Old Photographs

Here is a collection of photographs of the area from old postcards, kindly contributed by Hannah-Beth Roberts (the first 15 pictures).  The accompanying notes are provided by Cliff Pelham. If you have further details of these photographs, or others to contribute to the website, do contact us.

For large collections of old photographs of the area, see the Manchester Local Image Collection and the Greater Manchester Lives website. Warning: titles and dates accompanying the photographs in these archive collections are not to be relied on. On both the sites, search for "Withington" to access photographs from various periods.

Click on an image for an enlarged view.
 
Wilmslow Road, looking towards the library. Notice the wires and tracks for electric trams which ran along Palatine Road, through the village into the city.
  
Wilmslow Road, outside the Red Lion. Notice the horse manure! The building behind the Red Lion, which still exists, is a tramway substation, containing a rotary electric convertor from AC mains power to DC. This is pre-1930s.
 
Old photograph, Withington
Darlington Road, Withington. Notice the young street trees.
 
Old photograph, Withington
Withington Public Library. On the right is a single-decker bus with the oval rear window. Photo likely to be 1920s or 1930s.
 
Parsonage Road, taken from near Heaton Road, looking towards fields before the road was completed through to Parrs Wood Road (pre1928).
  
Mauldeth Road, at the junction with Parrs Wood Road and Egerton Road in Ladybarn. The rightmost shop is James's Cycle Shop (notice the sign and the bicycle mounted on the wall). The building on the right is the Talbot Hotel, which became the Ladybarn, and is now demolished. Notice the gas light on  the left. Possibly early 1930s.
 
Withington Station. Notice the footbridge from Lapwing Lane. See the Disused Stations website for more old photographs and details of Withington Station.
  
The White Lion, Withington, at the junction of Palatine Road and Wilmslow Road. Notice the open-top trams. 1920s or earlier.
 
Wilmslow Road from Parsonage Road. Notice the sign on the right for Seymour Meads grocers/provision merchants, and the grocers shop opposite. The electric tram is a standard 8-wheel covered vehicle.
  
Withington trough, at the junction of Wellington Road (on the left) and Wilmslow Road. The building behind the trough was adjacent to a post office and a public library. These buildings were demolished to make way for the present library. Notice the open-top tram and, behind the trough, a gas lamp. Possibly 1900s.
 
A drawing of Withington showing  the trough with Wellington Road on the left and Wilmslow Road on the right.  The inscription is dated 1903.

  
Mauldeth Road, West Withington. Notice the gas lamps.
 
"The Rookery" (Parkfield Road?)
  
Wilmslow Road, Withington, at the junction with Mauldeth Road looking towards the village, with a gas lamp on the right.
 
Withington village looking towards the library. The village is illuminated with electric lights and the wires and lines for the trams have been removed. This is post-WWII, possibly c1950.
  
Lapwing Lane Arcade. Taken from the Friends website which has a very detailed history. Notice the two buses by the arcade and an 8-wheel "balcony car" tram on Palatine Road. This junction served as an interchange between trains, buses and trams. Photograph taken in the1920s.
 
Old photograph, St Cuthbert's Catholic Chirch Withington
An old photograph of the interior of 
St Cuthbert's Catholic Church, Withington 
(date unknown). 
 
Withington Green in its former glory.

Below are photographs of Ladybarn, taken in 1972, kindly contributed by Ray Pilkington, who lived in the area at the time. Ray says "When I started work in 1972 I bought myself a new camera and the first thing I did was take photos of what was left of Ladybarn after so much demolition had taken place." 

Click on an image for an enlarged view.
 
Ladybarn picture
"Pear Tree cottages", Ladybarn Lane. 1972

  
Ladybarn picture 1972
An old house on the corner of Ladybarn Lane and Royle Street. The rear was used by a builder at the time.1972.