Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project

Greenheys: Early abode of Thomas De Quincey (1785-1859)

Photograph courtesy of
Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives

The district called Greenheys lies to the south-west of Manchester city centre and its boundaries are often confused with Moss Side and Whalley Range.

Thomas De Quincey (1785-1859) who is regarded as one of Manchester’s greatest writers, came from a wealthy family and lived at Greenheys during his early years. He was something of a 'drop-out' who ran away from the Manchester Grammar school, became a penniless drug addict and wandered the streets of London. Having turned his life around, he wrote ‘Confessions of an English Opium Eater’, possibly his most famous book.