850: The City Road Inn, City Rd Whitworth St junction at dusk Mar1999

This distinctive pub with tower and curved facade stands at the intersection of Whitworth St and City Rd. A train is passing over the bridge on its way to Oxford Rd station. (Other keywords: pubs, night)

851: Virgin Trains loco crossing viaduct at Whitworth St, with GMEX (Central Station)

The sun brings out the red of the brickwork and of the paintwork of the locomotive passing overhead. Those green cast iron reinforcements look new, but in fact they can be seen on old photographs from 100 years ago. Through the arch, we see the GMEX centre, formerly Central Station and just to the right, the Rotunda of the former Hacienda building. (Other keywords: Trains, public transport, industrial revolution)

852: Manchester Town Hall & Victoria Fountain with light blue sky Mar1999

Bright but slightly hazy sunshine in the early part of March 1999 made ideal conditions for photography. Here, the tower of the Town Hall points upwards into a clear light blue sky - at the very top is golden sun which signifies that wherever the sun shines, Manchester has trade. In the bottom left, water spews out of the mouth of a winged griffin and falls into the fountain. I wonder what the winged griffin symbolises. Can anyone help? (Other keywords: Victorian, Albert Square, Town Hall, Victoria Fountain)

853: 33 to Wigan passes Bridgewater Hall Lower Mosley Street Mar1999

Red buses are normally associated with London, but vehicles operated in and around north Manchester by FirstBus are painted bright red. This one is heading for Wigan, the westernmost of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs. Behind is the Bridgewater Hall - on this site stood the old Lower Mosley Street bus station. I have vivid memories of departing to Blackpool and London from the station which had distinctive white tiles and railings. Keywords: buses, public transport

855: "Chain" sculpture Trafford Park March 1999

Two of these gravity-defying pieces of art can be seen at the entrance to Trafford Park near at Old Trafford, near the Trafford Road Bridge Keywords: sculpture, art, docks, Trafford Park

856: NEW JURY'S HOTEL, overloooking Ashton Canal, Manchester Mar1999

Here we see the new Jury's Hotel nearing completion. It's part of a group of new buildings built along the canal during the late1 1990's, transforming this district into a vibrant tourist and residential area. (Other keywords: hotels, water)

857: Piccadilly Plaza from York St Mosley St corner March 1999

Piccadilly Plaza is to be fully refurbished - work has already started on Bernard House, the smaller of the two multi-storey blocks. Cutting across the top left of the photo is the Metrolink overhead power cable. The 3-way rotating advertisement is showing the Chanel No 5 advert. A Mazda MX-5 crosses the Metrolink tracks into York St. Keywords: offices, redevelopment, 20th century Manchester

See also these views:

858: ELK MILL ROYTON 20Mar1999

Elk Mill was the last cotton spinning mill to be built in the UK. It was demolished in 1999 to make way for an extension to the trading estate adjacent to it. (Keywords: mills, Oldham, demolition)

From: "leslie wilbraham" <bar@ihorizons.net>
To: <aidan@anamaria.u-net.com>
Subject: elk mill
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 02:51:17 -0500

Regarding the Elk Mill. My father, Harry Wilbraham worked there before W.W.2. He lived on Middleton Road in Royton. He worked in the mule spinning room. I had a sister, Iris, now living in Kenner, Louisana, U.S.A., just outside New Orleans. Myself, Leslie, worked at Platt Bros, Oldham, from 1937 until 1955. when I transferred to a customer plant near Kingston, Ontario, Canada. I was an overseas out-fitter. Nice to talk, Les

Thanks - gone but not forgotten! Maybe some people out there may know you or your kinfolk.

859: VIEW OF OLDHAM DISTRICT from Tandle Hill Country Park, Royton. 20Mar1999.

We can see here how the mill buildings dominate the scene. It would be a great pity if, like Elk Mill, they were to disappear. Keywords: views, Tandle Hill

From: "Brian Oakley" <oakley@sinfo.net>
To: <aidan@anamaria.u-net.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 21:54:26 -0500

Pleased to see you visited Tandle Hill Park during your visit to Royton to record the demise of the Elk Mill, the new landscape will certainly make a big change to the surrounding views. I enjoyed the panoramic view over Oldham, many of the landmarks are quite familiar. I think Boundary Park football ground is just visible at centre right hand side.