Walking Chorlton’s past ……. another in Andrew Simpson’s History Walks

Well next week sees the start of another Chorlton Book Festival.

Wilbraham Road, 1900, once Kemp's Corner and later the Four Banks

And yet again that will include the 13th annual history walk, where there will tales of dark deeds, silly stories and a place called Martledge. 

Together we will revisit a lost hamlet, encounter historic Chorlton individuals and uncover an awful murder.

All of which will help explain how Chorlton-cum-Hardy changed from being a small rural community on the edge of Manchester into a suburb of the city in just three decades.

Meeting at the former Four Banks at the junction of Barlow Moor and Wilbraham Roads we will take a gentle walk past some farms, the old Royal Oak pub, and a very interesting block of houses dating from 1832. 

The Sedge Lynn, once the Temperance Billiard Hall, 2017

Then by degree out across the Isles to gaze at the sight of the old Chorlton Ice Rink, catch a glimpse of the Lloyds and the story of the Great Chorlton Burial Scandal, to finish at the Edge Theatre on Manchester Road

Along the way there will be  murder of young Francis Deakin in 1847, the Hulme potato thieves and the amazing Mr Booth who lived at Sedge Lynn and took some of the first photographs of Chorlton.

All of which will help explain how Chorlton-cum-Hardy changed from being a small rural community on the edge of Manchester into a suburb of the city in just three decades.

The Isles, looking out to Longford Hall, circa 1880

In those thirty years the fields, farms and market gardens gave way to rows of tall houses, banks, posh shops and a railway. 

So complete was that transformation that the old name of Martledge was lost and people referred to it as simply New Chorlton.

We will meet outside the MR Floors Tile shop on Sunday September 18th at 2 pm.

The cost is just £7.50 which includes heaps of history, some interesting people and refreshments at the Dressing Room Café on Manchester Road after the walk.

Tickets are available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/chorltonbookfestival

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; Wilbraham Road, circa 1900 and the Isles, circa 1880, from the Lloyd Collection

Painting; Sedge Lynn, 2017, by Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures, www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk