Rochdale Canal
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Far from the LGBTQ+ bars and clubs we know today, Canal Street was originally developed in 1804 when the Rochdale Canal was constructed as a trade artery running through the city. During this time, Manchester was producing 30% of the world’s cotton and was dubbed the Cottonopolis. But like all industry booms, the trade went bust, when canals were replaced by faster transport methods. Following this decline, the deserted canals soon attracted sex workers and LGBT individuals, creating a red light district. By the 1950s the village was well-known as a meet up space for lesbians and gay men alike.
