FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Friday 12th September, 2025, 11am to 3pm - Yellow Brick Road and Stockport Canal,
Gorton Mill House, Gorton Mill House Cafe, Gorton, Manchester, M18 8DU. See details
here.
IWA Open Talks Programme - all talks take place in the Castlefield Hotel, Liverpool
Road, Manchester M3 4JR. The entrance to the hotel is on the side facing towards
Deansgate overlooking the Castlefield outdoor arena.
Pocket Parks and Parklets - These are small areas which members of the public can
identify for protection as green spaces. The “Yellow Brick Road” has been logged
on the BEE network website by MSCS with a further proposal to be submitted for North
Reddish Park. Comments in support of these parks are requested by the website and
your support would be appreciated. Click here to see the BEE Network and Parklet
Consultation Map User Guide, from where you can access the map and give your support.
PAST EVENTS
2025
Sunday 13th July - Gorton Carnival, Debdale Park, 1075 Hyde Road, Manchester, M18
7LJ.
Sunday 27th April - The Manchester Book Fair, The Monastery Manchester, 89 Gorton
Lane, Manchester, M12 5WF.
Monday 14th April - IWA Open Talk - “My Illustrious Namesake And the IWA…”. Peter
Scott.
Sunday 13th April - Gorton and Belle Vue Family Fun Day, The Monastery Manchester,
89 Gorton Lane, Manchester, M12 5WF.
Thursday 27th March - RCHS Walk - Lost Branches of the Ashton Canal, Part 1 (The
Stockport Canal).
Monday 10th March - IWA Open Talk - “Canals in Europe: a glimpse beyond the UK”.
Lisa Zecchin.
Thursday 27th February - RCHS Walk - Exploring Railways of Trafford Park (Part 2).
Monday 10th February - IWA Open Talk - “Construction of the Manchester Ship Canal”.
Judith Atkinson.
Thursday 30th January - RCHS Walk - The Fallowfield Loop Whole Route.
Monday 13th January - IWA Open Talk - “The Lancaster Canal Old Tramway and Bridge”.
Nigel Hardacre.
Saturday 11th January - A talk by Roger Bravey and Graham Burns - “The History and
Restoration of The Manchester & Stockport Canal”.
2024
Monday 16th December - Christmas Social with a Jacob’s Feast.
Monday 11th November - IWA Open Talk - “A Canal Honeymoon 1962”. Roger Butler.
Monday 14th October - IWA Open Talk - “Photographs of the Construction of the Ship
Canal”. Judith Atkinson.
Sunday 22nd September - The Manchester Book Fair, The Monastery Manchester, 89 Gorton
Lane, Manchester, M12 5WF.
Saturday 21st September - Clayton Hall Open Day, Clayton Park, Ashton New Road, Clayton,
Manchester, M11 4RU.
Sunday 15th September - 50 Years Restoration Celebration - Marple Locks Heritage
Open Day, Marple Welcome Station, Marple Locks, Marple, Greater Manchester, SK6 6BN.
Saturday 7th September - Yellow Brick Road and Stockport Canal Heritage Open Day,
Gorton Mill House Cafe, Gorton, Manchester, M18 8DU.
Sunday 14th July - Gorton Carnival, Debdale Park, 1075 Hyde Road, Manchester, M18
7LJ.
Sunday 30th June - Summer Family Fun Day, The Monastery Manchesrter, 89 Gorton Lane,
Manchester, M12 5WF.
Saturday 29th June - Reddish Worker Bee Artisan Market, Broadstone Mill Car Park,
Broadstone Road, Reddish, Stockport, SK5 7DL.
Wednesday 15th May - Friends of the Yellow Brick Road Meetup, Gorton Central, Highmead
Street, Abbey Hey, Manchester, M18 8PE.
Sunday 12th May - The Manchester Book Fair, Gorton Monastery, 89 Gorton Lane, Manchester,
M12 5WF.
Saturday 28th April - Belle Vue Family Fun Day, Gorton Monastery, 89 Gorton Lane,
Manchester, M12 5WF.
Monday 8th April - IWA Open Talk - “Canals Revisited”. Ian MacDonald.
Saturday 16th to Monday 18th March - Great British Spring Clean Litter Picks. Click
here to see the report plus photos from the Fallowfield Loop litter pick, and here
to see the report and photos from the Canal Path (Yellow Brick Road) litter pick.
Monday 11th March - IWA Open Talk - “River Canal Rescue - Boating Trials and Tribulations
& Engine Maintenance”.
Monday 12th February - IWA Open Talk - “The Part Canals Played in the Co-op Movement”.
Liz McIvor.
Sunday 11th February - We Love Gorton Day, Gorton Monastery, 89 Gorton Lane, Manchester,
M12 5WF.
Monday 8th January - IWA Open Talk - “The Building of the Manchester Ship Canal”.
The Daniel Adamson Team.
2023
Monday 11th December - IWA Christmas Social with Jacob’s Feast.
