heaton hall tours

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12-feb-2023, the secrets of heaton hall and park.

‘Heaton (Hall), the seat of Lord Grey de Wilton, about four miles from Manchester, is beautifully situated on an eminence in a rich park. This truly elegant seat was built from a design of Wyatt.’ John Aitken, 1795.

James Wyatt was one of the great architects of his day and Heaton Hall is one of his masterworks. It’s been described as ‘the finest house of its period in Lancashire and one of the finest in the country’. This tour includes a rare visit inside the house where guests will see stunning interiors that mix elegance, opulence and drama waiting for life (and tours, of course, to return). The circular Cupola Room will make jaws drop.

The tour takes in the park too with its fantastic features animating the exciting undulating landscape. We’ll also take a look at some of the following, the Dower House, the Stables, the tramway, the boating lake and even the reconstructed façade of Manchester’s original town hall whilst also taking in the superb views from the highest point in the city, the Temple. The park is 640 acres in size so we might not get round all of these on every tour but we’ll do our best.

Then there are the stories too. Heaton Park has a history as rich and extensive as the place itself. Guests will hear tales of the owners, the Earls of Wilton, of Fanny Kemble and the Duke of Wellington visiting in 1830, of ‘the world’s first DJ’, William Grimshaw, of Pope John Paul II’s visit and huge gigs from the likes of the Stone Roses.

There’ll be loads of stories about everyday visitors too, for Heaton Park is truly the ‘people’s park’ and has been since 1902 when it was bought by Manchester Corporation, now City Council.

Guests will be surprised and delighted by what these tours reveal. That’s a guarantee, even for visitors who thought they knew Heaton Park very well.

The tours will take place every Wednesday and Sunday at 11am from 11 August. Meet ten minutes before the tour outside The Stables cafe, main entrance.

£15 adults. £12 concessions students, people with disabilities, 60+ in full time retirement, or registered unemployed), under 10s free.

Meet: Outside The Stables café main entrance. ​Booking ahead is advisable.

Heaton Hall

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Heaton Hall - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
• (0.55 mi) Premier Inn Manchester (Heaton Park) hotel
• (1.49 mi) Premier Inn Manchester (Prestwich) hotel
• (4.00 mi) Dakota Manchester
• (3.78 mi) Stock Exchange Hotel
• (3.83 mi) The Cow Hollow Hotel
• (0.53 mi) Heaton Park Beefeater
• (1.33 mi) Istanbul Grill Prestwich
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• (0.60 mi) Mr Ali's
• (1.84 mi) Campo Blanco - Whitefield's Tapas Bar

Heaton Hall & Park Tour: Glorious interiors and glorious landscape

Heaton Hall & Park Tour: Glorious interiors and glorious landscape. at Heaton Park , Manchester 1 August 2021 — 31 July 2022 Tickets from £12 — Book now

Heaton Hall is one of Manchester’s architectural masterworks. It has previously been described as ‘the finest house of its period in Lancashire and one of the finest in the country’. You can now take a tour of the house and its surrounding gardens in which you’ll get a rare glimpse inside the house, where you can see stunning interiors that exude elegance, opulence and drama. A particular highlight is the circular Cupola Room.

Outside the main house you can also visit the Dower House, Stables, Tramway and Boating Lake. This small part of the city is so well preserved and offers a look into Manchester’s past, from a perspective we don’t often see. In an era where growth and development seems to be taking over, it’s good to remind ourselves how far we’ve already come. During the tour you’ll also have chance to take in the superb views from the highest point in the city, the Temple. The park is 640 acres in size so tours will vary depending on a particular group’s needs.

Heaton Hall was the manor of Lord and Lady Grey and their history of war, societal change and the lifestyle of the elites is littered with fascinating tales. Some of which you’ll hear as you make your way through the park.

Since 1902 the park has been preserved, used and loved by everyday people. There are plenty of stories from the public’s time with the park that will have you developing a fondness for green wonderland yourself.

The guides are professional, fully qualified Blue Badge or Green Badge guides led by Jonathan Schofield .

