Local History
We have a large and thriving membership all keenly interested in Local History, and we continue to provide a varied and interesting programme of talks and visits all with a local theme.
Topics for talks have included:
Robert Barnes, the philanthropist who funded Barnes Hospital;
Hatting in Stockport;
the Victorians’ solution to Manchester’s water problems;
the Watts family of Burnage, Didsbury, Cheadle and Heaton Mersey with particular emphasis on their time at Abney Hall.
an excellent illustrated presentation on the history of Wythenshawe by Wythenshawe Local History Group;
Scientists, Engineers, Mathematicians and Medics Associated with Didsbury;
Gatley Hill House and the people who lived there;
the history and development of Marple.
These have been interspersed with fascinating visits, such as to Stockport Town Hall and St Thomas’ church, where we marvelled at their incredible interiors, Elizabeth Gaskell House with a talk about the writer, Manchester Cathedral and a Guided Tour of historic Marple to follow up the earlier talk.
The provisional programme for 2018 is as follows:
January No meeting
February 7th Talk by John Pollard Gatley Carrs 1500-2018: willow swamp to nature reserve
March 7th Visit to Gorton Monastery
April 4th Talk by Suzanne Hindle, Manchester Blue Plaque Guide
History of Wood Street Mission, Manchester
May 2nd Readings by members of U3A Creative Writing Group led by Janet Farrall
Historical Reminiscences
June 6th Visit to the Peoples History Museum, Manchester
July 4th (To be arranged) Talk by a group member or a visiting speaker
August No meeting (summer break)
John Pollard 428 2150