Manchester - Saint Ann's Square tea towel

Manchester has a long and exciting history, and today the city is a rich tapestry of the old and the new, the industrial and the metropolitan. From Roman ruins to sky-scrapers, Gothic churches to 19th century mills - Manchester has it all.

St Ann's Square is right at the heart of Manchester's retail district, one of the many focal points for urban hustle and bustle. The square dates back to the 18th century, but the history of the area goes back much further. When Manchester was only a small village in the 13th century, this site was a stretch of common land where peasants grazed their livestock, and it was here that the annual Acres Fair was held.

This striking design shows the Church of St Ann, the oldest and most prominent building in the square. Consecrated in 1712, St Ann's is a neo-classical church built in red sandstone, with two tiers of round-arched stained glass windows. In front is a statue of Richard Cobden - manufacturer and Member of Parliament - and in the background, behind the square belfry, is Beetham Tower, the tallest building in Manchester. This tea towel would make the perfect gift for any Mancunian!