Partnership of archive & local history organisations at Manchester Central Library. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Blogs by volunteers and staff. Visit archivesplus.org for events, visitor information and more.
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, many of us are still feeling some isolation from our loved ones. We hope Archives+ can help you to stay in touch by taking a look at our popular online memory boxes which can be used as a starting point in discovering your family history, finding out what your family’s childhood was like, looking back at the area where they grew up, discovering their fondest childhood memories and maybe uncover some hidden gems. Sharing memories of days gone by can bring families closer together, listening to elderly relatives can be a comfort for families as they gain an insight into their life stories.
Each week Archives+ will publish a memory box for an area in Manchester, this week our archive collections cover Moss Side. Below you will find a collection of images from Moss Side, alongside 6 worksheets. The worksheets are set around 6 themes: Industry, Place, Health and Living Conditions, Pastimes, Radical Thinking, and Communities. Using the worksheets as prompts to start up a conversation, write down your findings on a piece of paper, or if you prefer type into a tablet or PC.
In addition to this blog, the online memory box will be published on the Archives+ Facebook page. Dig out your old photos too, these can also be a brilliant resource to trigger fond memories of family times. We encourage you to share your findings on social media, either as comments on our Facebook page or on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #ArchivesPlusMemorybox
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If you are unable to share your photos and stories online, when the libraries reopen bring copies of your family memories into your local library. In the coming year we will produce an exhibition in your local library of selected submissions, shared both online and in person.
Please make sure that if you share any information with us that the person you have spoken to is happy for you to share it with Archives+.When sharing your findings try to avoid sharing too much personal information such as surnames and date of birth as these details can identify your loved ones.
Resources:
Unlocking Your Sound Archive have produced a blog about conducting oral history interviews with family members. The audio clips included in this online memory box have been kindly supplied by Unlocking Your Sound Archive.
Claremont Road, south side, no.s 64 – 68 corner Park Avenue, Moss Side 1962Greame Street, south side, no 116, Moss Side 1962Moss Side Shopping Centre (no date)no 53 bus route, Cecil Street, Moss Lane East 1962Youngers Kestral Lager Brewery, Raby Street, Moss Side 1980Princess Road, east side, from Claremont Road to Alison Street 1967Princess Road west side left hand side from Raby Street to New Lorne Street, 1967
Princess Road/Moss Lane East, accident between tram and lorry, Moss Side 1906Originally Manchester Corporation Tramways depot/later used by Stagecoach as bus depot, Princess Road, Moss Side – image taken in 1967Maine Road from Ebberstone Street to Claremont Road. Manchester City Football Club, Moss Side 1968Moss Side Baths, Broadfield Road 1906 – Baths and Wash HousesMoss Side Fire Station, Manchester 1907Moss Side Library, Manchester 1910Alexandra Park Estate, Moss side (no date) – copyright Image Aviation
Cecil Street, Moss Side 197266 Cowesby Street, Moss Side 1968 (Jannine and Gary Robertson)Greame Street at Russell Street, Moss Side 1974“Moss Side District Centre – view of new housing site” 1970Granville Street – old terraces for new, taken from Greame Street, Moss Side 1974Wellington Street, Moss Side 1968Baths and Wash Houses, Moss Side Baths, Manchester, wash stalls 1906
Moss Side Carnival – Alexandra Park, Moss Side 1972Moss Side Amateur Boxing Club 1984 Hideaway youth club, Sewerby Street, Moss Side – on site of Moss Side Baptist Church 1973Moss Side Youth Centre 1972Wycliffe Cinema, Princess Road, Moss Side 1967Temperance Billiard Hall, Moss Lane East at junction with Westwood Street 1905The Reno Club and Nile Club, Princess Road, east side, from Moss Lane East 1967
Elouise Edwards MBE was involved in many projects to help solve the problems faced by the African-Caribbean people of Manchester and was awarded an MBE for her amazing contribution. Elouise Edwards Photographic Archive – (From left to right) C. Robinson, Dorothy Kuya, and Kath Locke at a women’s conference organised by Black Women’s Mutual Aid at Princess Road Junior School in 1975Elouise Edwards Photographic Archive – Friendly gathering of women associated with the Manchester Black Women’s Co-op, n.d. (GB124.DPA/1742/15). Second left, Melanie Duncan, Barbara Duncan (holding a doll) and Paula Jones. The cards in the background were taken from a book geared specifically towards motivating Black children in the field of education. Title of book was “I want to be”.Elouise Edwards Photographic Archive – Viviene, Manchester Black Women’s Co-op, 1978 (GB124.DPA/1742/1). Viviene, daughter of Rasheda (Pakistan) and Ossy (Jamaica) in 1978. She is seen here standing inside the premises of Manchester Black Women’s Co-op with a leaflet advertising a fund raising event to be held by Black Women’s Mutual Aid to raise funds for St. Ann’s Hospice where the late Ada Phillips and member of the MBWC died.Emmeline Pankhurst, born in Moss Side (Sloane Street) 14 July 1858 founded the Women’s Social and Political Union, whose members (suffragettes) campaigned for women’s suffrage (the right to vote).
