manchester tourist guide central art galleries
Wednesday, 23rd July 2003
Arts and Crafts & Art Nouveau Detail from Victoria BathsIn Britain, Glasgow's Charles Rennie Mackintosh is famous for his work in the period. Manchester has the remarkable practice of Edgar Wood and James Sellars which spanned Arts and Crafts, through Art Nouveau and touched the Modern Movement. Wood also worked in nearby Middleton. Knutsford meanwhile, has the mavarick Manchester businessman Richard Harding Watt to thank for several unusual buildings.
Aside from such specialists, Art Nouveau's arrival in Manchester coincided with the boost to the economy given by the Ship Canal from 1894. The warehouses and other commercial buildings of the period frequently carry entertaining glimpses of the style. This is usually in decoration only, on tilework, wrought iron or stained glass - as though the style was too frivolous, too Gallic-tinged to attract the sturdy businessmen of Manchester to commission whole buildings. Good examples include tile work on Prince's Buildings, Oxford Street; iron work at John Ryland's Library, glass at the Rossetti Hotel (Piccadilly) and the superb and artfully tortured iron gate and lamp between Lancaster House and India House on Whitworth Street from Harry S Fairhurst.
Outside the centre on Hathersage Road is Victoria Baths (0161 224 2020). Presently campaigners are working hard to preserve one of the best ensembles from the period, by Henry Price, 1906. There are regular open days. Another eye catcher is the splendid wood, tile and glass at The Lamb Inn, Eccles (0161 789 3882) close to the Metrolink Station. A walk around the city, looking out for these glimpses can be fun. Manchester Art Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery contain examples from the period. Links within ManchesterOnline
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