Manchester People Reclaim the Free Trade Hall Today, 2nd February, 70 people protested at the Free Trade Hall, to demand that this unique site be taken out of the hands of private developers, and returned to use by the general public, as intended by the Hall's founders. We are Manchester people furious at the council's decision to sell our public space and heritage to rich business people. On the site of the infamous Peterloo Massacre, the Free Trade Hall stands unrivalled as a key monument to the struggle for democracy. The building itself was founded in 1840 to house the great Corn Law debates of the 19th century and to provide space for Manchester people to hold political, religious and cultural public meetings. The Manchester Corporation bought the Free Trade Hall from the Manchester Public Hall Company in May 1921, "so that the Hall should not be lost to citizens". Yet more recent times has seen Manchester Council's attitude change. The Council claims that if there were any sale agreement committing the building to pubic use it has been 'mislaid'. Despite massive opposition from the city's Civic Society, the council has sold the building on to a private developer to be made into a £45 million luxury hotel. Demolition of all but the building's façade is due to begin in 10 days time.

"We are calling on people everywhere to speak up for keeping public space, starting here with the Free Trade Hall. This historic and unique site has been the launchpad to hear ideas and music that have shaped the world. Surely Manchester's prestige does not have to be built on the ruins of our history?" The first time a 'Votes for Women' banner appeared in public was at the Free Trade Hall in 1905. Since then the building has been graced by a wide range of people - from the Sex Pistols to Charles Dickens, to the Dalai Lama. One of Bob Dylan's first performance with an electric guitar was met with a cry from the audience of 'Judas' when he appeared at the Free Trade Hall. And of course, the sound of the Halle Orchestra rang through the Hall's corridors for years. We are demanding access to the building that as Manchester people we believe we have the right to use. This website was designed with the idea that we would be able to occupy this building and open it up for music, exhibitions, and public meetings. But in the last few days, for some reason, the council have seriously escalated security at the building and it has been impossible to do everything we hoped to do.