slum housing late 19thC to 1920s, could be anywhere

[silvery]

These are from the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, but I reckon they could be from any city.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC8dkSDPUHU

[stoney]

When I looked at those images I began to wonder about all the families who lived there - and what became of them.

Beautiful music - wonder what it is?

Thanks for sharing this! 

[wheeldon]

Thanks Silvery, it makes you feel quite humble and very spoilt.

My ancestors came from rural villages in England and Ireland and followed the industrial revolution to Manchester.  I often think that they must have thought that they had travelled to Hell 

[cathaldus]

Dear Wheeldon,  I must respond on behalf of my beloved Manchester.  My Irish family,  both maternal and paternal,  came from the villages of Mayo and Tipperary,  seeking work and survival as opposed to starvation and religious bigotry.  It was perfectly true,  the industrial revolution was not a pretty architectural  movement,  but the harnessing of water and coal,  to produce the motive power required to drive the "satanic" mills.  My folks survived,  albeit many did not and it is that that makes Manchester so very special.  Out of the pain,  dirt and suffering has finally emerged a world class modern city,  of which I am very,  very proud!!

Bill

[silvery]

I'm sure it wasn't personal to Manchester, Bill   .

That's why I did the link, although it's Glasgow, it could have been anywhere.  I come from Chester, Oh a beautiful city everyone thinks.  (I think it has been ruined, but that's another story.)  There were courts and yards, and slums just the same there. 

[wheeldon]

Bill, I certainly didn't mean any offense.

I do realise how terrible life was at that time for the Irish people and I apologise if I came across as being flippant.  If the Irish side of my family hadn't come to Manchester then it's quite possible that they wouldn't have survived.  However, the Irish people were not treated particularly well in Manchester and although England was their salvation, I'm sure it was still a harsh life.

I have lived in Manchester all my life along with my parents, Grandparents and their Irish Grandparents.  I too am very proud of my city and it's industrial heritage but from research I know that it wasn't the most pleasent place to be at this time. 

[LizzieW]

Wheeldon and Bill.

Your Irish ancestors would have travelled to Manchester for work and may not have realised that the conditions would be poor.  My ancestors had no such excuse.  They moved from Cheshire, where they were farmers and butchers.  Only one branch of the family moved, so I assume they moved to open butcher shops, but their children's health was affected and they had to be sent back to their relatives in Cheshire for weeks at a time to get some fresh air.

Lizzie

[silvery]

I think conditions anywhere for the workers of the land, were what we today would regard as slums, but were in fact just normal living for them.  Country or city, the housing was very meagre, and food poor, working conditions hard, pay poor. 

[LizzieW]

Silvery

I agree up to a point, but when I look at photographs of those particular ancestors and read their wills, I know they were not poor compared with the average person at the time.

Lizzie