Heritage group

The Heritage section organizes visits approximately once a month to venues usually of historical interest. These can be by coach, if out of the area, to stately homes or other places of interest.  Examples: Rhode Hall, Leighton Hall and Stoneyhurst College.  Local venues are very popular.  These have included tours of the Bridgewater Hall, Stockport’s Staircase House and Chathams School of Music.

Although the section is under the title Heritage other trips are also organized such as a canal outing from Whalley Bridge and a tour of St Helens glass.

Once a year a short holiday is arranged, so far these have been to Cambridge, Edinburgh, Bath and Wells, London, and Kent.

Wedgewood Visit

Cruising on the JudithMary

London Holiday

A small committee plans the events, however, the committee is always pleased to look into and arrange any suggestions put forward by U3A members
The success of the Heritage section is only possible with the support of the membership.

Programme of Outings

28th February       Manchester Police Museum, Newton Street, Manchester.  £3 donation requested.

2nd May              Rourkes Forge & Townley Hall, Nr Burnley. £22.00  Buffet lunch and tour at the hall.
                           Tea and biscuits at the forge.

20th June             Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Nr. Doncaster.
                           The hall is one of the most complete surviving Victorian Country Houses showing how                            a wealthy family and their servants lived. The Hall is surrounded by 15 acres of                                      beautiful gardens.

17th September    John Rylands Library

The first surprise was discovering that the library is in Deansgate.  I rarely travel to Manchester and when I do it is to a specific venue so I am ashamed to say I had never been aware of the library building in the heart of the city.

Our guide was excellent and conveyed to us very clearly how it came about that Manchester has such a treasure house of rare books and manuscripts.

John Ryland was a highly successful manufacturer of cotton. In fact no Mancunian has ever been as wealthy since. All the children of his first marriage predeceased him and although he went on to marry twice more he had no heirs. His third wife endowed the library in his memory using, as a basis, the two collections of rare books that he had already acquired during his lifetime.

From this foundation grew the wonderful collection we can make use of today. The old building has been renovated and a new building, with modern facilities, has been grafted on very sympathetically. It is almost impossible to describe the wonder which the building and collections convey. All I can say is that if you are ever in Deansgate, do take the opportunity to wander round the magnificent building and displays which are open to all but better still get yourself on a guided tour.
                                                                                                                                       Sue Clark

4th - 8th October  Holiday to the North East.
                           Visits to Beamish, Durham, Bowes Museum and Hartlepool Historic Quay.
                           Cost £225 half board in a 4 star Thistle Hotel (single supplement £15 per night).

                           For the report of the trip Click here

Group Leader:  Margaret Dodd
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