Thursday 16th November - Friends of the Yellow Brick Road Meet Up, Gorton Central,
Highmead St., Manchester, M18 8PE. Click here to see poster plus photos from the
recent Autumn Social event on Thursday 19th October.
Monday 13th November - IWA Open Talk - “The Duke of Bridgewater’s Underground Coal
Mining Canals, 1760 to date”. Alan Davies.
Thursday 19th October - Autumn Social, Gorton Central, Highmead St., Manchester,
M18 8PE.
Monday 9th October - IWA Open Talk - “Mines, Quarries and the Macclesfield Canal”.
David Kitching.
Sunday 8th October - The Manchester Book Fair, Gorton Monastery, 89 Gorton Lane,
Manchester, M12 5WF.
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July - Waterways Restoration Showcase at the ‘Daniel
Adamson’ Steam Tug, Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, Frodsham, WA6 7JA.
Sunday 9th July - Gorton Carnival, Debdale Park, 1075 Hyde Road, Manchester, M18
7LJ.
Saturday 27th May - Reddish Worker Bee Market and Family Fun Day, Broadstone Mill
Car Park, Broadstone Road, Reddish, Stockport, SK5 7DL.
Sunday 14th May - The Manchester Book Fair, Gorton Monastery, 89 Gorton Lane, Manchester,
M12 5WF. Click here to see future Book Fair events at Gorton Monastery.
Sunday 14th May - IWA Manchester Branch trip to the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals.
Saturday 13th May - Boat Trip along the Calder & Hebble Navigation, Battyeford, Huddersfield.
Click here to see Steven Parker’s post with photos of the trip.
Saturday 22nd April - Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Guided Walk with Steven Parker,
The Royal Oak, 28 Water Street, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 4TW.
Monday 3rd April - IWA Open Talk and AGM - “Writing the Canals: location, inspiration
and story” by Sarah Jasmon. (Click here for details of Sarah’s talk. Sarah hopes
to explore the Stockport Canal route soon.)
Sunday 26th March - Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Guided Walk with Steven Parker,
The Royal Oak, 28 Water Street, Radcliffe.
Monday 13th March - IWA Open Talk - “Long Distance Cargo Carrying Narrowboats and
20th-Century Boatpeople”. Cath Turpin.
Thursday 2nd March - Litter Pick on the Canal Path (Yellow Brick Road) and Alston
Road area, Alston Road and Fallowfield Loop junction, Gorton, Manchester. See report
here.
Sunday 19th February - Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Guided Walk, Little Lever
Canal, Bolton, with Steven Parker.
Wednesday 8th February - IWA Open Talk - “Water Management of Canals in the North
West”. Kathryn Smith.
Tuesday 17th January - “RESTORATION WEBINAR: RESEARCH” With Alison Smedley MBE.
Please click here to watch the webinar.
Sunday 15th January - Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Guided Walk, Little Lever
Canal, Bolton, with Steven Parker.
Monday 9th January - IWA Open Talk - “Canal Warehouses on the Bridgewater and Irwell”.
David George.
2022
Monday 12th December - IWA Manchester Branch Christmas Social, Castlefield Hotel,
Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4JR.
Sunday 20th November - Save Gorton House Community Consultation Day, The Aviary,
Debdale Park, 1075 Hyde Road, Manchester, M18 7LJ.
Saturday 19th November - Reddish Worker Bee Market and Family Fun Day, Broadstone
Mill Car Park, Broadstone Road, Stockport, SK5 7DL.
Monday 14th November - IWA Open Talk - “The Panama Canal: Civil Engineering Meets
Geology”. Tony Waltham.
Saturday 29th October - Litter Pick on the Canal Path (Yellow Brick Road), Gorton
Community Centre, Highmead Street, Gorton, M18 8PE.
Monday 10th October - IWA Open Talk - “The History of the Manchester Ship Canal from
the books of 19th Century historian, Bosdin Leech”. Paul Hassall.
Sunday 25th September - The Manchester Book Fair, Gorton Monastery, 89 Gorton Lane,
Manchester M12 5WF.
Saturday 17th September - Daisy Nook Canal History Walk, Daisy Nook Country Park,
off Stannybrook Road, Ashton under Lyne, M35 9WJ.
Saturday 10th September - Manchester & Stockport Canal Society Guided Walk, Ashton
Canal, near Greater Manchester Police Station, Claytonbrook Road, Openshaw, Manchester
M11 1PP.
Friday 9th September - Daisy Nook Canal History Walk, Daisy Nook Country Park, off
Stannybrook Road, Ashton under Lyne, M35 9WJ.
Tuesday 6th September - Morrisons Supermarket, Lime Square, 1 Ashton Old Road, Openshaw,
M11 1ND.
Saturday 3rd September - Vine Street Park Family Fun Day, Vine Street Park, Vine
Street / Abbey Hey Lane, M18 8SA.
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July - Chester Canal 250th Anniversary Celebration, Tower
Wharf, Chester.
Sunday 24th July - Debdale Nature Centre 1st Birthday Bash, Debdale Park, 1075 Hyde
Road, Manchester M18 7LJ.