Heaton Hall & Park Tour: Glorious interiors and glorious landscape. at Heaton Park , Manchester 1 August 2021 — 31 July 2022 Tickets from £12 Book now

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FORGOTTEN MANCHESTER: The history of Heaton Hall

From The Hallé Orchestra to Winston Churchill, Heaton Hall has seen it all

While Manchester’s Heaton Park is known best these days for hosting the annual (and very rowdy) Park Life festival, it actually holds a rich and fascinating history thanks to the prestigious Heaton Hall.

Located in the centre of the 600 acre park, Heaton Hall has long been a popular attraction to visitors wanting to absorb themselves in Prestwich’s history, with architecture fans in particular flocking to see the the original Etruscan architecture of the building that has managed to stand the test of time.

The architect behind Heaton Hall was James Wyatt, a man known by many in his time as one of the country’s leading Gothic Revival architects.

He designed the hall for Sir Thomas Egerton, who recruited Wyatt in 1772 after deciding he needed a more ‘fashionable, tasteful and up-to-date’ place to live after inheriting a plain mid-C18 house made of brick, three storeys and seven bays.

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Manchester History

Heaton Hall was designed with a painstakingly close attention to detail, and came complete with a number of specific features, such as a smaller library area reserved for the ladies.

The completion of the hall took place at a very gradual pace, with the central block and West Wing being completed in 1778, and the East Wing nearly a decade later in 1789.

Cleverly, the colonnaded wings mean that all the rooms are connected, making it easy for guests to pass through (ideal for the many parties Sir Egerton was prone to throwing).

Read More: FORGOTTEN MANCHESTER: The city’s other abandoned Victorian swimming baths

And as well as containing some unique features for its time, Heaton Hall also hosted some famous faces over the years, too; during its time as a country home, especially under the Egerton family, prominent individuals were known to gather and be entertained, including the likes of Charles Hallé, from The Hallé Orchestra.

It also has a loose connection to the late Winston Churchill; in 1916, the then 6th Earl of Wilton, Seymour Edward Egerton proposed marriage to Churchill’s first cousin, Clare Sheridan.

Clare, who was ten years his senior, later got cold feet however, and dumped him to marry another aristocrat. Like I said, a loose connection to Churchill, but a connection all the same.

By the late 19th century, the hall was no longer used as a family home after being sold off by the Egerton family and, in turn, faced an uncertain future.

But it was all thanks to the goodwill of the public that a pressure group was formed, including the antiquary – and namesake of Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury – Alderman Fletcher Moss—persuading Manchester City Council to purchase the Grade I listed building as a museum and parkland when it went up for sale in 1902.

And today, Heaton Hall stands tall and gives Mancunians a glimpse into life in the 18th and 19th centuries, with much of its original design and decor remaining to this very day.

Visitors can tour staterooms like the dining room, music room, library and an Etruscan room. For more information and directions to Heaton Hall, visit the Manchester City Council website.

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Remembering Manchester’s lost underground market that now lies empty beneath the city

Do you have memories of shopping in the underground Market Centre?

Manchester used to have an underground market that now lies abandoned beneath the city centre.

If you walk along Market Street, you’re walking above what used to be the Market Centre – an underground shopping area filled with stalls and units selling music, clothes and a variety of other essential and non-essential items.

The underground Market Centre opened in 1972 and was a busy and bustling shopping emporium, much like the Arndale and Market Street both are today.

Punks would shop there for outfits, music fans could browse through the vinyl record shops and buy tickets to gigs at Piccadilly Box Office. It even had a Stolen from Ivor – which was the first place in Manchester to sell the jeans brand Levi’s, and where many would flock to get their hands on a pair of 501s.

Fashion addicts could hit up shops including Roxy, Oasis and Justins as well as a number of other boutique stalls, including the leather shop, for cool jackets.

DJs could sift through the collections at Underground Records Import and fans could shop at iconic music stalls including Collectors Records, Yvonne’s Record Stall, and the Spinn Inn Disc Centre.

The Market Centre was the place to be throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s until it closed down in 1989.

The entrance to it was located on Brown Street, with two other entrances on Norfolk Street and Spring Gardens. It  had escalators going down under the pavement that led to this total treasure trove.

