Manchester Roofs
Since Manchester has been built up over several hundred years, the number of roofing styles within the city is just as eclectic as the people. While you are not going to see many A-Roofs or Butterfly roofs within Manchester, there are a few other types that you may stumble across.
One of the more popular roof types you will find in Manchester is the Dormer roof. This stunning roof type often contains a window. Many people within Manchester who have expanded their bedroom options into the roof will have a Dormer roof in place.
Since Manchester is going through a period of huge development now, you may start to see properties with more modern flat-roofs pop up. For example; there are a lot of flat roof properties going up which have a very modern look to them. You may also see these properties with parapet roofs which gives a semi-working space on the top of the building, although these are not as common now.
Other roof types will include your classic gables, so your front gables, open gable roofs or even a boxed gable. These designs seem to be more limited to some of the older properties, and maybe some mass developments from WWII onwards. You may even find a few more modern properties using them, but they will be quite rare.
You may spot other roof types within Manchester, although you will need to look a bit harder for them. There are some rather stunning designs going up on the latest developments. We have even spotted a few curved roofs going up, which are looking stunning. You may even see a combination of roof types as people start to become a bit more experimental with the look of the property that they are developing e.g. bonnet roofs may become more popular in the suburbs of Manchester.
With a population of 2.55 million, Manchester is the second largest city in the United Kingdom. It now attracts tourists from all over the world, offers two huge football teams, and is even the media hub of the UK. This is not too shabby for a place which has achieved most of its growth in the past century.
The History of Manchester
The history of Manchester starts a little bit later than some other places in the United Kingdom. The first record of this area being inhabited came after the Roman conquest in the 1st Century. A fort, dubbed Mamucium was build in 79 A.D. on the area, mostly as a defensive structure. Of course, like many places in the UK around that time, since a fort was built, people were attracted to live there. People have been inhabiting Manchester ever since.
Manchester played a role in the textile industry developing in this part of England. In the 14th Century, shortly after a market was built in Manchester, Flemish weavers descended upon the place. Very quickly, Manchester became one of the most important places in England for wools and linen. While the town was fairly rich due to this, only a couple of the buildings that were built in Manchester at this time still survive.
Manchester expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution when people from all over the country flocked to Manchester to take advantage of the wealth of jobs that were going spare. The town became even richer with the building of the Manchester Ship Canal which allowed ships from all over the world to head into the Port of Manchester.
Manchester has also played a major role in several movements around the world. Marxism and the suffragette movement being born here, although the modern Labour Party also have their roots in Manchester.
Because Manchester was so important to the economy of the United Kingdom, it was bombed heavily during World War II, which meant that significant portions of the city needed to be rebuilt. Again, this spurned on the development of the city as Manchester suddenly had an influx of people heading to the UK, which meant more housing needed to be built.
Due to a lot of investment over the years, many of the buildings erected shortly after World War II have either been demolished or made to seem a bit more modern. Many of the old cotton processing places have also been converted into modern buildings.
Old Trafford
You have a little piece of footballing history here. Manchester, along with Liverpool and Barcelona, are perhaps the most famous team in the world. They dominated football in both Europe and England for a long period of time. Sure, Manchester City, located close by, are also a big team but their stadium is relatively new, which means that it does not quite have the cultural impact that Old Trafford has. While it is tough to catch a game at Old Trafford, with matches selling out exceedingly quickly, it is an experience to look at the outside of the stadium.
If you do love your football, then you will be pleased to know that the National Museum of Football can also be found in the heart of Manchester.
The Architecture
The wonderful thing about Manchester is that it is so unique in the way that it looks. There is a plethora of different architectural styles on show. You have everything from Victorian to something a bit more contemporary. The old cotton mills look stunning, particularly Lancaster House. As you walk around Manchester, you will notice that many of the buildings are very similarly coloured. This is because Manchester predominantly uses red bricks in the construction of its properties.
The Green Building
This is a newer property, but it is worth checking out. It is part of One Angel Square as is the largest green buildings in the world, which goes to show that Manchester is at the forefront of the eco-friendly craze. It is no wonder that the city is managing to attract so many unique businesses.
Heaton Park
While Manchester may be a densely packed city, it is not all buildings. There are 135 open spaces. Perhaps the most prominent of these open spaces is Heaton Park which is the largest municipal parks in Europe covering a whopping 610 acres. It makes the perfect ‘getaway’ for when you are a bit tired of the busy city life.
Manchester Cathedral
This is one of the oldest buildings in Manchester with a building being located here since the 1400s. Manchester Cathedral is free to enter and offers stunning gothic architecture. On occasion, it also seems to attract some prominent musicians who love playing a few ‘laid back gigs’ in the church. These are rarer events though and you may need to book in advance if you are travelling to the city.
Albert Square
Albert Square is a fantastic place in the heart of the city where you can just relax. There are buskers galore, although the real highlight is being able to look at some of the gorgeous statues found within the square. This place was named after Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria. It, therefore, stands to reason that Albert Square boasts a rather fantastic statute of Albert himself.
Museums
Just like London, Manchester boasts a wealth of museums covering everything from the history of Manchester to World History. This is mixed in with some fantastic art galleries (check out the Manchester Art Gallery), coupled with Natural History and Science museums. While these places are not as large as their London counterparts, they will still provide days of exploration.
Theatre and Shows
You have the famous MEN Arena in Manchester which has a ton of shows from some of the biggest musicians and comedians in the world. You also have a plethora of smaller gig venues to listen to. Not a day goes by where there is not some quality music to listen to in Manchester. If you love your theatre, then you will be pleased to know that many top shows from the West End end up in Manchester eventually, often boasting the same cast as the original West End shows (where possible)
Chinatown
For something a bit different, Manchester has the second largest Chinatown in England. It is the third largest in Manchester. The whole place feels incredibly unique in comparison to the rest of Manchester, and you will be able to pick up some fantastic food here at an incredibly low price. It is no wonder this place attracts so many tourists.