Manchester Catholics Whitsuntide Procession (1904)

A damp and murky day greets the annual Whitsuntide Catholic procession in Edwardian Manchester.

18,000 marchers, many of them children, joined this ambitious Whit procession - an annual show of pride for Manchester's Catholic population. The procession lasted over two hours, with highlights captured by Mitchell and Kenyon's camera from several vantage points. Many of the children were from poorer families, and their splendid outfits would have needed much scrimping.