If you head to the Tesco on Market Street and go down  to the lower level, you’re actually in what used to be part of the underground market.

But now it has fallen into disrepair, with the odd urban explorer who has dared to delve into the depth of the city to see what remains of this now eerie, decaying ghost market.

One explorer, known as Urban Sherman on YouTube, went down to have a look at what’s left of these once bustling underground stalls. Finding a way into where the old main entrance was located, down by the side of Tesco behind the food trailer, he climbs in and lands on the old steps with tiled walls.

As torches light up the dark depths of the city, we can see wires hanging, rubble strewn across the floor, graffiti on walls and one rusty sign that reads: “factory prices.”

It appears a wall of breeze blocks has been put up to block off any entry along the halls of the former market with the rest of it inaccessible, only to live on in the memories of those who once shopped there, and in old archived photographs.

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The legendary nightclubs that Mancunians would most like to bring back

Remember any of these?

We asked our readers which nightclubs that no longer exist they would choose to bring back – and we got some great answers.

If you could choose just one, which would it be?

Here’s a list of former nightclubs that people would love to see return, as chosen by Proper Manchester readers .

The Boardwalk

The Boardwalk was a nightclub based on Little Peter Street in Manchester which was open from 1986 to 1999. It was a multi-floor nightclub, gig venue and rehearsal complex all in one.

It’s where Oasis played their first ever gig in 1992 and saw many notable bands that were a part of the Madchester music scene, including the likes of Inspiral Carpets, Doves, Happy Mondays, James and more. These days, it’s used as an office space.

There’s a blue plaque bolted to the wall which reads: “Remember me. I was something once.” It has a yellow smiley face in a nod to the Madchester acid house era.

Club Phoenix

Located on University Precinct, on Oxford Road, this sweatbox of a student dive would have music blaring on different nights, playing everything from indie bangers to dance classics and everything in between.

It was a scream club filled with young students looking for cheap drinks and cheap thrills too. There were plenty of messy drunken shenanigans. Being close to the Academy, it would be a great place for the young ‘uns to go for pre-gig bevvies.

The New Continental Club

The New Continental Club was on Harter Street, Manchester and opened in 1967 . It was affectionately known as The Conti. It closed in 2001 and became The Tube nightclub, which has also since closed.

Many nurses and frontline emergency services workers frequented The Conti and many say they experienced some of the best nights out of their lives. 

The narrow staircase would lead down to the basement club, food would be served through a hatch and the queues to the toilets could be as long as your arm – they were pretty minging too.

Discotheque Royales

Built in 1845, the building was originally made to be an amphitheatre. But in 1921 it was changed into a cinema after facing stiff competition from the Palace Theatre and Opera House.

After being used as a bingo hall, the historic landmark then became one of Manchester’s most iconic nightclubs known by most as ‘Royales’, since 1989. In later years it went on to become Infinity and M-Two but Royales was legendary throughout the ‘90s.

Inside, it had many levels and a huge dance floor that was meant to look like it was lit up under a huge chandelier. With long draped velvet curtains, lights and reflective mirrors everywhere, it was party central.

DJ Brutus Gold held Love Train nights there until the show moved to the Ritz in 2000.

Fifth Avenue

This club started out as Legend, which  became known as Manchester’s ‘other club’ during the ‘80s and the height of the Hacienda era, and saw top DJs who also played nights at Wigan Pier.

When it became Fifth Ave it was transformed into an indie music haven. As revellers walked down into the dingy basement and the whiff of cheap bleach in the air would hit them in the face, some of the best tunes from Manchester bands would be blasting, as partygoers walked straight across the sticky floor to the bar where they’d order a drink served in a plastic cup.

Club-goers soon got to know that if you went up to request a song from the DJ, it wouldn’t get played. In later years, it became known simply as Fifth, after owners tried a bit of a refresh.

But as the pandemic hit, the club sat empty and shuttered, and sadly never to return as it closed for good in 2021.

Twisted Wheel Club

It quickly became a Manchester institution after opening in the ‘60s, attracting mods across the North looking for somewhere to dance all night to rhythm and blues.

