This monument to James Watt is not as allegorical as the one in the antechamber of the Manchester…read moreTown Hall. The legendary physician is merely seated on his pedestal, and it is not uncommon to see him being decorated during Christmas time.

Adrift is a 1907 group by the Irish-born sculptor, John Cassidy (1860-1939). The monument used to…read morebe in Platt Fields Park (just like Abraham Lincoln statue that is now in Lincoln Square), but has recently been moved to St Peter's Square. It can be found practically between the Central Library and Town Hall extension. The original plaque explains the meaning of this moving work: 'Humanity adrift on the sea of life, depicting sorrows and dangers, hopes and fears and embodying the dependence of human beings upon one another, the response of human sympathy to human needs, and the inevitable dependence upon human aid' (J. Cassidy). Being me, I cannot help but make an observation. You see, the entire sculpture faces the metrolink and a bus stop. With all the changes to tram lines in the last few years, as well as the regular liver-venting of other public transport users, it is hard not to notice a certain irony in what monument is being placed, and where. Whether in the morning, afternoon or evening, half of the population of Greater Manchester is found adrift, at the mercy of engines and timetables, withstanding the impossible pressure of not opting in for a taxi, having given up the hope for a bus arriving on time. I am not at all inviting us to read more into Cassidy's monument than there is. Trams were more of a dream than reality in 1907, as well as buses. But every time I go past the sculpture on the bus, I realise that it means more to me. I am sure the city authorities will see my point and introduce changes to the public transport service. I hope they don't decide that the easiest thing to do is to move the monument...

The native of Bury, and the son of a rich calico manufacturer, Sir Robert Peel was the 19th c…read more Prime Minister whose long-lasting mark on the British history was in the form of a nickname for policemen. Peel was the driving force behind the Metropolitan Police, and for a long time policemen were affectionately called "bobbies" or "peelers". He also repealed the Corn Laws, to the great delight of common people, and despite the opposition of his party. Peel tragically died in 1850 because of a horse-riding incident in Hyde Park in London. The Peel Memorial Committee of Manchester promptly collected over £3,000 in 4 days from the public, thus making the Robert Peel monument the first ever outdoor statue in Manchester raised by public subscription. The composition by William Calder Marshall was unveiled on October 12, 1853. Sir Robert stands on a high pedestal, flanked by two female figures. The right figure in a crown represents Manchester; the woman holds a spindle of yarn, and the Manchester coats of arms. The left figure represents Arts and Sciences. The monument to Robert Peel stands in Piccadilly Gardens, practically opposite the entrance into Oldham Street.

This place is lovely and peaceful and respects its visitors. Located next to a large field it has…read morelovely surroundings and a really nice atmosphere. A relative of mine lies here and its lovely to go see him and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings. Most cemeteries are a bit grey and moody and that is understandable but this Cemetery is well looked after and is full of flowers and huge draping trees. Most graves are hundreds of years old and it is nice to wander through and take a look.

This may seem a wee bit strange of a review, since I actually did not have a loved one buried here…read more Well, a loved one that I knew in real life..... let me explain: I am the HUGEST fan of JOY DIVISION. You know, the super angst ridden, dark, amazing, ground breaking, fill-in-the adjective band from the late 1970s. Ian Curtis, the band's lead singer, is one of my idols (I have a thing for those dark types...sigh). So of course I HAD TO GO TO HIS GRAVE. On my first trip to Macclesfield, it was the typical gray, drizzling, heinous day. I didn't want to be that gross "american" fan, which, in restrospect, I don't know why I cared, since I AM THAT GROSS AMERICAN FAN GIRL, so I tried to find Ian's grave through the huge cemetary myself. Um, no. I got completely lost, and muddy. Though the atmosphere was fantastic, I was dirty as hell, and felt incredibly silly. So I went back to the business office, timidly knocked on the door, and explained to the lovely lady inside, Bev, my amore for the JD. She, being the goddess that she is, did not mind me freaking out with joy (no pun meant) when she gave me a map to Ian's grave. She busted out the book of remembrance, and let me take pictures of "Ian's day" (I am a total super fan, I know, it's sick). She even made me a cup of tea! Then, my new bff Robert, who actually had seen Joy Division, and buried Ian, walked me TO Ian's grave, and took pictures of me next to it! I mean, SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE!!!! Robert then drove me back to the train station, so I could continue my fan stupidity on a Beatles tour in Liverpool- I am bffs with him to this day. I have visited the fine folks at the Creme again, while making my JD doc on crazy Anglophiles like myself- again, the most amazing, sweet and wonderful people ever. If you are a JD fan, you could not ask for better peeps to show you the way.

