Symbols of Manchester
Encyclopedia
The City of Manchester has various symbols representing the city including the Manchester bee, the Red Rose of Lancaster and the Manchester Ship Canal
which is popularly depicted in many Mancunian crests and the city council's coat of arms.
, a revolution that Manchester was at the heart of. The bee denotes Mancunians' hard work and graft during this era and Manchester being a hive of activity in the 19th century.
Bees are known as hard workers with a vital role to play in the ecosystem by pollinating crops. The allegorical link to bees relates to the 19th century, when Manchester was a vital economic centre for Britain and many Mancunians were employed in a range of roles in the city.
Although it is unverifiable, the idiom busy bee may have originated or at least been popularised as a result of Manchester's adoption of the bee symbol.
Mancunian symbols apart from the Manchester bee include the Lancashire Red Rose. Until 1974 the majority of Greater Manchester
, including the City of Manchester, was situated in the county of Lancashire
. The Red Rose of Lancashire was adopted in 1485 after the Battle of Bosworth Field
. It is still common to find the red rose of Lancashire on Mancunian crests.
, the world's first and only swing aqueduct and as of 2011 the 8th longest ship canal in the world which was the longest upon completion of construction in 1894. Much of these engineering achievements were completed by Mancunians, approximately 12,000 were involved in the dredging of the Manchester Ship Canal and adopted Mancunians such as Daniel Adamson
and Edward Leader Williams
.
The Manchester Ship Canal, completed in 1894 was constructed to give Manchester and its surrounding area direct and unhindered access to the sea (the Irish sea
in this instance). Previously, trade to and from Manchester had gone down the River Mersey
through the Port of Liverpool
but Manchester merchants wanted unhindered access to the sea and consequently would not have to pay dues to the Port of Liverpool. In some ways Manchester was the producer and Liverpool was the transporter of goods at the height of the British Empire
in the 19th century. But the creation of Manchester Ship Canal destroyed this system and generated bad feeling between Liverpool and Manchester creating tension with merchants in Liverpool losing jobs.
Despite the canal being past its heyday (although there are large development plans by Peel Ports to increase trade), a ship is often depicted in many Mancunian crests and coat of arms which symbolise the Manchester Ship Canal. The ship has always been on many crests and coat of arms however as it symbolises Manchester's trade links, such as the current 1842 Manchester coat of arms depicted a ship before the Ship Canal was built.
, the Irk
and the Medlock
.
Manchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
which is popularly depicted in many Mancunian crests and the city council's coat of arms.
Mancunian symbols
The Manchester bee
The Manchester bee symbol was adopted during the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, a revolution that Manchester was at the heart of. The bee denotes Mancunians' hard work and graft during this era and Manchester being a hive of activity in the 19th century.
Bees are known as hard workers with a vital role to play in the ecosystem by pollinating crops. The allegorical link to bees relates to the 19th century, when Manchester was a vital economic centre for Britain and many Mancunians were employed in a range of roles in the city.
Although it is unverifiable, the idiom busy bee may have originated or at least been popularised as a result of Manchester's adoption of the bee symbol.
Red Rose of Lancashire
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, including the City of Manchester, was situated in the county of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The Red Rose of Lancashire was adopted in 1485 after the Battle of Bosworth Field
Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians...
. It is still common to find the red rose of Lancashire on Mancunian crests.
Manchester Ship Canal and canal system
Manchester's extensive canal system remains a great source of pride for Mancunians and a ship is depicted on many of the city's institutions, representing the city's canal system which helped to increase trade allowing Manchester to burgeon into a key industrial powerhouse by the 19th century. Manchester is home to the world's first canal in the Bridgewater CanalBridgewater Canal
The Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, in North West England. It was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester...
, the world's first and only swing aqueduct and as of 2011 the 8th longest ship canal in the world which was the longest upon completion of construction in 1894. Much of these engineering achievements were completed by Mancunians, approximately 12,000 were involved in the dredging of the Manchester Ship Canal and adopted Mancunians such as Daniel Adamson
Daniel Adamson
Daniel Adamson was a notable English engineer who became a successful manufacturer of boilers and was the driving force behind the inception of the Manchester Ship Canal project during the 1880s.-Early life:...
and Edward Leader Williams
Edward Leader Williams
Sir Edward Leader Williams was an English civil engineer, chiefly remembered as the designer of the Manchester Ship Canal, but also heavily involved in other canal projects in north Cheshire.-Early life:...
