Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, &c./Part 1/Hanging Ditch, Manchester
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HANGING DITCH, MANCHESTER.
Local tradition declares that it derived this ominous name from having been the scene of the execution of several Romish clergy and recusants in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. But there are two very strong reasons against this being the fact:—First, there is no record of any execution in Manchester on the ground of recusancy or treason during the whole of that reign; second, there was formerly a "hanging bridge" over the stream, which has left its name and some portion of one of the piers remaining. Now, Hanging Bridge needs no search for a derivation; and we can hardly doubt that the ditch below the Hanging Bridge soon took the name of the Hanging Ditch.