Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20st September
Historical Talk
Fletcher Moss JP Friday 11th September: who was he and what did he do?’ a talk by local historian Dr Diana Leitch, at 6.30pm at Didsbury Church of England Primary School, Elm Grove, M20 6RL. (Suggested donation £5 towards British Heart Foundation.) Prior to the talk from 6pm there will be a display of Children’s Artwork (Voluntary cash contributions toward the maintenance of the school would be welcome.)
Didsbury Church of England Primary School
Elm Grove, M20 6RL: Disabled access. 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 12th 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. There will be a display of Children’s Art Work (Voluntary cash contributions toward the maintenance of the school would be welcome.)
St James’ Church
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Disabled access. 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, the Birleys, King Charles III’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 to 1326. New Walker organ installed in 2017. Tithe maps, local history maps, jams, chutneys and crumbles on sale. Church open from 12.00 to 17.00 on Saturday 12th September. The Bell-tower open from 14.00 to 16.00 – meet the bellringers and try your hand at ringing the bells which date from 1727.
The Old Parsonage
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Disabled access. 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 from Friday 11th to Sunday 20th September. (Local Art Works on display 1st – 27th September)
The Towers
Known as the Calendar House, Wilmslow Road, M20 2FZ: The house is located at the back of the modern office complex and was built between 1868 and 1872 by Thomas Worthington, for the editor of the Manchester Guardian at a cost of £50,000. This Grade ll* listed building became the home of Daniel Adamson, instigator of the Manchester Ship Canal scheme. In 1922 it became the headquarters of the Shirley Institute where many textile breakthroughs occurred. The entrance hall will be open on Sunday 13th September only from 13.00 to 17.00 with ‘Towers’ book on sale.
Warburton Street
Warburton Street, Didsbury, M20 6WA, leading away from Wilmslow Road, is the oldest street in Didsbury. Its cobbles, with original stone pavements, are a remnant of a previous age. Some of the 1830s terraced cottages are still residential, but others have been converted to thriving shops and a restaurant run by individual traders. The bookshop dates from the 1950s. Shops open on Saturday 12th and Saturday 19th only.
Didsbury Library
The beautiful Arts and Crafts library, in its 110th year, opened on 15th May 1915 and having just celebrated its 110th birthday. The library was was funded by Andrew Carnegie, following many 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 17.00 on Saturday 12th September only. 692 Wilmslow Road, M20 2DN: Disabled access.
Nazarene College
This 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 12th only from 10.00 to 13.00 for TOURS as follows: TOUR 1: 10.30 TOUR 2: 11.30. Dene Road, M20 2GU.
Manchester Islamic Centre
Located at 271 Burton Road, M20 2WA: Disabled access. Built in red Accrington brick during the Edwardian era as a Methodist church. Open from 12.00 to 16.00 on Sunday 13th and Sunday 20th September.
Christ Church, West Didsbury
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 12th and Sunday 13th September only. Visitors are also welcome to attend the Sunday morning service at 11.00 on 13th September. Darley Avenue, M20 2ZD: Disabled access.
St Nicholas Church
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 10.30 to 16.00 Saturday 19th September with a refreshments and card sale. 408 Kingsway, M19 1PL: Disabled access.
Posted: September 3, 2026 by Ellie
DIDSBURY HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2026 (FREE)
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20st September
Historical Talk
Fletcher Moss JP Friday 11th September: who was he and what did he do?’ a talk by local historian Dr Diana Leitch, at 6.30pm at Didsbury Church of England Primary School, Elm Grove, M20 6RL. (Suggested donation £5 towards British Heart Foundation.) Prior to the talk from 6pm there will be a display of Children’s Artwork (Voluntary cash contributions toward the maintenance of the school would be welcome.)
Didsbury Church of England Primary School
Elm Grove, M20 6RL: Disabled access. 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 12th 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. There will be a display of Children’s Art Work (Voluntary cash contributions toward the maintenance of the school would be welcome.)
St James’ Church
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Disabled access. 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, the Birleys, King Charles III’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 to 1326. New Walker organ installed in 2017. Tithe maps, local history maps, jams, chutneys and crumbles on sale. Church open from 12.00 to 17.00 on Saturday 12th September. The Bell-tower open from 14.00 to 16.00 – meet the bellringers and try your hand at ringing the bells which date from 1727.
The Old Parsonage
Stenner Lane, M20 2RQ: Disabled access. 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 from Friday 11th to Sunday 20th September. (Local Art Works on display 1st – 27th September)
The Towers
Known as the Calendar House, Wilmslow Road, M20 2FZ: The house is located at the back of the modern office complex and was built between 1868 and 1872 by Thomas Worthington, for the editor of the Manchester Guardian at a cost of £50,000. This Grade ll* listed building became the home of Daniel Adamson, instigator of the Manchester Ship Canal scheme. In 1922 it became the headquarters of the Shirley Institute where many textile breakthroughs occurred. The entrance hall will be open on Sunday 13th September only from 13.00 to 17.00 with ‘Towers’ book on sale.
Warburton Street
Warburton Street, Didsbury, M20 6WA, leading away from Wilmslow Road, is the oldest street in Didsbury. Its cobbles, with original stone pavements, are a remnant of a previous age. Some of the 1830s terraced cottages are still residential, but others have been converted to thriving shops and a restaurant run by individual traders. The bookshop dates from the 1950s. Shops open on Saturday 12th and Saturday 19th only.
Didsbury Library
The beautiful Arts and Crafts library, in its 110th year, opened on 15th May 1915 and having just celebrated its 110th birthday. The library was was funded by Andrew Carnegie, following many 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 17.00 on Saturday 12th September only. 692 Wilmslow Road, M20 2DN: Disabled access.
Nazarene College
This 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 12th only from 10.00 to 13.00 for TOURS as follows: TOUR 1: 10.30 TOUR 2: 11.30. Dene Road, M20 2GU.
Manchester Islamic Centre
Located at 271 Burton Road, M20 2WA: Disabled access. Built in red Accrington brick during the Edwardian era as a Methodist church. Open from 12.00 to 16.00 on Sunday 13th and Sunday 20th September.
Christ Church, West Didsbury
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 12th and Sunday 13th September only. Visitors are also welcome to attend the Sunday morning service at 11.00 on 13th September. Darley Avenue, M20 2ZD: Disabled access.
St Nicholas Church
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 10.30 to 16.00 Saturday 19th September with a refreshments and card sale. 408 Kingsway, M19 1PL: Disabled access.
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