A GREAT DAY OUT IN MANCHESTER

The Heritage Society's latest day out was a resounding success.

Entitled "Victorian Manchester" the coach trip included visits to the magnificent Victoria swimming baths - still undergoing restoration, but showing signs of returning to its former glory. Known as Manchester's water palace the spectacular building includes architectural gems like the beautiful stained glass in the Turkish baths and elsewhere - as well as superb tiling and timber work in the entrance hall and in the three swimming baths.

As the visit coincided with one of the regular open days, guides were on hand to take the party on three separate tours of the huge building which included Victorian laundry facilities - and an engineering feat that provided the baths with heating and pumped water from an underground well. The staff laid on other attractions and could not have been more helpful.

Around the corner from the baths, our party then enjoyed an equally fascinating visit to the Victorian home of Elizabeth Gaskell, a building that is also undergoing restoration. This was also a hugely enjoyable and worth-while visit. A guided tour and a video presentation gave a wonderful flavour of the life and times of the great northern novelist.

The Society's day our was rounded off with an excellent visit to the nearby Manchester Museum. This is one of the liveliest museums in the north with superbly presented displays including a wonderful Egyptology section and several floors of fascinating displays covering aspects of man and his environment throughout the world throughout centuries of civilization.

Website links: www.victoriabaths.org.uk and www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Watch out for more "days out" with the Northwich & District Heritage Society in the future.