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Cromwell online exhibition
  Manchester

Plans for a statue in Manchester, a city with a strong radical tradition, were first suggested in 1860 by a local Alderman. After his death his widow took up the idea and gave a statue in his memory. At first it was planned that it should go inside the new Town Hall, but both the architect and the sculptor thought it would be too large, so an outside site was found. It was placed in the centre of what was then Victoria Street, near the Cathedral, in 1875. The fact that Queen Victoria declined to open the Town hall was blamed on the existence of the statue.

 

  

      Picture of Cromwell's statue in Manchester

Cromwell statue, Manchester, c.1912 in its original position. It was nicknamed 'the pedestrian's friend' as it was sited in the middle of a busy road. There was pressure for its removal from those who saw it as a traffic hazard. It finally fell victim to a one way traffic scheme in 1968 and it was removed to Wythenshawe Park.

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