A book for all places …….. and all seasons

If you want a book about pubs, parks, places of worship along with historic buildings and quirky local stories the Simpson Topping partnership will have something for you.

The collection, 2012-2024

And yes, this is a piece of outrageous self-promotion but contained in today’s piece there is a story of how a jobbing historian and much a regarded Manchester artist came together in 2012 to do something different.

The History Wall visited by Manchester Evening News, 2012

Since then, they have staged a series of installations and written 18 books, along with presentations and heaps of history walks.  

Peter is an accomplished artist and Andrew a storyteller and their collaboration is where art and history come together to tell the story of where we live.

These are the stories of the people, buildings, and events which history has not just forgotten but in many cases never ever bothered to record.

The Horse & Jockey, 2023

The installations have included one for the Big Green Festival, a second which recorded the history of two iconic houses on High Lane and the 80-meter project which described Chorlton’s history from the beginning of the 16th century on Chorlton Green and terminated at Albany Road in the 21st century and was popularly known as the “History Wall”.

Their books have ranged from an account of Hough End Hall to a series on Manchester pubs, a trip through historic Didsbury and a quirky look at Chorlton’s past.

They mix the serious with the trivial, are grounded in scholarship and look to offer up the big picture as well as the tiny detail some history books ignore and always aim to offer the “stories behind the doors”.

Peter has also written his own book, “Smile Dammit Smile!!! Chorlton” which is an irreverent look at Chorlton. He is also an accomplished artist who has held exhibitions and was the Director of Chorlton Arts Festival.

Andrew has written three books of his own, and writes extensively on a range of historical subjects, contributing to various publications as well as his popular history blog at chorlton.blogspot.co.uk.

The Story of Hough End Hall, 2015

Their last three series of books have been designed as small pocket publications which can be read at home or as a guide to walks around Greater Manchester.

The History of Greater Manchester by Tram, 2024

The first series focused on places in Chorlton, the second local pubs, and the latest is The History of Greater Manchester By Tram.

Each book in the series costs just £4.99, is lavishly illustrated with Peter’s original paintings, a selection of old “period” photographs and stories from Andrew about our collective past.

And in the planning stage ...... a new book on our canals, the Lost Streets of Chorlton, along with Stories from an attic, and what ever takes our interest.

All the books are available from Chorlton Bookshop, or from us at www.pubbooks.co.uk