From Roman fort to industrial hub…
The Castlefield Viaduct is a testament to Manchester’s industrial heritage.
Built in 1892, it was once the site of the Roman timber fort of Mamucium, which guarded important roads leading to York, Chester, and Ribchester. Abandoned by the Romans at the beginning of 400AD, the site is thought to have remained uninhabited until the 11th century, when a village named Mamcester established itself in the area now known as Castlefield.
Britain’s first canals were developed in the mid-eighteenth century, and Rochdale and Castlefield emerged as major transportation hubs. Meanwhile, Manchester was experiencing an influx of trade due to cotton mills springing up across the city. In 1830, the world’s first inter-city passenger railway station was created at Castlefield, and in 1891 the Castlefield Viaduct was commissioned to facilitate the movement of goods to and from the area.
Since it was closed in 1969, Manchester Viaduct has remained shrouded in mystery—a forgotten relic of the city. That is, until July of this year, when the site was transformed and opened to the public. Now, visitors to the viaduct can step back in time and marvel at a spectacular bird’s-eye view of Manchester from one of the places where it all began.
A enchanting urban garden above Castlefield
Over the past five months over 3,000 plants and trees have been planted on the site by the National Trust. Their hard work has transformed what was once a wildly overgrown and forsaken structure into an enchanting urban garden and monument to Castlefield’s history.
Part of the viaduct which has been reclaimed by nature has been left untouched and harks back to a time gone by. New trees, flowers and shrubs line a portion of the deck, with Cottongrass, the county flower of Greater Manchester, taking centre stage. It is hoped that these new plant species will attract more insects and birds to the city’s new sky garden, increasing biodiversity.
A seating area has also been set up, where visitors can sit amongst the wildlife, enjoy the viaduct’s gorgeous gardens, and lose themselves in the retelling of the site’s fascinating past.
One of the gardens has been dedicated to celebrating the area of Castlefield and is a stand-out feature of the attraction; inscriptions scrawled on a Corten-steel sculpture tell compelling stories of the neighbourhood and what makes it unique to the people that live and work there.
One hundred visitors a day can take part in guided walks of the viaduct, as well as gardening workshops and regular events run by partner organisations and the local community.
If the attraction is a success, additional areas are due to be opened to the public in the near future.
Captivating tours are also available throughout the city, where you can tick other landmarks off your list, experience Manchester’s vibrant food and drink scene, and soak up the city’s eclectic culture.
Enticing visitors to the UK’s ‘Second City’
Set for success, the viaduct has already been compared to New York’s spectacular High Line—a disued railway line that has been transformed into a distinctive space of ornamental grasses, perennials and small trees. Since it was opened in 2009, the High Line attracts huge swathes of visitors on a regular basis and has become one of the must-visits of New York.
Those who call Manchester home are keen to experience the city’s new sky park. It is thought that Manchester Viaduct will also become a major attraction, enticing visitors from across the globe to this glorious UK city.
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