St Peter's Square

History

The square takes its name from St Peter's Church, built in the late 18th century and demolished in 1907; a stone cross from 1908 marks where it stood. In 1819, soldiers charged a peaceful pro-reform crowd on nearby St Peter's Field, an event that became known as the Peterloo Massacre.

What to see

Vincent Harris's circular Central Library, opened in 1934 and restored in the 2010s, is the centrepiece and is free to go inside. Edwin Lutyens' Cenotaph, unveiled in 1924, was moved within the square in 2014 and is the focus of Remembrance Day. Hazel Reeves' statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, Rise up, Women, was unveiled in 2018 to mark a century since women first voted in a general election.

Using the square

A £20 million redevelopment between 2010 and 2017 restored the library, moved the Cenotaph and expanded the tram stop to four platforms, so the square is now one of the city's main tram interchanges. Manchester Art Gallery is a short walk away, Albert Square and the Town Hall are just beyond the library, and The Midland, opened in 1903 as a railway hotel, faces the square.

Highlights

• Central Library, opened 1934
• Lutyens' Cenotaph, unveiled 1924
• Emmeline Pankhurst statue, Rise up, Women
• Close to the site of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre

Good to know

• The Metrolink stop at the centre of the square has four platforms
• Open public space, free to visit at any time

Frequently asked questions