The detail will be included on both the English Heritage and DCS websites including information about the dates of activities, and the buildings that will be open to the public. Finalised details will be available closer to the event.

For more details visit the national Heritage Open Days website Search events

The programme will open on Friday 12^th September at 6:30pm in the School Hall at Didsbury C of E Primary School, Elm Grove, Didsbury, M20 6RL.

Diana Leitch, Didsbury Parish Historian will give a talk entitled:

“Some Didsbury Buildings – those that disappeared during the 19^th/20^th centuries and those that survived to the present day”

A donation of £5 per person is suggested to attend the talk and the money will go the British Red Cross who worked tirelessly to support families in the flooding by the River Mersey on New Years Day 2025.

Buildings Open:

St James` Church – Sunday 14^th September plus bell ringing – 12pm-4pm

The Old Parsonage – Saturday 13^th, Sunday 14^th, Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^st – 10am to 5pm each day

The Towers – Sunday 14^th September – 1pm – 5pm

Didsbury C of E Primary School – Saturday 13^th September -10am -4pm

Warburton Street – Saturday 13^th and Saturday 20^th – Shops Open

Didsbury Library – Saturday 13^th and Saturday 20^th – 09:00 -17:00 each day

Nazarene College -Saturday 13^th – 10:30am – 1pm

Manchester Islamic Centre – Sunday 14^th and Sunday 21^st – 12pm – 4pm

The Albert Bowling Club and Tennis Club -Sunday 21^st September – tours at 10:30am and 11:30am

Christ Church, West Didsbury – Saturday 13^th September and Sunday 14^th– 10am – 4pm

St Nicholas Church – Saturday 20^th September – 11am – 16pm

This memorial is to Dr J Milson Rhodes (1847-1909), who did much for the poor, particularly the young people assigned to the Nell Lane Workhouse and those suffering from TB.

His surgery was sited where the HSBC Bank is today on Wilmslow Road

He was responsible for the founding of a colony for epileptics at Langho, near Whalley in Lancashire, to which the epileptics from the Workhouse were transferred.

At his suggestion children were removed from the workhouse to cottage homes at Styal.

In the year following his death, as a tribute to Dr Rhodes, a memorial clock and drinking fountain were built outside the railway station, which was closed in 1964 and subsequently demolished. The clock is inscribed with the words: ‘A Friend to Humanity’.

Click here to visit  British Listed Buildings Website

Click here to visit ‘Disused Railway Stations’ Website

Alderman Fletcher Moss was dismayed by Didsbury’s lack of a library, and persuaded one of the richest men of the time, American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, to pay for one.Didsbury Library was designed by Henry Price, the Manchester City architect and was erected in 1915. It is a curious building, looking even more ecclesiastical than Emmanuel church next door – a temple to learning. It was, however, well designed for its purpose and has served Didsbury for a century.

For more information click on the following links all of which will open in a new age:

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/87764/didsbury_libr

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Price_%28architect%29

The Wood is adjacent to Millgate Lane and Stenner Lane.

The ‘Willow Carr’ is a remnant of a habitat that at one time would have covered the whole of the Mersey Valley flood plain. Willows thrive in waterlogged soil where other trees drown or suffer from rotten roots. In the drier areas there is an interesting mix of trees, including alder, sycamore, birch, ash, poplars and wych elm.

There is interesting ground flora of woodland wildflowers. Some of the marshy areas support a variety of marginal plants – those which grow in shallow water, but whose leaves emerge from the water. This includes dotted and purple loosestrife, wild angelica and marsh woundwort.

Dead trees are left standing where it will not be hazardous. Beetle larvae and other invertebrates inhabit the trees. These become the larders of food for birds such as great spotted woodpeckers and tree creepers. Look out for the small round holes in the wood drilled by the larvae, and larger holes where the birds have dug the grubs out with their beaks.

The area has numerous footpaths as can be seen on the map in the gallery above, click here to view an interactive Google map version.

At the south end of the woods towards Millgate Fields is a dipping pond and guidance to the insect and pond life. Please put anything you catch back in the pond.

