Heritage Organisations

Heritage Groups and Societies

Take a look and learn about all the amazing heritage groups and societies across Greater Manchester & beyond!

Alexandra Park Heritage Group

The Alexandra Park Heritage group members are all volunteers supported by the Park’s engagement officer, John Keys. The group researches the park’s history with help from archives+ and local historians and with oral histories and photos from park users.

About
The Alexandra Park Heritage group members are all volunteers supported by the Park’s engagement officer, John Keys. The group researches the park’s history with help from archives+ and local historians and with oral histories and photos from park users.

We are researching Protest in the Park and the struggle for the right to use the parks as places for protest. We hope to have a memorial to all who have protested in the park soon. We are also working with researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University on the History of Sport in the park and we want more stories of park user’s experiences of sport in the park.
When it is open, we are in Chorlton Lodge Information Centre in the park the on the 1st Sunday of every month We welcome visitors, show them the resources in the Lodge and take any information that the visitor may wish to share.
We also lead small groups on a guided walk of the park. We welcome new members. We have produced a book, “Alexandra Park Manchester. A people’s Park from 1870”. The book is on sale in Chorlton Lodge in the park, in Chorlton and Central Libraries, Chorlton Book shop and Waterstones (Deansgate branch only). All money from the book sales goes to the park.

How can people get involved?
Contact John Keys, Aleandra Park Engagement officer

All Things Considered

Individual who promotes local history events, organises walks and co-ordinates the Cheetham & Crumpsall Heritage Society.

About
I promote local history events, organise walks and co-ordinate the Cheetham & Crumpsall Heritage Society. I write and publish Local History books. I am available as a speaker for a variety of organisations and lead regular local history walks in North Manchester.

I am a member of the Peterloo Memorial Campaign Group and a large part of my website is dedicated to telling the story of Peterloo, curating archive materials and acting as a reference point for people wishing to find out more.
The sections of my website The Cheetham and Crumpsall Heritage Society, ‘Beyond Peterloo’ and ‘Friends of St Mark’s Cheetham have a wealth of accessible material

How can people contact you remotely?
Via the website www.all-things-considered.org
By email on conduitzzz@outlook.com

Friends of Stretford Public Hall

Friends of Stretford Public Hall was formed in 2015 to take on the ownership and running of Stretford Public Hall.

About
Friends of Stretford Public Hall was formed in 2015 to take on the ownership and running of Stretford Public Hall.We are a charitable community benefit society that is democratically run by its members. Our aim is to run Stretford Public Hall in a profitable, sustainable way. Any profit we make is invested back in to the running and restoration of the Hall.Friends of Stretford Public Hall employs a small team of staff who run the Hall day-to-day. The staff team are supported by a Board of Directors, elected each year by our members.Our vision
We want Stretford Public Hall to become a thriving multi-purpose venue at the heart of Stretford, owned and run by the local community.Our mission
Our aim is to restore and protect this historic landmark. Through ongoing engagement with the local community, we will host a wide range of activities that meet Stretford’s needs. In partnership, we will help to improve the lives of residents by providing opportunities for employment and involvement as well as access to arts, culture, heritage, and a range of well-being services.
In 2020, Friends of Stretford Public Hall received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service due to the ongoing dedication of our group of volunteers, many of whom have been with us from the beginning, almost five years ago.

More information about or online activities can be found here: https://www.stretfordpublichall.org.uk/online_activitites

Our youtube channel has new content being added weekly and can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkho2Pg8DnhLgKrObDgp35w

Our Community Choir ‘Stretford Singers’ meet every two weeks on their facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/690004407844501/​​​​​​​

How can people get involved?
Attending events and activities:
Before the covid-19 pandemic, we held a number of weekly activities at the hall, from a community choir to wellbeing classes and arts classes. We would also host monthly events to fund raise for our cause. These included music nights, cinema screenings, and an analogue game night.
Since Covid-19 hit, we moved a number of our activities online, with a virtual choir meeting every two weeks, a monthly life drawing session via zoom and yoga and wellbeing classes filmed for access via youtube whenever they are needed. We’re even trialling a music gig online! We need people from our local comunity and further afield to attend the online events and join us in person again once we re-open.Volunteering:
Our covid-response project currently also has us functioning as a community hub with an important role including distributing food bank parcels, helping those shielding or isolating to have access to shopping, delivery medical prescriptions, and checking in via phone on our vulnerable members of our community. We wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of volunteers.You can find more information on volunteering on our website where you can also submit a form to show your interest in volunteering.Donations:
Donations towards our mission are always welcome. This can be done securely via out website.
How can people contact you remotely?
Twitter: @StretfordPHall
Instagram: @friendsofstretfordpublichall
Public email address: friends@stretfordpublichall.org.uk

Holcombe Moor Heritage Group

Holcombe Moor Heritage Group is an independent organisation dedicated to researching, documenting and communicating the history of the Holcombe area, near Bury.

