Sunday 4th June 2023. Forty-two WSNTA members set off for a five-night break to Manchester and the surrounding area.  I must admit I got some strange reactions when I told friends and family where we were going!  Nice was probably the politest.  And yes it was nice in fact it was very nice!  Our first visit of the week was to Aston Hall which is a Grade 1 listed Jacobean house designed by John Thorpe and built by Sir Thomas Holte in 1618 to 1635. In 1643, it was besieged by Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War. The great oak staircase still bears the scars of this bombardment.  Now owned and run by Birmingham Museums.  We then continued to the Mercure Hotel at Haydock which was our base for our stay.

Monday. After a leisurely breakfast we departed the hotel and made our way to RHS Bridgewater (yes, I spelt this correctly!)   What a magnificent place this is and will, I am sure, get even better.  They have much more work to do including a planned Chinese Garden.   Our afternoon was spent at Salford Quays where we Enjoyed a relaxing boat trip along the historic Ship Canal and River Irwell from the former Manchester Docks, now known as Salford Quays, to Manchester City Centre passing under George Stephenson’s 1830 Railway bridge and the striking new 2017 Ordsall Chord Bridge.  Passing many pressive glass and steel buildings including Media City the ITV Studios which produce the long-running TV series ‘Coronation Street, the BBC Studios, the Imperial War Museum North, Lowry Theatre and Gallery and the Millennium Bridge.  

Tuesday. We travelled to the heart of Manchester where we met our Blue Badge Guide.  We spent the morning exploring the city centre.  Many impressive building, hidden treasures and opulent interiors.  We learnt about hidden secrets, famous stories, significant buildings, and the people that made the city.  The most memorable for me was the absolutely beautiful Midland Hotel.  Opened in 1903, it was built by the Midland Railway to serve Manchester Central railway station,   The station is long gone but this fabulous building remains.  Our afternoon treat was a visit to Castlefield Viaduct one of the National Trust newest and most unusual acquisitions.  They call it the Garden in the Sky which is what I suppose it is.  A Victorian Grade II listed railway viaduct in the heart of the oldest part of Manchester, built by the engineers who worked on Blackpool Tower. 

National Trust are planning to bring the viaduct back into use and transform it into a freely accessible green space for Castlefield’s local community.  Indeed, they have already achieved much with further work to follow.

Wednesday. Our surprise visit to Haydock Racecourse for a behind the scenes guided tour.  We were shown the stables, the vet’s rooms and the weighing room.  We were even allowed on the hallowed turf of the actual racecourse and the show ring.  A delightful informative morning followed by an excellent lunch.  Moving on back to Salford Quays to visit the Lowry Gallery.  Our guide, a very enthusiastic member of their team, showed us the very comprehensive collection of L0wry paintings of which one at least was worth £5000 (this one was pointed out) and one worth £10,000,000 (this one was not pointed out!)  and told us about the history of the man.  My thoughts on Lowry were that he was a very sad, lonely man completely dominated by his mother even after her death.

Thursday. The whole day was spent at Lyme Park which must be one of the National Trusts largest houses surrounded by acres of formal gardens and parkland.  Once a great sporting estate and home of the Legh family for over 500 years.  Our tour today was again behind the scenes to part of the property not usually open to the public.  Unfortunately, the kitchens (always my favourite) were modernised some time ago so therefore not open to visits.  After lunch we were free to explore.  It was a very hot day and luckily, we found some deck chairs and an ice cream van.  Bliss.

Friday. We set off back to Somerset but first our last visit which was to the National Memorial Arboretum.  We were in time for the Daily Act of Remembrance and then some of us took a land train tour, some a walking tour and some did their own thing.  We went on the train which had commentary all the way.  What a lovely peaceful place this is and a fitting memorial to not only armed forces but many other organisations with members who have given their life both in war and peacetime.

All too soon our Manchester holiday was over.  I know we will all take with us many memories of this eclectic city and its history, both good and not so good.  We were shown the spot of the Manchester IRA Bombing in 1996, now a vibrant part of the city centre and joy for some we visited the Manchester United Football Ground (just outside but enough for many) What we will all remember is to tell friends to visit and enjoy this wonderful city.