St Peter's Square, Manchester
Encyclopedia
St Peter's Square Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink
station located on St Peter's Square, Manchester city centre
.
Metrolink trams from Altrincham and Eccles
serve two platforms in the west of the square which are located directly in front of Manchester Central Library
. The square is located southeast of Manchester Town Hall
and it is between Deansgate-Castlefield and Piccadilly Gardens
.
Metrolink's official documents and signs use either St Peter's Square or St Peters [sic] Square as the station's name.
To the west of the square is Peter Street, on which is the Midland Hotel and to the east is Oxford Street.
The area around St Peter's Square was previously known as St Peter's Field, which went down in history as the location of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre
. The name derives from St Peter's Church which was built where the gardens are today in the late 18th century and also gave its name to Peter Street. It was a building in Classical style (architect James Wyatt
: built 1788-94) and once famous for its church music. It was demolished in 1907 and the Cenotaph
replaced it in 1924. A stone cross (1908) commemorates the church. The square is the site for the city's Remembrance Day
commemoration each year.
In more peaceful times, the square was redeveloped around the construction of the Central Library
and Town Hall Extension (1930–34). Plans had existed since the early 1970s for a rapid transit station in St Peter's Square; proposals for the abandoned Picc-Vic tunnel
envisaged the construction of an underground station to serve both St Peter's and the neighbouring Albert Square. The early proposals for an on-street light rail
system in Manchester revived the idea of a station in the square, and the idea was retained as the project evolved, becoming a reality when the Metrolink system opened in 1992. The Manchester Peace Garden
is on the site of Victorian buildings which once included the Mechanics' Institute, Cooper Street: there is an allegorical bronze statue in the garden.
Manchester Metrolink
Metrolink is a light rail system in Greater Manchester, England. It consists of four lines which converge in Manchester city centre and terminate in Bury, Altrincham, Eccles and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The system is owned by Transport for Greater Manchester and operated under contract by RATP Group...
station located on St Peter's Square, Manchester city centre
Manchester City Centre
Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England. It lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, next to the River Irwell...
.
Metrolink trams from Altrincham and Eccles
Eccles Metrolink station
Eccles Interchange is an interchange comprising a single platform Manchester Metrolink station and a small bus station serving Eccles town centre.The interchange opened as part of the second stage of the Eccles extension in July 2000....
serve two platforms in the west of the square which are located directly in front of Manchester Central Library
Manchester Central Library
Manchester Central Library is a circular library south of the extended Town Hall in Manchester, England. It acts as the headquarters of the Manchester Library & Information Service, which also consists of 22 other community libraries.Designed by E...
. The square is located southeast of Manchester Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall is a Victorian-era, Neo-gothic municipal building in Manchester, England. The building functions as the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local government departments....
and it is between Deansgate-Castlefield and Piccadilly Gardens
Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink station
Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink station located in Piccadilly Gardens, adjacent to Piccadilly Bus Station. The station can be used for Interchange between the Bury service and Altrincham and Eccles services. The station is in the City Ticketing Zone.The station was...
.
Metrolink's official documents and signs use either St Peter's Square or St Peters [sic] Square as the station's name.
To the west of the square is Peter Street, on which is the Midland Hotel and to the east is Oxford Street.
History
Peterloo Massacre
The Peterloo Massacre occurred at St Peter's Field, Manchester, England, on 16 August 1819, when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000–80,000 that had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation....
. The name derives from St Peter's Church which was built where the gardens are today in the late 18th century and also gave its name to Peter Street. It was a building in Classical style (architect James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
: built 1788-94) and once famous for its church music. It was demolished in 1907 and the Cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
replaced it in 1924. A stone cross (1908) commemorates the church. The square is the site for the city's Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
commemoration each year.
In more peaceful times, the square was redeveloped around the construction of the Central Library
Manchester Central Library
Manchester Central Library is a circular library south of the extended Town Hall in Manchester, England. It acts as the headquarters of the Manchester Library & Information Service, which also consists of 22 other community libraries.Designed by E...
and Town Hall Extension (1930–34). Plans had existed since the early 1970s for a rapid transit station in St Peter's Square; proposals for the abandoned Picc-Vic tunnel
Picc-Vic tunnel
Picc-Vic was a proposed, and later cancelled, underground railway designed in the early 1970s with the purpose of connecting two major mainline railway terminals in central Manchester, England. The name Picc-Vic was a contraction of the two station names, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria...
envisaged the construction of an underground station to serve both St Peter's and the neighbouring Albert Square. The early proposals for an on-street light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system in Manchester revived the idea of a station in the square, and the idea was retained as the project evolved, becoming a reality when the Metrolink system opened in 1992. The Manchester Peace Garden
is on the site of Victorian buildings which once included the Mechanics' Institute, Cooper Street: there is an allegorical bronze statue in the garden.
Cenotaph
This is the work of Sir Edwin Lutyens and has similarities to the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London: part of the garden wall was removed for the tram station to be built. It was inaugurated in 1924.Metrolink infrastructure project, 2009
The station was demolished and rebuilt with a full length platform and improved passenger facilities in November 2009.Second City Crossing
As part of the second city crossing prosposals, the stop will be moved slightly north towards Princess Street, and transformed into a four-platform interchange. The cenotaph will be relocated and the entire square redeveloped into a new public space. There is a major international competition to design this development.External links
- Tram times and station information for St Peter's Square Metrolink station from Manchester MetrolinkManchester MetrolinkMetrolink is a light rail system in Greater Manchester, England. It consists of four lines which converge in Manchester city centre and terminate in Bury, Altrincham, Eccles and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The system is owned by Transport for Greater Manchester and operated under contract by RATP Group...
- St Peter's Square Underground Station - an artist's impression of the Picc-Vic station
