Manchester City Council

Italians

  1. Brief history

    Ancoats was known as Little Italy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because so many Italian immigrant made the area their home.

  2. What's available

    Anthony Rea's book, 'Manchester's Little Italy, memories of the Italian colony of Ancoats' was published in 1988, and the author has gone on to produce a comprehensive website.

    The website book list includes a factual account of the development of the Italian community of Manchester from the late 1800s to the 1930s. This is 'La Colonia Italiana di Manchester (1794 -1932)' by Professor Azeglio Valgimigli. Unfortunately for those who cannot read Italian, the translated version referred to on the website is not available in the library.

    Dandelions by Thea Lenarduzzi (2022) is the author’s story of her Italian family history, including tales of migration to Manchester.

    We also hold the papers of the Antonelli family who ran biscuit, wafer and piano organ businesses in the city. The collection also includes material relating to Italian Whit Walks and the regeneration of Ancoats.

  3. How to access

    Resources are available in the search room, please make an appointment.

  4. Photographs

    See photos and more of our albums on Flickr.

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