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The city’s worker bee motif has been part of the city’s heraldry for more than 150 years as an emblem of the industrious Mancunian spirit. During 2017, it took on an even more powerful meaning as a symbol of unity following the tragic events of May 22 Link .

Bee in the City was a large-scale public art event which took place in Manchester between 23 July and 23 September 2018. More than 100 large, fibreglass bee sculptures were placed at the city’s landmarks and some lesser-known “undiscovered gems”. Each of the bees, which stand 1½ metres in height, was decorated with its own unique design, created by regional professional, emerging and amateur artists to celebrate the unique buzz of Manchester, from its industrial heritage to its vibrant music scene (Link Bee in the City website).

Alongside the event, young people from schools, colleges and youth groups across Manchester participated in a learning programme linked to the curriculum. A further 131 smaller bee sculptures were decorated as part of the learning programme and were included on the trail during the summer of 2018. The designs explored various themes, from equality and diversity to local history and bee conservation Link (Wild in Art).

At the end of the event, the majority (77) of the large bees were auctioned to raise funds for the We Love MCR Charity Link . All 131 “Little Bees” created by children and young people as part of the Learning Programme were returned to the schools and youth groups that designed them.

Clayton Hall is a Grade II* listed manor house (English Heritage Building ID: 387908 Link British Listed Buildings), partly 15th and partly 17th century. It is a rare example of a moated, medieval site; the rectangular island measuring about 66m x 74m which forms the moated site of the original hall (and a late-14th/early-15th century chapel in the north-west corner that was demolished in the early 18th century) is a scheduled Ancient Monument (Link National Heritage List for England). The Hall site is hidden by trees within the small but well used Clayton Park Link , at the side of Ashton New Road.

The original hall was built for the Clayton family in the 12th Century. It was rebuilt in the 15th century with either a quadrangular plan or one with three wings. It was mostly demolished when a new house was built in the 17th century. Additions were made in the 18th century and the hall was restored in 1900.

Externally the building is finished mainly in red brick, with some square-panelled timber framing at first floor level. Viewed from the front, the right hand section is the older part of the building, dating back to the 15th century and altered in the 16th and 17th century. Until recently, it was occupied by private tenants. Rooms in the later part of the building have been dressed in Victorian style and the hall is advertised as a “Living History Museum” Link .

The hall is now owned by Manchester City Council and is open to the public on the third Saturday of each month (and Heritage Open Days), under the auspices of the Friends of Clayton Park.

For more information:
Link Friends of Clayton Park
Link Wikipedia
Link National Heritage List for England