Now there are plenty of reasons for visiting Southern Cemetery.
For many of us it will be simply to visit a loved one who has been buried there.
For others it will be the peace and tranquilly of the place with the added bonus of watching the variety of wildlife.
And then there will be those who go to look and learn from the graves.
After all since it was opened it has been the final resting place for the rich and the distinguished as well as a large proportion of people from south Manchester and includes memorials to the fallen of two world wars, the 1980 Tenerife Air Disaster and the Katyn massacre.
So it is perhaps fitting that the cemetery should also host a remarkable museum in the Remembrance Lodge by the main gate.
It is the work of David Harrop who has a fascinating and unique collection of memorabilia from both world wars as well as material spanning the history of the Post Office and much more.
What is particularly important about both the collection and the display in the lodge is that they are drawn from the everyday experiences of the people who lived through the conflicts.
So amongst the medals and official communications from the War Ministry are picture postcards and letters sent from the battle fronts and souvenirs bought to aid the war effort.
And as we enter the 75 anniversary of the Battle of Britain I know that David has plans to commemorate the event with material from his collection.
The Lodge is open seven days a week.
Pictures; the Lodge and some of the exhibition courtesy of David Harrop.
For others it will be the peace and tranquilly of the place with the added bonus of watching the variety of wildlife.
And then there will be those who go to look and learn from the graves.
After all since it was opened it has been the final resting place for the rich and the distinguished as well as a large proportion of people from south Manchester and includes memorials to the fallen of two world wars, the 1980 Tenerife Air Disaster and the Katyn massacre.
It is the work of David Harrop who has a fascinating and unique collection of memorabilia from both world wars as well as material spanning the history of the Post Office and much more.
What is particularly important about both the collection and the display in the lodge is that they are drawn from the everyday experiences of the people who lived through the conflicts.
So amongst the medals and official communications from the War Ministry are picture postcards and letters sent from the battle fronts and souvenirs bought to aid the war effort.
And as we enter the 75 anniversary of the Battle of Britain I know that David has plans to commemorate the event with material from his collection.
The Lodge is open seven days a week.
Pictures; the Lodge and some of the exhibition courtesy of David Harrop.
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