Who built Wythenshawe ...... the exhibition .... today

 Now, this is an exhibition I will be visiting ….. 

And here I have to declare a personal interest because Wythenshawe was where I spent my 35 years teaching career history.

John Ayshford who is one of the organizers of the exhibition told me

The Simons visiting Manchester residents, 1922

“The exhibition is on the history of Wythenshawe and the fascinating lives of the somewhat forgotten local social reformers Ernest and Shena Simon. 

The Simons played an instrumental part in realising Wythenshawe's development as a garden city to provide better housing for the tens of thousands of families previously forced to live in Manchester's slums. 

Ernest Simon was a pioneering industrialist, politician and housing reformer whilst Shena Simon was a leading feminist and campaigner for comprehensive education who served on the education committee of Manchester City Council for over forty years. 

How to abolish the slums, 1929

When Ernest was appointed to the House of Lords the Simons took the name Lord and Lady Wythenshawe in recognition of the pride they took in Wythenshawe. 

Invitation to industry, 1932

We hope the exhibition will engage the local community in Wythenshawe with their history and foster local pride.

The exhibition will be held at the Wythenshawe Forum Library from 21st May–2nd July. The launch event for the exhibition is at 11:00 on 21st May at the Library. 

Local societies and councillors will be in attendance”.

Leaving me just to add that one of my first teaching projects was the story of Wythenshawe which always proved popular amongst the students who grew in the Woodhouse Park and Benchill areas of the estate.

Added to which my school which had been Oldwood Secondary had been adopted by Shena Simon as her own and she regularly attended Speech Days, although sadly the photographs of her visits have long since vanished.

I could add more but wont, leaving it to the references below provided by John to fill any gaps in people's knowledge.

Location; Forum Library, Wythenshawe M22 5RX

Wythenshawe Civic Week 1955

Pictures; courtesy of John Ayshford

*Shena Simon; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shena_Simon

**Ernest Simons, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Simon,_1st_Baron_Simon_of_Wythenshawe

***In Search of Athens: Ernest Simon’s Campaign to Bolster Britain’s Democratic Culture (1932-1939), by John Ayshford, https://manchesterhistorian.com/2021/in-search-of-athens-ernest-simons-campaign-to-bolster-britains-democratic-culture-1932-1939-by-john-ayshford/

And two more to read ........

Who Built Wythenshawe: The Forgotten Story of Ernest & Shena Simon and the Creation of Manchester’s Garden City, https://whobuiltwythenshawe.wordpress.com/

Who Built Wythenshawe? The Forgotten Story of Ernest & Shena Simon and the Creation of Manchester’s Garden City, https://manchesterhistories.co.uk/news-list/who-built-wythenshawe-the-forgotten-story-of-ernest-shena-simon-and-the-creation-of-manchesters-garden-city/