City of football, musical capital and industrial hub – Manchester has many different guises.
And whilst its angular architecture, tram lines and bohemian culture make it the cutting-edge urban hub it is today, it’s easy to forget the rich history that makes up the very fabric of this distinctive city.
Never fear – MM have compiled a list of the City’s most remarkable historical havens that truly encapsulate its eventful and varied history.
From Roman ruins to industrial warehouses, air-raid shelters to age-old Cathedrals – we’ve made sure that the city’s most fascinating historical hotspots are at your disposal.
- Mamucium
Located in the Castlefield area of the city, ‘Mamucium’ or ‘Mancumium’ is a former Roman fort founded c. 79 AD.
It is here that the birthplace of modern Manchester can be observed. Following Roman settlement, several substantial communes were established beside the fort, consisting of soldiers, merchants and their families.
Today, the site is part of the Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, with a segment of the fort’s wall, granaries and gatehouse reconstructed and open to public viewing.
Free
- Manchester Cathedral
Perhaps a more obvious pick, but nevertheless this impressive landmark is certainly a worthwhile visit and home to a dramatic historical past. What lies behind its modern exterior is a rich history of construction and desertion.
An early Saxon church before William the Conqueror gifted the land to the Gresley Family in the 11th Century, after being abandoned, the church became the Parish of Manchester in 1215.
The Cathedral’s grandiose interior, stain glass windows and gothic archways make for a visual delight. Make sure to view the Angel Stone and the Hanging Bridge remains in the Visitor centre whilst you’re there.
Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, Manchester, M3 1SX
Free Admission – Donations welcomed
Monday and Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8.30am – 6.30pm
Saturday 8.30am – 6.30pm
Sunday 8.30am – 6.30pm
- Stockport Air-raid shelters
Stockport’s very own purpose-built civilian air raid shelter allows you to experience first-hand a taster of the home front of wartime Britain.
By 1941 the shelters were alleged to be able to accommodate 6500 people, making them the largest air-raid shelter construction in the country.
Offering the unique opportunity to experience a wartime blackout, the museum has proven itself popular amongst children and adults alike.
Use the audio guides to enhance your experience of the sights and sounds of 1940s Britain as you explore the authentically supplied original labyrinth of tunnels.
Great Underbank, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 1NE
£4.75 per ticket
Tuesday – Friday 1 – 5pm
Saturday 10am–5pm
Sunday 11am–5pm
- Manchester Jewish Museum
Opened in 1874, the Jewish Museum is the only Jewish Museum located outside of London.
The building itself was a former Spanish and Portuguese, not to mention the oldest surviving Synagogue in Manchester.
The museum has a captivating history to share, telling the personal stories of Manchester’s Jewish population and their contributions to the city’s culture.
The museum also runs regular events such as summer adventure camps for children and heritage walks.
Featured are various collections and exhibitions of photographs, objects, documents and oral histories that chronicle the experiences of Jewish life in Manchester.
190 Cheetham Hill Rd, Manchester M8 8LW
Open 6 days a week – Sun-Thurs (10am-4pm) and Fri (10am-1pm)
Tickets £4.50
- Quarry Bank Mill
Owned by the National Trust, The Quarry Bank Mill can be found nestled amidst the Styal estate as one of the best preserved textile mills of the Industrial Revolution.
A relic of this revolutionary era and home to immense water and steam power, the mill in its present state showcases the way in which an entire industrial community once lived.
Quarry bank continues to function as a working mill and can be credited with inspiring 2013 hit TV series The Mill.
Great day out at Quarry Bank Mill. Fantastic museum for all the Industrial Revolution nerds (like me). pic.twitter.com/GBvXMeR9Ue
— Sarah Davies (@SarahDavies74) August 5, 2017
Discover an insight into the life of a child apprentice and unearth the secrets to the Greg’s family involvement in the slave trade, there’s plenty to see and do to make for a unique day trip this summer.
Open 7 days a week 10:30-5pm
£18.15 for non National Trust members
Styal, Wilmslow SK9 4LA
Image courtesy of v_hoac via Instagram, with thanks.
