About this Event
Think beyond the human with Dr. Charlotte Coull and Dr. Erica Mukherjee!
Attendance is free for children under 12.
The Stone Tour
Red sandstone is Manchester’s native rock, but many of our buildings are clad in Portland Stone all the way from the South Coast- why? Join us to get the solid facts on why humans are so obsessed with stone and what stone represents.
We’ll meet on Cathedral Yard, between the entrance to Manchester Cathedral and in front of Café 1881.
We'll walk approximately 1 mile over two hours to The Bridgewater Hall, stopping to take in the stones, sights, and sounds as we go.
On the way we’ll chat about fossils, erosion and stone as a status symbol. We’ll talk about how Manchester has grabbed building materials from outside its boundaries, extending its reach across the world, and the environmental impact of quarrying. And after all this effort, is stone really as permanent as we think?
Who We Are
Elemental Tours lead historical walking tours that focus on Manchester's environmental history. Created by two historians, Dr. Charlotte Coull and Dr. Erica Mukherjee (but run by Charlotte who lives in Manchester), the tours encourage people to think beyond the human and engage with the city's material environment.
Each of our walking tours focuses on a different element: water, earth, air, and fire. We draw attention to how these elements have shaped the city and the humans that live in it, including how humans have tried, and sometimes failed, to control the urban environment. We talk flooding, quarrying, silt, diseases, smoke, industry, architecture, and much more as we weave through the city streets. We connect the natural world with the urban environment and discuss how these two ideas are not as dissimilar as they might first seem.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Café 1881, Cathedral Yard entrance, Cathedral Yard, Manchester, United Kingdom
GBP 10.00