Hidden Manchester

Explore fascinating stories from Greater Manchester.

Radio Manchester,21 episodes

Episodes

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The cinema modelled after sex, money and greed
Henry F Elder was an architect from Salford who designed the cinema.
30 Aug 2024,6 mins
The wartime diary found in a jumble sale
The diary of Jewish girls who fled Vienna during the war was found in a jumble sale.
13 Sep 2024,5 mins
Inside the iconic Granada Studios
Take a trip back in time to the old Granada Studios and hear stories from ex tour guides.
27 Sep 2024,5 mins
How did Band on the Wall get its name?
Band on the Wall has been around for over 200 years, but how did it get that name?
03 Oct 2024,5 mins
Is Ordsall Hall haunted?
Ordsall Hall has been around for centuries, and locals say the place is haunted.
18 Oct 2024,5 mins
"Manchester's own Muhammad Ali"
Len Johnson was regarded as one of the best boxers, but was barred from due to his race.
29 Nov 2024,4 mins
The Greater Manchester slum named "hell upon earth"
Angel Meadow is a fairly quiet part of the region, but it was once a notorious slum.
14 Feb 2025,4 mins
Castlefield: The Roman service station
Uncover the secrets of the Roman legacy located in the heart of Castlefield.
11 Apr 2025,5 mins
The Leigh woman who rescued Japan's sushi industry
Kathleen Drew-Baker, a University of Manchester botanist, saved sushi with her research.
23 Apr 2025,6 mins
Mike Sweeney: From Docker to DJ, the Salford story
BBC Radio Manchester's Mike Sweeney reflects on his journey from docker to DJ.
01 May 2025,5 mins
Preserving the past: Inside John Rylands Library
The John Rylands Library has opened a new Collections Gallery showcasing rare items.
16 May 2025,6 mins
The undercover vagrant: Saviour of the slums
Meet Mary Higgs, the woman who went undercover to expose the workhouse conditions.
09 Jun 2025,7 mins
The forbidden ball of 1880 Manchester
In Hulme, 1880, a forbidden ball takes place, historian Chris Hoyle tells the story.
15 Aug 2025,4 mins
The curious case of Balloon Street
Have you ever wondered where Balloon Street in Manchester got its name?
29 Aug 2025,4 mins
The legend of the Red Rider at Bramall Hall
Step inside Bramall Hall, a place shrouded in history and hauntings.
17 Oct 2025,5 mins
Salford Quays' lost racecourse
Salford’s waterfront once hosted a racecourse, Nick Ransom explores its legacy.
03 Nov 2025,7 mins
Manchester's forgotten underground market
Step inside the Arndale underground market, a shopper's paradise and an escape for some.
04 Dec 2025,3 mins
Manchester’s Little Italy and the ice cream win
Step back in time to Manchester's 'Little Italy' to hear how ice cream changed forever.
23 Jan 2026,6 mins
The secret underground tunnels of Manchester
Mark Crossfield has spent years mapping the secret underground features of the city.
06 Mar 2026,4 mins
The Manchester Mummy: The legend of Hannah Beswick
Dr Hannah Priest breaks down the legend of Hannah Beswick: the Manchester Mummy.
24 Apr 2026,5 mins
The Stockport man who 'stunted Hitler'
James Conway from Stockport is one of the famous 'Cockleshell Heroes'.
17 Jul 2026,6 mins