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Crane operator JLP01_08_060070
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Crane operator JLP01_08_060070
CIS BUILDING, COOPERATIVE INSURANCE SOCIETY TOWER, MILLER STREET, MANCHESTER. Bill Whelan, a Weitz G.60 tower crane driver, posed on the construction site of the Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) Building in front of a view across Manchester, June 1961.
In 1959, the Laing Company began work on the construction of two office blocks for the Co-operative Society in Manchester. The Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) tower was over 350ft high when completed in 1962, and was the tallest office block in the country at the time. On an adjacent site, a smaller 14-storey high office block for the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) was constructed simultaneously
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Media ID 24319972
© Historic England Archive
1960s Construction People Scaffolding Work
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This print captures a significant moment in the construction of the iconic Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) Building in Manchester, June 1961. Tower crane driver Bill Whelan, proudly stands atop his Weitz G. 60 tower crane, posing against the backdrop of a breathtaking view across the city. In 1959, under the supervision of Laing Company, work commenced on this ambitious project to build two office blocks for the Co-operative Society. The CIS tower would eventually soar over 350ft high upon its completion in 1962, earning it the distinction of being the tallest office block in all of Britain at that time. Simultaneously constructed nearby was a smaller yet still impressive 14-storey office block for the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS). The image not only showcases Whelan's role as an integral part of this monumental undertaking but also provides us with a glimpse into life during this bustling era of construction and development. The presence of scaffolding and other workers further emphasizes both the scale and complexity involved in bringing these architectural marvels to life. Preserved by A© Historic England Archive, this photograph serves as a testament to human ingenuity and determination while offering viewers an opportunity to appreciate Manchester's ever-evolving skyline through a historical lens.
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