London Road station

circa 1903

This evocative postcard captures the bustle and energy of London Road Station—today known as Manchester Piccadilly—at the turn of the 20th century. Horse-drawn carriages queue alongside the broad approach, while an electric tram hums past on cobbled tracks, connecting the growing city’s heart to its thriving suburbs.

The station, opened in 1842 and expanded over the decades, was already a major hub for passengers and goods. Its imposing brick façades and orderly platforms speak to the age of steam and steel, when Manchester stood at the forefront of British industry and innovation.

Beneath the clocktower, travellers departed for Liverpool, Sheffield, and London, while porters and vendors wove through the crowds. It was more than a station—it was a gateway to opportunity, to escape, to new beginnings.

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