Albert Square

Albert Square is a public square in central Manchester, dominated by the Victorian Gothic Manchester Town Hall, designed by Alfred Waterhouse. The square was created between 1863 and 1867 to house the Albert Memorial, a tribute to Prince Albert who died in 1861. The area was once derelict land near the River Tib, cleared of over 100 buildings including pubs and warehouses. The memorial’s construction involved public donations, including 50,000 bricks from the Bricklayers’ Protection Society and £6,249 raised during the Cotton Famine. The Albert Memorial itself features a marble statue of Prince Albert by Matthew Noble, set within a Gothic canopy designed by Thomas Worthington. The memorial’s spire and gables are adorned with figures representing art, commerce, science and agriculture. Other monuments in the square include statues of Bishop James Fraser, John Bright and Oliver Heywood, alongside a restored Victorian fountain. The square’s paving and street furniture were redesigned in 1987, creating a pedestrianised area in front of the town hall. Visitors find a mix of historic statues, ornate architecture and open space in Albert Square. The town hall’s tower and Gothic details draw the eye, while the memorial’s floral paving reflects the Four Home Nations. Lincoln Square nearby adds a statue of Abraham Lincoln, gifted in 1919 to recognise Manchester’s role in the American Civil War. The square’s redesign connects it to nearby streets, making it a focal point for the city’s civic life.