Tunnelling back into war history


Tunnelling back into war history

by Angela Kelly
1/ 9/2006

YOU can step back into history - and discover how people lived through the Second World War. There is a chance to experience daily life in war-torn Britain on Wednesday when Stockport Air Raid Shelters hold one of their monthly explorer tours.

Tunnels in Chestergate go under part of the town centre. They were there to provide shelter for families through the darkest days of the Blitz during the war.

There are lights and sounds, and everything to do with trying to maintain "normal" life as the bombs fell outside. You can explore the authentic reconstructions in a core area of sandstone tunnels, and there is every kind of detail.

You will hear songs from the time and have an opportunity to understand why it all happened in the Web Of War exhibition. There are also contributions from wardens, WVS (Women's Voluntary Service) workers and other volunteers.

This was one of the few ARP (Air Raid Precautions) tunnel systems built specifically for civilians in Britain which often accommodated more than 7,000 nightly.

The evening tours cost £4.95 for adults and £3.95 for children. A family ticket is £15. To book, ring 0161 474 1940.

TRAMS have dipped in and out of Manchester's history and are once more back within the transport infrastructure. But what do you know about the Heaton Park Tramway?

This has developed from a restored section of the former siding off the Manchester Corporation Tramways' system on Middleton Road, just north east of the city. It was originally built to allow special tramcars to take Sunday School parties for days out in the park after the city acquired it from the Earl of Wilton's family in 1901.

Heaton Park's 640 acres provided recreation for families from inner city areas, and the trams gave them easy access.

On Sunday the Manchester Transport Museum Society holds its annual historic vehicle rally at the park. It starts at the Transport Museum on Boyle Street in Cheetham Hill - an attraction itself - at 11am with a 15-mile road run to arrive at Heaton Park around noon.



A MUCH earlier slice of history is to be found at the Whitworth Art Gallery. There is nothing dusty about Clothing Culture: Dress In Egypt In The First Millennium AD, an exhibition finishing on September 10.

Stunning and beautifully coloured garments more than 1,000 years old, and preserved in the dry desert of Egypt, form the core of this exhibition.

A special feature is a work by artist Jane Harris, who uses ultra-modern digital technology.

The gallery, in the University of Manchester, is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and on Sunday from 2pm-5pm. Admission is free and there are free, eye-opener tours every Saturday at 2pm.

For more details, ring 0161 275 7450.

TATTON Park is steeped in history and on Sunday members of the Tatton Living History Society recreate life in a Victorian household. Servants do their work in the mansion while the gentry crochet and play cards.

The park is the venue on the same day for the seventh BMW and Porsche Festival when there will be a huge gathering of beautiful cars, autojumble, displays and raffles.

The event offers plenty to interest lovers of German "heavy metal", and a children's fairground plus all of Tatton's many other outdoor and indoor attractions to keep them happy.

There is also a family tree exhibition at Tatton in the mansion's servants' quarters, featuring rare documents, archive materials and images. The exhibition is open Tuesday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.

Tickets to the BMW and Porsche festival are £2 each and children enter free. Normal park entry prices apply and opening times are 10am to 4pm.

For more details, ring 0161 678 2088.

A CELEBRATION of arts and crafts is being held today (Friday) at Broomwood School in Timperley.

The annual Broomwood Art Day is in the school's car park from 4pm to 6pm with free activities for all ages.

There will be paintings, ceramics, needlework, flower-arranging, miniature gardens, original writing, short stories, photo art and Plasticine models.

FAMILIES in the Stockport area can learn about their ancestors in a "living history" session is held at Reddish Vale Country Park on Sunday.

Calico Is History Now! offers the chance to find out about the history of Reddish Vale and look for the evidence all around. The event runs from 1.30pm to 3pm. Ring 0161 477 5637.

HELP the environment by going along to Seed Sowing Sunday this weekend. Trafford Ecology Park in Lake Road, Trafford Park, is the venue for this free event. It involves sowing wildflower seeds and runs from 10am to 1pm. Ring David Sykes on 0161 912 5599.


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