Worth checking out the history of this 1970s statue.. the Russian words simply read "F. Engels". It was rescued (by artist Phil Collins in 2017.. no, not THAT Phil Collins) from eastern Ukraine from a time when all statues of communist 'heroes' were taken down when the USSR was disbanded (1991). You can see the repair seam as the statue was in two halves when found under a tarpaulin at a farm in the back-water village . German Fredreich Engels lived in Salford, son of a mill owner, for a period and was so appalled by the worker's poverty and conditions wrote a paper (that had little effect at the time, but came a classic historical exposition of the working conditions of the period). Engels also buddied-up with Karl Marx, part writing the classic "Communist Manifesto" (1848) inspired, no doubt, by his two years (1842-1844) of experience in the industrial powerhouses of Manchester and Salford in the North of England.

Nice statue, but very much hidden away, it was reclaimed from Ukraine I think or so I read somewhere, it seems quite apt that Engels has a statue in Manchester given his history in the city, however I don't think it was well looked after as some of the paint had been removed in the base. The statue could also have an signpost or some for of identification next to it, as a lot of people who walked by seen the statue but failed to take interest or identify who he was because there are no English signs to indicate who it was.

If your in Manchester you should visit, it is right next to cafés and threatre/ cinema venue. This state in classic Soviet style of sweeping surfaces, but with the look of recently coming from a forge. Although born in Germany, Engels spent many years in Manchester so can rightly be called a historic resident. His conditions of the working class in England 1844, is a classical exposure of the poverty and hardships that the working people face during the industrial revolution.

Brought from Ukraine to a city where Engels developed much of his opinions and ideas, it's not just a statue but respect to the guy who saw the awful conditions of the working People and wanted to do something about it.

Living like a giant under grey skies, among the bustling streets of Manchester this monument stands tall and proud, embodying the spirit of a revolutionary thinker. This charmless man highlights the irony in the perception of this statue by girls and boys unaware of its significance. Engels writings to the end of a century long ago still echo in today’s society and his Prussian strings reach through to the heart of contemporary Manchester.

Very interesting but why is it here in Manchester? Well the 22 year old Friedrich Engels was sent to Manchester in 1842, which was the centre of the industrial revolution, by his wealthy family to work in a mill and hopefully calm his revolutionary ideals. He formed a 20 year relationship with a radical Irish woman and then after she died he married her sister hours before her death! He also regularly met up with Karl Marx. The Soviet built statue was rescued from a field in Ukraine where it had been cut in half and dumped and relocated to recognise his time in Manchester.

Living history of our city

Beautiful statue located at a pretty corner of the city