Manchester: Britain’s ‘Warehouse City’
Here in the UK, remnants of the industrial revolution can be found in nearly every town or city you visit. Whether it’s old train tracks weaving across the countryside or towering chimneys in the Black Country, this period in British history completely transformed how things were run.
However, one city in particular benefited hugely during this time, growing exponentially to become one of the North of England’s most important commercial centres. Manchester’s fortunes changed drastically during the 19th century and to keep up with demand, the city began erecting warehouses at an unprecedented scale. As suppliers to a host of warehouses, we decided to take a closer look at the interesting history of the ‘warehouse city’.
Medieval Manchester was a relatively insignificant market town, not known for anything in particular. However, by the 16th century, it had begun attracting wealthy merchants and clothiers who would set up their own textile companies in the centre.
Fast forward 200 years and Manchester had grown into one of the most prosperous textile manufacturers in the UK, with a commercial sector second only to London. So important were textiles to the city that textile salesmen became commonly known as ‘manchester men’.
In order to maintain this prosperity, Manchester had to develop and improve its infrastructure. For example, river transport was upgraded, ensuring easy access to the port city of Liverpool. Warehouses were also constructed to house clothing goods, store overseas products and to support the city’s railway trade.
The earliest warehouses from this period can be found around the now hugely important King Street, however over time, buildings were constructed further afield. It also really cannot be understated how quickly these buildings were erected; in 1806, there were around 1,000 warehouses in the city and by 1815 this nearly doubled to 1,819.
Today, many of the city’s looming warehouses can still be found, offering people a glimpse into one at one of the finest examples of Victorian commercial architecture. The square mile of ‘warehouse city’ was also one of the main components in helping Manchester and Salford join the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
Racking and Shelving: Antrim’s premier supplier of warehouse storage solutions
Warehouses have been essential to British commercial success and remain so to this day. As one of Northern Ireland’s leading suppliers of warehouse storage solutions, we’re proud to offer our customers a host of products and services to aid in running a successful warehouse operation.
Want to learn more about how Racking and Shelving can help boost your warehouse’s efficiency? Get in touch with a member of our team today on 028 9442 9037 or visit our website.
