Manchester Street Scene (1901) | BFI Archive

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This film is part of the Mitchell and Kenyon collection - an amazing visual record of everyday life in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century.
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[@mikethespike7579]

I was born in 1951 and grew up near Manchester and it's a strange thought for me that I might even have personally known some of the younger people in the footage, albeit when they were much older.

[@jimmccreery3640]

I love the way the people in the film turn and look into the camera…as if they're watching us as we watch them...

[@patriciacluskey1133]

Harpurhey forever

[@jackwatson3944]

@@patriciacluskey1133 Bolton forever u mean.

[@biannwilmer27]

Beautiful sentiment

[@doughoward6401]

Where did they put all the bodies ?

[@helsonwheels5175]

My Grandmother was born in Salford, Manchester in 1901. It's amazing to be able to see this footage. Thank you.

[@alexmckenna1171]

Bloody MARVELLOUS! I can't stop looking at this film. All those people - long gone - and you just have to wonder what they were like. How they spoke. What happened to them. Fascinating and also very sad for some unexplainable reason...

[@MrSockoOck]

It is such an odd feeling to watch this and know every single one of them is dead. It really speaks to just how pitifully short human existence is.

[@michellea9857]

Yeah life is short, I am preparing now for the afterlife. You still alive 11years on?

[@emma-kp8vz]

Wow that comment is 12 years ago, the person who wrote it may look at it and remember writing it. How time does actually fly!

[@sabahatalikhan218]

even the person who commented is dead now

[@danielfreeley5217]

@@michellea9857I always wonder tho is it short? It feels short and can be prematurely ended but it’s the longest thing we’ll ever do

[@lightowler111]

you wait an hour for a tram then 3 come along at once, nothings changed in 100 years

[@C-Rex1]

Just over 120 years on and so much has changed.

[@AtariCrypt]

Wow. How surreal is this to see back in time like that. Incredible. Well, it's quite mind-blowing because we read and hear about history yet there's never recorded footage. I know this isn't "old" compared to our history but it is still mind-blowing to see those people like that and how life was. Watched it twice!

[@timsears951]

would love to go back to this era ...for just one day...

[@user-rz3xc1ix5e]

Как много людей и какие живые лица.....спасибо вам за эти шедевры....

[@xyaqua]

my God, these are our ancestors. this is us. this is who we became. this is beyond gold.

[@blootoofblue6951]

RIP Everone

[@lostindreams3]

Once I sat down to eat in a food court where they had early 1900s pictures embossed in the tables and realized the picture was of my grandfather. My Grandpa lived way into his 90's but died before I was born.

[@davidrayner9376]

It’s rather remarkable that, although this video has been on KZbin for over 12 years now and has had over 412, 000 views, nobody has yet come forward to identify either the soldier or the little boy in the white suit and the white hat. Surely someone, somewhere, must have a photo of this brave soldier and this seemingly well to do boy in their family album and know who they were.

[@ovingtonful]

I agree with you that would be really interesting - there are so many of these old films - from all over the world - - you would imagine that someone would recognise a relative and “flesh out “the background story a bit - wouldn’t that be wonderful!

[@DanJamesJames]

I wonder if the little boy in white served in the army towards the end of World War One, and if so, I wonder if he survived.

[@ericthemauve]

You posted this three years previously also.

[@janesmith9024]

Wonderful. My great grandfather won medals in the Boer war and had a published "Letter from the Front" in a newspaper in 1900. My grandmother was only one year old when he left. He had been abroad before fighting too as he signed up in 1887 first, then 1891 (and again in 1914 for WWI which killed him off although he was allowed out with heart problems in 1915, conceived his last child in 1916 who was born a month before he died in 1917. Rightly he was remembered as a war hero in the local area and monument. We just found a lovely photo of his widow with the 10 surviving children (an 11th had died as a baby) including my grand mother of about 1918.

[@markmarshall39]

anyone want to go back in time?

[@walterroberts2992]

Back to when United were good 😂😂😂

[@stephenhenshaw5662]

mark marshall Would we could we survive with out the mod cons? Bed lice

[@annmitchell4663]

Just as far as the 60s..lol

[@stephenwilliams4801]

walter roberts knob.

[@TheStevenWhiting]

Only to visit, not to live. Don't be fooled in to believing it was nice back then, it wasn't.

[@1968DodgePolara]

Very rare surviving film with the great clear quality for its age 120 years plus. Most old films of this age are grainy, light spots if you can get them to play. Nice restoration job on this one.

