The Museum of Science & Industry Manchester
Situated in the oldest passenger railway buildings in the world, the Museum tells the story of the history, science and industry of Manchester - the world's first industrial city.
Main Building
Built to provide storage for goods carried by the Great Western Railway Company, this warehouse was completed in 1880. Two railway tracks ran into the warehouse so that wagons could be loaded and unloaded inside the building. This explains the two floor levels - track level and loading platform level - in the Fibres, Fabrics and Fashion Gallery, although the tracks have been removed. Loading bays for road vehicles were placed along both sides of the warehouse. The Main Building now houses a variety of facilities, including the Restaurant, Shop and Learning Centre, as well as those listed on the left.
1830 Warehouse
The 1830 Warehouse is the world’s first railway warehouse. The Manchester contractor David Bellhouse Jr. built it in the remarkably short period of five months. A wide variety of goods were stored in the 1830 Warehouse over its working life, including butter, shellfish, grain, clog blocks and bleach. Little was done to modernise the Warehouse after 1900 so many original and late nineteenth century features survive. These include a Victorian office, a hydraulic crane and gas light fittings. Now a Grade 1 listed building, the 1830 Warehouse is an exhibit in its own right as well as gallery space.
Station Building
The Station building consists of the original 1830 passenger station and the adjoining range of goods offices and shops completed in 1831. Liverpool Road Station only served as a passenger station for 14 years. Afterwards, the passenger booking halls and waiting rooms were used as offices and the shops became offices and workshops. When the Museum took over the site, the 1831 extension was in danger of collapse and was propped from the street side. In 1986-87, the 1831 part of the Station Building was dismantled brick-by-brick down to the foundations and rebuilt. As the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station, the Station Building is now a Grade 1 listed building.
Power Hall
Built in about 1855, this transit shed acted as a freight shed by day and an engine shed at night. It was used to handle goods that needed to be dispatched speedily by road, such as milk, vegetables and other perishable goods. Railway tracks extended into the shed, enabling goods to be transferred directly from rail wagons to road vehicles. Double doors on the Liverpool Road side, now replaced by glass, provided easy access for the road vehicles.
Entry to the Museum's permanent collections is FREE for everyone!
Admission charges apply for Special Exhibitions.
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Photography is permitted in the Main Museum, provided it is not used for commercial purposes. For commercial filming/photography, please contact the Press Office in advance.
You can find all the information you need to help you plan your visit including opening times and directions to the Museum in these pages.
Museum enquiries +44 (0)161 832 2244 24 hr Information line
Website: The Museum of Science & Industry Manchester
Public Parks - Manchester Museum - Museum of Science and Industry
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