Together Trust Archive

In 1872 the first nine boys were sent from the Manchester Refuges to Marchmont Home , Belleville, under the care of Annie Macpherson . They were the first of 2129 children to make the long trip to Canada.  Plaque outside Marchmont Home, Belleville

It’s that time of the year again when we open our gates and welcome everyone to our 94th Cheadle Festival . Over the years it has been called the Belmont Garden Fete and the Bethesda Festival , but however it is known it still aims to create a fun day out to the local community. Ticket from 1939

Harriet Smethurst was Matron of the orphan homes at Cheetham Hill from 1886 until 1923. Within this time she made 20 round trips across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, in charge of the various emigration parties of girls from Manchester. In the 1896 July edition of the Children’s Haven , Harriet gives a detailed description of one of these trips.  Girls’ Emigration Party 1898