The Manchester skyline and surrounding landscape are always shifting and evolving year after year, with new buildings being erected and recognisable old corners getting facelifts, but sometimes the winds of change blow so hard that once familiar landmarks are completely flown from our memories.
It’s just the way the metropolitan cookie crumbles sometimes; being a city as innovative, progressive and fast-growing as we are means that the Manc face is always shifting, but it only further adds to our ever-unfolding history and heritage.
But just because things change doesn’t mean we forget entirely – sometimes we just need the memory jogging with helpful little articles like, oh, this one for instance.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up just a small handful of the forgotten Manchester landmarks, sculptures and points of interest from the past that may have slipped your mind. Let’s start with one that
Old Manchester landmarks and sculptures you may have forgotten
The Wheel of Manchester
The wheel lit up at night in Piccadilly.You could get a pretty great view even from Exchange.Credit: Stephen Gidley/Mikey (via Flickr)
Yes, remember when Manchester had its own London Eye? Well, the ‘Manchester Eye’, the ‘Big Wheel’ or whatever you preferred to call it when it still graced our streets.
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For anyone struggling to recall it, the transportable Ferris wheel used to stand pride of place in Piccadilly Gardens before moving to Exchange Square in front of Selfridges and just across from the Arndale – right around where you’ll find various pop-up stalls and many of the Christmas Markets these days.
First assembled back in 2004 before being made a whole 60 metres bigger in 2007, it ultimately began being dismantled in 2012 ahead of the celebrations for the London Olympics and various works on the Metrolink tram line. It had several sponsors in its lifetime but took its final spin in 2015. RIP.
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Market Street Obelisk
Just seen this on @TheMancUK FB page. Absolutely blew my mind…. zero recollection of this at all. Couldnt have been up for long 🤔🤔🤔. Can remember the Market Street Mincer clear as day but not the Market Street Obelisk. Make it make sense 🫠🫠🫠(pic taken in 96) pic.twitter.com/1qSsonaxTB
Next up is one that is still technically around but now seems like it couldn’t have possibly sat in its original location: the Market Street Obelisk.
Placed there in the 90s, the idea was supposed to help give Manchester’s main high street a more market town feel – think a kind of focal point in the middle of a town square – and although it did provide an easy meeting spot on lunch breaks, it was ultimately prone to little more than loitering.
The pillar was ultimately removed in 1997 and then moved to Crumpsall Park where it still remains to this day and, dare we say it, the obelisk looks much better in its current location than it did on Market St.
Perhaps more commonly known as the ‘Big Horn’ back in the day, it still feels like only yesterday that we were walking down towards the corner of Tib and Thomas St in the Northern Quarter and looking up the remaining structures of the old hat factory building and the trombone-shaped sculpture hanging off it.
Designed by artist David Kemp back in 1999 as part of his ‘Unsound Instruments’ series, we’ll admit it always looked a bit random but we still had a lot of affection for it and it certainly served as a bit of natural signposting in the district.
After the plot it was on was bought out, the sculpture was donated to Manchester city council in 2017 and although it’s not too long ago since we said goodbye to it, this thing could even be tooting its way back into our lives someday soon…
One of the more recently forgotten Manchester landmarks.
B of the Bang
The penultimate point of interest on our list is the immortally interesting sculpture and just as intriguingly titled B of the Bang by artist Thomas Heatherwick, which we still just commonly refer to as ‘the big spikey thing’ when it seems to come up in conversation.
It felt like we’d wiped this from our hard drives completely at one point as it seems strange to think that this (respectfully) death trap stood near walkways towards what would ultimately become the Etihad Stadium, close to passing traffic and was even green-lit to begin with, to be honest.
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Inspired by sprinter Linford Christie’s description of a starting gun and commissioned in honour of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, it ended up costing a total of £1.42 million to build – twice as much as was originally intended – and was finished in 2005, but it only lasted four years after spikes started falling off.
SportCity’s once eye-catching sculpture.The B being dismantled in 2009 over safety concerns.Credit: Nicholas Smale (via Flickr)/Mike Peel (via Wikimedia Commons)
Belle Vue Zoo and fairground
Last but not least, this blast from the past might pre-date many of you (ourselves included), but it’s still pretty mad to think that long before Belle Vue Sports Village served its modern function, it was once a zoological garden, amusement park and all-North West tourist attraction.
Yes, even before its days as a speedway stadium and greyhound arena – which was finally phased out in 2015 after decades as a much-loved pastime for locals – Belle Vue used to house exotic animals from all over the world, feature a number of classic fairground rides and serve as an exhibition hall.
