Historic Sites in Astley

"A treasured monument and attraction in Warrington, Walton Hall is a Jacobean Revival mansion, built in the 1830s for Sir Gilbert Greenall, an MP who had a 45-year career at the House of Commons. The house has been owned by the council since 1941 and hosts chamber music concerts and can be hired out for weddings and other events. Immediately outside the house is a formal garden, while there are ample facilities for families in the park."

"Lavish Elizabethan-style hall with ornamental gardens, including picnic areas, a kids' zoo and cafe. Address : Walton Lea Rd, Higher Walton, Warrington WA4 6SN, United Kingdom"

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Clem Rutter, Roch... used under CC BY 3.0. Walton Hall and Gardens is another of Warrington’s wonderful outdoor activities."

"Ordsall Hall is a large former manor house in the historic parish of Ordsall, Lancashire, England, now part of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester. Ordsall Hall is situated 1 km east of Lowry Outlet Shopping. Photo: Nev1, CC BY-SA 3.0."

"Salford Cathedral is situated on Chapel Street in the City of Salford, which sits opposite Manchester city centre on the west bank of the River Irwell. The City of Salford covers a large swathe of western Greater Manchester, with its centre adjacent to Manchester’s. Chapel Street, a long west to east boulevard connecting the cathedral with Salford Central rail station, was the first street in the world to be illuminated entirely by gas light."

"The seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford is among the largest Catholic places of worship in the North of England. The diocese, one of the first to be founded in England since the Reformation 300 years earlier, was set up in 1850 while the building was completed in 1848. The architect was Matthew Ellison Hadfield, who designed several Roman Catholic churches in the mid-19th century, all in the Gothic Revival style."

"Before he founded the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell set up the Salford Lads’ Club in Ordsall in 1903. The idea behind clubs like these was to keep young boys in deprived areas out of trouble, and channel their energy into constructive pursuits and sport. The list of former members here is illustrious and includes the actor Albert Finney, the Busby Babe Eddie Colman and guitarist Graham Nash of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash."

"Located in Salford (Greater Manchester), Salford Lads Club became famous in 1986 when it was featured on the cover of the Smith’s album The Queen is Dead. Manchester is known for its music scene. It boasted some of the most famous rock bands in England and the Smiths are one of them!"

"Discover the fascinating history of Adlington Hall as you tour The Great Hall, the chapel, oak-panelled dining room, the Minstrel’s Gallery, the number 10 bedroom, and more. Alongside the Great Organ, visitors can enjoy the original furniture, paintings, and décor of the building, or wander the gardens, attempt the maze, or enjoy a slice of homemade cake and a cup of tea in the tea room. I Opening Times: Public open days run on Sundays and Bank Holidays during April and September."

"A tremendous mixture of styles, Adlington Hall was founded at the end of the 15th century and then reworked in the 18th century. So while the north and east facades have romantic black and white timber framing the south and west wings are brick built, with a solemn Palladian portico. Adlington is hired out for weddings, but on Sundays between April and October the house and gardens are open to visitors."

"An interactive journey back in time, the Stockport Air Raid Shelters offers a glimpse into how people lived during the wartime blitz. Explore the labyrinth of tunnels filled with displays, posters, recreated living and sleeping areas, and a bunker, all accompanied by an audio guide highlighting the cultural, political, and social aspects living in the shelters. I Opening Times: Tuesday-Friday 1-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm."

"The Stockport Air Raid Shelters are a jolting walk back in time near Manchester. Located about 6 miles from the main Manchester area and in great Manchester, this place is an interesting, short excursion from the city Centre. The place will transport you into a dark time- the Britain of the 1940s during the war."

"Stockport Air Raid Shelters, Great Underbank, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 1NE - Visit now. Stockport museums are beginning a phased reopening of their sites. The first to re-open were Bramall Hall and Stockport Air Raid Shelters."

