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Then and Now: The Blue Pig, Audenshaw

THEN: The Blue Pig in 1905

The Blue Pig, later renamed Ye Olde Blue Pig, on Audenshaw Road, shows no sign of drying up, and is as much a well-known landmark as ever it was.

In fact, it survived many changes at a time when other places were drowned out by the three reservoirs constructed by Manchester corporation during the 19th century.

Sadly, even the older image of the popular hostelry taken in 1905 does little to convey that Audenshaw started life as a largely rural area with a few cottages dotted around where brick buildings now stand.

NOW: Ye Olde Blue Pig

Iron and steel works became the main employers, and light engineering also contributed to transforming it from its former rural state.

Today, Audenshaw looks like an area enjoying its hard-fought escape from the decline of industry in the second half of the 20th century, when demolition and slum clearance had to be endured if the redevelopment of communities was to be made possible.

The archive photograph is part of a collection chronicling the changing face of Manchester during the past 250 years.

The collection of 77,000 images can be found on computer at Manchester Central Library.

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