Bricks & Water Heritage Tours - Alexatours

16/03/2026

Salford tours for 2026 are up and running
Bridgewater Canal Guided Tours
Visit Salford
Visit Manchester
British Guild of Tourist Guides
What's On Manchester

21/12/2025

Walter Greenwood was a novelist and playwright born in Salford in 1903 and is most famous for his first novel, ‘Love on the Dole’. His father, Thomas, died from alcoholism when Walter was nine years old, and from the age of 13, he had many poorly paid jobs such as a pawnbroker's assistant and a clerk until he decided to be a writer during a spell of unemployment. He spent 10 years observing and perfecting his craft, so that his work truly ‘mirrored the terrible conditions of the old industrial city of Salford in which he was born.’

‘Love on the Dole’ was initially written on strips of wallpaper and was finally published in 1933. It was a story about urban poverty based on the area ‘Hanky Park’ in Pendleton where Walter grew up. The novel was an immediate success and conveyed ‘so imaginatively and with such insight the tragedy of the poor’ that questions were even asked in Parliament. Greenwood based the novel on real life characters so that a contemporary remarked that ‘a true Salfordian could have lived through that book.’ ‘Love on the Dole’ was quickly adapted for the theatre before becoming a film starring Deborah Kerr in 1941. In 1970, it even reappeared as a musical!

After his success with Love on the Dole, Greenwood wrote more novels and short stories, film and television scripts. He was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the University of Salford in 1971, and died in Douglas, Isle of Man on 11th September 1974.

There are many beautiful copies of his works, biographical works and reviews from critics and contemporaries in the library's archive. There is even a score from a musical production!

The image that accompanies this story is from The Cleft Stick by Walter Greenwood, which features illustration by Arthur Wragg.

08/10/2025

07/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17LW6cWZfx/

30/04/2025

30/04/2025

Fabulous

21/03/2025

I'm not usually interested in stamps but I saw the newest issue today.
Later this month the Royal Mail launches Myths & Legends stamp collection based on UK folklore:
Designed by Adam Simpson they include:
• The Loch Ness Monster
• Cornish piskies
• Blodeuwedd from the Mabinogion
• Beowulf & Grendel
• Grindylow
• Black Shuck
• Selkie
• Fionn mac Cumhaill

I'm focusing on ' Grindylows' as they're local...

In English folklore, Grindylow or Grundylow is a creature in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.The name is thought to be connected to Grendel, a name or term used in Beowulf and in many Old English charters where it is seen in connection with meres, bogs and lakes.

Grindylows are supernatural creatures that appear in the folklore of England, most notably the Lancaster area. They are described as diminutive humanoids with scaly skin, a greenish complexion, sharp claws and teeth, and long, wiry arms with lengthy fingers at the end. They dwell in ponds and marshes waiting for unsuspecting children, which they grab with their shockingly strong grip, and then drag under the surface of the waters.

Mentioned in Harry Potter
""Ah. Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a grindylow for our next lesson."
— Remus Lupin to Harry Potter

And Newt Scamander had several Grindylows in his suitcase during his travels to New York in 1926

20/03/2025

Fascinating

19/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1U3Pyg3rA5/

06/12/2024

Stuck for a gift for that history mad person in your life...
Look no further

A history lecture and virtual architectural visit to Windsor Castle, St Georges Chapel, Windsor town and Eton.Plan your trip for 2025 or learn more about the oldest inhabited Castle in the world, the Royal collection and its important residents.Words from past students:"Al...

08/11/2024

If you're interested in Cumbrian churches look at this

https://open.substack.com/pub/hefted/p/hefted-newsletter-5-november-2024?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=989bk

And learning more about churches generally
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/159PaRKq2S/

Despatches from Cumbria and the Lake District, from the team at Countrystride and Inspired by Lakeland