The Earthquake Thieves

It's the early hours on 9 November 1852 and families across Manchester have the sensation that thieves are breaking into their homes

Mister Plant, the curator of Peel Park in Salford, was in fear for his life.

Awoken in the night by his bedroom door flying open, he seized his gun and began charging round his house hunting the burglars.

Failing to find them, he went back to bed but kept one eye open until the dawn.

It was a pattern being repeated all over Manchester that night.

In Blackl…