Manchester Time Machine
A ground-breaking app that creates a window to the past from your own phone
Section heading
Introducing ‘Manchester Time Machine’ - the first ever app for the iPhone which merges archive film with GPS to create a street level tour of Manchester over the last 100 years.
Manchester has changed a lot, and hardly at all
Manchester has changed a lot, and hardly at all
Manchester Time Machine uses rare archive film from the North West Film Archive to take you back to the same location to experience the scene from the same viewpoint. Discover for yourself how much the city has changed through these fascinating glimpses into the 20th century. There are 80 highlights from films shot in the city centre, ranging from the early days of film in 1911 through every decade of the last century until the 1970s.
Discover parts of Manchester where history happened
These captivating films include
- historically-significant events like VE Day in Piccadilly and Albert Square.
- moving documents such as the victorious Manchester City team bringing home the FA cup in Piccadilly in 1934.
- powerful everyday views of a life long gone, such as Piccadilly Gardens in the sunshine in 1961.
Each is presented with a GPS locator and virtual compass so you can find the exact same scene in the present day, even when many of the buildings may have disappeared.
Manchester Time Machine offers smartphone users a true multimedia experience, a moving window through time.
Available on iPhone and iPad.
This app is genius, a real portal into the past. It gives a fascinating insight into Manchester's rich history.
Key Features
- 80 unique film clips from the North West Film Archive’s collection to choose from.
- Includes films that depict momentous times that still resonate, such as the bombings and destruction in 1940, and VE Day celebrations across the city, alongside almost-forgotten events such as the Paulden’s Department Store fire in 1957.
- Films that show everyday life, the buildings, the people, and the transport of a bygone era. Policemen marching in front of the Town Hall in 1914, trams making their way down London Road in 1948.
- The films are grouped by decade from the 1910s, but you can also select a location from the interactive Manchester map to see the same place at different times or use your GPS to locate a film near you.
- Includes background information on each film clip, plus a virtual compass to point yourself in the same direction, or simply tap the screen to see the original film.
- Create your own personal Manchester tour and see the city spring to life as it was in the past, or simply watch your favourite films wherever you are and whenever you want them.
How do I get it?