Unless you're a big Joy Division/Ian Curtis fan, it probably wouldn't be worth the cost and effort…read moreto visit. If you're looking for the Ian Curtis grave, it doesn't exist. It's just a small memorial stone on the ground, very easily missed. Here's a map to locate the memorial stone: http://www.joydiv.org/18may/cemmapb.jpg From Manchester Piccadilly station, buy a return train ticket to Macclesfield. The Virgin trains will be slightly cheaper. From the train station, it's about a 20 minute walk. I saw a number of people biking and walking their dogs through the cemetery. I was there on a dreary Sunday (perfect Joy Division weather) and most shops in the city center were closed except a few takeaway places.

The role of Robert Owen (1771-1858) in the history of Manchester and The Co-operative Group is…read moreimpossible to underestimate. A native of Wales, he worked extensively in Lancashire and Scotland, with a short stint in the United States. Owen's biggest enterprises, both in business and philosophy, owe a great deal to his living in Manchester. Such central areas as St Ann's Square and London Road (by Piccadilly train station), as well as Ancoats, Chorlton, and Rochdale, are all marked by the work and thought of this great social reformer of the 19th c. Owen's ideas and work were the foundation for the Rochdale Co-operative Society, which in its turn brought about the co-operative movement. It is therefore no wonder that Owen's statue is to be found exactly between the old and new headquarters of The Co-operative Group, on the corner of Balloon St. Renowned for his concern for child labour, Owen is seen protecting an orphaned girl. Balloon St can be accessed from Corporation St, Victoria Train Station, or Shudehill Interchange.

Before I write this review I must confirm that I'm a relatively normal person and am by no means a…read moredeath-obsessed goth. I am also not the only person who I have found who enjoys a good walk through the absolutely enormous grounds of Southern Cemetery, which incidentally was the inspiration for the Smiths' song 'Cemetery Gates'. I think it's fascinating to see the graves of the different religions, which really reflects South Manchester's diverse population. First of all (if you're approaching from the Chorlton end) you'll see the Jewish part of the cemetery, then the Muslim section followed by sections for the various denominations of Christianity. Some of the graves are really ornate and some are sadly just a piece of strong cardboard. A number of famous people are buried in Southern Cemetery including Sir John Alcock, John Rylands (the grandest memorial in the cemetery), Sir Matt Busby and L S. Lowry. The cemetery was in the news recently for all the wrong reasons, as the Muslim graves were targeted by thugs. This seems to have stopped now that the council has installed a flood light over this area. Even though this really shouldn't have been necessary, it is nice to see the council taking steps to ensure that this is a safe area. If you're visiting a grave, there are plenty of florists on the Barlow Moor Road opposite the cemetery.

You never want to have to be in the position to review a funeral directors but thankfully Dodgson…read moreand Bell helped ease our pain and stress during a very difficult time. Damian and his team made the heartbreak of losing our mum to pancreatic cancer a little easier by helping us every step of the way with patience, insightful guidance and empathy. From suggesting a service conductor and florist, to creating a beautiful order of service card and photo montage, they gave this amazing woman the perfect sendoff. We'll be forever grateful to them for their assistance to our whole family in the wake of unfathomable loss.