The new Radcliffe Manor heritage trail will be showcased to local residents during national Heritage Open Days weekend (8
The Friends of Radcliffe Manor will be offering tours around the new trail on Saturday 10 Sep, at 11am and 1pm, starting from the cabin at Close Park.
These will highlight the new information panels, the website, a new booklet and the landscaping work around the Tower. St Mary’s Church will also be open with historic displays inside.
This follows the official opening of the trail on Friday 9 Sep by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Mike Connolly. This will include a ‘thank you’ event for the sponsors of the project, notably the Heritage Lottery Fund and WREN (a landfill credits-funded environmental body).
Radcliffe Tower was at the centre of the historic settlement known as the Manor of Radcliffe and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. The current town centre was originally known as Radcliffe Bridge.
The Tower was, from the 15th Century or earlier, part of a collection of buildings including a Manor House, a Great Hall and St Mary’s church. The tithe barn joined the grouping in the 1600s. Together they all belonged to one of the most important families in England, the de Radclyffes. The tour will highlight this early settlement and later development by the Bealey family.
Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for strategic housing and support services, said: “This weekend is the culmination of a long journey to recognise the importance of the Tower and its surroundings. Residents have campaigned since the 1960s for the site to be acquired by the council and improved. Thanks to work by the council, Salford University, a host of volunteers and funding from the HLF and WREN, we now have a Scheduled Ancient Monument site conserved, the footprints of the historic buildings marked out and an interpretation trail around the site.
“I hope many people will come and see the work that has been done and enjoy this historic site for many generations to come.”
