A very Mancunian Christmas – through the decades

13th Dec 2019

Nowadays we’re used to fighting our way through the bustling Christmas Markets but how did Christmas look in Manchester in years gone by?

Many things have changed over the decades but Manchester’s Christmas spirit has always remained the same.  Arguably the biggest difference has been seen this year with the relocation of Santa aka Zippy from Manchester Town Hall to Trafford Park as the town hall undergoes full restoration.

Manchester Town Hall 1932

Lewis’s Department Store (Now Primark) 1949

Carol Concert at Piccadilly Gardens 1958

Market Street 1962

Albert Square 1970

Piccadilly Gardens 1984

Town Hall Clock 1986

Arndale Centre 1987

Christmas lights at the Town Hall 1991

Albert Square 1992

Christmas lights at the Town Hall 2004

Manchester Town Hall 2018

Santa’s relocation to Kellogg’s, Trafford Park 2019

St Peter’s Square 2019

(Images: Manchester Local Image Archive (images.manchester.gov.uk)