Clayton
Districts & Suburbs of Manchester

CLAYTON
The name Clayton almost certainly derives from the simple Anglo-Saxon meaning "a settlement (or town) built on clay". As early as the 12th century there was a Clayton Hall, owned by the Byrons (of whom the poet Lord Byron was a descendant). It is geographically bounded by the districts of Beswick, Miles Platting and Bradford. The River Medlock and Sunnybank Brook run through it and the Ashton Canal runs along its southern limit.

Clayton Hall was rebuilt in Tudor times as a moated manor house and remained in the Byron family until it was sold to Sir Humphrey Chetham in 1620 - he died there in 1653. He was to be the founder of Chetham's Library and School near Manchester Cathedral.

Its proximity to the Ashton Canal inevitably meant that Clayton was transformed by the Industrial Revolution and the district became a major link in the transportation system as well as having a chemical works which constantly polluted the River Medlock. The newly formed Newton Heath Football Club had its grounds in Bank Street, opposite the chemical works - in 1902 it was to become Manchester United Football Club, now probably the most famous football club in the world.

In the latter part of the 20th century the area saw significant decline and a drastic reduction in its population. For years it was not considered a very desirable place to live with high incidence of crime, unemployment and deprivation.

Clayton is now part of the East Manchester Regeneration Scheme and has benefitted from the input of significant funding and new employment opportunities resulting in the renewal of much of its dereliction by the development and building of the City of Manchester Stadium and other sporting complexes as part of Sportcity, built to host the XVII Commonwealth Games in 2002. This, and other educational initiatives are planned to see the complete rejuvenation of the district over the next decades. The economic development of the district has been considerably enhanced by the building of the major new Asda Hypermarket and the increased trade which it now attracts into the area.

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

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.