What do you think?
Rate this book
2,000 Years of Manchester
This is not a chronological history of Manchester with lists of facts and figures. Rather, it is an eclectic mix of fact, fiction, legend and myth which presents the history of Manchester from its beginnings as a Roman settlement, then as an insignificant market town, to its place as a city at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and beyond.The author has attempted to capture not only the often tragic lives, times, struggles and beliefs of the city’s ever-expanding population, but also its resilience and humour. Including photographs, illustrations, poems and quotes, the book ranges from the humorous, including the stories of “Spanking Roger” and the “Manchester Mummy” to the tragic stories of “Cholera” and “Mary Bradley”, together with the bizarre “Pig Tales” and the criminal “Scuttlers” and “Purrers”.This is a well-researched, well-written and, most importantly, entertaining and informative read, presented in an unusual yet accessible and easy-to-read format, intended to appeal to the widest audience.
- GenresHistory
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2019
13 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 18, 2019
2000 Years of Manchester – Brilliant
Those of us born in Manchester, know we are Lancastrians, and Mancunians by the grace of God. Over the last 2000 years some have not been so complimentary, such as the quote from Mark Twain that adorns the cover, “I would like to live in Manchester, England. The transition between Manchester and death would be unnoticeable.” Over those 2000 years Manchester has changed, some say for the better, some for the worst.
As a Mancunian, the author and teacher, Kathryn Coase, has written an excellent book, on Manchester. If you are after a chronological history then this is not the book for you, as this book was by subject matter, and therefore makes it far more interesting.
Tracking the development of Manchester since the Roman invasion, to a market town, to a new City, and the second most important city in the empire. This book is packed with interesting stories, some of our myths and legends, and some of the characters and families that have made Manchester over the years.
In 1754, the stagecoach service to London took four days, not much different than today when you travel on the West Coast Line, or Liverpool in 12 hours, sounds like a journey on the M62 today. Taking you from stagecoach, via canals to the railways, on to the trolley buses and not forgetting when Rolls met Royce and the rest as they say is history.
With a nod to the politics that has always been at the heart of Manchester’s radical outlook, and not just Peterloo, but the chartist and the first ever meeting of the Trades Union Congress, and the Pankhursts. While also dealing with the religion, and an interesting Dean of Manchester, crime and punishment (plenty of that with pictures), science and technology to the creative side of Manchester.
This is an excellent and fun book that conveys many of the stories and plenty of the history of Manchester. This is a history book that is actually fun to read!
Those of us born in Manchester, know we are Lancastrians, and Mancunians by the grace of God. Over the last 2000 years some have not been so complimentary, such as the quote from Mark Twain that adorns the cover, “I would like to live in Manchester, England. The transition between Manchester and death would be unnoticeable.” Over those 2000 years Manchester has changed, some say for the better, some for the worst.
As a Mancunian, the author and teacher, Kathryn Coase, has written an excellent book, on Manchester. If you are after a chronological history then this is not the book for you, as this book was by subject matter, and therefore makes it far more interesting.
Tracking the development of Manchester since the Roman invasion, to a market town, to a new City, and the second most important city in the empire. This book is packed with interesting stories, some of our myths and legends, and some of the characters and families that have made Manchester over the years.
In 1754, the stagecoach service to London took four days, not much different than today when you travel on the West Coast Line, or Liverpool in 12 hours, sounds like a journey on the M62 today. Taking you from stagecoach, via canals to the railways, on to the trolley buses and not forgetting when Rolls met Royce and the rest as they say is history.
With a nod to the politics that has always been at the heart of Manchester’s radical outlook, and not just Peterloo, but the chartist and the first ever meeting of the Trades Union Congress, and the Pankhursts. While also dealing with the religion, and an interesting Dean of Manchester, crime and punishment (plenty of that with pictures), science and technology to the creative side of Manchester.
This is an excellent and fun book that conveys many of the stories and plenty of the history of Manchester. This is a history book that is actually fun to read!
Displaying 1 of 1 review