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, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, 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 boasts some of the best towns including Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.
Hills to visit near Openshaw include Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.
Openshaw has some unmissable hiking areas nearby like Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge.
There are a number of old mines near Openshaw including 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).
Openshaw's best nearby ancient sites can be found at Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.
Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill are some of Openshaw best round cairns to visit near Openshaw.
Openshaw has some unmissable ruins nearby like 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).
There are a number of historic sites near Openshaw including Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.
The area around Openshaw boasts some of the best lakes including Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
Openshaw's best nearby historic monuments can be found at Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
Openshaw's best nearby rivers and streams can be found at Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook.
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.
There are a several good geological features in the Openshaw area like Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
There are a several good nature reserves in the Openshaw area like Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Aspull Sough, and Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve.
Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Darcy Lever, and Whelley are great places to visit near Openshaw if you like villages.
There are a several good historic buildings in the Openshaw area like Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate.
Openshaw has some unmissable country parks nearby like Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, and Pennington Flash.
Waterfalls to visit near Openshaw include 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.
Events to visit near Openshaw include Rivington Pike Easter.
Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park are great places to visit near Openshaw if you like bluebell woods.
Openshaw is near some unmissable sssis like Nob End SSSI,
Openshaw's best nearby parks can be found at Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
Don't miss Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale's shopping centres if visiting the area around Openshaw.
Openshaw has some unmissable gardens nearby like The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
There are a number of canals near Openshaw including 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.
Openshaw's best nearby cities can be found at Salford, and Manchester.
The area around Openshaw boasts some of the best museums including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green.
Openshaw has some unmissable disused railway lines nearby like The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.
The area around Openshaw's best moated sites can be found at Wigan Golf Club.
Airports to visit near Openshaw include Manchester Airport.
Openshaw History
There are some historic monuments around Openshaw:
