Secret Stockport

by Ian Littlechilds and Phil Page

Published 15 February 2017
Stockport sits on elevated ground 7 miles south-east of the city centre of Manchester. No part of Stockport is recorded in the Domesday Book but there are records that show a castle was built in the area in the late twelfth century and the first borough charter was granted around 1220. The town developed in size during the Industrial Revolution when its site at the confluence of the rivers Tame, Goyt and Mersey provided the water sources needed for the development of a number of mills. Today a walk around the narrow streets and passages of Hillgate provides evidence of Stockport's rich history with the fifteenth-century Staircase House and the quaint cobbled streets surrounding the market sitting in the shadow of the historic Church of St Mary.

Venture out of the centre, however, and you will find Stockport is rich in myth and legend. From the witch of Reddish Vale and ghosts of Bramall Hall to the beautifully restored, Art Deco Plaza Theatre, there is always something to catch the imagination of those visitors who wish to uncover the hidden secrets of this fascinating town.

Secret Manchester

by Phil Page and Ian Littlechilds

Published 15 November 2014
The centre of Manchester is an area rich in social and cultural history. Its buildings, streets, churches and alleyways chart the journey from the rise of Victorian wealth through to today's vibrant metropolis, which is the most visited English city outside the capital. This secret trail can easily be completed in the course of a day, and aims to uncover and raise awareness of essential facts and stories surrounding the city centre.

Included in this fascinating tour are the Giant's Basin in Castlefield; the site and remains of the Hacienda night club; Manchester heroes like Alan Turing, Mark Addy and Richard Cobden; the political and musical heritage of the Free Trade Hall; hidden delights like the Richmond Tea Rooms; the Manchester Craft Centre; the steepest street in Manchester; and much more to enjoy and explore.