It was the idea of science student Geoffrey Ashworth who was studying for a doctorate degree at Manchester University. One day he watched as workman uncovered a large hole in the centre of the city to reveal a flowing watercourse.
His fellow students and staff speculated whether it was a sewer, the river Medlock, Shooters brook or perhaps the river Tib.
Geoffrey was motivated to find out more about this mysterious watercourse and thirteen years later after painstaking research he brought out his book, the Lost Rivers of Manchester.
Now the book is to be re-released and updated.It tells the fascinating story of the city’s long forgotten rivers and brooks which have been gradually hidden away in culverts as Manchester expanded and sites were built over.
As well as meticulously tracing the route of the watercourses, the author also interweaves the history of the neighbourhoods they pass through.
We learn the stories of many past landmarks such as the Pomona Gardens and Belle Vue and also the often surprising successes and failures of the well to do families of the big halls and estates which lined the routes as well as other local characters.
Today, most of these underground waterways are only remembered in street names and wall plaques, but Geoffrey Ashworth, who has lived in USA since 1982, hopes that readers will take the time to get out and walk the streets which are associated with the rivers, as well as get to know more about the wonderful history of our great city.
Published November 8th 2023 and available from booksellers or direct from the publishers. Fully illustrated, 100 pages £17.95.”
