The Manc in Manctopia

Black and white photograph on the theme of Manctopia taken in Deansgate by Nia Thomas. Manctopia.

Each person knows that last leg of their journey home.

For me it’s a met ride. That stretch from Piccadilly to Cornbrook; a stop motion in Manchester’s rapid development.

Dubbed ‘Manctopia’ in a recent BBC documentary, clusters of skyscrapers dwarf the once isolated Beetham Tower in the city’s skyline.

With curtain walls of glass now sprouting from Manchester’s red brick roots, I set out to investigate how the city is preserving the ‘Manc’ in ‘Manctopia’.

Black and white photograph of City Tower taken by Nia Thomas. Manctopia.
Partial photograph of a statue taken by Nia Thomas. Manctopia.
Series of posters on a wall taken by Nia Thomas. Manctopia.

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Black and white photography of City Road Inn with skyscrapers in the background. Manctopia.
Black and white photograph of The Britons Protection pub. Manctopia.
Black and white photograph of the metrolink rails.

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Photograph showing Hotspur Press with tower blocks in the background.

Find more of our photo essays in our Photography section.