Heritage Open Day!
Join us at Stretford Public Hall on Saturday 17th September, for our Heritage Open Day, 12 till 4pm.
We will be celebrating the history of our beautiful building and learning about the people and event that has left a lasting legacy on 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 with The Fall, and Chris Hewitt from Ozit Records, who have recently reissued a recording of The Fall’s set from the night.
There will be the opportunity to explore the building, as well as previously unseen places such as the basement and clock town!
Our fantastic team of volunteers will be running a cafe where you will be able to purchase tea and cakes, with all proceeds going towards the running and restoration of Stretford Public Hall.
If you have any stories, photos or mementos of the hall from over the years, then we would love for you to share them with us. You can do so by popping into the hall or by emailing us on friends@stretfordpublichall.org.uk
Free Entry
Photo credit: Bernie Wilcox