I know that for some areas of the UK maps were prepared showing which areas were bombed and where unexploded bombs were thought to be. Does anyone know if such maps exist for the Manchester area? I’ve been asked to try and get hold of one for a local authority.
Would I be heading in the right direction if I took a day to go through most of the contents of HO 193 at the NA?
By: Mostlyharmless - 19th August 2015 at 23:57
John Rylands is a lot closer than Kew, I might try there first, though as the map there was prepared by what became Manchester City Council I am not too hopeful of finding what I’m after, which is actually Stockport. I am guessing there is nothing in the library at Stockport as the query came from a friend who works for the council and he after it for work.
I used to work for the heritage library in Stockport. Off the top of my head I don’t know but they will definitely look for you if you send a request. There’s various photos of bomb damage in the archive there too, only a fraction is actually on the online bit.
The Stockport Air Raid Shelters? They might have something?
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th August 2015 at 22:09
I have a copy of a wartime publication ‘Our Blitz – Red sky over Manchester’ which lists all the raids on the Manchester between 29 July 40 and 27 July 42 and the only time Stockport is mentioned as being bombed is the 1940 Christmas blitz (22/23 & 24/25 December) although the publication date was before the V1 that landed at Davenport Christmas 44. These date may help refine your search.
By: Alan Clark - 19th August 2015 at 19:27
John Rylands is a lot closer than Kew, I might try there first, though as the map there was prepared by what became Manchester City Council I am not too hopeful of finding what I’m after, which is actually Stockport. I am guessing there is nothing in the library at Stockport as the query came from a friend who works for the council and he after it for work.
By: groundhugger - 19th August 2015 at 19:01
Try the John Rylands library , Manchester
Some other stuff in Google type ‘Manchester Bomb damage’
By: Ossington - 19th August 2015 at 17:51
There are 90 flat sheets to go at:
By: Alan Clark - 19th August 2015 at 17:50
I think it will be a case of taking a look at HO 193/66, hopefully it will be what we’re after.
By: Ossington - 19th August 2015 at 17:47
The TNA website “Discovery” lists HO193/66 as “Manchester Jan-41-Aug 42” so that looks like a promising start. A quick whizz through the listing shows that most have London in the title, which is fair enough. Others are a little vague though. Aberdeen to Cromer, covers a lot of ground for instance.
The TNA is like a lucky bag: you just don’t know what you are going to get. Sometimes it’s interesting, and other times promising sounding files are so dull, they have no historical merit at all.
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August 19, 2015 at 1:21 pm