Castlefield
Castlefield is the historic corner of Manchester where the Romans built the fort of Mamucium, the Bridgewater Canal arrived in 1761 and the first passenger railway terminated in 1830. Now a conservation area, it is a walkable mix of canal basins, Victorian viaducts, reconstructed Roman walls and waterside bars.
Photos
Yildiz Catma
Layers of history
The Romans founded Mamucium here around AD 79 on a sandstone bluff above the Medlock and Irwell, and the fort gave Manchester its name. In 1761 the Bridgewater Canal reached Castlefield, and in 1830 the Liverpool and Manchester Railway terminated at Liverpool Road station, now part of the Science and Industry Museum. Castlefield became a conservation area around 1980 and the UK's first urban heritage park soon after.
What to see on a walk
Start at the reconstructed fort walls, then follow the towpaths around the canal basins. Iron railway viaducts from 1848, 1877 and the 1890s cross overhead, one of them now the National Trust's Castlefield Viaduct sky garden. In summer, Castlefield Bowl hosts outdoor concerts and festivals. Allow an hour for a loop, more if you visit the Science and Industry Museum on the way.
Where to stop
Canal-side pubs and cafés make it an easy place to finish a walk; Layla's Cafe and the City Road Inn are close by. It's ten minutes on foot from Deansgate, and the hotels at the southern end of Deansgate make a quiet base away from the busiest streets. Weekend afternoons are busiest when the weather is good.
Highlights
- Site of the Roman fort of Mamucium (c. AD 79)
- Bridgewater Canal basin, reached 1761
- Terminus of the 1830 Liverpool–Manchester Railway
- Victorian railway viaducts
- Castlefield Bowl outdoor events
Good to know
- Free to wander; towpaths can be uneven and slippery after rain.
- The Science and Industry Museum is on Liverpool Road.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: en.wikipedia.org