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Two Hardman Street
Just off Deansgate along
Hardman Street is number 2 Hardman Street. When
this photograph was taken in 2009 the "MEN" sign in the
window gave away the fact that the building was occupied
by the Guardian Media Group. It was also home to
the Deloitte Group.  If you visit the
building in 2010 you will see that the sign has gone.
 As I write this in December 2010, the MEN has now moved out of 2 Hardman Street and relocated to a site in Oldham. The newspaper has though maintained a presence in the city centre, in Number 1 Piccadilly Gardens.  ****************
Allied London the
property development company has an interesting article
on its web site about the building of 2 Hardman
Street. It explains how archaeologists working on
the site prior to construction uncovered some
fascinating insights into the city’s industrial
heritage. The work was done by members of the
University of Manchester Archaeology unit, funded by
Allied London Properties. "They
revealed the remains of an 18th century soda-water
factory, a hat-making works, a silk finishing mill and
many houses of varying standard ..... Excavations show
that more than 200 years ago the area was a hive of
commercial activity - well before the Industrial
Revolution started in “Cottonopolis”. Maps
of the period identify the uncovered foundations as
Thompstone’s Chemical Works, Hampson’s Hat Factory and
Ashley’s Silk Mill in areas once occupied by the
romantically named Cupid’s Alley and Joddrell Street."
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