Longsight, District of Manchester

Longsight
Districts & Suburbs of Manchester

The name of the District of Longsight is difficult to identify, and no definitive explanation is available. There is a legend, however, that one of the generals of Bonnie Prince Charlie was heard to remark as they approached from the south that it seemed "...a long sight to Manchester". But there is no evidence for this, and as charming and plausible an explanation as it may be, it should not be taken as authoritative.

The Old Roman Road to Buxton (the A6 - now Stockport Road) runs through the middle of the district and is one of its defining features. Along the line of this road it is located between Ardwick in the north, Rusholme in the west and Levenshulme in the South. Nineteenth century maps show the area as being split between the neighbouring districts of Gorton and Openshaw - thus Longsight is a relatively new district which was formerly an area known as Grindlow Marsh - it was incorporated into the City of Manchester in 1890.

Longsight really grew out of the Industrial Revolution and its recent history is indelibly tied to canals and railways, particularly the railway maintenance yards which cover much of the districts area. Unusually, Longsight had very few mills, though its growing population saw the building of many schools and churches to serve its workforce. Notable amongst these is the former First Church of Christ Scientist in Daisybank Road by Middleton Architect Edgar Wood. Another important chapel was the Longsight Free Christian Church on the corner of Plymouth Grove and Birch Lane. Also known locally and simply as the Unitarian Chapel it was at one time overseen by William Gaskell, husband of local novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. He had also been tutor to the father of writer Beatrix Potter.

Another major feature of the district was Belle Vue Tea Gardens, (later Zoological Gardens and nowadays merely a Speedway and Greyhound Track). Belle Vue was first built in the 1830s on Hyde Road and included a lake and a natural history museum. Over the next two decades, the gardens were extended and new features and entertainments added, including a maze, a ballroom, greyhound track, Italian Gardens,an Indian Grotto, an extensive zoo, a large funfair, miniature railway, speedway, bowling alley and concert hall. The author enjoyed many happy days at Belle Vue with his young family in the 1960s and 1970s. Belle Vue closed down in 1982. The site now (sadly) contains a tenpin bowling alley, a cinema multiplex and innumerable fast food restaurants.

Return to: Suburban Districts of Manchester

See also:

• Map of City Boundaries in 1838
• Map of City Boundaries in 1938
• Map of City Boundaries in 2002
• Gazetteer of Greater Manchester Place Names
• Longsight Directory Website

NOTE:
We have made reference to several sources in compiling this web page, but must make special mention of the Breedon Books' "Illustrated History of Manchester's Suburbs" by Glynis Cooper, of which we made particular use. Information about this book can be found on our Books About Manchester webpage.