Preserving the story of Gorton Central

Healthy Me Healthy Communities CIC is proud to lead Gorton Together, a two-year heritage project made possible thanks to over £150,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project celebrates the people, memories and social movements that have shaped Gorton Central and the wider East Manchester community.

From its industrial beginnings as Johnstone's Paint factory, through its years as a community centre and into its current role as a thriving community hub, Gorton Central has played an important role in local life for generations. It is a place where people have come together to organise, volunteer, support one another and create positive change.   

But Gorton Together is about more than preserving history. It's about understanding how communities are shaped, celebrating local knowledge and ensuring important stories are not lost.

Why heritage matters

Knowing the story of a place helps people feel connected to it. Sharing memories strengthens relationships, builds confidence and creates a sense of belonging.

Gorton Together recognises that local people hold valuable knowledge about their community. Through stories, photographs, artefacts and personal experiences, we're creating a richer understanding of the people, events and movements that have shaped Gorton over time.

By bringing residents together to share and record these stories, we're not only preserving heritage, but creating opportunities for connection, participation and pride in place.

About the project

Gorton Together will create a community archive shaped by local people. We'll collect oral histories, photographs, documents and artefacts that tell the story of Gorton Central, the neighbourhood around it and the social action that has helped define both. The archive is being developed in partnership with Manchester Library and Archive Services, helping preserve working-class heritage and make it accessible for future generations.

At HMHC, we believe lived experience is an important form of knowledge. Community Engagement and Involvement projects like Gorton Together demonstrate how local stories, memories and experiences can sit alongside more traditional forms of evidence to build a deeper understanding of what helps communities thrive.

What happened at the launch?

The project officially launched in March 2026, bringing together residents, volunteers, partners and stakeholders to celebrate the beginning of Gorton Together. Guests explored historic artefacts, shared memories, viewed photographs of Gorton's past and reflected on the people and events that have shaped the area over time.

The launch sparked conversations about community identity, local activism and the importance of preserving stories that might otherwise be lost. It also highlighted the strong sense of pride local people have in both Gorton’s history and its future.

What happens next?

The oral history collection phase begins in Autumn 2026. We'll be inviting local residents, former workers, volunteers and community members to share memories, photographs, documents and personal artefacts connected to Gorton Central.

These contributions will help create a community archive that reflects the many voices and experiences that have shaped the area. They will also inform future exhibitions, heritage activities, community events and a heritage timeline celebrating Gorton's unique story.

Our impact so far

In the first six months, Gorton Together has built strong community interest and laid solid foundations for the next phase of heritage collection.

What happens next?

Do you have memories, photographs, documents or artefacts connected to Gorton Central? We'd love to hear from you.

To find out more, please contact Amanda at amanda@hmhc.co.uk or visit HMHC to find out more.

Weekly social drop-in sessions take place every Monday from 1pm to 3pm at Gorton Central, Manchester, M18 8PG.

If you can't attend in person, you'll also be able to share your memories through our online form.