Documented history of Manchester begins with the Roman army who constructed a stone fort on the lands in 200 A.D.. Since then the city has seen its share of strife but has continued to prosper through some of the toughest times. For more than 200 years the Romans ruled the lands near their fort, contributing to civilization a township of sorts complete with a daily market for the exchange of goods. The city of Manchester would follow these trade roots through history to become one of the most successful cities in Britain.
After the Romans ceded the fort would fall to ruins, and most of the areas human inhabitants would migrate as well. Leaderships of these lands would change hands over the course of the next hundred years with Angles, Danes and Saxons all vying for control. Eventually the Saxons would successfully establish a small village during the 7th century. Industry remained minimal in the area though 919 when efforts would be made to restore to Roman fort in an effort to defend the area against intrusions by the Danes.
During the Middle Ages trade and industry grew throughout England, and the north was no exception. The village of Manchester was officially recognized during the 13th century and began to take shape as a producer of fine textiles. The area pastures and climate lent well to herding sheep which supplied the wool trade and eventually the daily town market would not be sufficient to peddle the wears of the settlers. In 1222 Manchester was granted an annual fair which, over the course of several days, would host an array of farmers, craftspeople and local merchants, and people from throughout the north and beyond would travel to take advantage of the great bargains. The proceeds from this annual fair sustained the production of textiles, and eventually textile producers branched into the cotton and silk markets as well.
In 1603 Manchester suffered through a bout with the plague, although the population was small, the disease killed over one quarter of the population. Unlike many English cities who were devastated by the plague, Manchester''s economy faired better than others as there were always more people from the surrounding countryside coming to the town to find work in the mills.
Manchester aligned itself with parliament during the British Civil War, and the townspeople erected basic fortifications around the city in an effort to keep the royal cavalry at bay. Basic city ramparts were also constructed during this time. The royalists made several attempts to overtake Manchester, none were ever successful and the city remained the property of parliament for the duration of the war. The city would however, suffer from the lack of trade and a brief outbreak of the plague again in 1645.
18th century Manchester is described as a thriving place. There were many improvements made to the infrastructure during the early part of the century and many additions to the town as well including St. Ann''s Church, the Bridgewater canal, the cotton exchange and an infirmary following the construction of Chethams Hospital for poor children during the previous century. The city was granted, by parliament, a budget for town maintenance and patrolmen. Trade was booming. Textile merchants became wealthy during the years leading up to the industrial revolution, when exports included cotton and wool, but also linen and silk.
The population continued to grow with this prolonged success, but construction of fit housing was unable to keep the pace and squalid living conditions among laborers contributed to an outbreak of cholera in 1832 killing nearly 700 people. Marked improvements were made to the city including streetlights, a public sewer disposal system and the foundations of a public transportation. A railway line would soon link Liverpool with Manchester and an influx of Irish immigrants made their way to the city. Industry grew to include iron works and papermaking. Towards the 20th century the Manchester Ship Canal opened and the increased port activity led to increased profit from exports.
During the early 20th century industry diversified again, and new industries were created to sustain the economy of Manchester. Products included flour, baked goods and cereals. These new industries replaced the former textile industry, which went into serious decline with the competitive global market. During the depression however the economy stagnated, and though the city managed to remain relatively unscathed during WWI, World War II would have damaging effects. Warehouses and buildings were destroyed, but the enhanced economy following the war led to immediate restoration. Today industries like textile and iron-works, have been replaced by service industries like tourism and finance. Manchester has taken its seat as an integral contributor to Britain. A center for finance and education in the north, Manchester hosts the largest and arguably most efficient airport in the region and welcomes visitors from around the world.
