THE LEVENSHULME PUB is on Stockport Road, the A6. The pub is a typical establishment of the late 19th century. Though reasonably well-maintained and recently painted, the letters on the sign have become detached and crooked, echoing the ones on the 19th century 'Gorton Levenshulme' sign next to Matthews Lane

EWM says: At first I though the crooked letters were a deliberate part of the sign, but on closer inspection, it seems no-one has noticed the letters are about to fall off. The address of the pub is number 9 something 9 Stockport Road - the middle number has dropped off! Come on, proprietors, let's get Levenshulme spruced up again!

THE FORMER LEVENSHULME COUNCIL OFFICES opened just over 100 years ago - the stone at the top is inscribed 1893. In subsequent years, Levenshulme was fully incorporated into the City of Manchester.This building now houses the Levenshulme Antiques Village. Levenshulme is famous for its many antiques and second hand furniture shops. The sign next to the entrance says: "All day full English breakfast, unlimited toast tea or coffee £3".

May remembers the 1920's when she went to dances at Levenshulme Council Offices: "We went dancing there, they used to hold functions there there were all sorts of functions held there, betweeen age 17 till I got married. It was a bit more sophisticated. It was a night out, you put a proper evening dress on. You'd have a real dance dress and dance shoes. The men sometimes wore gloves so as not to mark your dress. They had cards where you booked the name for the dances. You got a card when you bought your ticket and you got booked up. They'd have at least three in it. There would be a dance band. I remember my dress, it was all diamante - open to the waist, just think of it! Then I had a long train - long at the back short at the front. It was a special occasion. The men would have evening suits on."

Rich says: "This is the Town Hall. It was the Town Hall. Levenshulme was its own self-governing borough until it became part of Manchester. It's now used as an antiques village. It's lovely inside and it's got an excellent cafe that does a full English breakfast on a Sunday morning. And it's got a salvage yard out the back, where you can get original tiles, fireplaces, radiators, doors, Victoriana and Edwardian type furniture and fittings. On that stretch of Stockport Road there are lots of other antiques shops, in fact it's become a centre for antiques. It's one of the main attractions for people who don't live in Levenshulme to come for the antiques."

MANY FURNITURE AND DIY RELATED SHOPS line Stockport Road, the A6 in Levenshulme. This one unfortunately has seen better days - a sign of the economic decline which has blighted Levenshulme and other Manchester districts in the post-war years. The end terraced house has been partially demolished, leaving the wooden shop front bearing the words "Doors bought & sold". The rotting wooden facade is covered in fly posters, including 'Legacy Dry 201' and 'Obsessionz Goldy' (night club/bar events) and the singer Cara Dillon performing at Night and Day Cafe.

EWM says: What we see here is a potent symbol of decline. Returning to this spot in April 2002 I found evidence that things are about to change for the better. See below.

DISUSED LEVENSHULME SOUTH STATION BUILDING stands on Stockport Road, and in November 2001 is standing empty and available for letting. Previously it was used as a second hand furniture store.

There is a matching station building in Fallowfield, though one half was demolished to make way for the new Sainsbury's supermarket.

EWM says: This building has fantastic potential, as a shop or cafe bar. Best of all, it should still be in use as a station, but it's too late for that now.

LEVENSHULME STATION, later renamed Levenshulme South station opened in 1892. It was one of the stations on the South Manchester Loop Line, which was built to allow access to Central Station from the east. The station building has escaped demolition and is in remarkably good condition. Passenger services on this line were never busy and finally ceased in the 1960's.

EWM says: Please e-mail me to find out about an excellent book on the South Manchester Loop Line by local railway historian Eddie Johnson.

WE ARE STANDING ON THE TRACKBED of the South Manchester Loop Line looking towards the A6 Stockport Road bridge, and the disused Levenshulme South Station. The tracks, sleepers and ballast have all disappeared. The bridges and walls are built in the dark blue bricks used in railway construction in the late 19th and early 20th century. Passenger services on this line ceased in the 1960's, but the line remained open for freight until 1987. Now the Friends of the South Manchster Loop Line are turning the line into a greenway for use by walkers and cyclists. This section has not yet been given a tarmac covering.

EWM says: Please e-mail me to find out more about the Friends of the South Manchester Loop Line.

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