The University of Manchester
 


Just beyond the Booth Street junction with Oxford Road a footbridge crossed Oxford Road proudly declaring that you entering the University of Manchester.  Manchester is the UK’s most popular University with more than 64,000 undergraduates applying in 2007.  The univ ersity offers 500 different degree programmes via 23 academic schools a hundreds of specialist research groups.  This learning is supported by libraries that hold 4 million printed books and manuscripts, over 41,000 electronic journals and 500,000 electronic books.  The students can enjoy the UK's largest SAtudents' Union and all first years are guarranteed a place in the university's 9,200 bed accommodation service.

 

The history of the university can be traced back to a legacy from a wealthy Manchester business man, John Owens.  John was educated in Ardwick and later became a partner in his father's business.  As their business grew they became involved in trading calico around the world and importing cotton, hides wheat and other commodities.  John Owen died at his house in Chorlton-upon-Medlock in 1846 leaving a bequest of £96,654 for the foundation of a college. 



The money was used to purchase Richard Cobden's former home on Quay Street which became the first home of Owens College in 1851. 








In later years Owens College moved to premises on Oxford Road and in 1880 it was granted a Royal Charter to become England's first civic university as The Victoria University of Manchester. 


























Another important educational force in Manchester at the turn of the 20th century was the Mechanics' Institute which was the forerunner of UMIST, a Faculty of Technology that worked alongside The Victoria University of Manchester. 


The Mechanics' Institute on Princess Street



The UMIST Main Building on Whitworth Street


The Victoria University of Manchester became The University of Manchester and UMIST achieved independent university status in 1955.  However, the two universities continued to work together and in October 2004 they merged under the name of the University of Manchester.





The University of Manchester lays claim to 23 Nobel Prize winners amongst its current and former staff and students includin Ernest Rutherford whose pioneering research that led to the splitting of the atom, Kilburn and Williams who developed the first computer in 1948 that they called "Baby" and Bernard Lovell who built the world's largest steerable radio telescope at Jodrell Bank.



The former School of Dentistry now the Manchester Museum Café




As you can see from the billboard outside this new building on Oxford Road it was to be called The Scan Building.  However, it has already been renamed University Place.  Shown here in April of 2008 you can see that it is still under construction.  When it is completed the university claims that it will be a "world-class conference venue which will be second-to-none in the Northwest.  University Place, on Oxford Road, at the heart of The University of Manchester campus, will feature: a 1,000 seat semi-circular auditorium (divisible into two theatres of 600 and 270), Additional 24 flat-floored seminar rooms accommodating 20-120 delegates, a 500 sq m exhibition area and adjacent marquee space, a 400 seat restaurant, Wi-fi access to exhibition and restaurant areas, and high spec audio visual aids and professional technicians on site.