The Guardian Newspaper began its life in 1821 as The Manchester Guardian, and was based in that northern city until moving to London in 1976. Over the decades, it has acquired a vast library of photos, taken by staff photographers and also freelancers selling to the newspaper. These are some of the photos of Manchester from that archive, taken between 1954 and 1959.
(All photos copyright of The Guardian Newspaper)
The busy shopping district of Market Street.
Excited children rush into the newly-opened playground of Philips Park.
Young couples enjoying a Summer day out in Parsonage Gardens.
Children playing in an abandoned car, Moss Side.
Rush hour traffic jam, Chester Road.
A child offering an ice lolly to a goose. Pets Corner, Platt Fields.
Manchester Grammar School boys attempting to view a total eclipse of the Sun.
Preparing for Summer season at the boating lake, Platts Fields.
Children playing in an area being demolished.
This workman is enjoying a beer after the completion of The Samuel Grating Building, Quay Street.
beetleypete 
I enjoyed this, especially the young couples and the children rushing to the new playground. Thank you, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing like a new playground to energise post-war children, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed. Best to you, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A big city always has great advantages and also disadvantages. I love it to find new impressions around every corner. Thanks for sharing, Pete! xx Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked the photos, Michael.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
* The children rushing into the newly-opened playground of Philips Park reminds me of adults rushing into Walmart on Black Friday (which I’ve always avoided like the plague.)
* Those children are future car mechanics.
* Do those guys paddle their kids at home?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the rushing children went on to become ‘First day of the sale’ experts! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve stayed in Manchester quite a few times, and have always liked the architecture there – old buildings interspersed with the new.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t been back there since the early 1970s. I remember the huge estates on the edges of the city, quite bleak and forbidding. (The same can be said about London of course.)
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Last time I was there it was to see Queen and Adam Lambert play at the Arena. The weather was atrocious. Our hotel was around 15 floors up and we had a good view over the city.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am not at all sure I would drink a beer where that fellow situated. Warmest regards, Ed
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not a good place to imbibe alcohol, I agree.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never went to Manchester. They produced a lot of musicians. Why did the Guardian move? That was interesting. Yes definitely a post war feel about them pics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Guardian realised that it had to be in London to deal with the major breaking news stories. It still does that, to this day.
You didn’t miss much in Manchester, it was bleak back then.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
Nice set!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so. Glad you liked them.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great pictures, Pete. A time when peace came to the UK.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, post-war euphoria that I remember so well as a child in London.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a different world from the one we have now. Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
My childhood in London looked much the same as life in these photos, Janet.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Born in 1946 mine was much the same in Kent…a different world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But like me, (1952) you are still young at heart and full of life, Janet. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness yes…Age is just a number:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great pics. I love the last one of the chap with his beer atop the scaffolding. And the infant offering its lolly to the goose. I remember being very taken with a goose like that. I’ve always wondered if it ended up on someone’s dinner table 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed the photos, Carolyn.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
I love the children rushing the new playground.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we can sense their excitement.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Classic photos of a simpler time…
LikeLiked by 2 people
That was my initial thought as well, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, my own childhood, John. It was simpler, but also very happy.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
Wonderful picture finds, Pete
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed them, Robbie.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the new playground excitement
LikeLiked by 1 person
Post-WW2, it must have seemed like a dream come true.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always quite amusing to see kids playing out without supervision in potentially dangerous situations: I’m sure most of the time they were perfectly alright. Cheers, Jon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did it all the time, and survived! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here; a few cuts & scrapes, but no broken bones 😉
LikeLike
More great B&W slices to history…..nice collection chuq
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, chuq. I am always trying to find them.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do a marvelous job finding these….keep up the good work chuq
LikeLiked by 1 person