Friday 15th July - Morrisons Supermarket, 408 Reddish Road, Reddish, Stockport, SK5
7AA.
Sunday 10th July - Gorton Carnival & Car Show 2022, Debdale Park, 1075 Hyde Road,
Manchester M18 7LJ.
Friday 1st July - “What’s On In My Community” event, Gorton Central, Gorton Community
Centre, Highmead Street, Gorton, M18 8PE.
Friday 24th June - Stockport Canal path (yellow brick road) clean-up, Gorton Community
Centre. Please click here for report.
Sunday 12th June - Manchester Histories Festival Celebration day, Gorton Monastery,
89 Gorton Lane, Manchester M12 5WF.
Saturday 4th June - Clayton Hall Open Day and Family Fun Day, Clayton Park, Ashton
New Road, Clayton, Manchester, M11 4RU.
Saturday 28th May - Reddish Worker Bee Market and Family Fun Day, Broadstone Mill
Car Park, Broadstone Road, Stockport, SK5 7DL.
Friday 27th May - AGM at Heaton Moor United Church, Stanley Road, Stockport, SK4
4HL.
Sunday 22nd May - Book Fair at Gorton Monastery, Gorton Lane, Manchester M12 5WF.
Saturday 23rd April - One day dig at the Pyramid Garden on the Yellow Brick Road
near the Ashton Canal.
Monday 4th April - IWA Open Talk - “Short History of the Pomona Island”. Maarja
Kaaristo.
Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd March - IWA Event - ‘ASHTAC50’.
Monday 14th March - IWA Open Talk - “The Lancaster Northern Reaches”. Audrey Smith.
Monday 14th February - IWA Open Talk - “A Walk through History along the Leeds &
Liverpool Canal”. Jim Doran.
2021
Saturday 20th November - Reddish Worker Bee Market, Broadstone Mill Car Park, Broadstone
Road, Stockport.
Monday 8th November - IWA Open Talk - “Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal - the latest
on its restoration”. Paul Hindle.
Saturday 18th September - Clayton Hall Open Day, Clayton Park, Ashton New Road, Clayton,
Manchester.
Saturday 11th September - “Rediscovering the Underbanks” Heritage Open Day, Underbanks,
Stockport, Greater Manchester.
Thursday 26th August - Canal path (yellow brick road) clean-up, Gorton Community
Centre, Abbey Hey Lane, Gorton.
IWA Online talks or webinars: Please click on the webinar title you wish to view
via YouTube.
Alternatively use this IWA YouTube Channel link.
Monday 7th June - “2021 Proposals for Managing Boats in London”. Matthew Symonds.
Wednesday 26th May - “HS2 impact on the Colne Valley Park and across the Chilterns”.
Keith Hoffmeister.
Monday 24th May - “Changing Landscape of Canals in London”. Tim Lewis.
Thursday 13th May - “Crossing the Severn”. Brian Margetson.
Thursday 29th April - “Sustainable Propulsion on the Inland Waterways”. Bowman Bradley.
Wednesday 28th April - “Manchester Ship Canal”. Richard Thomas.
Tuesday 27th April - “The Story of IWA Canalway Cavalcade”. Libby Bradshaw.
Wednesday 21st April - “Burton’s 18th century waterways… and ‘tipsy Romanovs’”. John
Parry.
Friday 16th April - “My Perspective of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways”. Iain
Campbell.
Tuesday 13th April - “How many boat lifts? From Gdańsk to Ostróda via the Elbląg
Kanał”. John Pomfret.
Thursday 8th April - “The Sleeping Beauty - Restoration of the Cromford Canal”. Mike
Kelley.
Wednesday 7th April - “Milton Keynes to Bedford Waterways”. IWA Chiltern Branch.
Tuesday 30th March - “The art of waterways photography - how to frame the perfect
shot”. Kev Maslin.
Thursday 25th March - “Scottish Canals”. Jonathan Mosse.
Monday 22nd March - “Royal Gunpowder Mills”. Richard Thomas.
Monday 1st March - “Moss Naylor Young 10th Anniversary Celebration”. Patrick Moss.
Wednesday 24th February - “History and Restoration of the Wendover Canal”. Clive
Johnson.
Monday 22nd February - “Trade under Sail, the Past and the Future”. Brian Corbett.
Friday 19th February - “River Nene & Fenland Waterways - Part 1”; “ - Part 2”. IWA
East Yorkshire Branch.
Wednesday 17th February - “New Lives from Old Boats”. Chris Leah.
Tuesday 2nd February - “Work of the Waterway Chaplains”. Adrian and Chris Dann.
Thursday 28th January - “Reservoir Safety”. David Brown.
Tuesday 26th January - “Navigation Authority Underfunding - what the future holds”.
John Packman, James Taylor, Mark Stoneham and Mark Baker.
Wednesday 20th January - “Extreme Voyages - 1896 to 1968”. Jeremy Batch.
Tuesday 12th January - “River waterways of North East England”. John Pomfret.
Monday 11th January - “Bradley Canal Restoration”. Dave Pearson.
