Manchester cemetery tours tell stories of famous residents
- Published
Morrissey was inspired to write his song Cemetery Gates by a visit to Southern Cemetery
The first guided tours to be held in a cemetery in Manchester have taken place.
Opened in 1879, Southern Cemetery, Chorlton, is the largest municipal cemetery in the UK.
Many renowned Mancunians are buried there, including British aviator John Alcock, who made history with the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 1919.
The cemetery also provides the final resting place for football legends Sir Matt Busby and Billy Meredith.
Manchester's first multi-millionaire, industrialist and philanthropist John Rylands and Factory Records co-founder Tony Wilson are also buried at Southern Cemetery.
Emma Fox, who led the tours, said: "You really can tell the whole story of Manchester just in this beautiful cemetery."