Thread by @heritage_lizzie

Today’s @Heritage_NGOs #NorthernProgress I’m heading into Manchester past the sad sight of Hartford Mill, almost completely dismantled. Just a couple of towers left. manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-m… A sad example of a lack of creativity & environmental awareness of impact of demolition.

First stop on my Manchester Day - meeting the @NT_TheNorth team at the Castlefield Viaduct new sky garden for Manchester - a city that, due to its industrial past, needs more green space. nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/… #NorthernProgress

. @HighwaysEnglan1 have maintained the viaduct with essential repairs, & their Historical Railways Estate team has worked with the @NationalTrust to deliver a transformation of this derelict site. Here’s a great piece from @MENnewsdesk manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats… #NorthernProgress

Come in for a tour… @NT_TheNorth (huge thanks to Jo at @NTExtAffairs for walking me round & telling me about the project) & @HilaryMcGrady for suggesting I pop in.

The whole project is currently a period of consultation & work with the public to test the ideal of permanency for a sky garden at the viaduct. Entrance is free but with pre-booked slots. Lots of work is happening with the 4 partner organisations & community groups.

The entrance section is currently being planted with plants such as buddleia & will self seed through the year. I love the shapes & panoramic views of a post-industrial Manchester. The whole garden echoes the railway history throughout, through shape, colour & sculpture.

Echoes of Octavia Hill’s vision with inclusion of Castlefield’s Spirit of Place. There are also soundscapes based on the sounds of the viaduct.

The @NT_TheNorth have been working with partners who have been involved in designing sections of the sky garden including @CityofTreesMcr @42ndStreetmcr (youth & community) @sim_manchester & local community groups.

I love how the different trees refer to those used in Manchester for particular purposes - from industry to medicine.

The planting is arranged in echoes of stream & track and the industrial shapes & references are woven throughout. Even some of the graffiti stays.

Some very happy bees 🐝

There’s currently a temporary indoor space & @NT_TheNorth are asking visitors what the space could become. Some fantastic views of @CanalRiverTrust @YHAOfficial & industrial/mobile heritage.

Beyond is the currently derelict/wild section. There could be a future for this extensive space too.

Such a great use of otherwise derelict space. Hopefully the beginning of a permanent garden fixture. So good to hear about how the @NT_TheNorth project has been welcomed by local communities. #NorthernProgress #Castlefield

En route to my next stop to see @jeffsmithmp & chat about heritage, I dropped in for some lunch at childhood pad @sim_manchester & have a look at this decarbonisation & restoration transformation project underway scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/about-us/press… #northernprogress

Great to catch up with @jeffsmithmp this afternoon & chat about all things heritage at his constituency. Heritage as part of the solution to climate change, health & wellbeing & community led regeneration. Thanks Jeff for making time & we look forward to working with you more.

Final stop of the day, a treat to have a cup of tea with @EgyptMcr & talk about Reception, @TheEES & the transformation underway at @McrMuseum - for me this Museum is where everything started. Feeling pretty emotional to have seen the Two Brothers up close. #NorthernProgress

The incredible detail on Nekht-Ankh’s coffin - you can see how decoration & design like that of Owen Jones was inspired by these exquisite items.

Also loving the collection of models, replicas & fakes in the store including this 70s style Ancient Egyptian woman who I remember well from my childhood.

This incredible piece of reception @EgyptMcr showed me from 1915 (for #Tutankhamun100 today) was created in memoriam for Jesse Howarth & is a strange mix of illuminated manuscript & Egyptian stele (associated with Hatshepsut) - with papyrus alongside cotton (for Manchester)

Finally one for #Tutankhamun100 today is this stele in the @McrMuseum collection, shared recently by @EgyptMcr - possibly Tutankhamun (with name erased) facing Amun & with Amenhotep I

A journey back from Manchester & better shots of Hartford Mill. Let’s hope this is the last demolition of this sort. historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/p… “If all the vacant mills across the North were brought forward for residential use, it is est. they could accommodate c.42,000 homes…”