Each September, all manner of exciting cultural and historic wonderlands, numbering in the thousands, from weird underground lairs to theme parks to art deco ventilation shafts fling open their doors and put on free tours, exhibitions and talks. Many of these are completely closed to the general public for the rest of the year! Last year I spent a great day in Blackpool, touring the Illuminations depot, magic circle society (including private show of the EVIL MENACE that is Punch and Judy) and riding round on a open-top vintage bus.
This year, after many days spent practically making myself bald with indicisiveness over what to book and discovering once again, things like Liverpool's three Graces were fully booked, I finally decided to spend a day each in Halifax, Stockport, Liverpool and Manchester. As this is a Mancunian themed blog, I shall concentrate on S+M ;-)
The Town Hall
Well this "wedding cake" was, on the whole, a rather unexpectedly grand delight. Whilst parts of the filling like the corridors were extremely austere when compared to the relentless astonishment factor of its brother in the slightly larger neighbouring settlement (more on that later), there were many sweet spots.
Take the banqueting hall. Home to a rising Wurlitzer organ salvaged from the Paramount/Odeon cinema on Oxford St, Manchester, a huge mirrorball and excellent barrelled ceiling, this, as pointed out by the brilliantly business-minded tour guides, would make a great wedding/civil partnership venue as it has a real wow factor. Stayed in to listen to a bit of the live Wurlitzer gig but after five minutes I have to say I was falling asleep - I clearly like the concept better than the actuality! So I wurled my litzer outta there boyfriend!
Next, the men's toilets. The Victorians built these with as much vim and vigour as everything else. Some fine examples off the top of my ciabatta are the John Rylands Library, Deansgate and some by the River Dee in Chester. They make the dreary act of relief WAY more joyous. Well, these ones had a feature I had not seen before. That's a cistern FOR THE URINALS! Oh yes! Never seen a "see through" one of those before!
Robinson's Brewery things
I've always wanted to tour Robbie's brewery; not only is it MINE (may not be true), but the building is a wondrous victorian monster which dominates the town and is in fine fettle and about to undergo a thrilling-sounding expansion which will still retain all its charm. Well, unfortunately that wasn't happening over the heritage open days, however, I got an excellent free lunch courtesy of them in the form of Old Tom MEAT Pie. This consisted of MEAT soaked in that multiple world beer award-winning, treacle-like elixir. Very yummity and just what I needed after a hard morning's civic-erection wandering. In addition, I got a lovely chat with my auntie, sorry a Robinson's breweeeewie type lady and some samples of Old Tom (actually quite nice in a cough syrup style quantity) and the little-seen CHOCOLATE Tom (extremely loveable, nice surprise!).
Air Raid Shelter
This is open year-round but has a £4-ish admission charge. Thus I'd not been. Well, it is not really that great, unfortunately, only taking half an hour at the most to look round. What made it great was talking to a lady who remembered being in it as a small child. People apparently would travel there in buses and pay to stay as it was the nicest shelter type place to be. Interesting atmosphere but I feel they could and should make more of it in terms of exhibitions and excitement.
The Law Library
Had to get to this place at 11AM on a Sunday as it was only open for one hour! It's tucked away on Kennedy St, very close to the Town Hall. This hidden gem is a private, subscription-funded institution never normally open to the public. The interior was all dark oak, fireplaces, and a lovely church-like feel. In very good nick too. Stood in a group with a few ladies and we talked to one of the librarians who told us quite a bit. A very enjoyable half hour!
Barclays Bank had put on a tour of basically all the banking buildings in the city. Well this was SUPERB. There are so many incredible, moumental buildings, such as the Midland Bank pictured above, which was still in use as HSBC until a few months ago. This particular building was thought too modern-looking to be a bank so the bankers ordered the architect to stick some pillasters at the top at the final second! It's great that many of these wonderful buildings have now found new uses, such as the mind-boggling Atheneum pub at Spring Gardens.
Town Hall
Well I had two tours of this wonderful Victorian Gothic masterpiece, which I have visited many times before for both free and paid events such as crazy theatricals, Italian consulate promo days with free food and drinks, family fun days and history days. Along with my friend Karen, first we had a tour of the hall itself. This involved a gentleman in fine Victorian costume guiding us round the labyrinthine halls and corridors at whirlwind pace. Many of the facts I already knew, like the clever hidden heating systems which use the spiral staircases to allow warm air to circulate, but I still learnt a lot. It really is an astonishingly, eye poppingly spectacular, magical place. Really has to be seen to be believed!
Next we went up the clock tower! Many narrow stairs were involved but getting to see Abel, the grand bell (biggest of 82 bells!) and the incredible panoramic view was by far the best aspect I have seen of Manchester, beating the Hilton, wheel, Shudehill and other car parks (great way to get a totally free and semi-naughty view of any city or town for that matter!) and The Modern. It was unobstructed and we could walk all the way round the incredibly narrow balcony at the top, standing alongside the angels guarding the metropolis.
Naughty logogram footnote: How "Lisa Simpson and Principal Skinner" aka London 2012 Olympics is that amazing Stockport MBC logogram I found?! Fits in with my S+M concentration here but not sure how it is meant to represent Stockport! Any ideas?! Unfortunately I could not find an exciting old design for Manchester!
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