City College

This red brick and terracotta building started out in life as Central School opened in 1897 and designed by the architects Potts & Pickup. During the Great War in 1914, the building was converted to a military hospital. Pupils returned to the school in 1920. The red arrow on the aerial photograph below points to the building as it was in 1953.

In 1960 it was re-name the Central High School for Girls although, in fact, the boys had left in 1954. Following Manchester educational re-organisation of 1982, the building became home to Shena Simon College.

Dorothy Shena Simon was born in 1884. She studied Economics at Newnham College, Cambridge and was a keen supporter of the Suffragette women's rights movement. Her husband Ernest, became Lord Mayor of Manchester in 1921 and she became a Liberal Councillor serving on Manchester Education Committee for 43 years. She also sat on the National Committee which ultimately introduced the comprehensive system of education to Britain.

Today it is the City Campus of Manchester's City College. The building boasts two theatres, music recording studios, dance studios, art and design studios and computing suites. It is one of Manchester's Sixth Form campuses and specialises in AS and A levels and creative, media and music courses.

Visit the "Manchester View" Homepage

Close Window