[@woffwoff9939]

amazing clear footage... R.I.P. all those people and children...

[@stevebaker8313]

Yeah rip good word not like now

[@omen828]

Bwa ha ha.

[@geraldjacksonradio701]

What always interests me with film from this era, is the total lack of road safety! Youngsters and people generally just seem to mix with the traffic.

[@markorollo.]

We haven't changed too much, we would still look at the people filming when we see them today.

[@amarsbarr]

It's scary to realize how long ago this really was.

[@richardjones3792]

Not really

[@stonedinsect]

the quality of this footage is amazing for 1901 just look how clear it is

[@redmanthinks]

Visited Manchester for a week and have just come back. The place is dripping with history, has a fantastic transport system, and very friendly people

[@johnhardman3]

"Friendly" Manchester? Try to avoid the crack-addicts and zombies, the pimps and pushers, the pickpockets who've taken over the "Gardens" area that was once the site of a large central hospital and asylum and which is a short walk from where the cameraman was at work in 1901. The hospital was still there in 1901 and its cleared site became a sunken flower-garden that people came out of their way to visit, well into the late 20th Century: now, in its 'modernised' form, it's to be avoided, like the rest of the city-centre.

[@Revolver1981]

@@johnhardman3 Are you a Mancunian yourself pal?

[@imnotgayyy8489]

@@Revolver1981 it is such an awful place. Full of working classes

[@GuinessOriginal]

Revolver is he balls, he's a soft scared shandy drinking southerner who probably got punched in the mouth for talking too much when he was a student up here and mugged for his expensive trainers and drugs a few times because he didn't keep his mouth shut

[@GuinessOriginal]

I'm not Gayyy welcome to Britain. One day we'll put you against the wall mate

[@fenech97]

Manchester was very busy with so many people going about their business. It 's still a great place to be. It has so much history. Thanks for sharing.

[@JordanRants]

This is fascinating. Considering this is 1901 the framerate and overall quality is great. Amazing footage. Thanks for sharing it.

[@selveswaryragunathan4034]

Omg

[@hotsaucepig1964]

@Brigid Balsamo replying to your own comment

[@jamessmith99731]

@@hotsaucepig1964 spam bots are everywhere.

[@farmerne]

Watching these films is like taking a trip in a time machine.

[@allangreenley9901]

Amazing how many horses were on the streets hundreds I expect

[@pookoos]

Wow... this gives me a feeling like nothing else. I can't explain it.

[@tamumalone1718]

When you realize them looking at the camera and then you feel like you're being watched 😂😂

[@Herbsandspices100]

I love it when they look at the screen! That poor little boy in the big hat probably had to fight in the WWI.

[@MerleOberon]

Amazing how clear the photography is

[@noveltybobel]

Every person in this clip are dead now, along with their lives, loves, hopes, dreams, fears and worries

[@carpediem-tv3ni]

I wish I live at this time.

[@nawffoh]

I think these films are brilliant, such an insight into a community long evolved.

[@sail1948]

Incredible to look back into the past. Makes me wonder about life the universe etc.

[@thetessellater9163]

We are just a blip in the evolution of earth - here today, gone tomorrow, if global warming doesn't get dealt with! Trump is such a tosser.

[@pumpkinzer0]

The ammount of times ive walked up cross street / corparation street, thanks for this video...great to see how it was over a century ago :)

[@fraclarke6523]

Not a mobile phone in sight , stuck up against everyone’s ears , how refreshing ,

[@thetessellater9163]

1980 was pre mobile - this is 1901! No cars is a better observation.

[@ghamandlupin]

Mobiles weren't invented in 1901 Fra

[@TheJusio]

Love this. And the music and voice over are done so sensitively.

[@PlanetaryCitizen]

Life must have been much harder in those days.

[@yogihaughton]

Being a Mancunian, this footage is seriously poignant knowing one of ure relations might well be in frame. Crazy

[@oddviews]

do you mean relations or ancestors?

[@jackwatson3944]

@@oddviews could be both. They'll be some old people around today that would of known some of these personally.

[@paulwild826]

It is incredible that all these people were once living breathing functioning human beings. Fascinating the two young lads looking back.

[@bran756]

Great narration,fantastic footage,thank you verry much.

[@lkijju]

To think these absolute treasure were nearly lost forever, but for a massive stroke of luck.

[@trainrover]

fascinating; people'd shown up hoping to even play extras on-screen

[@FloofyMinari]

I wish they could've captured the audio. Would be nice to hear how they spoke in 1901

[@michaelkennedy8573]

The exact same more or less, Some words here or now that we don't use today. accent wise the same. Maybe more enunciated if anything.

