Welcome to the first in our new blog series, A to Z, created to give a deeper insight into our Manchester-themed ceramic alphabet tiles. Each blog will unpack the unique Manchester history and culture that inspired that particular tile, along with the inspiration we’ve drawn from it and how we brought it to life.
Our journey from A to Z will lead us past Boddington’s Brewery, the Haçienda, and John Rylands Library before ending up at the Zoological Gardens at Belle Vue – embracing many other iconic landmarks Manchester, streets and institutions along the way.
But we need to start at the beginning. So the first in our A to Z blog series is Affleck’s Palace, the iconic arcade that inspired and equipped a generation.
The History of Affleck’s Place
Manchester’s Cultural Icon
Located in Manchester’s world-famous Northern Quarter, Affleck’s Palace – now rebranded as simply Affleck’s – is an historic indoor market, a vibrant labyrinth of alternative fashion, music, tattoo parlours and art shops, that has been a staple of the city’s alternative scene since the 1980s. Back in the day it was home to an exciting generation of musicians, artists and entrepreneurs, perfectly matching the mood of Manchester itself with its blend of independent spirit, counter culture, radicalism, and mischief.
Forty years on, it’s still providing a unique shopping experience for anyone on the hunt for vintage clothing, records, and quirky gifts. The Sculpts’ Affleck’s Palace tile illustration seeks to capture the vibrant energy of the landmark, and the eclectic mix of shops, stalls, ideas and people you’ll find within its walls.
Affleck’s Palace is still in its original home on the junction of Oldham Street, Church Street / Tib Street and Dale street. It was originally one of Manchester’s most upmarket department stores – Affleck & Brown – which opened as a drapery shop in the 1860s. However, post war economic challenges and a shift of retail footfall to other parts of the city centre, forced the business to close its doors in 1973.
Nine years later, the emporium of Affleck’s Palace was established by the visionary creative duo James Walsh and Elaine Williams. They were looking for somewhere to move their independent and eclectic indoor market, and saw it as an opportunity to create a real landmark for folk who felt they didn’t belong anywhere else.
Christening it ‘Affleck’s Palace’ in honour of its original proprietors, the market rapidly captured the imaginations of the city’s youth. It was a genuine sanctuary for those in pursuit of alternative and bespoke expression through fashion, music, and art. Goths, punks, Emos, indie kids and creatives of all stripes flocked there, and continue to do so today.
It was this role that Affleck’s Palace adopted as an inclusive cultural beacon that inspired our A tile. A true Manchester gem, it’s about a lot more than just shopping. Affleck’s has inspired and enchanted countless Mancunian movers and shakers since 1982; household names such as Badly Drawn Boy, Mike Joyce, Wayne Hemmingway and Peter Hook have all talked about their affection for Affleck’s and its significance in their lives and creative mindset.
In the 1990s, Manchester’s city ‘quarters’ emerged as urban regeneration catalysts, breathing new life into areas that had fallen victim to the economic and political neglect of the 1980s. The Northern Quarter is arguably the best example of that, shrugging off its former industrial veneer and transforming itself into one of the UK’s most diverse and alternative creative and cultural hubs. It’s impossible to think of anywhere that reflects that resurgence and identity more than Affleck’s Palace. An ‘emporium of eclecticism’, it was the place where everyone could be anyone and almost anything went, a feeling we’ve cemented and celebrated in the A tile.
All The Sculpts Manchester-themed ceramic tiles are made with pride, and feature our signature illustrated designs all the way from A to Z. Each one is crafted with careful attention to detail in the print process, to give a high quality homeware product that looks fantastic in your space.
Like all our designs the Affleck’s Palace tile was hand illustrated by The Sculpts founder, Richard Bennett using a fine pen and ink technique. This A design is printed then decorated onto the glazed tile before kiln firing at 850°C allowing the artwork to sink into the glaze. This process ensures the artwork sets properly and becomes permanent.
The full A to Z Manchester Alphabet tile series from The Sculpts is available to buy from a range of outlets, both online and in store. The quickest and easiest place to pick yourself up an Affleck’s Palace ceramic tile is right here on our online shop.
We hope you’ve found this a useful insight into the story behind the Affleck’s Palace tile, and our creative process. Keep an eye out for the next blog in our A to Z series – Boddington’s Brewery – coming soon.