St James Church and Rectory, Princess Road, Moss Side 1972Princess Road School, Fingland Street, Moss Side 1977Congregational church, Claremont Road, from Cranswick Street, Moss Side 1969Webster County Junior & Infants School, Denmark Street, Lloyd Street, Moss Side 1974Manchester Spiritualist Church, Raby Street junction with Moss Lane, Moss Side 1973Welsh Church, Moss Lane, Moss Side 1906 – Church of Divine Mercy, Roman Catholic (Polish)Great Western Street Methodist Church, Great Western Street, Moss Side 1960
We hope you have enjoyed looking back at the photographs of Moss Side. More areas will be covered each week and if you would like to see more images, don’t forget to check out the photograph albums on Flickr and the Manchester Local Image Collection .
“Congregational church, Claremont Road, south side, from Granswick Street / Lloyd Street, Moss Side 1969”
We are looking at the north side of the church, the photo being taken from a spot on Claremont Road, opposite Cranswick, not Granswick St. Lloyd St is not shown. It is off the picture somewhere over to the left and runs parallel to Cranswick St.
Thank you the photos give me an idea of Mosside over time. My grandmother lived at 63 Sloane street , Mrs Mayers , in the 1950s so interesting to find out Emily Pankhurst lived in the same street.
Hello my name is John Rooney &I lived at 42 lincroft st moss side facing Westwood st the billiard hall was there at the back was the sprint church, which my mum would go with me it was a great place to live, we also lived above the bookies on Sloan st .loved the local park with it’s bowling green the Wycliffe pictures princess road sports depot the train set would work with a old half penny my favourite shop on princess road was Melissa sold ice creamfancy goods cigarettes/cigars ,you could fill your fuel lighter for 1 old penny ,my mum was called Josephine Mary Rooney move on a regular basis princess road school was 1 of my school old Webster st school ,would you remember Adhams butter of Stretford rd. From 1953 born left 1961/62 .John Rooney
Helo just discovered you I lived at 42 lincroft st moss side with my mum ,princess rd school was one of my places of school plus Webster st play ground roof level plus Denmark Rd market 1950s/60s also lived at 2 Westwood st facing the snooker Hall. Plus it also was the 1st supermarket in the area . My mum also was a member of the spiritual church a cross the road from there was a old church that made radios my uncle Sam j Rooney also had two second hand shops in moss side . Your pictures have brought back such lovely memories thank you hope to remember more for you .John Rooney
Hi we also lived on Lincroft street, next door to my grandma, we were The smiths, loved it round there always playing out in the street lol, never seen any pictures of the road.
Hello my name is John Rooney I worked on moss side office block John Laing worked 2half years as a labourer plus other work that was needed, I lived at st bees close with my mum 2brothers sister we moved from Herald grove before they were pulled down, I left home move to the health and herbal store alexa rd . Will note more soon if you would want me too.John Rooney st Anne’s Blackpool
manchesterarchiveplus.wordpress.com 
This caption is incorrect:
“Congregational church, Claremont Road, south side, from Granswick Street / Lloyd Street, Moss Side 1969”
We are looking at the north side of the church, the photo being taken from a spot on Claremont Road, opposite Cranswick, not Granswick St. Lloyd St is not shown. It is off the picture somewhere over to the left and runs parallel to Cranswick St.
Many thanks, I have updated the caption for this photograph.
These pics r great, lov looking back in time.
Thank you the photos give me an idea of Mosside over time. My grandmother lived at 63 Sloane street , Mrs Mayers , in the 1950s so interesting to find out Emily Pankhurst lived in the same street.
Hello my name is John Rooney &I lived at 42 lincroft st moss side facing Westwood st the billiard hall was there at the back was the sprint church, which my mum would go with me it was a great place to live, we also lived above the bookies on Sloan st .loved the local park with it’s bowling green the Wycliffe pictures princess road sports depot the train set would work with a old half penny my favourite shop on princess road was Melissa sold ice creamfancy goods cigarettes/cigars ,you could fill your fuel lighter for 1 old penny ,my mum was called Josephine Mary Rooney move on a regular basis princess road school was 1 of my school old Webster st school ,would you remember Adhams butter of Stretford rd. From 1953 born left 1961/62 .John Rooney
Helo just discovered you I lived at 42 lincroft st moss side with my mum ,princess rd school was one of my places of school plus Webster st play ground roof level plus Denmark Rd market 1950s/60s also lived at 2 Westwood st facing the snooker Hall. Plus it also was the 1st supermarket in the area . My mum also was a member of the spiritual church a cross the road from there was a old church that made radios my uncle Sam j Rooney also had two second hand shops in moss side . Your pictures have brought back such lovely memories thank you hope to remember more for you .John Rooney
Hi we also lived on Lincroft street, next door to my grandma, we were The smiths, loved it round there always playing out in the street lol, never seen any pictures of the road.
Simply stunning, thank you ❤️
Hello my name is John Rooney I worked on moss side office block John Laing worked 2half years as a labourer plus other work that was needed, I lived at st bees close with my mum 2brothers sister we moved from Herald grove before they were pulled down, I left home move to the health and herbal store alexa rd . Will note more soon if you would want me too.John Rooney st Anne’s Blackpool