These gardens are opposite the ancient parish church of St. James’ on Stenner Lane, entered through the Eagle gate. Until the last century this area was the centre of village life with the village green and two pubs.

This small, but atmospheric, garden allows you to step back to a quieter, gentler time when the olde-worlde garden was tended for so many years by the Old Parsonage’s most famous residents, Alderman Fletcher Moss and his family.

There is a formal garden with flower beds full of seasonal colour and there are many benches to encourage the visitor to sit and enjoy the surroundings and view the church.

There is a greenhouse which houses a collection of alpine plants and on the lawns a variety of interesting small trees including a very rare specimen of an early bio-engineered tree (Laburnocytisus Adamii), that still survives today. The front of the house is dominated by several magnificent old trees, the tall palms give the house a ‘colonial’ feel. There are many curiosities to be found in these grounds. The graves of several of Mr Moss’s dogs, with their respective headstones, are underneath one of the sprawling trees in front of the house. Even a favourite horse is reputed to be buried there.

Near the secondary gate, there is a milestone which was originally situated at the Parrs Wood turnpike toll bar.

One of the most recognisable images of Didsbury is the main gateway to the gardens. This was part of the Spread Eagle Hotel, on Corporation Street, Manchester, where Fletcher Moss had once been proprietor. The gate was bought by Mr. Moss as a souvenir for ten pounds when the Hotel was demolished in 1902. The Didsbury Civic Society logo carries a representation of the ‘Eagle Gate’.

The Garden is now maintained entirely by volunteers from the Friends of Fletcher Moss Park and Parsonage Gardens and has won many accolades – Outstanding/Gold in the RHS North West in Bloom and the silver cup for the region, denoting the highest RHS award.  More information can be got from:

http://www.fletchermossgardens.org.uk/

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187069-d212237-Reviews-Fletcher_Moss_Park_Botanical_Gardens-Manchester_Greater_Manchester_England.html

The history of St. James’ Church, which dates from at least 1236, is completely intertwined with the development of Didsbury from a tiny rural hamlet to a thriving suburb of the City of Manchester.

The names of many of those who have worshipped here over the centuries and have been baptised, married or died here, are known both locally and nationally.

Some of this history is detailed below and can almost be re-lived by a visit to the church:

• Edward Barlow, one of the Lancashire martyrs (later St. Ambrose), was baptised here in 1585; 
• There is a magnificent wall mounted monument to Sir Nicholas Mosley, Lord Mayor of London and Lord Mayor of Manchester, who died in 1612. His descendants, Lady Ann Bland, patron of St. James’ Church and founder of St. Anne’s church in St Anne’s Square in Manchester, and Oswald Mosley of ‘Blackshirt’ fame, are well known; 
• The Parliamentarian Major General Charles Worsley of Platt Hall who was the first MP for Manchester, was married here in 1644; 
• Joseph Farington RA, the biographer of the artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds and famous diarist of the Georgian era, died here on New Year’s Eve, 1821, whilst visiting his brother at Parswood House; 
• Monuments to the Broomes, Fielden and Birley families (Peterloo Massacre and Birley High School) and commemorative stained glass windows to various local families can be seen.

The west tower is the oldest part of the present building as it was rebuilt in 1620 after a fire. John Moss, father of Fletcher, Mabel Louise Barnes, daughter of Thomas Barnes (Barnes Hospital), the Watts family (Abney Hall and the Britannia Hotel in Portland Street) were all involved in the major refurbishments of the interior and exterior of the church which occurred from 1850 to 1911, creating the Gothic-style building.  

For more information go to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_James,_Didsbury

http://www.achurchnearyou.com/didsbury-st-james/

Fletcher Moss Park is part botanic garden and part wildlife habitat. Stretching to the River Mersey in one direction and Stenner Woods in another, it is popular for many activities such as walking, running, tennis or just sitting and enjoying the peacefulness of the gardens.

The only house in the park, The Croft, was inhabited by the Williamson family. Emily Williamson founded the Plumage League in the house in 1889. This became the RSPB. The Croft, gardens and rockery were sold by Mr. Williamson to Alderman Fletcher Moss in 1912. Alderman Moss subsequently donated Fletcher Moss Gardens to the people of Manchester in 1919. 

