Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Looking at Buildings is a website by Pevsner Architectural Guides. The site includes a section to help you explore Manchester.

It’s interesting to see Manchester and surrounding neighbourhoods described from an architectural point of view. Buildings in focus include the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue on Cheetham Hill Road and the Portico Library, which I’ve mentioned before.

The site also includes two walking tours, of Manchester banks and Ancoats and Angel Meadow. There’s a page about Manchester’s ‘lost churches’ and a Manchester timeline, from 1400.

It’s amazing to think that Chetham’s School dates back to the 1450s, before even the Cathedral. Chets’ own website suggests buildings date back to 1421.

Just a month after Manchester’s accidental festival of psychogeography ended, Morag from Twangorama has been back in touch:

After the accidental festival a few of us decided we’d like to keep exploring psychogeographical territory together – and that we would meet on the first Sunday of every month to go for a wander.

We’ll be meeting at the basement (24 lever street) at 2pm on sunday 4 february – Alex has some exciting plans for a topical derive – no clues but it looks like a winner to me.

… so Eastlands it is then.

It also sounds like there is another Loiterers Resistance Movement zine on the way. Keep your eyes peeled.

Yesterday’s MEN reported that Manchester’s biggest bike shop will be opening on Wilmslow Road in March. Here’s what it says about the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, which is Scotland’s longest established workers’ co-operative:

Its shops open seven days a week, selling a large number of cycle brands as well as its own Edinburgh Bicycles, and providing cycle repair workshops. Several also run cycle maintenance day classes.

Its showroom stock ranges from £200 commuter bikes to competition-ready £2,000 road bikes.

Its arrival in Manchester is part of a resurgence of interest in cycling on the part of the city’s workers, students and residents

They’ve got a prime position too: the former car garage opposite Whitworth Park, between Rusholme and the university. I can see the company doing very well in Manchester.

So suggests Lees, in a reply to the news that UK North have been taken off the road amid safety fears. My post has attracted 10 comments so far, including:

i personally thought UK north busses were much better than magic or finglands there was always like 3 at a time and there was space on them unlike magic.

I have travelled on UK North buses and never had a problem. Is this another ploy of the BIG BOYS (mainly stagecoach)with friends in high places to rid another smaller bus company off the road.

Having used this bus company for many years, it seems to me a conspiracy with the big boys pulling the strings.

I have used these buses and had no problem. Is this another ploy of stagecoach to rid the roads of smaller companies again.

They are a good compnay, cheap prices too! Bring them back!

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