7th, 8th, 14th and 15th September 2024
Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore. This page shares event happening in Didsbury. You can view other events in other parts of England here.
Launch event
Friday evening September 6th: 6.30pm in Didsbury Church of England Primary School Hall: Elm Grove, M20 6RL: ‘Remember when – Shopping in Didsbury’– a talk by Local Historian Dr Diana Leitch –suggested donation £5 towards local charities.
St James’ Church
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Founded 1236. Grade II* listed building with many memorials and stained-glass windows to famous Lancashire and Cheshire families including the Mosleys, the Nevills, the Watts family, Queen Elizabeth II’s ancestors, Fletcher Moss’s family, Bradshaw’s printer and many Victorian merchants. Baptism place of the last Lancashire Martyr, St Ambrose Barlow, in 1585. Graveyard dates back to 1326. New Walker organ installed in 2017. Tithe maps, jams, chutneys and crumbles on sale. Church open from 12.00 to 17.00 on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th. Bell-tower open from 14.00 to 16.00 (Saturday only) to meet the bell ringers and try your hand at ringing the bells which date from 1727. Disabled access
The Old Parsonage
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Original parts of this magnificent house probably date back to the mid-sixteenth century with fine extensions added between 1820 and 1830. Its most famous owner was Fletcher Moss, JP, Alderman, philanthropist and author, who left the building, gardens and other land to Manchester Corporation in 1919. After a long life as a Museum and Art Gallery it was then turned into offices. In September 2012 the building was opened as a community hub by the Didsbury Parsonage Trust who acquired it on a lease from Manchester City Council and raised over £160,000 for renovation. Books, cards and other items on sale. Open from 10.00 to 17.00 on Saturday7th and Sunday 8th and Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th. Disabled access.
Nazarene College
Dene Road, M20 2GU: The Grade II listed White House building with many Art Deco features was built originally as a private home for William Melland, and was later occupied by Philip Godlee. In 1959 the building was bought and became The British Isles Nazarene College, later Nazarene Theological College. Open Saturday Sept 14 th only from 10.00 to 16.00 for TOURS as follows:
TOUR 1: 10.30
TOUR 2: 11.30 CLOSE 1pm
Coffee, tea and scones available for a donation to the ‘Student Hardship Fund’. Disabled access.
Didsbury Church of England Primary School
Elm Grove, M20 6RL: The school dates from 1612 and the oldest part on the present site from 1878, with a WW1 War memorial, which has public access from Grange Lane. The Grade II listed, prestigious, 1910 Arts and Crafts building was designed by John Swarbrick, a member of the Manchester Society of Architects and modelled on the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, which is now a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
Saturday 7th September: School open from 10.00 to 16.00 with tours available during the day. Learn about local people connected with this historic school. School history books on sale. Disabled access.
Didsbury Library
692 Wilmslow Road, M20 2DN: The beautiful Arts and Crafts library, in its 108th year, opened on 15th May 1915 and was funded by Andrew Carnegie, following requests from Fletcher Moss. It was built on the site of Victorian cottages, which were demolished in 1912, and the bowling green of The Wellington Inn. Open 09.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 17.00 on Saturday7th and Saturday 14th September only. Disabled access.
Manchester Islamic Centre
271 Burton Road, M20 2WA: Built in red Accrington brick as a Methodist church in the Edwardian era. Open from 13.00 to 17.00 on Sundays 10th and 17th September only. Refreshments throughout the day. Disabled access.
Christ Church, West Didsbury
Darley Avenue, M20 2ZD: The Church was built in 1881 as a gift to the community from Mr William Roberts of Darleydale and cost £13,000. It was, for many years, known as ‘Christ Church-in-the-fields’ due to its placement in a semi-rural setting. Open from 10.00 to 16.00 on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September only. Visitors are also welcome to attend the Sunday morning service at 11.00 on 8th September. Disabled access.
St Nicholas Church
408 Kingsway, M19 1PL: This Grade II* listed building was the first church designed by architect Nugent Francis Cachemaille Day and was opened in 1932. Between 2000 and 2002 a major refurbishment and remodelling project changed the internal layout whilst retaining the exterior as originally designed. Open 11.30 to 16.00 Saturday 14th September with a coffee morning and card sale from 11.00. Disabled access.