"You can walk along the canal, through the Castlefield Urban Heritage Park on your way to the Museum of Science and Industry. Castlefield Urban Heritage Park. Admire the old industrial buildings, soak up the atmosphere of the canal, and see how Manchester used to be in years gone by."

"Another one that you'll have to exercise patience for is the RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music), which is - understandably - prioritising the return of students and tutors. You can see the latest updates at www.rncm.ac.uk."

"The Royal Northern College of Music is an internationally acclaimed conservatoire, as well as an eclectic performance venue delivering a diverse programme of music and opera performances."

"Contact Theatre will be heading out across Manchester this summer for a series of outdoor performances. Contact is an Oxford Road theatre and performing arts venue creating and producing its own shows, as well as hosting tours from the world’s best theatre companies. Contact will be heading out across the city this summer, delivering a series of outdoor performances before its building reopens to the public in September 2021."

"The building of the Dancehouse Theatre has had a fascinating history full of transformation, morphing from meeting halls to a multi-screen cinema complex. In the 1990s it was restored to its former Art Deco splendour and was reopened as The Dancehouse Theatre, home to the Northern Ballet School. While the venue presents a broad range of performances including comedy, music and drama, dance lies at the heart of this North West icon."

"Located near Preston Dock, the Ribble Steam Railway museum invites you to hop aboard a heritage train ride on one of their working steam trains. The museum makes a fantastic and interactive day out for all the family, delving into Preston's historical links to steam trains and Preston Dock. See their Diesel Locomotives, Steam Locomotives, miniature railway, and much more."

"This attraction features well-maintained locomotives that date back more than 100 years. A preserved railway, it is now also the home of the collection from the Southport Railway Museum and was opened to public access in 2005. It also operates passenger services from Preston Riverside to and from Strand Road Crossing."

"The municipal museum was founded in 1848 and moved into its purpose-built Neoclassical home in 1857. This is one of the UK’s oldest town museums and the building has kept its original character. As with the best municipal museums, the collection is a big jumble of local industrial artefacts, Egyptology, Roman archaeology, coins, ethnographic displays, items from the Civil War and zoological and botanical specimens."

"1857 museum with 200,000 artifacts displayed in original Victorian glass cabinets, plus fine art. Address : Bold St, Warrington WA1 1DR, United Kingdom"

"With an eclectic collection that includes historic fine art and contemporary art works, a fine collection of textiles from across the world, sculpture, prints, wallpaper and more, there’s lots to enjoy at the Whitworth Art Gallery. Cornelia Parkers Exhibition, Whitworth Art Gallery. A highlight of the fine art collection is work by famous pre-Raphaelite artists including Holman Hunt, Rossetti, Millais and others."

"From Wednesday May 19, the stunning Whitworth gallery will be partially reopen to the public, with a film screening of Imran Perretta: the destructors on display. The cafe will be back open too, but the full gallery will be up and running again by July 1, in time for its MIF21 summer exhibition. Plan your visit at whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit."

"CFCCA is the UK leader in Chinese visual culture, with a reputation for debut solo exhibitions and a roster of internationally-renowned artists; impressive considering that, three decades ago, it was just a series of events in Manchester’s Chinatown. As Manchester’s Chinese population is second only to London’s, the centre’s heritage is particularly important; now represented in a new archive and library. Best feature: A vibrant events schedule, spanning film screenings to workshops and even Mandarin lessons"

"Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art is a unique art gallery with a year-round programme of socially engaged exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. They have over 30 years experience of working with emerging and established artists to provide a space for conversation, debate, and cross-cultural exchange. They are the go-to place to discover new artists and explore relevant global issues from different international perspectives."

"Manchester's Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art will reopen both of its galleries on Wednesday May 19. Exhibitions Multiplicities in Flux and Autopsy of a Home, which originally opened in October, will be back until June 13. Booking is advised at cfcca.org.uk but walk-ups are welcome."