Spend a morning in the company of two Manchester pioneers ..... the Simon's of Wythenshawe at Central Ref ....... Monday August 15th

 Now for many people Ernest and Sheena Simon will for ever be connected with Wythenshawe.

How to abolish the slums, 1929

They donated Wythenshawe Hall and its surrounding land as part of the project to build a new housing estate south of the city which would offer new homes to thousands of Mancunians who up until then had lived in properties which were at best inadequate, and many of which qualified for the title of slum.

And they were actively engaged in the project.

The exhibition at the Forum, May-July, 2022

But as the event, Who Built Wythenshawe will testify there was much more to both of them.  

The event  "will feature talks from the curators, and from local historians on the Simon and Tatton families, as well as unseen footage of the Simons. 

Visitors will be able to look at the many books written by the Simons and a number of photos of them alongside maps of Wythenshawe as well as have a chat with the curators”.

And so as well as talks on various aspects of their contribution to improving conditions for the people of Manchester there will be sessions on Ernest Simon's German parents and on the Tattons of Wythenshawe.

Shena and Ernest Simon visiting a hospital, date unknown

The event will be at Manchester Central Library on August 15th, starting at 11 am, and follows on from a very successful exhibition of the same name which ran from May to July at the Forum Library in Wythenshawe.*

But if you can’t get to the event you can follow the story on the web site, Who Built Wythenshawe.**

Location; Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square

Pictures; courtesy of John Ayshford

* Who Built Wythenshawe, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2022/05/who-built-wythenshawe-exhibition-today.html

**Who Built Wythenshawe, https://whobuiltwythenshawe.wordpress.com/