Before Twisted Wheel, clubs would play mainstream popular music. This Manchester establishment was groundbreaking and paved the way for how nightclubs would play different music genres to suit various tastes in the future.

Twisted Wheel, based on Swan Street, was a legendary haven for Northern Soul enthusiasts. It closed for a while in 1971, being renamed Placemate 7, then Follies. The club closed for good in 2021.

Thunderdome

If the Hacienda was too pretentious for you, or you got turned away at the door, there was another legendary Madchester club playing all the great acid house music buzzing dancers wanted to rave the night away to – it was called the Thunderdome.

Located at 255 Oldham Road, this club was all about the music. It was edgier, full of all walks of life and was even home to some of Manchester’s criminal underworld. Many fondly referred to it as the ‘Dome.

Initially, although it felt a bit dangerous, nobody wanted any trouble, they just wanted to get off their trolley and enjoy the music. But over the years there were police raids and even helicopters circling the club as well as undercover officers wearing yellow smiley face T-shirts mingling in amongst the hooligans, gang members and just generally dodgy people.

Unfortunately, its rough reputation has stuck with it to this day, while the Hacienda is remembered most as the epicentre of the Madchester acid house scene. The Thunderdome was demolished in 2010 but its legend lives on in the memories of retired ravers and on tribute Facebook groups.

Travel back in time through Manchester in the ‘90s with these 30 photos

Fashion shows, bombings, Maine Road, buses, cars, the Metrolink and the Hacienda…

Here’s 30 nostalgic photographs of what Manchester looked like in the 1990s.

The city centre has changed a lot over the decades, which probably comes as no surprise with the amount of construction going on – it’s changing by the day.

But as the years go by and buildings you once knew are torn down and replaced with new apartments or office blocks, it’s left to your grainy memory of how places used to look and the times you may have once had there.

The nineties was a great era for music in Manchester and saw the birth of bands including Oasis, The Doves and Take That. It was the decade of hope after the recession of the 1980s, but there were ups and downs also.

On April 1st 1990 prisoners in Strangeways (now HMP Manchester) took control of its chapel, and quickly spread throughout most of the prison to begin a riot which lasted 25 days.

Hundreds of inmates got up onto the roof, with the incident claiming the life of one prisoner and injuring 147 prison officers and 47 prisoners. 

The riot was followed by similar disturbances at other prisons across the country and sparked a conversation about reform for prison conditions.

The decade was also blighted by the IRA bomb of 1996. The Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated a 1,500-kilogram lorry bomb on Corporation Street on June 15th.  

It was the biggest bomb detonated in Great Britain since the Second World War, injuring 212 innocent people and causing £700 million worth of damage to the city centre.

The event kick-started the regeneration and modernisation of the city which has evolved into the Manchester we know and love today.

The city already began planning on improvements as part of its campaign to hold the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. However, the bid was ultimately unsuccessful and Manchester was beaten to it by Sydney, with Beijing coming in as runner-up.

But Manchester did go on to hold the 2002 Commonwealth Games, with The Commonwealth Games Stadium becoming the new home of Manchester City after the club vacated Maine Road – which was then demolished and turned into new homes.

The Hacienda, which opened in 1982, became the nightclub at the forefront of the acid house scene. The club was owned by record label Factory Records and was famous for playing a major part in the Madchester movement.

Unfortunately, the club gained a reputation for drug use and after enjoying its heyday throughout the best part of the ‘90s, it fell victim to crime issues and financial troubles which eventually led to its closure in 1997.

The club was subsequently demolished and replaced by apartments.

The newly built Trafford Centre opened in 1998, the year after the film Titanic was released, which its themed food court paid homage to. Since then, Trafford Park has transformed from the derelict marshlands it once was and into a centre of retail, leisure and entertainment.

Manchester United were the most successful football team of the city during this era, and the club won numerous domestic and international titles under manager Alex Ferguson.

David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes were just some of the players who played for United during the club’s golden era – playing in the newly formed Premier League, which was founded in 1992.

For the first time in English football history the Reds secured the Treble in 1999 – the League, FA Cup and Champions League.

Meanwhile, the Blue side of Manchester – Man City – went through many ups and downs. In 1998 City were relegated to the third tier of the English Football League. The club regained promotion to the top tier in 2001-02 and have remain in the Premier League since.

