First it was the rise of the supermarkets, then came the trend for getting everything delivered to our doorsteps.
Manchester is still a prime hub for retail and shopping enthusiasts, but it’s hard to think of a time when our independent shops and high streets have faced bigger challenges than in the last two years.
However, it wasn’t always this way, of course. We took the opportunity to celebrate some famous Manchester retail institutions and traditions with a nostalgic look back at how we used to shop in generations gone by.
- We’d love to share your old photos of Manchester people and places - email us at [email protected]

1. Browsing the day away
Shoppers in Manchester, August 1931. Photo: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

2. Browsing the shops
Shoppers outside Lewis’s on Market Street, Manchester, 1931. Photo: J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

3. Fish to your door
Fish sellers in the streets of Manchester, 1920. Photo: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

4. Window shoppers
Outside Kendals in Deansgate, August 1931 Photo: J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images