.
The Manchester Ship Canal, completed in 1894 was constructed to give Manchester and its surrounding area direct and unhindered access to the sea (the Irish sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
in this instance). Previously, trade to and from Manchester had gone down the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
through the Port of Liverpool
Port of Liverpool
The Port of Liverpool is the name for the enclosed 7.5 mile dock system that runs from Brunswick Dock in Liverpool to Seaforth Dock, Seaforth, on the east side of the River Mersey and the Birkenhead Docks between Birkenhead and Wallasey on the west side of the river...
but Manchester merchants wanted unhindered access to the sea and consequently would not have to pay dues to the Port of Liverpool. In some ways Manchester was the producer and Liverpool was the transporter of goods at the height of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in the 19th century. But the creation of Manchester Ship Canal destroyed this system and generated bad feeling between Liverpool and Manchester creating tension with merchants in Liverpool losing jobs.
Despite the canal being past its heyday (although there are large development plans by Peel Ports to increase trade), a ship is often depicted in many Mancunian crests and coat of arms which symbolise the Manchester Ship Canal. The ship has always been on many crests and coat of arms however as it symbolises Manchester's trade links, such as the current 1842 Manchester coat of arms depicted a ship before the Ship Canal was built.
The Three rivers
The three diagonal stripes depicted in coat of arms such as the Manchester coat of arms and crest such as Manchester City F.C. symbolise the City of Manchester's three rivers: the IrwellRiver Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
, the Irk
River Irk
The River Irk is a river in Greater Manchester in North West England that flows through the northern suburbs of Manchester before merging with the River Irwell in Manchester city centre....
and the Medlock
River Medlock
The River Medlock is a river of Greater Manchester in North West England. It rises near Oldham and flows, south and west, for ten miles to join the River Irwell in the extreme southwest of Manchester city centre.-Source:...
.
Use of Mancunian symbols in popular culture
- In the early 1970s the famous BoddingtonsBoddingtonsBoddingtons Bitter is a bitter ale originally brewed at the Strangeways Brewery, Manchester, England. It was promoted as The Cream of Manchester from the late 1980s until 2004, when the Strangeways brewery was closed and production moved to Magor, South Wales and Salmesbury, Lancashire...
logo was introduced, depicting a barrel and two bees. - Manchester City Football Club's old crest from 1972 to 1997 depicted a Lancashire red rose and a ship referencing to the Manchester Ship CanalManchester Ship CanalThe Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
. - Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
's crest also depicts the ship referring to the Manchester Ship CanalManchester Ship CanalThe Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
, and until 1970 also featured the red rose and the three rivers motif. The breakaway club F.C. United of ManchesterF.C. United of ManchesterF.C. United of Manchester is an English semi-professional football club based in Bury, Greater Manchester that plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. It was formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to American businessman Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover of the...
's crest still features both the ship and three rivers. - HMS ManchesterHMS Manchester (D95)HMS Manchester was a Type 42 destroyer in the 5th Destroyer Squadron of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. She was laid down in 1978 at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, launched in 1980, commissioned in 1982, and decommissioned on 24 February 2011.Her nickname is the "Busy Bee", in reference to...
is nicknamed Busy Bee after the city's bee symbol and the bee is depicted on the ships crest which is also present on the ships funnel. - Manchester City Football Club's 2009-10 away shirt was black with gold strips on each shoulder. This design was inspired by the Manchester Bee.
- The University of Manchester's coat-of-arms features 3 bees.
See also
- Red Rose of LancasterRed Rose of LancasterThe Red Rose of Lancaster is the county flower of Lancashire.The exact species or cultivar which the red rose relates to is uncertain, but it is thought to be Rosa gallica officinalis....
- County flower of Lancashire which Manchester was previously located before the formation of Greater ManchesterGreater ManchesterGreater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
in 1974. - Liver birdLiver birdThe Liver bird is the symbol of the city of Liverpool, England.-History:The earliest known use of a bird to represent the then-town of Liverpool was on its corporate seal, dating from the 1350s. The seal is now held by the British Museum. In 1668 the Earl of Derby gave the town council a mace...
- Symbol of LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.