Ancoats officially named as Manchester's slice of Italy

A vital part of Manchester's heritage has finally been marked and immortalised within an official plaque in Ancoats.

Although the area has been known as Manchester's Little Italy for some time now, with annual festivals celebrating the Italian heritage of many living nearby, it has finally been officially recognised as a historical site with a plaque.

According to Manchester City Council, the Little Italy name was most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, after Italian families rushed to the UK for a better life away from the political and economic situation.

READ MORE: NHS cannot demand further lockdowns, says health chief

One of the most famous of these migrants is Antonio Valvona, who is widely credited as the inventor of the wafer ice cream cone.

Up until the 1890s, ice cream served from street carts was licked straight out of glass bowls which were rinsed before being used for the next customer.

Officials quickly became concerned about hygiene and health risks, and threatened to ban the sale of ice cream unless the practice changed.

Antonio is believed to have potentially saved the entire industry with his edible biscuit cup - which later became the ice cream cone we all know and love today.

Now, the contributions to the fabric of Manchester by the Italian migrants have been recognised with a Little Italy plaque, installed on the side of Halle at St Michael's on George Leigh Street.

It reads: "A community integral to Manchester's economic and cultural heritage since the late 19th century.

"The Manchester Italian Association was formed at this site in 1888."

Originally known as the Manchester Italian Catholic Society, the MIA was formed by a local priest who wanted to create a group to support and educate Italian families living in the city.

Many had moved from Lazio and Campagna to find jobs in Manchester's booming cotton mills and industrial workplaces, but weren't ready to leave their culture and heritage behind.

So, since 1890, the group has organised a colourful celebration of religion and culture to celebrate the Italian heritage of those who made Ancoats their home in the Madonna del Rosario procession.

The parade can be traced back over 130 years, and before the pandemic had only been halted by the First and Second World Wars.

Tony Rea of the Manchester Italian Association spoke to the Manchester Evening News about the festival a few years ago.

He said: "In the late 1800s there was an influx of Italian immigrants from the North and South of Italy to the district of Ancoats near Manchester city centre, an area which was later to become known as Ancoats’ Little Italy.

“Back in their homeland almost every city and village had a patron saint and a special day to celebrate them. When the Italians took part in their first Whit Friday Procession in 1890 it must have seemed like home from home.

“The Procession, which later became known as the ‘Festa Della Madonna Del Rosario’, is headed by men from the Italian community who carry a statues of the Madonna adorned with white lilies, The Calvary, St.Anthony and banners.

"Women walk in Italian dress and children who have recently taken their First Holy Communion also take part."