About 
Holcombe Moor Heritage Group is an independent organisation dedicated to researching, documenting and communicating the history of the Holcombe area, near Bury. Each year we run an archaeological excavation, each winter we hold a series of public talks with invited external speakers, and we conduct ongoing research in various libraries, archives and depositories, all of which contribute to our overall aim. We share our work by having information stands at local events and giving talks for other organisations. We produce a newsletter about our work each quarter and have three other publications about the history of the Holcombe valley.
We are currently excavating a medieval iron working site in the Holcombe valley (although this project is currently on hold due to the Corona virus pandemic).

We have a website with all our current and past projects on it, including our dig, a memories project, a walls and boundaries survey in the Holcombe valley and a new project plotting the 1850 Tithe map onto a modern day map, showing most of the assets of the Tithe schedule.

https://www.holcombemoorheritagegroup.org/

How can people get involved?
By becoming a member, then being able to join us on our digs and on research trips to archives and libraries. People could attend our winter talks, view our website, purchase our publications or follow us on social media.
How can people contact you remotely? 

International Brigade Greater Manchester

135 men and women from Greater Manchester went to Spain to fight fascism and defend democracy in the Spanish Civil War. The International Brigade Greater Manchester Group keeps alive the memories of those men and women who fought for the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War or worked in the Aid to Spain movement in Greater Manchester.

135 men and women from Greater Manchester went to Spain to fight fascism and defend democracy in the Spanish Civil War. The International Brigade Greater Manchester Group keeps alive the memories of those men and women who fought for the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War or worked in the Aid to Spain movement in Greater Manchester.
How can people get involved?
Contact: doloreslong@fastmail.fm  or 0161 226 2013
Twitter: @IBGtrManchester

Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society

The Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society was founded in 1883 to promote the study of the history of Lancashire and Cheshire.

About
The Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society was founded in 1883 to promote the study of the history of Lancashire and Cheshire. Its sphere includes archaeology (both traditional and industrial), economic and social history, architecture and the arts, and folklore. Its range extends from antiquity to the more recent past. Although the Society is based on Manchester its studies and activities embrace the region. Membership is open to all individuals and societies who are interested in the various historical aspects of the two (pre-1974 reorganisation) Counties Palatine.
The Society aims to make relevant new research available through its Transactions. Each volume consists of a selection of peer reviewed articles of scholarly and popular interest on all aspects of the history of our two counties, along with book reviews and reports of the Society’s activities. The Society also aims to hold annual day schools, recent topics have included Manchester in the age of Mrs Gaskell, Roman archaeology in Wigan and Catholic history.
Early editions of Transactions are freely available online and more recent editions and offprints of individual articles can also be ordered online for a small charge, both via the website – www.landcas.org.uk
How can people get involved?
Membership of the Society is £18 p.a. for individual members (see website for other rates). Members receive copies of the Transactions and notification of day schools, visits and other events. The Editor welcomes contributions to the Transactions.
How can people contact you remotely? 

Lancashire Local History Federation

Formed in 1973, they are the official co-ordinating body for local history in the County Palatine of Lancaster.

About
Formed in 1973, we are the official co-ordinating body for local history in the County Palatine of Lancaster. We have members as far apart as Dalton in Furness to the north and Denton to the south, Fleetwood to the west and Rochdale to the east. Whether you are interested in Local History, Family History, Archaeology or Industrial Archaeology, if there is a bearing on Lancashire in your field of research, one or more of our member societies will be able to help

How can people get involved?
Any local history or heritage society in the County Palatine (or beyond) can join (we have over 80 member societies), as well as individuals.

How can people get in touch remotely? 

Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society

The MLFHS was formed in 1964 to promote and encourage family history research and this is achieved in several ways. To facilitate and enhance research, the Society offers support and advice particularly through the medium of a help desk based at Manchester Central Library daily, Monday to Friday.

The MLFHS was formed in 1964 to promote and encourage family history research and this is achieved in several ways. To facilitate and enhance research, the Society offers support and advice particularly through the medium of a help desk based at Manchester Central Library daily, Monday to Friday. Every year our volunteers complete a full programme of projects and are continuously involved in the transcribing and indexing of documents of local interest such as Parish Registers as well as the creation of many databases such as monumental inscriptions. We contribute massively to the Lancashire BMD project and the transcribing of civil registers of births, marriages, and deaths. The Society incorporates three Branches; Anglo-Scottish, Bolton, and Oldham. Each Branch has its own web site, produces its own newsletters, and organises its own programme of monthly meetings with help desks over and above those of the parent Society and undertakes locally based or topic-based projects. The Society and its Branches between them offer around 50 meetings a year at which an invited speaker or Society member will speak on a topic of genealogical interest. Membership of the MLFHS includes membership of any or all of the Branches free of charge. Our online forum allows members to share information and/or seek advice from other members.

How can people contact you remotely?

