Manchester, Royal Exchange 1885
Photo ref: 18262
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Photo ref: 18262
Photo of Manchester, Royal Exchange 1885

More about this scene

This was dubbed at the time 'the largest room in the world'. It was 4,405 square yards in area, and 96ft high and 125ft high to the top of the central dome. In this huge hall, cotton merchants from all over Lancashire did their bartering, and many a fortune was made or lost. At one stage there were eleven thousand members, who met every Tuesday and Friday to conduct business. There were numbers on the posts running down the hall, and letters on the posts across the hall, so businesses could co-ordinate where to meet in such a busy and packed room. It was here (in the second building, not the one we see in our picture) that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were wined and dined on their visit to Manchester in 1851. A month later the Queen's Secretary wrote to say that the Queen had graciously granted that the Exchange be known as 'The Manchester Royal Exchange'.

An extract from Manchester Photographic Memories.

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Manchester Photographic Memories

Manchester Photographic Memories

The photo 'Manchester, Royal Exchange 1885' appears in this book.

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A Selection of Memories from Manchester

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Manchester

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If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

Spent many a happy hour here doing project work for the school I attended.
During the 60's I use to go to the Free Trade Hall to the concerts put on by the Halle and other orchestras. Remember going to one concert when Yehudi Menhuin was playing, such a great violinist. Managed to get his autograph, and Sir John Barbirollis. Sadly during a moving of homes I lost the programmes with the autographs on.
Way back in the late 50's/60's I visited the art gallery- so interesting.
Does anyone remember Mountfield Street, later called Milton Street? I lived at number 37 with my mam (Veronica), dad (Jim) and my sisters, Vera and Mary. We went to St Bridget's School. The three of us used to go and play in Phillips Park during the holidays, you could go anywhere in those days and feel safe. How times have changed! There were two picture houses near us, the Mosley and the ...see more