Come and join in, it’s absolutely FREE! Here at Social Circle we make it our business to offer you the best of what Manchester has to offer. Our selection of walks enable you to to come along and explore this great city, and meet new people in Manchester along the way.
We name the guilty men (and women): the slave traders, colonialists, warmongers, racists, fascists, plunderers. Yes, even this right-on city’s history was shaped by those on the wrong side of right – and they’re still being honoured, with too many statues, paintings and streets named after the bad guys.
The Duke of Wellington – reactionary bigot who opposed the people having the vote. So he beat off Napoleon? Vive la revolution!
Queen Victoria (statue, Piccadilly Gardens) – vehemently against women having the vote. Wouldn’t elevate a “Jew” to the House of Lords.
The Mosleys: they owned Manchester for 250 years and gave us Mosley Street but also Oswald Mosley, the 1930s fascist leader and his lovely son, Max Mosley, who was so welcoming to “coloured immigrants”.
Why does the Art Gallery feature a painting of Charles, 9th Lord Cathcart, ADC to “Butcher” Cumberland at the Battle of Culloden? Hang it upside down!
Queen Elizabeth Tudor (statue, Albert Square): murderer, slayer of Mary, Queen of Scots.
The Gregs (Greg Buildings on Tib Street) established Quarry Bank Mill – on the backs of the slaves in their sugar plantations on Dominica.
William Gladstone (statue, Albert Square) enjoyed a lavish lifestyle on the back of slavery. Backed the wrong side in the American Civil War.
The tour is led by Ed Glinert, one of the official guides and joint founder of New Manchester Walks.
*Please check website for updated times and meeting points as they are subject to change*