Through our virtual help desk by visiting the website here: https://www.mlfhs.org.uk/helpdesk.php
Email: office@mlfhs.org.uk
Telephone: 01612191251
Mobile: 07743576931
Website: mlfhs.org.uk
Twitter: @MLFHS
Facebook: @MandLFamily History

Manchester Military History Society

A society who each month has a speaker on a military related subject followed by a discussion around that subject or related topics. Many of their speakers are published authors and professional historians.

About
Each month we have a speaker on a military related subject followed by a discussion around that subject or related topics. Many of our speakers are published authors and professional historians. We also provide speakers for other groups.

Our informality is renowned and you are guaranteed a lively discussion afterwards with our mix of professional historians and enthusiastic amateurs!

We are an informal group united by a common interest in military history. All are welcome regardless of age, sex or ethnicity.

Previous meetings have included a wide range of topics.

During lockdown our monthly talks are going out over ZOOM

How can people get involved?
How can people contact you remotely? 
Twitter: @mcrmilhist

South Trafford Archaeological Group

We are a voluntary group established in 1979 to explore the archaeology, history and landscape of the Trafford, South Manchester, and surrounding areas.

About

We are a voluntary group established in 1979 to explore the archaeology, history and landscape of the Trafford, South Manchester, and surrounding areas. The aims of the Group are:

To promote the study of archaeology and history within the area of Trafford Borough and its immediate environs.
Provide a base and resource for research and a resource for field projects.
To aid and assist groups with similar interests.

Our resources include archives of archaeological finds from a variety of excavation and recording projects, an extensive library, and our own newsletter (Browsings). Much of this material is housed in our Archaeology Centre behind the Old Hall pub at Altrincham golf club on Altrincham Road.

The Group has is its own Archaeology Centre (pictured above), located behind Timperley Old Hall on Altrincham Golf Course. This is our headquarters and houses archaeological material gathered over the last 40 years from the Trafford area. It is also the venue for our meetings, archaeology courses, archaeological finds analysis, and temporary exhibitions.
How can people get involved?
Fieldwork (field walking, excavation, landscape survey)
Archaeological building survey
Historical research (maps, photographs, documents)
Recording and analysis of archaeological finds (pottery, flint, glass, metalwork)
Field trips
Lectures and meetings
Website & social media development
Publication
Exhibitions
Maintaining the Victorian walled kitchen garden at Timperley Old Hall
How can people contact you remotely? 
Email:  stag.archaeology@outlook.com

Twitter @StagArchaeology

Whittingham Lives Association

Whittingham Lives Association, a two-year funded arts and heritage project aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the history of a mental asylum and mental health care. By learning from the past, we hoped to think critically about care in the present and imagine better futures.

About
Whittingham Lives Association, a two-year funded arts and heritage project aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the history of a mental asylum and mental health care. By learning from the past, we hoped to think critically about care in the present and imagine better futures. The project brought together archivists and museum curators, social historians, and local history groups with NHS service users and staff, members of the public, and artists, creative writers, and musicians. We connected with other projects in the UK and abroad. The stories of individuals, drawn from historical records and photography, vividly brought the asylum past to life. They inspired creative responses, reminiscences, the revelation of personal experiences, and social, cultural, and historical observations about Whittingham. High points were our production of the play, Whittingham 1918 by Eric Northey, the premier of War Embers at the RNCM, a new choral work by Sasha-Johnson Manning inspired by Ivor Gurney’s poetry, and the exhibition Whittingham Lives: Hidden Histories ? Alternative Futures at the Harris in Preston in 2018. Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, University of Central Lancashire, UNISON, local charities, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Friends of Lancashire Archives, and members of the public provided funding.
How can people get involved?
The project ran actively between 2017-2019. Information about the project including our events, creative arts, writing, and music and historical research can be found on our website which will be relaunched soon. The Whittingham Hospital archive documents can be seen at Lancashire Records Office, Bow Lane, Preston.
How can people contact you remotely? 
Website: http://www.whittinghamlives.org.uk/
Via email on graham@whittinghamlives.org.uk

Withington Civic Society

The Heritage Group of Withington Civic Society is active in all aspects of the history of Withington, Ladybarn and Old Moat, from education to conservation, from promotion to managing archives, from publications to an advice service.

About
The Heritage Group of Withington Civic Society is active in all aspects of the history of Withington, Ladybarn and Old Moat, from education to conservation, from promotion to managing archives, from publications to an advice service. We run events and mount displays on historical topics, are active in the conservation of our history, have an ongoing Oral History Project recording memories of the area, maintain an archive of articles covering many aspects of our history, and publish books, including a guided tour of Withington Village; a collection of wartime memoirs; and an account of the fascinating history of a local church organ. We have recently been involved in a number of successful applications for funding conservation projects, and run a Music Festival celebrating the role of the area in musical history. For more details of our history, see withingtoncivicsociety.org.uk.
Withington Civic Society maintains an extensive online archive of local history, including old maps, old photographs, an oral history collection, and many articles on aspects of our history. This archive is available at withingtoncivicsociety.org.uk.
How can people get involved?
To become involved, or simply to contact us: email contact@withingtoncivicsociety.org.uk.

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