Wythenshawe Hall is to be transported back in time to the 1940s this summer for a series of events evoking an era of love, life, loss and the birth of modern Wythenshawe.

From Saturday 26 July to Sunday 3 August visitors to the iconic house will be welcomed by The Friends of Wythenshawe Hall, dressed in period costume, for a week of activities that include a pop-up museum, vintage stalls, tea dances, theatre, musical performances and poetry.

The 1940’s themed week at Wythenshawe Hall forms part of an exciting programme taking place in the area for this year’s Wythenshawe Games, a community sporting event inspired by the Olympics.

The games are in their third year and are aiming to beat the previous record of getting 10,000 residents to take part in its fitness and cultural programme.

The first Wythenshawe Games in 2012 saw the formation of the hall’s friends group, who have since helped the building reopen to the public once a month.

During the games, the hall will be featuring a number of events.

Soldier Song” an installation from Quarantine Theatre Company, has been developed over an 18 month period of conversations and questions, it offers an intimate karaoke liaison with a currently serving soldier. In addition to this Quarantine will also offer “Table Manners” in the Courtyard Café, an intimate and temporary encounter between two strangers, who in normal circumstances might never meet.

While working closely with English heritage, Newall Green High School has produced a pop-up museum looking at 1940s Wythenshawe which shows the development of the Wythenshawe estate, and offers people the chance to learn a little about the history of the street where they live and share their memories.

The hall dates from around 1540 when it was built by Robert Tatton of Chester and remained in the Tatton family for six hundred years before being given, along with the surrounding 250 acres of park land,to the city by Lord and Lady Simon in 1926, to be enjoyed ever after by the people of Manchester and beyond.

The Hall served as an art gallery and museum until its closure in 2010 but with the help of the Friends of Wythenshawe Hall volunteer group, which was established in 2012, the Hall is once again open to visitors.

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