[@mrmoses7170]

Luis R. ..there are videos with sound and people talking

[@mrmoses7170]

Luis R. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZneoZGOXaa9mbrM

[@72megasnoopy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4jSaaCJgseBopI

[@neonskyline1]

@@michaelkennedy8573 mancunian lol

[@EdwardianTea]

Weird to think of all the men I have researched in my family, who served in the first world war, all of them would have been young boys here. My great great grandfathers and my uncles growing up in this society where people were self sufficient and rather exuberant. People these days often dismiss the Edwardian era, stating that its old because it is over a century ago, but to think our grandparents, our parents even, have living memories of our great great grandparents is something extraordinary, and shows that this was not perhaps as long ago as we percieve. Also, I'm going to give my utmost respect to some of those young boys in that film, as some of them would have enlisted in different regiments come 1914.

[@PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

Classic. I remember family telling me about times in "their day". It's really great to see this. So many changes in such a short period of time.

[@willshad]

In less than 70 years, they went from still riding around on horses to walking on the moon.

[@postscript67]

Mancunians?

[@jenflights]

✨ Amazing and wonderful to see. Best regards, Jen ✨

[@mbraune]

These ancient videos are no less than the first videos ever shootes on Earth. The Beginning of everything that is today brought to us. May sound stupid but it is never too late to have that in conscious.

[@teresakroll4347]

How I wish I could go back in time!

[@teresakroll4347]

I would do anything to live back then because than I wouldn't have to deal with the horrible music, the horrendous fashion of today, the and most of all, the liberals!

[@theophilusthistle1988]

True Freeman2 Sorry, sir, but advanced technology alone doesn't make a world better to live in. This is a truly awful culture we unfortunately are witness to today. The Western World is being taken over by barbarians.

[@simonwp1780]

Great idea! Back to diptheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough and rickets. Back to low life expectancy and only the very well off having any kind of decent education. Oh, and you being a woman, you would not be able to vote!

[@omaral_azawi158]

Yes nice to see people live without phones,electricity, just use covers at winter and live in cold areas in summer due to no AC, also no cars, GPS, satelite, internet, facebook etc...life is shit now and so comolicated, wish to return back there, woman are still not free and they need man, so stable families with alot of kids..no abortion, no contraception, no pets, no atheism...wish to live there alot

[@hannahdyson5603]

57beachboy Advanced technology saved lives , you would have died of a simple infection due to no antibiotics and would have had no way of fighting it of because you were malnourished ( they didn't understand the need to have a balanced diet ) and you were more likley to get infections due to them not understanding propley what causes it . You can thank advanced technology for avoiding such problems

[@benbow7]

The crowds in Manchester look very different in 2020, and not in a better way.

[@centurion5754]

How?

[@CaitlinGilliganMusic]

I love how everyone is so stunned by the presence of a camera. We wouldn't think twice about that now...do you know how much of our lives is recorded? Well it's a hellova lot! I think some of the mystery and wonder is taken out of life with too much on record.

[@mrrandom177]

Amazing footage !!

[@TCfoxs]

I'm watching this, on a computer, on the Internet, 111 years later. So much things have happen since than.

[@gotobedandtickler]

Great quality film footage, a joy to watch.

[@shawnapadron]

A window into the past.. bravo

[@Nathan.Manchester]

Excellent Video it's great to see history of local area 😀

[@johntomlinson6849]

Two of my three Mancunian grandparents were 8 and 1 at the time, and the third was born in the year this film was shot (the fourth grandparent was Swiss).

[@Hatrevivalist]

This is an absolutely marvelous video and want ot go back in time to see the hats personally six pence was quite a bit of money then

[@vickygi2197]

I love it.i feel nostalgic about this years.

[@davidevans3227]

watching old footage like this (and being so ignorant..) am amazed at the numbers of people and how busy it always seems to be.. the mad mixed up traffic.. and pedestrians! it's wonderful being able to watch these things now. thankyou for sharing this.. (thanks for the commentary too) 🙂 x wonder if there's any of my town cardiff, south wales..??

[@Adlou]

Everyone there with their own unique hopes, fears & daily tribulations; just like all of us today. And like them, future folk will look at footage of us.

[@ginettechiverton7113]

Always fascinates me.

[@MARKETMAN6789]

Thank you

[@DanceDecksUk]

This is great!!

[@brianbentley13]

The way it was great time to live in uncomplicated

[@Iggy3]

care to explain how life was uncomplicated back then compared to today?

