Our preliminary investigations into Hulme delved into the history of the area, attempting to contextualise its role within Greater Manchester's past.

We identified eighteen dates (or periods of time) in Hulme’s history, chosen because we believed they were pivotal moments of debate, redevelopment or simply change. These were as follows:

• The 18th century Industrial revolution saw a massive influx of residents to Hulme as workers descended on the area to work in the mills. Terraced houses were built in their masses to accommodate the workers. However, the cheap use of materials and their fast paced construction meant living standards were poor, and the area was rife with diseases.

• 1844 – Manchester Borough Council passed a law forbidding the building of any more houses.

• 1923 - Hulme had become immensely overpopulated, with 136 residents per acre, four times Manchester’s average.

• 1934 - Hulme was declared a slum clearance area, the largest in the country.Residents were soon moved out of the dilapidated houses to Manchester’s periphery. In response, the once thriving industry left the area.

• 1942 – A city council report stated that 68,837 houses in Manchester were not fit for human habitation.

• 1954 – Post-war demolitions began as part of a state-led programme. Nationally, this initiative affected 3.7 million people, with over 1.5 million residencies demolished, affecting 15% of the population.

• 1962 - Manchester City Council unveiled a five-stage programme for Hulme, with the promise of over new 10,000 homes.

• 1964 – The city council announced further plans for phases of the redevelopment of Hulme and in August construction of the houses began.

• 14 January 1971 – The topping out ceremony of the Crescents took place, although they actually opened for occupation in 1972.

• 1975 – A Crescent tenant’s campaign showed 96% of its residents wanted to be rehoused

• 1976 – Hulme Peoples Rights Centre was set up with the aim to “alleviate some of the many problems encountered by people living in Hulme”. Its primary aim was to provide an “independent and comprehensive community and social support system”.

• 1991 - 1994 – The demolition of the Hulme Crescents.

• April 1992 – The Hulme City Challenge scheme was launched with the government investing £37.5 million to redevelop the area. The initial proposals promised 3000 new homes, shopping areas and community facilities

• June 1994 – ‘A Guide to Development – Hulme Manchester’ was published, a text commissioned by Hulme Community Architecture Project. The publication stated the determination of the Hulme City Challenge not to repeat the ‘mistakes which were made a generation ago’. The piece set out a framework from which all Hulme design would be based upon.

• May 1997 – Hulme Arch Bridge was completed, a centerpiece for the Hulme regeneration scheme. It enables Hulme to be reconnected with Princess Road, allowing easy and quick access to the heart of the city.

• 1997 - The Moss Side and Hulme Partnership was established with a 5-year aim to deliver several regeneration programmes across the Moss side-Hulme area.

• June 2002 – ‘Hulme, 10 Years On’ was published, investigating the effects of the Hulme City Challenge. It claimed that 80% of the objectives set out had been achieved. 

• 2006 – A Hulme case study was published entitled ‘Evaluation of the Regeneration of Hulme, Manchester’. It stated that the different ‘co-existing types of tenure’ goals had been met, with ‘42% public sector housing, 22% housing association and 36% private’