Publication/Exhibition Intorduction

The ‘Worker Bee’ is a long standing symbol of Manchester. Implemented during the Industrial Revolution, it came to symbolize the city’s hard work and perseverance during the era. Indeed the Northern Quarter of Manchester can be seen as ‘the Hive’ of the city; from the outside it appears to be a youthful, sociable area; thriving with activity and talent. However, underneath the surface of bars and shops, the Northern Quarter has a long and rich history centered on the important role it played during the economic shift in the 19th Century. As is often the case, there is more than meets the eye with the Northern Quarter: an abundance of different cultures and personalities, hidden quirks and charms and a background of change and regeneration. The worker bee can be found hiding around the Northern Quarter; a metaphor for the area’s unseen aspects: from a history of hard work to its modern day eclectic combination of characters.