Last Updated: September 4, 2024 by Didsbury Civic Society
Didsbury Heritage Open Days 2024
7th, 8th, 14th and 15th September 2024
Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore. This page shares event happening in Didsbury. You can view other events in other parts of England here.
Launch event
Friday evening September 6th: 6.30pm in Didsbury Church of England Primary School Hall: Elm Grove, M20 6RL: ‘Remember when – Shopping in Didsbury’– a talk by Local Historian Dr Diana Leitch –suggested donation £5 towards local charities.
St James’ Church
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Founded 1236. Grade II* listed building with many memorials and stained-glass windows to famous Lancashire and Cheshire families including the Mosleys, the Nevills, the Watts family, Queen Elizabeth II’s ancestors, Fletcher Moss’s family, Bradshaw’s printer and many Victorian merchants. Baptism place of the last Lancashire Martyr, St Ambrose Barlow, in 1585. Graveyard dates back to 1326. New Walker organ installed in 2017. Tithe maps, jams, chutneys and crumbles on sale. Church open from 12.00 to 17.00 on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th. Bell-tower open from 14.00 to 16.00 (Saturday only) to meet the bell ringers and try your hand at ringing the bells which date from 1727. Disabled access
The Old Parsonage
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Original parts of this magnificent house probably date back to the mid-sixteenth century with fine extensions added between 1820 and 1830. Its most famous owner was Fletcher Moss, JP, Alderman, philanthropist and author, who left the building, gardens and other land to Manchester Corporation in 1919. After a long life as a Museum and Art Gallery it was then turned into offices. In September 2012 the building was opened as a community hub by the Didsbury Parsonage Trust who acquired it on a lease from Manchester City Council and raised over £160,000 for renovation. Books, cards and other items on sale. Open from 10.00 to 17.00 on Saturday7th and Sunday 8th and Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th. Disabled access.
Nazarene College
Dene Road, M20 2GU: The Grade II listed White House building with many Art Deco features was built originally as a private home for William Melland, and was later occupied by Philip Godlee. In 1959 the building was bought and became The British Isles Nazarene College, later Nazarene Theological College. Open Saturday Sept 14 th only from 10.00 to 16.00 for TOURS as follows:
TOUR 1: 10.30
TOUR 2: 11.30 CLOSE 1pm
Coffee, tea and scones available for a donation to the ‘Student Hardship Fund’. Disabled access.
Didsbury Church of England Primary School
Elm Grove, M20 6RL: The school dates from 1612 and the oldest part on the present site from 1878, with a WW1 War memorial, which has public access from Grange Lane. The Grade II listed, prestigious, 1910 Arts and Crafts building was designed by John Swarbrick, a member of the Manchester Society of Architects and modelled on the Palais Stoclet in Brussels, which is now a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
Saturday 7th September: School open from 10.00 to 16.00 with tours available during the day. Learn about local people connected with this historic school. School history books on sale. Disabled access.
Didsbury Library
692 Wilmslow Road, M20 2DN: The beautiful Arts and Crafts library, in its 108th year, opened on 15th May 1915 and was funded by Andrew Carnegie, following requests from Fletcher Moss. It was built on the site of Victorian cottages, which were demolished in 1912, and the bowling green of The Wellington Inn. Open 09.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 17.00 on Saturday7th and Saturday 14th September only. Disabled access.
Manchester Islamic Centre
271 Burton Road, M20 2WA: Built in red Accrington brick as a Methodist church in the Edwardian era. Open from 13.00 to 17.00 on Sundays 10th and 17th September only. Refreshments throughout the day. Disabled access.
Christ Church, West Didsbury
Darley Avenue, M20 2ZD: The Church was built in 1881 as a gift to the community from Mr William Roberts of Darleydale and cost £13,000. It was, for many years, known as ‘Christ Church-in-the-fields’ due to its placement in a semi-rural setting. Open from 10.00 to 16.00 on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September only. Visitors are also welcome to attend the Sunday morning service at 11.00 on 8th September. Disabled access.
St Nicholas Church
408 Kingsway, M19 1PL: This Grade II* listed building was the first church designed by architect Nugent Francis Cachemaille Day and was opened in 1932. Between 2000 and 2002 a major refurbishment and remodelling project changed the internal layout whilst retaining the exterior as originally designed. Open 11.30 to 16.00 Saturday 14th September with a coffee morning and card sale from 11.00. Disabled access.
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