Last week, eight students from the University of Central Lancashire visited the Underbanks. The students are studying towards degrees in MSc Building Conservation and Adaptation, a course that focuses on the repair of historic buildings and sites to conserve their significance and sustain active use.
The day began at St. Mary’s where the students were shown around the church and its Heritage Centre by members of Stockport Heritage Trust. Following that, the students were taken to the Stockport Dungeon where they learnt about the building’s history as the town’s Court Leet.
The students were then given a tour of the Underbanks by the Townscape Heritage team. Starting at Robinson’s Brewery, the tour headed down Lower Hillgate and Little Underbank. During the tour, the students were told about the heritage of the area and the ongoing regeneration taking place in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Stops were made at all the capital projects to explain the proposed scope of works to each building. The students were also shown the first completed project, 13 Little Underbank, where the building’s historic stone columns have now been reinstated through the Rediscovering the Underbanks project.
In the afternoon the students visited the One Stockport Hub and had the opportunity to look through historic maps and directories from the Local Heritage Library.
Visit Stockport Heritage Trust to find out more about the organisation, the Heritage Centre opening times and the Stockport Dungeon.
To find out more about the One Stockport Hub and Local Heritage Library visit Stockport Libraries.