Manchester was once home to the iconic Strangeways Boddingtons Brewery, which owned pubs throughout the North West. 

The brand was best known for its ‘Boddies’ – a straw-golden, hoppy bitter which was one of the first beers to be packaged in cans containing a widget, giving it a creamy draught-style head.

In the 1990s, the beer was promoted as The Cream of Manchester in a popular advertising campaign credited with raising Manchester’s profile. Model and actress Melanie Sykes was the Boddington’s girl star of the ads, which saw her take a swig of a pint and say ‘by ‘eck’, with a creamy moustache.

The brewery shut down in February 2005 and its workers clocked off their final ever shift, never to return, following its 227-year history.

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The £5 million repair of Heaton Hall is now complete – and you can book a tour

"This amazing heritage asset has been painstakingly worked on to protect and preserve its unique architectural features and restore it to its former glory."

The latest phase of £5 million repair works to the historic Heaton Hall have now officially been completed, and tours will begin next month.

Standing as one of a very few Grade I listed buildings nationally, and designed in 1772 by esteemed architect James Wyatt, Heaton Hall is undoubtedly one of the North West’s most important heritage assets, yet despite this, has remained on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ list for many years.

To help preserve the building, Heaton Hall received key funding support from Historic England and Manchester City Council to ensure the building is protected in the future and to complete essential maintenance works.  

It has since undergone five phases of essential maintenance works.

The previous four phases have consisted of work including repairs to the east and west wings, replacement of the windows and shutters, and fixing the roof of the Orangery to protect the Hall, and the most-recent phase has consisted of ongoing maintenance repair works including the replacement of recently-broken windows, rendering repairs, and internal repair work on the first floor.

Maintenance and ongoing repairs were started over three years ago, and have now been completed to help protect the architectural gem for future generations, according to Manchester City Council.

The current works are now complete and further maintenance will take place in the future.

Now that all the maintenance work has been complete for the time being, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the popular walking tours of the building and its impressive grounds will resume, so people can see the repairs in all their glory.

The Friends of Heaton Park will conduct free monthly guided tours for groups to enjoy throughout the year, with the 2022 dates being:  

• Sunday 10 April  
• Sunday 8 May
• Sunday 19 June
• Sunday 10 July
• Sunday 14 August
• Saturday 10 September
• Sunday 11 September

And on top of those tours, there’s also the chance for people to book guided tours around the Hall conducted by the extremely-knowledgable Blue Badge Guide Jonathan Schofield, which take place on every second Sunday.

Heaton Hall isn’t the only thing to have received a bit of TLC either, as according to Manchester City Council, Manchester’s flagship Heaton Park has also benefited from “major improvement works” that will help maintain the much-loved green space and cultural attractions.

Over the past five years, the Council says it has been refashioning aspects of the park in a sustainable way to help ensure accessibility and to further enhance the setting of the Hall and make the Grade I building “a fitting focal point of the wider park landscape.”

Improvements include the planting of trees, the provision of new toilets in the park, creating wider entrances, the resurfacing of main paths, and installing 23 new benches.

Speaking on the £5 million repair works to Heaton Hall, Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar – Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council – said: “As custodians of Heaton Hall, the Council takes its responsibility to ensure it is properly looked after very seriously, and we can’t wait to give the public the chance to see all the work that has been done inside this remarkable building.”

“This amazing heritage asset has been painstakingly worked on to protect and preserve its unique architectural features and restore it to its former glory,” he added. 

“Heaton Hall, and its surrounding park, are really valued by people in Manchester and far beyond and these last couple of years have shown us all how valuable these spaces are to communities,” added Catherine Dewar, North West Regional Director at Historic England.

“The hall is one of a tiny proportion of buildings across England to be listed at Grade I, which is reserved for buildings of the highest significance.  

“Working closely with Manchester City Council since 2015, Historic England has provided advice and £758,000 in grants to get to this point, and we’re thrilled that locals and visitors will soon be able to get inside this North Manchester heritage gem once again.”

