Openshaw is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.
Openshaw is a district in east Manchester with a strong industrial heritage, shaped by the rapid expansion of manufacturing and engineering during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Once a rural hamlet, it was transformed during the Industrial Revolution into a thriving industrial centre, with factories, mills, and foundries dominating the landscape. It became particularly well known for its links to railway engineering, as it was home to the Gorton Works, also known as the Gorton Tank, where locomotives were built and maintained for the expanding railway network.
The arrival of heavy industry brought an influx of workers, leading to the development of tightly packed terraced housing and a strong working-class community. Openshaw was a key part of Manchester’s industrial economy, producing everything from locomotives to textiles and machinery, and for much of the 20th century, it remained a hub of engineering and manufacturing. However, like many similar areas, it suffered from economic decline in the late 20th century, with the closure of many factories leading to job losses and social challenges.
In recent years, Openshaw has been the focus of regeneration efforts aimed at revitalising the area. New housing developments, investment in infrastructure, and improved transport links, including access to the Metrolink, have brought changes to the district. Despite these developments, Openshaw retains much of its historical character, with remnants of its industrial past still visible in old mill buildings and railway infrastructure. It remains a community with deep roots in Manchester’s industrial history, reflecting both the city’s past and its ongoing transformation.
Openshaw postcode: M11 2FQ
There are great places to visit near Openshaw including some great towns, hills, hiking areas, old mines, ancient sites, round cairns, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, historic buildings, nature reserves, villages, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.
The area around Openshaw features a number of interesting towns including Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.
The area around Openshaw features a number of interesting hills including Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.
There are a number of hiking areas near Openshaw including Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge.
Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, and Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin) are great places to visit near Openshaw if you like old mines.
Don't miss Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp's ancient sites if visiting the area around Openshaw.
Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill are great places to visit near Openshaw if you like round cairns.
Ruins to visit near Openshaw include Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin).
The area around Openshaw features a number of interesting historic sites including Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.
Openshaw has some unmissable lakes nearby like Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
There are a number of historic monuments near Openshaw including Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook are some of Openshaw best rivers and streams to visit near Openshaw.
There are a several good woodlands in the Openshaw area like Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.
Openshaw's best nearby geological features can be found at Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
Historic Buildings to visit near Openshaw include Bradshaw Brook Viaduct, Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, and Sheephouse Farm.
The area around Openshaw boasts some of the best nature reserves including Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Aspull Sough, and Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve.
Villages to visit near Openshaw include Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Darcy Lever, and Whelley.
There are a several good country parks in the Openshaw area like Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, and Pennington Flash.
Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow are great places to visit near Openshaw if you like waterfalls.
Don't miss Rivington Pike Easter's events if visiting the area around Openshaw.
Bluebell Woods to visit near Openshaw include Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.
Openshaw is near some unmissable sssis like Nob End SSSI,
Don't miss Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park's parks if visiting the area around Openshaw.
Openshaw has some unmissable shopping centres nearby like Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.
Don't miss The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater's gardens if visiting the area around Openshaw.
Canals to visit near Openshaw include Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal.
There are a several good cities in the Openshaw area like Salford, and Manchester.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green are some of Openshaw best museums to visit near Openshaw.
The area around Openshaw boasts some of the best disused railway lines including The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.
Moated Sites to visit near Openshaw include Wigan Golf Club.
Places near Openshaw feature a number of interesting airports including Manchester Airport.
Openshaw History
There are some historic monuments around Openshaw:
