IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Princess Road, MANCHESTER, M14 7LR

Alexandra Avenue in Moss Side, Manchester with the old tram station, now bus depot, in the background. The bus depot is due to be demolished in 2011 to make way for new development.

The school yard at the north side of the school used to be larger, but another building was erected within it, possibly for sport? The large tower at the rear of the yard was apparently attached to the old bus station, which is to the left. However, the function of this tower building is not known, nor is the reason for the very tall chimney. This school yard environment is somewhat desolate and impoverished and it may have affected the imagination of the young Anthony Burgess, who was a pupil at the school. He later wrote "A Clockwork Orange". The school was demolished in 2011. Also see Image] Image] Image] Image]

This footpath which joins Demesne Road to Princess Road and runs alongside Alexandra Park was under threat of closure in the earlier part of the 20th century. Local people fought a campaign to keep the footpath open and were successful. Had it been closed, a major detour to the south or to the north would have been needed for pedestrians when the park was locked up for the night. The grounds to the right were owned by the YMCA in the second half of the 20th century which had a major building nearby.

The strong early morning sunlight throws dramatic shadows across the sandstone flagstones. This part of Demesne Road had been fenced off, no doubt for some redevelopment work to take place.

Bishop Bilsborrow Memorial School is situated in Moss Side alongside Princess Road. It was termed an "Elementary School" in the 1920's and children from 5 to 14 received their education there. This is Roman Catholic school. The most famous pupil to attend the school was Anthony Burgess, author of A Clockwork Orange, later to be adapted for a film. This film became notorious for alleged "copycat" crimes related to it. The director, Stanley Kubrick, decided that he no longer wished the film to be screened in the UK because of its possible harmful effects. The power and intelligence of Burgess's novel was somewhat overshadowed, but will outlast the film which is now freely available after Kubrick's death. One may speculate that the somewhat desolate immediate environment of the school played a small part in forming Burgess's creative ideas. (revised 2018) On the other hand, when Burgess attended the school, it was relatively new and the decline of Moss Side was probably fairly slight. Burgess's father was a successful tobacconist. The school was demolished around 2011. Also see Image] Image] Image] Image]

The low building at the rear of the school yard was a prefabricated building, or "prefab" and provided accommodation for two classes in 1950's. The passageway alongside the school leads in the direction of the Maine Road football ground. The Maine Road football ground no longer exists as the ground has moved to the Etihad Stadium. The school was demolished in 2011. Also see Image] Image] Image] Image]

Back lane in Moss Side. For a view in the reverse direction see Image