[@CahuengaConfidential]

Amazing footage. Oddly moving. Everyone in the frame, regardless of station, has a kind dignity about them. Things have changed so much.

[@elena07vantrel]

Not enough stars in youtube to rate this collection...thanks for posting!

[@marioandrikopoulos2158]

God bless Mitchel and Kenyon 🎥👍

[@darrenvickers1557]

Is the 2 hour show available on DVD ? Would love to see this

[@Habu2]

Amazing.....

[@alexfernandohuenten1374]

awesome.

[@ToadstoolGirl]

@muscleco My sentiments EXACTLY. Especially the sad bit. I think it is because these people are long gone. Not even memories anymore, except on this incredible footage. :(

[@RaffaellaQ]

It looks like a scene from another world

[@boy18inva]

Amazing that these films have survived. They were shot on the old nitrate film stock, which basically crumbles to dust after a few decades.

[@VRShow]

It's fascinating isn't it? All those lives...not one person left alive in any of these scenes and yet they had lives...some short...some long...some adventurous...others likely mundane...arguments...loves...dislikes an entire life that we are still living they have lived already and now are no more.

[@JamesTKirkCobain]

Wow that is amazing quality. Sort of gives you an idea how people 100 years from now will see us although in color digital.

[@ian_b]

My grandma was born into this world, just a couple of years later in Liverpool.

[@grofuss88]

I enjoy watching this video, in fact I recognize a lot of the people from my youth when my family lived in Manchester. That's me in the white suit next to the Boer war soldier who is actually my elder brother John.

[@John27346]

I hate to disappoint you but aren't you supposed to be dead?

[@darrenburnfan]

+John27346 Either he's dead or he's about 120 years old!

[@ogauger]

excellent clip! 5*

[@Codex7777]

Well said! :)

[@frankzor88]

At 1:37 they are like.. "What the hell is that?" Well people, that's a camera, and we are looking at you.. 100 and almost 10 years later ;) Amazing!

[@dviegouzi9075]

Comentary for 11 years wow

[@timsears951]

mesmerizing ...yes I would like to go back ..but just for a day...as much as I find this era incredibly interesting it was also a very dusty dirty time as well ...on the plus side people were much more friendlier and quite possibly more healthier than we are today ..and of course not near as expensive as today is either!!!

[@bobzthecat82]

i would give anything to go back and experience that for a day.

[@Bilal-Hussain95]

Wowww amazing

[@chriswoodworth1894]

Looking for my Great Grandad who was a medium-sized chap with a big moustache...

[@tokyohands]

Did he have a hat?

[@chriswoodworth1894]

@@tokyohands Yes, that’s him!

[@masterpeacestudios]

Does anyone know what type of camera was being used to record?

[@woofer32]

Another classic....

[@drummerman63]

What is this music? It's beautiful and hypnotic...

[@aprc1977a]

Spot on I actually think it would be quite easy to tell the difference between the 1930s and c. 1900. Technologhy, clothing and quality of film is vastly different in these eras.

[@ivanchan3748]

Can colorized this film?

[@davidmayhew4818]

Wonderful narration. Bizarre world. Just like ours.

[@davidrayner182]

As this film has been up on KZbin now for eleven and a half years and has had 335, 000 views, I wonder if anyone has recognised any of their ancestors yet, of whom they may have photos in family albums, including the little boy dressed in white and the woman who was leading him by the hand.

[@fuckcarl123]

Is this still copyrighted? can i use this?

[@garrywalker2261]

i just love the victorian and edwardian films of the 1890s and turn of the 1900s wish i was born in that era though life would of been hard for many workers,,im so engrossed watching these old films,,facinating viewing ,,i found old films of my town middlesbrough of people coming out of churches in the old town in 1902 by mitchel + kenyon,,downloaded these for my history of old m/bro we called over the border the old town it was called ST HILDA,S for a reason we were a victorian town first house built for people like you n me was 1830 it had a plaque on the stone above the door dated 1830 its now in the dorman museam in m/bro,,middlesbrough lost a lot of beautiful buildings in the early 80s very important buildings the council pulled them down for progress!!! how dare they!!! i have old books of my town and original pictures prints from francis frith framed of my town i cherish them.

[@kevinmcnamara3746]

great footage all wearing hats and caps

[@smegmalyzer]

bit awe inspiring watching this

[@mikedrown2721]

My grandparents were born in the 1890's

[@SuperQwertyuio123456]

watched it again because of the music