Exploring Greater Manchester a fieldwork guide Web edition edited by Paul Hindle Original printed edition (1998) edited by Ann Gardiner, Paul Hindle, John McKendrick and Chris Perkins Exploring Greater Manchester 19 Discovering history, spiritual peace and tranquillity in Didsbury: West Didsbury and Albert Park Ian Douglas, Maureen Douglas and Nigel Lawson School of Environment, Education and Development, The University of Manchester
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[email protected] Aims: This walking tour investigates historical aspects of a hamlet which through urban expansion has become one of the most desir- able residential suburbs of South Manchester. It considers the influence of cultural, demographic and economic change over time and concentrates on places of worship, changes in the use of buildings and areas of outdoor leisure offering peace and tranquillity. Starting point: Didsbury Library, across Wilmslow Road from Didsbury Village Metrolink Station. Estimated time: 2–3 hours. The time will also depend on the inclusion of diversions. Further information: France, E. and Woodall, T. F. (1976) A New History of Didsbury. E.J. Morten, Manchester. Leitch, D. (2011) Looking back with Diana Leitch. Glimpses of people and places in South Manchester. Volumes 1-5. David Leitch, Manchester. Million, I. (1969) A History of Didsbury. Didsbury Civic Society and E.J. Morten, Manchester. Maps: Geographers’ Greater Manchester A-Z Street Atlas; Ordnance Survey Explorer (1:25,000) no 277 Manchester and Salford; Google Maps. Date of Last Revision: October 2019. Introduction Before the Industrial Revolution, Didsbury was a small agri- Mersey at Didsbury in 1745, in the Jacobite march south from cultural hamlet on the northern bank of the River Mersey Manchester to Derby, and again in his subsequent retreat between Stockport and Stretford in south Lancashire.