Here is a lovely early twentieth century postcard of Manchester.

The building on the left side of the photograph was the Tweedale Restaurant at 23 Market Place. In 1895 Thomas Sidgrave Smalley was the proprietor^[1].

Next door was the Wellington Inn - the inn's name is on the lamp glass - and the innkeeper or his assistant can be seen, wearing his working apron, standing proudly behind his barrels of beer. In 1883 and 1886 Samuel Kenyon was listed at 27 Market Place, Old Shambles^{[2, 3]}. He was followed as the licensee by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Kenyon, who was listed as running a public house at 27 Market Place & Old Shambles in 1895, 1903, 1909 and 1911^{[1, 4, 5]}. As well as the Wellington Inn, two other hosterlies were to be found in The Shambles - The Fish Market Tavern and The Fox Hotel^{[1, 4, 5]} and later (1909) the Coronation Tavern^[4]

Wil Chambers Fishing Angler has premises above the inn (his name is on the window) with access on the Market Place to the left of the inn. In 1903 he is listed amongst the Fishing Tackle Makers & Dealers with an address as 25 Market place^{[1, 5]}. J.B. Muscrop was also in the same building in 1895 and 1903^{[1, 5]}.

There also seem to have been several fishmongers and oyster dealers trading in Old Shambles, at least one butcher's shop, and florists and fruiterers, grocers and tea dealers and Italian Warehousemen and poulterers.

Hanson Shirt Makers (Hosier & --- ) is pictured on the right, on the corner of the Market Place and with premises at 1 Market Hall. His business wasn't the only commercial venture in the building. James Hanson was working there in 1886 and up to 1903^{[1, 3, 4]}, though was not there in 1909^[4].

This card, postmarked Manchester, was sent by one of Ann's great aunts (Emily Grace Atkins - nee Walker) to her sister Hilda who was staying in Aberystwyth, Wales. The card is dated 14 August 1916 but the postcard itself predates the postmark by several years.

*I've received one or two enquiries from people wanting to know who Samuel Kenyon was. The 1881 census shows him living at "Wellington Inn", Old Shambles Manchester, Lancashire (RG11/3992 f.17 p.28). He was born in Crumpsall in 1849. His wife Elizabeth (nee Ridyard) was born in Manchester in 1848 and the couple were married in 1871. They had several children - 4 listed in 1881 - and they employed servants to work in the inn and a nurse to help with the children.

References:

^[1] Slater's "Manchester & Salford Directory", 1895
^[2] Slater's "Directory of Manchester & Salford", 1883
^[3] Slater's "Directory of Manchester & Salford", 1886
^[4] Slater's "Manchester, Salford & Suburban Directory", 1909. [Part 3: Trades & Official Directories, etc.]
^[5] Slater's "Manchester, Salford & Suburban Directory", 1903. [Part 3: Trades & Official Directories, etc.]