Two history events this weekend

For any one who has not yet made their mind up what to do this weekend here are two events not to be missed.

Both offer exciting opportunities to learn more about the history of south Manchester.

Just along Barlow Moor Road at Didsbury Library there will be the oficial launch of  Didsbury Through Time.

This new book on the history of Didsbury combines the skills of an artist and story teller and offers 90 old images with 90 contemporary photographs and paintings.

All the paintings are original works by Peter Topping and are also available to purchase.

In writing the text I tried to avoid just commenting on the physical changes to the landscape and buildings but instead to focus on the people who lived there many of who have been forgotten, like young Bertha Geary who on a summer's day heard the "flying man" and Mrs Martha Meredith of 1 School Lane, a widow and proprietor of a fish and chip shop.

The day will also feature an exhibition of some of the paintings which went into the book, and one of those power point presentations describing how we produced it.

And if you like a more active way of getting some history there is another of those unforgettable History Walks around Chorlton.

It will start at 2.30 from the Post Box Cafe* on Sunday and will take you past some farms, the old Royal Oak pub, a very interesting block of houses dating from 1832 and by degree out across the Isles to gaze at the sight of the old Chorlton Ice Rink and finish off with the story of the Great Burial Scandal and the almost forgotten stories of Chorlton and the Blitz.

Along the way there will be tales of dark deeds, quite a bit about the people we might have encountered and more than one silly story.



*The Post  Box Cafe, http://www.thepostboxchorlton.co.uk/