You can find more information on tours via Friends of Heaton Hall on Facebook , or by visiting tour guide Jonathan Schofield’s website here

Featured Image – Jonathan Schofield Tours

Three teenage boys are in custody on suspicion of murder in the ongoing investigation into the death of Prince Walker in Moss Side.

The 17-year-old boy was stabbed on Raby Street on Thursday 4 April and tragically died a short time later in hospital.

This morning, Greater Manchester Police made three arrests following early-morning warrants.

Detectives have also executed a number of property searches and warrants as part of the investigation.

Teams are working to establish a timeline of events leading up to the fatal stabbing.

Three 16-year-old boys remain in custody.

The family of Prince Walker are being supported by Family Liaison Officers and are being kept updated throughout the murder investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “This remains a shocking and tragic case, our investigation is moving at pace, and we are working relentlessly to capture a picture of what happened in the events leading up to Prince’s death last week.

“Our complex and wide-ranging investigation continues and the arrests made today are a huge step forward for us as we continue to conduct numerous house and premises searches.”

Greater Manchester Police has described Prince’s murder as a ‘tragic and senseless loss of life’.

Anyone with any information should contact police on 101 quoting incident number 2280 of 4/4/24.

Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Featured image: GMP

The Government is to launch a study into headlight glare after thousands of drivers complain of being “dazzled”.

Following on from a petition that amassed over 13,000 signatures , and adding to the urgent calls for action by the RAC , after the motor company ‘s survey of 2,000 drivers found that a huge nine in 10 (89%) think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are too bright, the UK Government has confirmed it will commission an independent study into headlight glare.

The RAC has been surveying drivers on dazzling headlights since all the way back in 2018, but these new findings have revealed that 85% of Brits believe it’s more common than ever before.

Of the drivers who complained about the brightness of car headlights, some 91% said they get “dazzled” when driving.

Three quarters (74%) of survey respondents claimed so-called ‘dazzling’ happens regularly.

Responding to  the petition  – which was set up by a member of the public, following the campaigning on the issue by the RAC – the Department for Transport (DfT) said: “The Government has taken action internationally to address concerns raised about headlamp glare.

But recognising the need for further evidence regarding headlight glare, we intend to commission independent research.”

The Government says the independent research will begin “shortly”, although that’s the extent on timeframes given, so it’s unclear and unconfirmed at this point when the study will start.

The RAC has praised the Government for its intent to take action.

Do you think headlights on some cars are too bright? 😵‍💫 91% of drivers told us they get dazzled while driving, and two thirds believe headlight glare could cause an accident ⚠️ https://t.co/Cawe91BEvf — The RAC (@TheRAC_UK) January 11, 2024

Over to you 🗳️ How often do you find yourself getting dazzled by other drivers, and what do you do to avoid it? Let us know below 👇 — The RAC (@TheRAC_UK) January 11, 2024

“The fact the Government has listened to drivers’ concerns and heeded our calls to examine the complex issue of headlight glare in more detail marks a real turning point,” commented RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis.

“The topic has undoubtedly struck a chord with motorists up and down the country, and many people contacting us directly to call for something to be done.”

Mr Dennis said the study provides the Government with a “golden opportunity”.

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He continued: “An independent study provides a golden opportunity for the Government and industry to get to the bottom of the problem, and identify the factors involved to map out a way forward.”

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Heaton Hall in Manchester

Tour a spectacular english country house.

Heaton Hall is a stunning 18th-century country house that was the family seat of the Egerton family. The home is set in Heaton Park and offers tours of the home and grounds, all with period furnishings and decor. The heritage house is regarded as one of the finest houses of its period in Lancashire.

Many people come to Heaton Hall to get a glimpse into life in the 18th and early-19th centuries. The attraction is suitable for families with children and anyone interested in history, culture, architecture and fine and decorative arts.

Heaton Hall in Manchester - one of the highlights of 12 Best Things to Do in Manchester (Read all about Manchester here)

Highlights of Heaton Hall

Heaton Hall is an architectural marvel that’s constructed of sandstone and stuccoed brick in a Palladian design. The grounds are elaborately landscaped to allow for sweeping views of the countryside.

