The first settled community in Manchester was based in what is now Castlefield, where the Romans built the first of four forts in AD 79.

After the last fort was abandoned in the 5th century Manchester grew around what is now Victoria station.

This was the heart of mediaeval Manchester, set around the parish church (now the Cathedral) and the lord of the manor’s house (now Chetham’s) – what the chronicler John Leland in 1540 called “the fairest, best builded, quickest, and most populous town of all Lancashire.”

On the Mediaeval Manchester tour we explain how Maenwicken became Manchester, go in search of the sites of the post-Norman town, and explore in detail the ancient Cathedral. Oh, and that 1530 pub by the Cathedral, it seems to have moved…