IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Leftbank, MANCHESTER, M3 3ER

The Manchester Argonaut is a new artwork by artist Jason Wilsher-Mills. The sculpture is designed to be a positive and authentic depiction of disability, reflecting personal stories and experiences, many of which, Jason encountered throughout lockdown. The work sends a positive message about disability and the rights of disabled people. Created especially for display at People’s History Museum as part of an exhibit highlighting the struggle for the rights of disabled rights people, the Manchester Argonaut’s colourfully decorated surface references the rich history and culture of Manchester and took its starting point from the city’s music. Appearing bright and humorous, this highly-imaginative piece is also a ‘Protest Song’ that creatively carries many messages of its own.

The Manchester Argonaut is a new artwork by artist Jason Wilsher-Mills. The sculpture is designed to be a positive and authentic depiction of disability, reflecting personal stories and experiences, many of which, Jason encountered throughout lockdown. The work sends a positive message about disability and the rights of disabled people. Created especially for display at People’s History Museum as part of an exhibit highlighting the struggle for the rights of disabled rights people, the Manchester Argonaut’s colourfully decorated surface references the rich history and culture of Manchester and took its starting point from the city’s music. Appearing bright and humorous, this highly-imaginative piece is also a ‘Protest Song’ that creatively carries many messages of its own.

This mural, entitled Peterloo. emblazons one of the exterior walls of the People’s History Museum in Manchester, overlooking the River Irwell. It is by international street artist Axel Void and was commissioned to mark the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterloo_Massacre . Void has depicted a mother and child, symbolising those who came to St Peter’s Field to seek the rights of representation. His work explores the historical event from the perspective of those involved, asking, if this happened in our time, who would these people be now and what would they be fighting for? The mother and child are Manchester resident Lydia and her two year old son, Ezra. As a daughter of a Windrush victim, the experiences of her family provide a counterpoint to the injustices of the past. The first victim of Peterloo was a two year old child, thrust from his mother’s arms as she fled the soldiers, making the depiction of a mother and child a poignant reminder of some of the 18 lives that were lost on 16 August 1819 when the peaceful protest turned into a massacre. Lydia and her son’s white clothes are a reference to the fact that many of the women who came to Peterloo wore this colour; their Sunday best clothing being a symbolic repost to the way they had been vilified in the media. https://phm.org.uk/peoples-history-museum-unveils-peterloo-mural/ People’s History Museum

The People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present and future.

The People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present and future.

The People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present and future.

The red-brick building at the centre of the photograph is “The Pump House” situated in Bridge Street on the banks of the River Irwell. It is now the only surviving Edwardian pumping station in the city and is surrounded by modern buildings. The pump house opened in 1909 and was the third and last station of the hydraulic pumping network in Manchester. The other two stations were situated on Whitworth Street and Pott Street. The station used to supply power to the mills and warehouses that dominated the city at the beginning of the 20th century. Legend has it that staff at the Pump House kept fish and swam in the large water tanks on the roof of the building. In 1972 the station closed when hydraulic power was superseded by electricity. It is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. Since 1994, the pump house has been the home of the People's History Museum. The modern extension to the left of the pump house is also part of the museum.

One of 3 built c 1908 as part of system for supplying hydraulic power to lifts and hoists of commercial warehouses in city centre; continued in use until 1972. It is Grade II listed.

“Sylvia”, Bee number 41 on the “Bee in the City” sculpture trail was located inside The People's History Museum. This Bee, named after Sylvia Pankhurst, was created by Sneaky Raccoon and sponsored by UNISON Manchester and UNISON North West. The following information is quoted from the board on its base: "It was at the Manchester Mechanics' Institute in 1868 that the first meeting of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) took place. Fifty years later, in 1918, the Pankhurst's led a victory that was meant to mark the beginning of the end of a war for gender equality. Sylvia Pankhurst, a suffragette, imprisoned numerous times, came to see the struggle for women to have the vote as just one strand in a larger struggle for equality." "UNISON members work in many different roles in providing public services. It is the union for workers in sectors including local government, the NHS, the police service, education, utilities, transport and the voluntary sector. With 200,000 members it is the biggest union in the region and more than two-thirds of its members are women."

“Sylvia”, Bee number 41 on the “Bee in the City” sculpture trail was located inside The People's History Museum. This Bee, named after Sylvia Pankhurst, was created by Sneaky Raccoon and sponsored by UNISON Manchester and UNISON North West. The following information is quoted from the board on its base: "It was at the Manchester Mechanics' Institute in 1868 that the first meeting of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) took place. Fifty years later, in 1918, the Pankhurst's led a victory that was meant to mark the beginning of the end of a war for gender equality. Sylvia Pankhurst, a suffragette, imprisoned numerous times, came to see the struggle for women to have the vote as just one strand in a larger struggle for equality." "UNISON members work in many different roles in providing public services. It is the union for workers in sectors including local government, the NHS, the police service, education, utilities, transport and the voluntary sector. With 200,000 members it is the biggest union in the region and more than two-thirds of its members are women."