Inside, you can tour staterooms like the dining room, music room, library and an Etruscan room. Each room is furnished with period materials and designs, including an 18th-century chamber organ, decorative paintings and ornate plasterwork. One of the main highlights is the Cupola, which was originally a dressing room, designed in Pompeiian style with a domed ceiling and mirrored walls that’s one of the few left of its kind in Britain.

Good to know when visiting Heaton Hall

Heaton Hall is free to visit and offers self-guided tours to see all the rooms. Be sure to arrive early to ensure you’re able to tour the home if there are long queues. Due to the historic nature of the home, the number of visitors in the home at one time is limited.

After seeing Heaton Hall, you’ll find a lot more to see and do in Heaton Park. The park has other landmarks, such as the ornamental Temple landmark designed by James Wyatt and the Dower House, which is now home to the Manchester and District Beekeepers Association and its observation hive, apiary and displays.

Location: Heaton Park, Prestwich, Manchester, Greater Manchester M25 9WL, UK

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Heaton Hall £5 million repair works completed and tours to begin in April

• Tuesday 8 March 2022

More Articles

The latest phase of repairs to the magnificent Grade I Listed Heaton Hall, which is situated within Heaton Park, North Manchester, have been completed. Tours around the Hall will begin in April.

Heaton Hall – one of the North West’s most important heritage assets – has received key funding support from Historic England and Manchester City Council to ensure the building is protected in the future and to complete essential maintenance works.  

The Grade I listed property - which is one of very few Grade I listed buildings nationally - has been on Historic England’s At Risk list for many years. The Hall, designed in 1772 by esteemed architect James Wyatt, has undergone five phases of essential maintenance works. The previous four phases have consisted of work including: repairs to the east and west wings; replacement of the windows and shutters and fixing the roof of the Orangery to protect the Hall.  

The current phase, phase five, consists of on-going maintenance repair works including the replacement of recently broken windows, rendering repairs, and internal repair work on the first floor.  Maintenance and ongoing repairs were started over 3 years ago and have now been completed to help protect the architectural gem for future generations. The current works are now complete and further maintenance will take place in the future.

The Friends of Heaton Park will conduct free, monthly guided tours on for groups to enjoy.

The dates are:  

Sunday 10 April  

Sunday 8 May

Sunday 19 June

Sunday 10 July

Sunday 14 August

Saturday 10 September

Sunday 11 September

There will be also be charged, guided tours around the Hall on every second Sunday conducted by Blue Badge Guide Jonathan Schofield.  

Manchester's flagship Heaton Park – along with the iconic Heaton Hall – has also benefited from major improvement works that will help maintain one of the city’s best-loved green spaces and most popular cultural attractions.

Recently, 18 English oak trees have been planted in Heaton Park, on either side of the tram track near the Middleton Road entrance as part of the £1m Tree Action MCR programme, funded by Manchester City Council.  

Over the past five years the Council has been refashioning aspects of the park in a sustainable way to help ensure accessibility and to further enhance the setting of the Hall and make the Grade I building a fitting focal point of the wider park landscape.  Improvements include the provision of new toilets in the park; creating wider entrances; the resurfacing of main paths and installing 23 new benches.  

 Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said:

 “As custodians of Heaton Hall, the Council takes its responsibility to ensure it is properly looked after very seriously, and we can't wait to give the public the chance to see all the work that has been done inside this remarkable building.

 "With its initial restoration now complete the Hall is once again the magnificent centrepiece - the crowning jewel - of our magnificent park, and we hope it will continue to delight and inspire local residents and visitors to the city for generations to come."  

 "In partnership with Historic England this amazing heritage asset has been painstakingly worked on to protect and preserve its unique architectural features and restore it to its former glory.”  

Catherine Dewar, Historic England’s North West Regional Director, said:

“Heaton Hall, and its surrounding park, are really valued by people in Manchester and far beyond and these last couple of years have shown us all how valuable these spaces are to communities.  The hall is one of a tiny proportion of buildings across England to be listed at Grade I, which is reserved for buildings of the highest significance.  

“Working closely with the City Council since 2015, Historic England has provided advice and £758,000 in grants to get to this point and we’re thrilled that locals and visitors will soon be able to get inside this North Manchester heritage gem once again.”

