Review: Secret aspects of Manchester University revealed (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Manchester is the second biggest urban area in the U.K., after London. During the industrial revolution the city became a powerhouse, especially in relation to the textile industry. The city declined a little in the subsequent years but a revival in fortunes in the 1980s, helped by the growing standing of its centrally located university, has seen the city make a spirited revival and it now vies with Birmingham as the U.K.’s (or at least England’s) second city.

Manchester Art Gallery. The main gallery premises were built for a learned society in 1823. The gallery has a collection of more than 25,000 objects.

Tim Sandle

The University of Manchester is the largest full-time non-collegiate university in Britain. Although its indiviudal institutions have a long history, the university itself was formed in 2004, as a merger between Victoria University of Manchester and University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Victoria University was formed in 1880.

The main library at the University of Manchester, one of the more ‘modern’ parts of the institution.

Tim Sandle

The university is located on Oxford Road, which is positioned on the southern side of the city center. This long street and its associated side roads constitutes the largest urban higher education precinct in Europe.

A view of Oxford Road, Manchester, where the university complex is located.

Tim Sandle

Over 70,000 students attend each academic year.

A concourse at the University of Manchester, a place for students to stroll through and to relax.

Tim Sandle

Close by to the more modern features are some older buildings, dating back to the original Victorian university.

One of the older, Gothic style buildings of the University of Manchester, designed by Alfred Waterhouse and his son Paul Waterhouse.

Tim Sandle

Part of the Old Quadrangle at the University of Manchester. This is the the John Owens Building (built in 1873.)

Tim Sandle

Older buildings include the Samuel Alexander building. Samuel Alexander was a British philosopher. He was perhaps best known for his book Beauty and other Forms of Value, an essay in aesthetics. The building named after him reflects Greek classicism.

A a Gothic style building designed by Alfred Waterhouse at University of Manchester.

Tim Sandle

Most of the older buildings are found in an area known as The Old Quadrangle. Here the old and new co-exist. The Old Quadrangle is the oldest part of the university,and it was built when Owen’s College was first created at the end of the 19th century.

An older Victorian building is caught in the glassy reflection of a more modern building, within the university grounds.

Tim Sandle

Here is found Whitworth Hall, where many students graduate.

Whitworth Hall was constructed circa 1895–1902, and was designed by Paul Waterhouse.

Tim Sandle

The Quadrangle has many pleasant features, including plants.

Colorful plants near to the Manchester museum (the third side of the Quadrangle).

Tim Sandle

As well as quirky buildings used as university offices.

Class Victorian brick building at the University of Manchester.

Tim Sandle

The most impressive building is the John Owens building. John Owens (1790–1846), was an English merchant, born in Manchester, named in recognition of Manchester’s role in the industrial revolution.

The John Owens building at the University of Manchester. The firm created by Owens firm traded with China, India, South America and the U.S., dealing in many other commodities.

Tim Sandle

The building is also impressive inside, including a series of stained glass windows. Owens College was created by a legacy of £96,942 left in 1846 by John Owens to found a college. Owens stipulated the college must only teach along non-sectarian lines.

A magnificent stained glass window inside one of the University of Manchester’s historic buildings.

Tim Sandle

Equally interesting is the Beyer Building.

This building was funded entirely by Charles Beyer through his will of 1876. Beyer was a well known philanthropist and co-founder of Beyer, Peacock and Company, one of the world’s most famous locomotive manufacturers.

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The Beyer Building close up. The architect was the celebrated Alfred Waterhouse (Waterhouse also designed the Natural History Museum in London).

Tim Sandle

In the U.K., when famous people have lived in buildings or close by, blue plaques are fitted in their honor. This plaque is for the novelist Anthony Burgess, perhaps best known for his dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange.

As well as ‘A Clockwork Orange’, Burgess produced numerous other novels, including the Enderby quartet, and ‘Earthly Powers.’

Tim Sandle

Currently, the university is ranked #30 in the global university league. As a modern university, Manchester also respects the past, as this World War I memorial indicates.

A war memorial at the University of Manchester. 2015 is part way through the centenary events, marking the 1914-1918 global conflict.

Tim Sandle

The University of Manchester is a member of the worldwide Universities Research Association, the Russell Group of British research universities and the N8 Group.