In today’s edition of “Manchester Metrolink Then & Now” we take a look at Market Street in the city centre.
As with last week’s photo at Mosley Street, trams first ran on the section of line depicted in these two images on 27th April 1992 but things have changed somewhat even from then with the stop here originally being a single platform and a platform round the corner in High Street also provided. This is on the original city crossing again with trams coming from both Piccadilly Gardens and St Peter’s Square serving the line on the way to Shudehill, Victoria and beyond.
The “Then” photo was taken in 1989 and just like last week features a bus. This was being operated by GM Buses and features an advert for Hydes Anvil Brewery. This was founded in 1863 by Alfred and Ralph Hyde and continues to trade to this day, although under the simpler Hydes branding. The Debenhams store is to the right.
Its now 14th March 2024 and where 25 years earlier we saw a bus turn the corner, this time it’s a tram as M5000 3104 approaches the Market Street tramstop. The Debenhams store on the right has now ceased trading and is being “transformed” in a £70 million mixed use development. (Both Photographs by Keith Chadbourne)