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Then and Now: Rochdale Road, Blackley

THEN: Victoria Road in 1898

But in 1898 this cheap form of travel also brought with it an easy pace at which to take in the beautiful Victorian architecture that you could see all around the North Manchester district of Blackley.

Typically, everyone caught on camera in the older image, including the little boy at the front of the bus, is wearing a hat - from the working men's flat cap and the bowler-hatted gent, to the dandy, boater-style head gear worn by the bus conductor.

NOW: Trams have been replaced by buses

Despite many internal and external alterations over the years, the building has retained its eye-catching architecture - even buses still pass by.

In stark contrast, the building jutting out further down on the left of the picture is a modern leisure centre, a striking angled building with, arguably, none of the grand style or finesse of the Farmyard pub.

THE archive photograph is part of a collection chronicling the changing face of Manchester during the past 250 years on a computer at Manchester Central Library.

Do you have any memories of the area?

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