Impossible Bridge and the Improbable Hill: The Secrets of Angel Meadow and the Irk Valley
WITH A VISIT TO THE BRAND NEW ST CATHERINE'S PARK
3pm Saturday 20 September 2026
£20
The Irk Valley from Angel Meadow to Sandhills is one of the UK’s most fascinating city areas.
Its history moves from elegant suburb to becoming one of the country’s most notorious urban districts famous for its crime and degradation. This is followed by a hollowing out as the population leaves and now, reinvention as one of Manchester city centre’s more characterful residential areas. The wheel has come full circle.
Now a new masterplan for Angel Meadow and the Irk Valley is reinforcing that change of direction. This large scale regeneration joint venture between Manchester City Council and FEC will transform the area, boosting its position within the city and the region and bringing it greater attention. The role of the Irk Valley will be underlined, once more, as the emblematic inner suburb of Manchester: a district which sums in one the shifting fortunes of city districts.
This tour takes a comprehensive look at the area and combines story-telling, a cast of fascinating characters, and loads of humour to bring to life the dramatic story of Angel Meadow and the Irk Valley and their bright future. It partially follows the route of the Impossible Bridge and the Improbable Hill article published on Manchester Confidential.
We will of course take a look at St Catherine's Wood, a new park for the city.
Now, allow me to be self-indulgent for a moment. There's a history board in the new park which says the name for the nearby footbridge with its long and steep stairs is colloquially known as The Impossible Bridge.
I feel very honoured. And amused.
That was my name for the bridge because it appeared so outlandish. I made it up about fifteen years ago to help sell this tour. I subsequently wrote that aforementioned article in Manchester Confidential as another means to shift tickets.
I wonder if as the revival of the Irk Valley continues we can get the Improbable Hill name adopted.
Meet outside One Angel Square, the Cooperative Headquarters building, on Miller Street,
M60 0AG, five to ten minutes before the tour.
Duration: most tours last between ninety minutes and two hours
Fully accessible
Totally fascinating
Its history moves from elegant suburb to becoming one of the country’s most notorious urban districts famous for its crime and degradation. This is followed by a hollowing out as the population leaves and now, reinvention as one of Manchester city centre’s more characterful residential areas. The wheel has come full circle.
Now a new masterplan for Angel Meadow and the Irk Valley is reinforcing that change of direction. This large scale regeneration joint venture between Manchester City Council and FEC will transform the area, boosting its position within the city and the region and bringing it greater attention. The role of the Irk Valley will be underlined, once more, as the emblematic inner suburb of Manchester: a district which sums in one the shifting fortunes of city districts.
This tour takes a comprehensive look at the area and combines story-telling, a cast of fascinating characters, and loads of humour to bring to life the dramatic story of Angel Meadow and the Irk Valley and their bright future. It partially follows the route of the Impossible Bridge and the Improbable Hill article published on Manchester Confidential.
We will of course take a look at St Catherine's Wood, a new park for the city.
Now, allow me to be self-indulgent for a moment. There's a history board in the new park which says the name for the nearby footbridge with its long and steep stairs is colloquially known as The Impossible Bridge.
I feel very honoured. And amused.
That was my name for the bridge because it appeared so outlandish. I made it up about fifteen years ago to help sell this tour. I subsequently wrote that aforementioned article in Manchester Confidential as another means to shift tickets.
I wonder if as the revival of the Irk Valley continues we can get the Improbable Hill name adopted.
Meet outside One Angel Square, the Cooperative Headquarters building, on Miller Street,
M60 0AG, five to ten minutes before the tour.
Duration: most tours last between ninety minutes and two hours
Fully accessible
Totally fascinating
