Heritage Open Day

Join us at Stretford Public Hall on Saturday 17^th September, for our Heritage Open Day.

We’ll be celebrating the history of our beautiful building and learning about the people and events who have left a lasting legacy on the hall.

Come and explore the hall and learn about its history, while accessing hidden areas like the basement and the clock tower!

We also want to hear your memories of the hall and to see any old photos or mementos you have from events at the hall.

History sessions:

• 1pm: Local resident and historian Bill Mather has been digging deep into the Stretford Local History Society’s Archive and has unearthed some old films of Stretford. Do you remember swimming at Cyprus Street Baths? Were you in the pageant at Longford Park in 1958? What was Chester Road like in the 1960s?
• 2pm: Elizabeth Gow, John Rylands Library – ‘Books and bathing at Stretford Town Hall’. Elizabeth will be giving a talk about Enriqueta Rylands, of Longford Hall. Enriqueta was the founder of the John Rylands Library and helped to develop the library and swimming baths at, what was then, Stretford Town Hall.
• 3pm: Rock against Racism Xmas Party – join us to share your memories of Stretford Civic Theatre’s most notorious gig – the Rock Against Racism Xmas Party. We will be joined by Bernie Wilcox, one of the organisers of the gig, Una Baines, who played as a member of The Fall, as well as Chris Hewitt from Ozit Records, who have recently reissued a recording of The Fall’s set from the night.

There will be a café serving tea and cake all day, and the hall will be open from 12 – 4pm. Free entry.

Photo credit: Bernie Wilcox