Museum of Science and Industry

A medal presented by Benito Mussolini to a Manchester footballer, is one of the unusual items on display in a new exhibition on Manchester’s Italian community, set to open at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).

The medal is part of Ancoats: Manchester’s Little Italy, which will open on 8 February, at the Museum’s Community Exhibitions Gallery, in association with the Manchester Italian Association. The exhibition shows how Ancoats became a centre for Italian migration from the mid-nineteenth century. It also features a Madonna which was used on Whit Walks, and an original ice cream cart.

Mussolini presented the medal to the Ancoats team in 1931, when they played against an Italian team. According to accounts given by the team, Ancoats won, but the final score was recorded as a draw.

Italians first started settling in Ancoats, just North of Manchester city centre, from the mid-1800s due to economic problems in Italy. The area soon adopted the nickname of ‘Manchester’s Little Italy’. Ancoats became famous for Italian specialities including production of ice cream, barrel pianos, mosaic and terrazzo tiling, and manufacture of scientific instruments.

Susie Elliott, exhibition coordinator said: “The Italians brought their own vibrant culture and trades to Ancoats and gave the area a unique character in Manchester. It would have been the place to visit for a range of hand crafted products and specialist foods. Today the Italian community is integrated into many areas of Manchester and there is little left to see of the original Ancoats community. This exhibition gives a flavour of the area’s history and how the Italian community continues to make its mark on Manchester today.”

Lorraine Taurasi from the Manchester Italian Association said: "We are proud that MOSI have chosen to celebrate the wonderful contributions made by the members of our community to the prosperity of our city."

The Madonna featured in the exhibition was shipped over to Ancoats from Italy for the annual Whit Walk in the 1930s, and has been carried by the Italian community in every Whit Walk since then. The sculpture was specially conserved by MOSI staff before it went on display. The Italian community of Ancoats became famous for their annual Whit Walk, which started in 1890 and continues to this day. It is the oldest surviving Whit Walk left in Manchester.

In the 1960s Ancoats began to suffer the consequences of declining industry, and the community was relocated by Manchester City Council to other parts of the city. However the Manchester Italian Association continues to support the thriving Italian community in Manchester, and organises the Whit Walk. This year, the Manchester Italian Whit Walk is on 29 June.

Manchester Italian Association exists entirely from donations. For more information please look up www.ancoatslittleitaly.com or call Sarah Withington on Tel: 07968 132145. Ancoats: Manchester’s Little Italy runs from 8 February to 31 August at MOSI, Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester.

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