Now, unless you are a resident, the chances are you will not have visited Didsbury Park.
It is after all tucked away down a short path off the very busy Wilmslow Road, and while I know there are other entrances, these also require you know where to look.
Other wise you find it by chance, which is how I stumbled across it and a bit like Dr Who’s TARDIS, the inside is a lot bigger than that narrow path would suggest.
According to Manchester City Council, “Didsbury Park was one of the first municipal planned parks in the city, redesigned in the 1920s to include recreational features for residents, some of which still exist. The site mainly consists of amenity grassland, woodland and flora. The park is thought to have an old air-raid shelter underneath the football pitch”.*
And while Didsbury does quite well for parks and open spaces compared to some parts of the city it was not always so. According to Fletcher Moss there had been those who “long felt the village children should have a field to play in, and one had been bought by the Local Board after a long and bitter struggle,” which was opposed by those who thought it a fad and a waste of money.
But as Didsbury like other parts of south Manchester, lost their rural character and succumbed to increasing urban sprawl, open spaces became all the more important.
This was not lost on the Manchester Guardian which in 1896 commented on the opening of new public recreation grounds, that as “the population of the district is rapidly advancing … these open spaces where children can play free from the dangers which are inseparable from the public thoroughfares will be even more appreciated than now”.**
Back in 1896 Didsbury, along with Withington, Burnage and Chorlton-cum-Hardy were part of Withington Urban District Council which had several recreation grounds in Withington, Didsbury, Cavendish Road (West Didsbury), Beech Road (Chorlton) and Chorlton Green (Chorlton).
Location; Didsbury
Picture; Didsbury Park, 2020, from the collection of Barbarella Bonvento
*Didsbury Park, Manchester City Council, https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/89213/didsbury_park
**Public Recreation Grounds at Withington, Manchester Guardian, May 18th, 1896
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| Didsbury Park, 2020 |
It is after all tucked away down a short path off the very busy Wilmslow Road, and while I know there are other entrances, these also require you know where to look.
Other wise you find it by chance, which is how I stumbled across it and a bit like Dr Who’s TARDIS, the inside is a lot bigger than that narrow path would suggest.
According to Manchester City Council, “Didsbury Park was one of the first municipal planned parks in the city, redesigned in the 1920s to include recreational features for residents, some of which still exist. The site mainly consists of amenity grassland, woodland and flora. The park is thought to have an old air-raid shelter underneath the football pitch”.*
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| Didsbury The Recreation Ground, early 20th century |
But as Didsbury like other parts of south Manchester, lost their rural character and succumbed to increasing urban sprawl, open spaces became all the more important.
 |
| Flowers Walk, The Park Didsbury, early 20th century |
Back in 1896 Didsbury, along with Withington, Burnage and Chorlton-cum-Hardy were part of Withington Urban District Council which had several recreation grounds in Withington, Didsbury, Cavendish Road (West Didsbury), Beech Road (Chorlton) and Chorlton Green (Chorlton).
Location; Didsbury
Picture; Didsbury Park, 2020, from the collection of Barbarella Bonvento
*Didsbury Park, Manchester City Council, https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/89213/didsbury_park
**Public Recreation Grounds at Withington, Manchester Guardian, May 18th, 1896
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