Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Manchester Gnome Island
AO Edited

Gnome Island

Since 2017, the remains of Stretford's industrial past have been occupied by a collection of gnomes.

Manchester, England

Added By
AdOYo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Gnome Island   Ardfern
Gnome Island   Ardfern
  Razer / Atlas Obscura User
  ellisstapleton92 / Atlas Obscura User
Gnome Island   David Dixon
Gnome Island   Ardfern
Gnome Island   Ardfern
Gnome Island   Bradley Michael
  Razer / Atlas Obscura User
Gnome Island   David Dixon
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Opened in 1894, the Manchester Ship Canal linked Manchester to the Irish Sea near Liverpool. After six years of work and construction, the 36-mile canal made Manchester’s docks the third-largest in the country, despite the fact the city is 40 miles inland. The canal remained in industrial use for almost 100 years until 1984 when the docks closed, as container ships and other industrial vessels became too large for the canal.

Even 30 years after its closure, the concrete "islands" that held the structures along the canal remained. It was on one such island that in 2017,  the outgrown canal welcomed a much smaller guest than its previous behemoths, a single gnome.

Gnorman, a trailblazer of sorts, arrived on the abandoned concrete island in 2017 and claimed it as his gnomestead. Joining her husband shortly after was Gnorma, at which point the dwarfish dominion was well and truly established. Within no time, the cone-hatted couple welcomed twins, Gnoah and Gnatalie, and enlisted the much-needed help of Gnorman’s parents Gnellie and Gnorbert, who still live with the happy family.

As with many family homes, the island is visited yearly by its very own gnomish Santa Claus over the Christmas period and the pintsized colony continues to grow. Gnoddy and Gneddy, a same-sex gnome couple who moved to the island in 2020 were heavily damaged during an act of vandalism.

Though Gnome Island sits on the Salford side of the canal, it is best viewed from the Trafford banks since this is the direction the gnomes face. They can be seen from the canalside, as well as from the passing water taxis.

Related Tags

Islands Outsider Art Statues

Community Contributors

Added By

AdOYo

Edited By

ellisstapleton92, Razer

  • ellisstapleton92
  • Razer

Published

January 3, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6525708
  • https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6525671
  • https://backontheroadagainblog.com/2018/01/25/gnome-island-salford-quays-surprisingsalford-26/amp/
Gnome Island
Clippers Quay
Manchester, England, M17 1WS
United Kingdom
53.466836, -2.287354
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Irwell Sculpture Trail

Salford, England

miles away

Salford Lads' Club

Salford, England

miles away

Lark Hill Place

Salford, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Manchester

Manchester

England

Places 49
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Irwell Sculpture Trail

Salford, England

miles away

Salford Lads' Club

Salford, England

miles away

Lark Hill Place

Salford, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Manchester

Manchester

England

Places 49
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Gummy bear statue

    Boadilla del Monte, Spain

    El Oso Verde (The Green Bear)

    This larger-than-life lime green gummy bear sits in the middle of a roundabout in Spain.

  • St. Paul’s Island.

    Malta

    St. Paul’s Island

    This tiny island is recognized as the site where St. Paul landed after a shipwreck in the first century.

  • Marble tortoise statues on Kusu Island

    Singapore

    Tortoises of Kusu Island

    Legend holds that a tortoise turned itself into this island to save two shipwrecked sailors.

  • 'Bar Roma'

    Randers, Denmark

    'Bar Roma'

    This enormous aluminum figure in Denmark lying in a plunged position, echoes the global debate on canceled historical statues.

  • What does the sign say?

    Canadian, Texas

    Gene Cockrell's Yard Art

    Iconic figures in concrete and steel in the High Plains of Texas.

  • Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive

    Dallas, Texas

    Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive

    A symbol of Texas pride.

  • Gennarino Scugnizzo

    Capri, Italy

    Gennarino Scugnizzo

    This bronze boy sits on one of Capri's rocky cliffs, waving at the passing boats.

  • ‘Corporate Head’

    Los Angeles, California

    ‘Corporate Head’

    This sculpture presents commentary on a life in pursuit of profits.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.