Step back in time to the rain-lashed streets of Angel Meadow – the Victorian Manchester slum so vile it was dubbed ‘Hell upon Earth’ by Friedrich Engels.
In the shadow of one of the world’s first cotton mills, 30,000 souls trapped by poverty are fighting for survival as the Industrial Revolution is built upon their backs.
Mancunian families are struggling to keep body and soul together in overcrowded lodging houses and deep cellars on the banks of the River Irk as gangs of scuttlers stalk the pavements outside.
In this new tour by me, historian and writer Dean Kirby, the author of the bestselling book Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain's Most Savage Slum, you will hear the hidden story of how the district and its people shaped one of the world’s greatest cities.
To book tickets, visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/manchesterhistoryevents
Whether, like me, you are a descendant of Angel Meadow ancestors or have a burning passion to explore the history of Manchester, this tour is for you.
The price of your ticket includes:
A 90 minute guided walk through the streets of Angel Meadow with Dean Kirby, the leading authority on the area’s history.
Walk alongside the River Irk, through the tree-lined Angel Meadow park and along streets where new apartments rub shoulders with former ragged schools.
Regular stops where you’ll hear about the unusual characters who called this place home and historic incidents that took place right where you are standing.
Small group sizes so you can ask questions and have plenty of time to take photographs.
Personalise your tour by contacting me with details of your Angel Meadow ancestors beforehand to hear about how and where they lived.
If you're interested in Manchester history, please consider subscribing to my free Manchester history newsletter, www.manchesterhistory.uk.
In each edition, you'll hear stories from the streets of the world's first industrial city. By subscribing, you'll be helping to keep the newsletter sustainable.
If you've hit a brick wall in your Manchester family history research, I also provide professional genealogy services in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Find out about the services I offer by visiting www.manchesterfamilyhistory.com.
The walk is around 1.6 miles/2.6 kilometers and includes a descent down a long flight of steps, some shorter steps and an uphill climb. The steps mean that unfortunately the walk is not wheelchair friendly or suitable for people with limited mobility. I am planning a shorter and more accessible walk for people with mobility issues in May. Please dress for the weather. Manchester is known as the rainy city and the walk will go ahead come rain or shine.