12 things Manchester gave the world – including canals, the NHS and submarines
Yet more reasons to love Manchester - a centre of invention as well as a great place to live.
From science to fashion, from industry to politics, there isn’t a field that Manchester has failed to leave its mark on.
Our city has produced world-class inventors, designers, activists and artists that have been responsible for some of the most pivotal moments in history, such as Emmeline Pankhurst, who spearheaded the fight women’s right to vote, and Alan Turing, whose work not only helped win the Second World War, but also formed the foundations of computer science.
As if we needed anymore reasons to be proud of Manchester, here are some of the ideas that started here and went on to influence the rest of the world.
1. Inter-city rail
The Liverpool-Manchester Railway, opened in 1830, was the first steam-powered inter-city railway in the world. (Photo by S. R. Gaiger/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
2. The NHS
On 5 July, 1948, the National Health Service was born with the opening of its first hospital, Park hospital in Davyhulme, which is now Trafford General. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
3. Harrington jackets
These jackets were first made by clothing company Baracuta in the 1930s. It was popularised in fashion by the Mods in the 1960s, and later with skinheads and punks in the 70s and 80s. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
4. Atomic theory
Atomic theory, the theory that all materials are composed of individual atoms, was proposed by Manchester-based scientist John Dalton in the early 1800s. Pictured here are some of his lecture notes and diagrams. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)