 For information on the Friends of Heaton Park and their tours:   https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofHeatonHall/

 For more information on the Jonathan Schofield tours please visit:  https://www.jonathanschofieldtours.com/

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Tours of Heaton Hall to begin in April after £5 million repair works

The 18th century country house in Heaton Park underwent a major refurbishment

• 13:10, 8 MAR 2022
• Updated 18:42, 8 MAR 2022

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The latest phase of repairs to the magnificent Grade I Listed Heaton Hall, which is situated within Heaton Park , North Manchester, have been completed. Tours around the Hall will be taking place from April. Heaton Hall – one of the North West’s most important heritage assets – has received key funding support from Historic England and Manchester City Council to ensure the building is protected in the future and, to complete essential maintenance works.

The Grade I listed property - which is one of very few Grade I listed buildings nationally - has been on Historic England’s At Risk list for many years. The Hall, designed in 1772 by esteemed architect James Wyatt, has undergone five phases of maintenance works.

READ MORE: Take a look behind the scenes inside Heaton Hall as work on £800k revamp continues

The previous four phases have consisted of work including: repairs to the east and west wings; replacement of the windows and shutters and, fixing the roof of the Orangery to protect the Hall.

The current phase, phase five, consists of on-going maintenance repair works including the replacement of recently broken windows, rendering repairs, and repair work on the first floor. Maintenance and repairs were started over 3 years ago and have now been completed to help protect the architectural gem for future generations.

The current works are now complete and further maintenance will take place in the future. The Friends of Heaton Park will conduct free, monthly guided tours for groups to enjoy.

There will be also be charged, guided tours around the Hall on every second Sunday conducted by Blue Badge Guide Jonathan Schofield.

The dates are:

• Sunday 10 April
• Sunday 8 May
• Sunday 19 June
• Sunday 10 July
• Sunday 14 August
• Saturday 10 September
• Sunday 11 September

READ MORE: Heaton Hall's Orangery is nearly ready to reopen - but it needs an investor

READ MORE: An open-air mass at Heaton Park and the Popemobile on Manchester's streets in 1982

Heaton Park – along with Heaton Hall – has also benefited from major improvement works. Recently, 18 English oak trees have been planted in the park, on either side of the tram track near the Middleton Road entrance as part of the £1m Tree Action MCR programme , funded by Manchester City Council. Over the past five years, the Council has been refashioning aspects of the park in a sustainable way to help ensure accessibility and to make the Grade I building a fitting focal point of the wider park landscape. Improvements include the provision of new toilets in the park; creating wider entrances; the resurfacing of main paths and installing 23 new benches.

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “As custodians of Heaton Hall, the Council takes its responsibility to ensure it is properly looked after very seriously. We can't wait to give the public the chance to see all the work that has been done inside this remarkable building. "With its initial restoration now complete the Hall is once again the magnificent centrepiece - the crowning jewel - of our magnificent park, and we hope it will continue to delight and inspire residents and visitors to the city for generations to come. "In partnership with Historic England, this amazing heritage asset has been painstakingly worked on to protect and preserve its unique architectural features and restore it to its former glory.”

READ MORE: The Nickelodeon Experience is coming to Heaton Park this summer with Paw Patrol, Henry Danger, Blue's Clues and more

READ MORE: You can now get afternoon tea in the lakeside domes in Heaton Park

Catherine Dewar, Historic England’s North West Regional Director, said: “Heaton Hall, and its surrounding park, are really valued by people in Manchester and far beyond and these last couple of years have shown us all how valuable these spaces are to communities.

"The hall is one of a tiny proportion of buildings across England to be listed at Grade I, which is reserved for buildings of the highest significance.

“Working closely with the City Council since 2015, Historic England has provided advice and £758,000 in grants to get to this point and we’re thrilled that locals and visitors will soon be able to get inside this North Manchester heritage gem once again.”

For information on the Friends of Heaton Park and their tours, visit https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofHeatonHall/ .

For more information on the Jonathan Schofield tours, visit: https://www.jonathanschofieldtours.com/heaton-hall-and-park-tour.html .

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