The Meadows and Chorlton Brook

Starts at Chorlton Park Centre, Mauldeth Road West, M21

1 hours 13 minutes | 2.4miles 3.9km | Easy

ID: 174.7 | Developed by: Robin Segulem | Checked by: Robin Segulem | www.walkingroutes.org

Starting from Chorlton Park Centre. A circular walk through the leafy streets of Chorlton to the
meadows of Chorlton Ees Nature Reserve, and a visit to a churchyard with a dark
history…………

Starts at: Chorlton Park Centre, Mauldeth Road West, Manchester M21 7HH

[1] Leave the centre and turn right on Mauldeth Road West. At the traffic lights cross Barlow Moor Road
and continue on Hardy Lane. (Note: The path from Hardy Lane to Jackson’s Boat can flood but only after
persistent very wet weather). Cross Dagnall Avenue, Cundiff Road and Hurstville Road (the road markings
suggest that Hardy Lane itself turns right into Hurstville Road but ignore this). On the right hand corner of
Hardy Lane, just past house number 102, there is an entrance to Chorlton Meadows. There are barriers to
keep motorbikes out but there is no difficulty in walking through. Follow the path (there are two parallel
paths, one grit and one grass nearer the river) which leads to Jackson’s Bridge over the Mersey. On the
other side of the bridge is (A) Jackson’s Boat pub.

[2] Walk about 200 yards past the bridge along the river bank (caution, small children need to be
supervised by the river) and you will see a path to the right. There is a board saying Chorlton Ees
Nature Reserve (B). Go through the gate and follow this path which runs between woods and a meadow
- one of the few places within the Manchester City boundaries where you can expect to see cattle. This
meadow used to be a water meadow where winter excessive water was stored, and before the Second
World War was a popular winter skating venue.

Towards the end the path becomes cobbled. Pass through another gate and at the T-junction turn right on
a cobbled road, or go on a little further, crossing a foot bridge, and then turn right. A dirt track goes along
the side of Chorlton Brook. Walk to the end of the cobbled road – Chorlton Brook is on your left – or to the
end of the dirt track with the Brook on your right, and towards the end you will pass the back of Brookburn
School.

[3] You have now reached Brookburn Road. Cross Brookburn Road and turn left. Pass the Bowling Green
pub and take the steps leading from the pub’s outside seating area into the old graveyard. Walk through
the graveyard and exit under the lychgate (C).

[4] Cross Crossland Road and continue straight on with Chorlton Green on your left. At the end of the
green turn right on Beech Road.

This is Chorlton Village and you will pass a variety of pubs, bars, restaurants and shops – although in
some cases it is not easy to tell what the shops are selling.

Continue past Beech Road Park (a suitable place for small children to enjoy swings and slides) and go to
the end of Beech Road.

[5] Turn right on Barlow Moor Road. You will soon reach a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing. Use
this to cross Barlow Moor Road. Just past the Feathers Pub (currently closed) you will see a gate into
Chorlton Park. Enter the park and follow the path which leads to the right between the lines of Chestnut
trees and the winter football pitches. This will take you back to the centre.

Additional ‘Point of Interest’ information:

(C) The Victorians replaced this old church, St Clements, with a new large one some distance away,
causing much controversy. The old church fell into ruin, and was pulled down. Nicolas Cook, a
murdered Policeman, was buried here; you can see a memorial stone just inside the church yard.
Charles Peace was hanged on 25th February 1879, but just before his death he confessed to a priest that
he had committed a second murder. Several years earlier he had shot PC Nicholas Cook dead
in Manchester after he had disturbed Peace on a burglary. William Habron, an eighteen year old
was convicted of the murder, watched by Peace who attended the trial. There are a number of sources on
the internet that show William Habron being executed for Charles Peace’s crime. In actual fact after
Peace’s confession to Rev Lockwood in his cell, Habron was released. He had served three years for a
crime he had not committed but received a £500 indemnity for his erroneous conviction.

Acknowledgements:

Developed by: Robin Segulem

Checked by: Robin Segulem

Filed under: Manchester Walking Routes
Tagged: chorlton park, Easy, Manchester, Ramblers, walk, Walking
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