Victorian Slum's Dark Past Inspires New Heritage Project

Once a relatively affluent rural area, Angel Meadow near Manchester city centre was drastically transformed by the Industrial Revolution into a notorious slum. Friedrich Engels famously described it as "hell upon Earth" due to its squalid conditions and rampant disease. Life in the densely populated lodging houses, often underground cellars, was incredibly harsh, with mortality rates soaring, particularly among children who frequently did not survive past five years old.

This grim history has inspired Project Angel, initiated by Manchester Cathedral. The project aims to acknowledge the suffering and resilience of those who lived and died in Angel Meadow, many of whom are buried in pauper graves. It also seeks to bridge the gap between the area's past and its present-day residents, fostering a connection to the city's formative, yet costly, industrial heritage.