THE FORMER LEVENSHULME STATION is seen here from the rear. We are standing on what used to be the eastbound platform. The remains of the westbound platform can just be seen on the left. The station building, which straddles the line, has been secured - stairs used to lead to openings in the rear which have now been bricked up. Corrugated sheeting has been used to protect the middle part of the building.

EWM says: This South Manchester Loop Line should never have been allowed to close. It was to have been electrified in the 1950's but because of the mistaken planning decisions of our elected representatives, the money ran out. Visualise this station as a Metrolink stop - Fallowfield is 2 minutes away, Chorlton 5 minutes, the city centre 10 minutes and the Trafford Centre 15 minutes. The line can never be used as a railway or Metrolink line because it has been built on in Fallowfield and filled in near Abbey Hey.
There is no doubt in my mind that the economic decay we've seen in other parts of Levenshulme is the direct result of the planning mistakes of the past. The decay of Britain's railways is a topical theme in 2002.

THIS IS THE BROOM LANE RAILWAY BRIDGE over the disused South Manchester Loop Line. On the right is the solid brick wall topped with dressed stone, dating from when the line was originally built around 1892. In front of us are the now damaged metal grilles which once allowed passers by a tantalising glimpse of steam trains passing below.

EWM says: When I saw these grilles I had a strong sense of familiarity. I am certain I looked at steam trains through grilles like these, which gave children an exciting viewing opportunity. With a little imagination, you can conjure up the huffing and puffing sound, the whistle, the jangling of metal rods and bars, and the sweet, oily smell of the smoke.

THIS IS THE OLD FOOTBRIDGE across the South Manchester Loop Line in Levenshulme. The cast iron latticework is a feature of late 19th century railway bridges. To the left, on the south side of the line, was the UCP Tripe works. There used to be railway sidings on the right - commemorated in a modern pub on Broom Lane named 'The Sidings'.

EWM says: In the heyday of the railways, many passenger and freight trains thundered under this bridge, including boat trains from Liverpool to Harwich, coal trains from the West Yorkshire coalfields and local trains which ran between Fairfield and Manchester Central Station (now GMEX).

EWM adds: My apparent expert railway knowledge is drawn entirely from the excellent book by local railway historian and ex-colleague of mine from South Trafford College, Eddie Johnson. Please e-mail me to find out about the book, and the Friends of the South Manchester Loop Line.

HIGHFIELD COUNTRY PARK is a recently created park situated to the south east of Levenshulme on the City of Manchester / Stockport MBC border. It uses former industrial land, part of which was occupied by the UCP tripe works.

As the sign indicates, the project has benefited from money from various sources, including the European Social Fund.

EWM says: Like most parks in Manchester, this one is under-used, in fact many people don't even know Highfield Country Park exists. I would suggest that more landscaping, more amenities and lots of marketing will be necessary in order to persuade people to come in and use it in large numbers. Otherwise empty areas like this are left to spray can artistes like young Ben, who has left his mark on the sign.

NORTH NELSTROP ROAD crosses the South Manchester Loop Line to the east of Levenshulme. The line was used for freight until 1987 when it finally fell silent. North Nelstrop Road is a track and bridleway which runs next to the Manchester - Stockport boundary. Houldsworth Golf Course is off to the left in the Stockport suburb of Reddish. Highfield Country Park is straight ahead across the disused railway line in the City of Manchester. Allotments are off to the right.

EWM says: As a child I used to love exploring paths like this one on sunny summer days, either on foot or on my bike, stopping to watch passing trains or to pick wild flowers or weeds like the one on the right.

THESE ALLOTMENTS are situated next to the former South Manchester Loop Line in the south east of Levenshulme. Straight ahead is the municipal block of flats Cundiff Court. A sloping roof has been added as part of a renovation programme.

EWM says: There are allotment gardens like these all over the Manchester area. Allotments are also popular in eastern Germany and central Europe. This could be a scene from Poland or Russia, especially with the block of flats in the background.

THIS CROSS-BORDER ROAD is an important link between the City of Manchester suburb of Levenshulme and and the Stockport MBC suburb of Reddish. It's Barlow Road Manchester to the right and Longford Road Stockport to the left. The border runs along the line of the front gardens of the houses on the left, which are in Stockport MBC. North Nelstrop Road is a bridleway running south along the city boundary and into Heaton Chapel in Stockport. On the right can be seen the block of council flats Cundiff Court, in Levenshulme. On the lamppost we can see the small, shabby sign which tells you you are entering the City of Manchester

EWM says: It's interesting how boundary districts are often neglected, due to lack of co-ordination between local authorities. If this was all in one authority, maybe North Nelstrop Road would be a main thoroughfare. I wonder if there's a connection with the Stockport based flour milling family, Nelstrops.

ST MARK'S STREET is just off Barlow Road, near the junction of Broom Lane. The vacant site on the left is where St Mark's primary school used to be - only the brick gateposts remain

May remembers her childhood in the early 20's: "I attended St Marks - My friend's father was the warden. We used to have a girls friendly society there and we ran a play at Christmas. It was a club in effect. It was held in the schoolroom. They'd have talks, someone coming in showing you how to do things. I went once a week. They had two tennis courts in a place called Tally Rand, and connected with Gorton Golf course."

THIS IS ST MARK'S CHURCH, constructed in quite a distinctive style with a mixture of red brick and ornamental stone. The design features a bell tower that's small in relation to the rest of the builidng. It's actually lower than the cross. The time is showing five minutes to six.

May remembers church dances in the 20's: "I did all my dancing at churches, they were over at 10 o'clock. 11 was a late night. The church ones finished mostly at 10. I had a long walk from St Marks to where I lived in Old Hall Lane. I went to dances at St Marks, St Peters and St Andrews. For music, they had a piano, sometimes the guitar. It was all over at 10. We had a thing we called 'After the storm'. One of the boys used to stand and switch the lights on and off, and the drummer made 'thunder' on the drums. It worked, everybody laughed and enjoyed it. We drank tea or lemonade."

EWM says: This church has similarities with the First Church of Christ Scientist in Victoria Park, designed by Edgar Wood and now named the Edgar Wood Centre. As my Gulf ex-colleague John Cordiner - (originally from Chorley Lancs) remarked: you only notice what an impressive church this is when you see it in a photograph.

THIS ROW OF SHOPS is at the junction of Broom Lane and Chapel Street, which runs off to the left. Shops include California Wines, Mount Sandwich, Butties R Us and Trawlers 2 English chippy. The wooden gables painted in different colours are an attractive feature of this row, built probably in the late 19th century.

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