Belle Vue Zoo eventually closed in September 1977 after the owners could no longer afford to run it, though the amusement park itself remained open during supper periods until around 1980. The land was finally sold in 1982 and now, the best of a half-century later, it’s a far cry away from what
Credit: Local Image Collection (via Flickr)Credit: Chetham’s Library (via Flickr)You could argue this is one of the Manchester landmarks that has already been forgotten by most simply due to the passage of time.
Now, as always with these round-ups, it goes without saying that this is by no means an exhaustive list and given how much Manchester changes from month to month, let alone over the course of a full year, we’re sure there’ll be a few more added to it by the next time you read this.
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That being said, if there are any glaring omissions that you think we’ve overlooked then feel free to give us hell in the comments – that’s what they’re for after all.
In fact, whilst you’re here: is there a Manc landmark that you really miss and wish we could bring back?
Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It's the funeral of Mani of the Stone Roses on the 22nd. He lived locally. This poster is asking people to line the route of his funeral cortege to "show that he truly was adored". pic.twitter.com/X0DYHl10Hp
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
Plans to transform Chorlton’s old shopping centre have been green-lit
Danny Jones
Yes, after a prolonged period of uncertainty, the plans put together for redeveloping Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre are now moving forward.
Following an extensive consultation period back in 2023 and planning permission having now been approved by Manchester City Council, the transformation of the long-neglected retail complex has been green-lit, and the project will be moving forward even sooner than you think.
As confirmed earlier this week, Stretford-based construction company PJ Livesey will be working in tandem with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund to deliver the major regeneration, which will see even more living spaces and leisure facilities arrive in the already thriving suburb.
Following an official press release on Thursday, 18 December, we’ve now been given a latest glimpse at what the developers are hoping the new Chorlton Cross district will look like.
Credit: Font Communications (supplied)
Plans for the transformation of both the high street and the old Leisure Centre date back to 2023 and even further when taking into account the Council asking the public for their thoughts on what should happen with the area, but Chorlton Cross, specifically, has been the subject of debate for some time.
The bulk of units in and around the largely forgotten shopping centre are now empty, with just a few hold-outs still clinging on to their space.
Now, following extensive feedback from native Mancs and those who have flooded into the South Manchester town over the past decade, the approved plans have now been revealed.
They include:
A mix of 262 one, two and three-bed apartments, all with access to outdoor space through balconies and gardens
20% affordable homes available through a mix of tenures, with 18.5% of these being available for social rent
Around 3,500 sq metres of public open space, including a fully walkable route through Manchester Rd and outdoor seating areas to encourage people to stop and dwell
A mix of flexible retail spaces, such as a new ‘Makers Yard’ suitable for smaller, start-up businesses
Up to 60 new trees across the site with maximised retention of existing trees
Manc filmmaker, Bernard Leach – who has been making videos about the region since 2007 – shared a longer look at how the vision for this next chapter in Chorlton‘s residential and retail history is currently shaping up earlier this month.
As you can see, some sections of the old Lancashire village and ‘cum-Hardy’ parish could look rather unrecognisable sooner than you think.
Should everything go ahead as scheduled, those involved are hoping to get work underway in the New Year, with the ‘decommissioning’ of all existing buildings, including Graeme House, undergoing demolition by early 2026.
With the majority vacating their premises in recent years, it’s fair to say that it’s been vastly underutilised for far too long.
Posting on social media back in September last year, nearby resident Nigel Woodcock wrote: “Serious question, not just councillor-baiting, but can anyone explain why the retail businesses in Chorlton Precinct were booted out before any decisions were made about what’s going to happen to it?
“It makes no sense to me. No plans have even been submitted, so far as I’m aware, so why kick out those businesses and leave it derelict for so long? The land and buildings are actually owned by the combined GM Local Authorities, so one might expect a modicum of political and business nous to be applied.”
Similar to the new plans being put together for the stretch of land between Castlefield and Salford, most are just glad something is finally happening with the space.
Commenting on the plans progressing, PJ Livesey’s Managing Director, Georgina Lynch, said in an official statement: “This is a landmark moment for Chorlton, marking the transformation of the former shopping centre into a vibrant new hub for the community.
“Working closely with Manchester City Council, we’ve carefully balanced the delivery of much-needed new homes – including 20% affordable – with the creation of lively, welcoming spaces to shop, relax, and spend time.
“This site is at the heart of Chorlton, and we’re bringing it back to life, cementing the area’s reputation as a truly great place to live.”
What do you make of the Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre regeneration plans?
Danny Jones -
24th August 2024 
