Medieval Quarter Manchester

Why do modern cities feel they have to have Quarters and Hubs? I detest both these terms.

[Tim L]

Before Manchester had quarters it had hills. Here is the story, as told by my gran: In olden times four giants were wandering across the land, when they came across a place where the air was so clean, the water so pure, the landscape so lovely, that they all lay down to rest. And eventually they slept, and slept, and they never woke up. And their bodies turned into hills, and these hills pointed to where the rivers Irk and Irwell met, and that was where Manchester was founded. And you know these hills as Cheetham Hill, Gorse Hill and Shudehill. But Granny, we cried, that's only three hills, where's the fourth giant? She would only tap her nose knowingly. We never did find out, and never will, because this story hasn't till now made it to the Internet, even Google can't provide the answer. So, if you should find an unnamed hill during your stay in my home town, please take a photo !

[Peter H]

I'm not so agin anything to help regenerate inner cities. We've just spent a couple of days in Birmingham, and they have done the same there, to good effect I think. Certainly the difference it has made over the last 20 years is impressive.