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Then and Now: Beswick Street, East Manchester

THEN: Beswick Street in 1899

Gone are the horse and cart and the old-style terrace homes which dominate the picture taken in about 1899 on Beswick Street which runs into Ashton Old Road.

Today, the car is king and more modern homes have replaced the bleak 19th century row, although the cobbled street surface remains.

During that 100 years, the fortunes of the area have risen and declined dramatically.

Then, east Manchester was regarded as the country's powerhouse and a centre for heavy industry.

NOW: All change, but the cobbles remain

Many of the people who worked in these industries would have lived in the terraces shown here. However, during the 1970s and 1980s the area faced rapid decline. The result was a fall in the population of the area and a collapse in housing markets.

But a brighter future is being plotted after the success of the Commonwealth Games, which have been used as a catalyst to reinvigorate east Manchester.

Millions of pounds are being spent to create jobs, new homes, schools and to attract people back to the area.

The old photograph is part of a large collection of pictures showing changing Manchester kept on an easy-to-use computer at Manchester Central Library.

Do you have any memories of the area?

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