Manchester Victorian Slum History Tour

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.
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.

Meeting Point

Chetham's Library

Long Millgate, Manchester M3 1SB, UK

We'll meet in the shade of the trees next to the water feature outside the front gates of Chetham's College, in Cathedral Gardens, which is behind the National Football Museum and just a short walk from Victoria Station. The postcode is M3 1SB.

What's included:

• Bring a copy of my book and I'll sign and dedicate it for you.
• Small group sizes so you can ask questions and have plenty of time to take photographs.
• If your ancestors lived in Angel Meadow, contact me before and I'll mention them on the tour.
• Regular stops where you’ll hear about the unusual characters who called Angel Meadow home.

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

St. Michael's Flags & Angel Meadow Park

Old Mount St, Manchester, M4 4TF

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 tour by historian and writer Dean Kirby, the author of the bestselling book Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain's Most Savage Slum, you will walk alongside the River Irk, through the tree-lined Angel Meadow park and down streets where new apartments stand alongside former ragged schools and hear the hidden story of how the district and its people shaped one of the world’s greatest cities.

1 hour, 30 minutes