Merry Christmas from the Manchester History Club

And here's what's coming in 2025

No story from me this week — just a picture of Manchester Piccadilly in the snow.

It was taken one winter probably just before the First World War.

And it looks a bit different than it does today.

On the left you can see the old Manchester Royal Infirmary.

And, in the background, you can just about make out the red building of the Royal Hotel in front of the now demolished tower of Lewis’s department store.

It was in this hotel, in 1888, that the Football League was formed.

The Manchester Christmas miracle

You can also see the Wellington and Victoria statues and the horse-drawn cabs queuing to take people home to the south Manchester suburbs.

I bought this postcard a while ago. On the back is a message sent by a woman named Jessie to her friend in Hertfordshire.

“What lovely weather we are having,” it says. “Hope to see you soon.”

I like to imagine the people you can see in the picture are heading home for Christmas.

---

Thank you for your support

I just wanted to end the year by saying a big thank you for you support.

You’ve really helped me to do something I love doing and which is hopefully helping people in Manchester to explore and understand their history.

I started 2024 not knowing if I could turn my passion into my career, but it’s just been an amazing year.

Here’s a few photos from my Angel Meadow tours in 2024 and some of the lovely people I’ve met along the way.

And here’s what I’m aiming to do in 2025…

• I’ll be back in March with my Angel Meadow tours. If you’re looking for a late Christmas present for the history buff in your life, tickets are available now here.

• If you want to get your family history research off to a fresh start for 2025, I’m hosting some online workshops early in the new year and I’m also offering some free consultations in January when we can chat about your brickwall and I can talk about how I can help.

• I’m currently planning another tour in Manchester city centre which I’m hoping to make public soon.

• I’m also hoping to host a public history event in the summer for people with Angel Meadow connections who have been on my tour, subject to getting some grant funding. If it’s something you might be interested in attending or supporting, you can email me at manchesterhistoryclub@gmail.com.

Thanks again for your support and enjoy the holidays and have a fantastic new year.