The Croft now houses the popular Alpine Café, which overlooks the rockery.

Celebrated for their beauty, the gardens contain an interesting selection of trees and shrubs, including Chusan palms, tulip tree, mulberry, dawn redwood, swamp cypress, Chinese dogwood, common walnut, oxydendrum arboreum, and a collection of dwarf conifers. Part of the gardens is a rockery originally created by Robert Williamson.

The pond at the foot of the rockery is edged by an assortment of royal ferns, marsh marigolds, skunk cabbage, gunners and some species of iris. A stream down the rockery slope feeds it and there is a naturalness that belies the man-made background to the site. Recently the gardens have been restored but some older plants have been lost to be replaced by others which are more sustainable.

A meadow edged by woodland extends from the gardens a quarter-mile to the River Mersey.  Wildflower planting by school groups regularly takes place in the meadow, and the subsequent growth of biodiversity in the area is proving of interest to the naturalist as well as the gardener.

A bowling green which fell out of use has been converted into a pergola garden.  This exemplifies the way in which the garden is continually evolving. The shale tennis courts are to be updated to all weather usage.

Click here to visit Friends of Fletcher Moss Website

Over 100 years old, these beautiful gardens were built for Josephine Silkenstadt, the widow of a cotton merchant, in memory of her daughter Marie Louise who died in 1891 of peritonitis, aged just 26.

The Gardens which were acquired as a gift to the city of Manchester in 1904 are located in West Didsbury off Palatine Road. They were part of the gardens of Josephine Silkenstadt’s home and are of a simple shape, designed by prominent local civil engineer Joshua Cartwright. Comprising crossing pathways, edged with many rare and majestic trees they are a delight whatever the season.

There are many interesting botanical specimens including a maidenhair tree (ginkgo biloba).

Click here to visit Friends of Marie Louise Gardens Website

Fog Lane Park is off Fog Lane. Didsbury.  It was purchased in 1926 by the Council and was one of first public parks in Manchester.

It is said that Fog Lane Park earned its name from a grass, commonly known as ‘Yorkshire Fog’ which still grows throughout the park.

The site is comprised mainly of grassland and woodland, but also contains two small lakes, shrub beds, scattered trees, rose gardens and a sensory garden and children’s play areas. The park is particularly suited to football, having several pitches and a large grassed area.

Fog Lane has an area dedicated to the growth of wild flowers. These attract wildlife such as butterflies, dragonflies and a large selection of insects.  In turn, these provide food for a wide variety of birds which visit the park and are then encouraged to nest.  These include mallards, moorhens, Canada geese, kestrels, wood pigeons, coots and the occasional heron, plus the latest additions – ring-necked parakeets.

The park has a variety of trees and shrubs, including dawn redwood, silver birch, laburnums and flowering crabs, as well as a number of unusual specimens which have reached maturity, including hornbeams, alders, poplars, Norway maple and Indian bean.

The park is mainly used for children’s recreation, dog walking, personal fitness including organised health walking, Saturday and Sunday league football and for educational purposes, by school groups, church groups and scout/brownie groups.

Fog Lane Park Bowling Club and the Friends of Fog Lane Park actively work with Manchester Leisure to improve and promote the site.

Didsbury Park was one of the first municipal planned parks in the city and was redesigned in the 1920s to include recreational features for residents, such as bowling. It has a children’s playground, football pitch and bowling green.

Didsbury Park lies within the St. James’ Conservation Area and contains trees under preservation orders and mainly consists of grassland, woodland and flora. There is said to be an old air-raid shelter underneath the football pitch. 

The park is used mainly for dog walking, recreational play and bowling but is also very popular amongst young people and families for picnics on sunny days. 

There is an annual one day Didsbury Festival procession in June and a Classic Car show in July; both take place in the park which is also home to the local charity ‘Didsbury Good Neighbours’.  The charity is based in the refurbished pavilion (partly funded by the Holt Foundation) and houses a café for all to use.

Friends of Didsbury Park volunteers are currently restoring the park.

http://www.friendsofdidsburypark.com/