Ancoats

Ancoats is an area of Manchester, England, immediately north-east of Manchester city centre and adjacent to the Northern Quarter. Historically in Lancashire, Ancoats became a cradle of the Industrial Revolution and has been called "the world's first industrial suburb". For many years, from the late 18th century onwards, Ancoats was a thriving industrial district and known for its large Irish population. The area suffered accelerating economic decline from the 1930s and depopulation in the years after the Second World War, particularly during the slum clearances of the 1960s. Since the 1990s, Ancoats' industrial heritage has been recognised and its proximity to the city centre has led to investment and substantial regeneration. The southern part of the area was branded New Islington by property developers Urban Splash, with redevelopment centred on the Daily Express Building. In 2021, a plaque was put in place acknowledging Ancoats' status as a Little Italy. For the purpose of local government elections, the area is part of the Ancoats and Beswick ward on Manchester City Council.