Tomorrow ..... the history walk that's got the lot ..... Sunday 2 pm at Chorlton Library

 Join us on Sunday for a walk through Chorlton's history and discover how a sleepy rural hamlet called Martleldge was transformed within three decades into a busy urban centre.

The Isles from Manchester Road, circa 1882

Along the way there will be the story of the mysterious and frightening figure of Duffy who inhabited the brick works, the long lost Ice Rink and the murder of a father of six which shocked the community.

It is September that time when conkers fall from the trees, furious debates ensue about turning on the central heating and Manchester Libraries show case interesting authors and fun events during the annual Chorlton Book Festival.*

The history walk has been a feature of the festival for the last fourteen years, and this September we will explore the story of New Chorlton which was the area around the former Four Banks, down to the library and across to Longford Park.

The Royal Oak, circa 1900

And so, it is fitting that the walk will start at the library, which was once Red Gates Farm, dating back to the 18th century, and from there gently amble along Longford Road to Oswald Road and then on via Nicolas, Manchester and Barlow Moor Roads to Wilbraham Road and the Edge Theatre for tea and cake.

And on such a historic stroll there will be much to discover, including that ice rink and brick works, as well as a place called the Isles, the first Sedge Lynn, and Kemp’s Corner with the tale of the awful slaying of young Francis Deaken, strange goings on in the Lloyds and the roads that were made and stolen.

So, as the advert used to say ….. it’s got the lot.

The Dressing Room, 2025

The walk starts tomorrow at Chorlton Library on Manchester Road, at 2pm, lasts for just over an hour and concludes at the Edge Theatre.

Tickets cost £8.50 ….. for which you get heaps of history and the excellent cake in the Dressing Room Café of the theatre.

Book through eventbrite by following this link. 

The rest is a romp through our past taking in the serious, the not so series and some bits of fun. 

Location; Chorlton’s past …. starting at the Library 

Pictures; the Isles, circa 1882, by Arron Booth, the old Royal Oak pub, circa 1900, from the Lloyd Collection and the Dressing Room Café at the Edge, 2025, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Chorlton Book Festival, September 9th-September 27th,  https://chorltonbookfestival.co.uk/#home

**eventbrite, https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/andrew-simpson-presents-the-forgotten-bits-of-chorlton-tickets-1457310086699?aff=odcleoeventsincollection