One hundred years of one house in Chorlton ....... part 141 …….. what to show the Italians

The continuing story of the house Joe and Mary Ann Scott lived in for over 50 years and the families that have lived here since.*

Old Manchester, 2023

I have no idea if Joe and Mary Ann had visitors from afar or if they ever took them into the city to show them the sights.

But in the time, we have lived here there has been a heap of family, friends and acquaintances who have passed through the house and to whom we have offered the customary tour of Chorlton, Manchester and beyond.

These have included my sisters from London various members of our Italian side, along with the Canadian cousins, more Canadians, and shedloads of others from too many towns, cities and villages to record.

And over New Year it was the turn of Virginia and Enzo who arrived on December 31st ready to see out the old year and venture across Manchester taking in the sights.

Now, Tina and I debated just where we should take them, starting in Chorlton on the green with the Horse and Jockey which has all the appearances of being very old.

Virginia and Enzo, Manchester, 2023

From there the discussion took in Central Ref, The Midland Hotel, the Royal Exchange and the Northern Quarter, along with the Rylands, Castlefield, and the Town Hall, all accomplished by Timmy tram.

Alas it being January heaps of places were closed or in the case of the Town Hall shrouded and all wrapped up.

Still there was enough to offer up a bit of a wow factor of our adopted city.

But plans never work out, and on discovering that Enzo was a great fan of Peaky Blinders, it was to that theme pub on Peter’s Street that we headed, and while we took in plenty of other places, the pub proved the highlight of the cultural visit.

Shopping, St Mary's Gate,  2023

And while the cynics will point out that the show is supposed to be based in Birmingham, as everyone knows shedloads of the filmed locations were here in Manchester.

I have yet to find out whether the Castle on Oldham Street is featured in the show, and sadly we never made it in, as Afleck’s Palace won out on attractions on the following day.

The inspired idea of a meal at Mr. Thomas’s proved less inspiring.  It is a place that I have been going to for half a century and have kept going to because it is such a fine place to eat, but 1 pm on January 2nd did not live up to our expectations.

Our Albert, Albert Square, 2019

Passing on and back in Chorlton, I have to record the Jockey was a hit, especially given that according to some sources the history of the building stretches back to the early 16th century, although I missed out that the timber exterior cladding are a late addition.

The Horse and Jockey, Chorlton, 2022

Nor was “the Pub on the Green” the only public house to take the fancy of Virginia and Enzo.  

In equal measure they praised the Guinness in the Bowler, admired the tiny rooms of the Beech and were enchanted by the Trevor.

All of which just left that former Police Station on Beech Road which offered up excellent meals and allowed me to indulge myself with stories of how the Lead Station got its name and how we were there on the opening night in the summer of 1995.

So, on reflection less a cultural tour of the city and more a memorable few days of Guinness, vintage clothes, more Guinness and iconic buildings seen from a far

Wet Manchester, 2023

And yes for those "strangers" who trade in cliches and tired comments about Manchester  .... it did rain and rained a lot but then it was also throwing it down in Varese and Milan.  

Location;, Manchester

Pictures; Virginia, and Enzo, 2023, the Horse and Jockey, 2022, and bits of Manchester, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

 *The Story of a House, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20story%20of%20a%20house