37 Beautiful Photos of Childhood in Greater Manchester ‎

Children playing football in Archie Street, Manchester. Archie Street was the inspiration behind Coronation Street. 12th June 1967

These striking old photos show just how much childhood has changed through the generations.

Whether you grew up during the 1950s or you're an 80s kid from Greater Manchester, the way children play, learn and live has altered almost beyond recognition.

Before games consoles and social media, playing out in the street was how we spent their time after school and the summer holidays used to feel like an endless series of small adventures.

Others capture youngsters meeting the likes of The Bee Gees, Coronation Street stars, footballer George Best and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Here are 38 photos that look back to childhoods past in Greater Manchester.

Fun in the snow. Ten-month-old Susan Torkington, of Regent Road, Stockport, gets a tow on the snow clad slopes of Lyme Park, Disley,Cheshire, from her three-year-old sister Linda. January 1960 — Fun in the snow. Ten-month-old Susan Torkington, of Regent Road, Stockport, gets a tow on the snow-clad slopes of Lyme Park, Disley, Cheshire, from her three-year-old sister Linda. January 1960

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Manchester Olympic Bid for the 1996 Games, September 1990. The leaders of the city's bid effort are about to set off for Tokyo where the final decision is to be made. Chairman Bob Scott and director Rick Parry get an enthusiastic farewell from flag waving supporters in Albert Square. September 10, 1990
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Minnie Caldwell (Margot Bryant) at the Corrie Christmas panto, December 1964
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The Hatton triplets from Manchester, Deborah, Sharon and Allison with the Quilty triplets, Anthony, Bernard and Frank, October 29, 1964
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Youngsters play cricket in the puddles outside Old Trafford, July 1964
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For the last few weeks pupils at the St Luke's Primary School, Longsight, Manchester have been putting away threepence a week to go on a picnic with a difference, for this is a picnic in the snow. These kiddies never see proper snow because it soon gets dirty in the centre of the city, so the headmistress Miss Ethel Parkinson decided to organise this trip for them. January 17, 1959
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Manchester school children dressed as snowflakes for their school's pantomime. December 1982
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Its great being circus kids for Carol aged 4 and Grace aged 2, daughters of clown Carlos McManus from Plymouth. For whilst mums away, Carlos gets the job of looking after the kids - and they can be a handful. Carol plays with daddy's false nose and shows her sister Grace how well she can balance, for she hopes to be a circus artist herself when she grows up. They arrived in Manchester to take part in the Belle Vue Circus. December 1969
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A little girl in a Manchester department store is upset by the doves in Santa's Grotto when one lands on her head. December 1954
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Two pupils of Ross Place School, Ardwick, Manchester, jump across a sea of mud to enter school. December 11, 1970
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Prime Minister Winston Churchill sitting on the back of an open car on his surprise visit to Manchester during the Second World War, April 1941. Here he stops to share a joke on his way through Chorlton
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Children continue to play games and enjoy adventures, even amongst the desolation caused by German Luftwaffe air raids in Manchester during the Second World War. June 25, 1943
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Children learning from Terry Hall and Lenny the Lion, October 1969
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Children from St Luke's Primary School in Manchester are having a ball sledging and playing in a batch of freshly fallen snow. January 1959
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Rochdale Canal at Ancoats in June 1971. Children paddle happily
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Topics: life & culture people Manchester Childhood