Metropolitan
Borough of Stockport, Manchester & the Northwest Region of England
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Graphics' Virtual Encyclopaedia of Greater Manchester
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Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside,
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Stockport
in the Greater
Manchester Metropolitan County
Districts
of Stockport
Cheadle
The district
of Cheadle is located in the south-west of the Metropolitan Borough
of Stockport, about 3 miles from Stockport town centre and 1½
miles from the City of Manchester boundary. It is one of the oldest
placenames within the borough and is known to have existed before
the 7th century.
Cheadle is really 2 words combined - originally in Celtic "Ced"
(pronounced "ched") meaning "wood" - the "Legh"
part (also meaning "wood") is an Old English term that
was added later in explanation - technically the town therefore
means "wood wood". By the time of Domesday in 1086 it
was known as "Cedde" and by c1165 it had become
known as "Chedle".
The 11th century Cheadle Cross identifies the old parish centre
in late Anglo-Saxon times. It is thought that Cheadle lies at
the junction of two Roman Roads; the road to the Roman fort of
Melandra is believed to have run to the west of Cheadle and that
another ran south-east.
Originally Cheadle was a predominantly rural community, but it
saw considerable growth and expansion towards the end of the 19th
Century. Increasing urbanisation saw the development of new turnpike
roads (or metalled toll roads), railways, trams and omnibuses.
Cheadle village centre is a traditional English town, with a distinctive
village "feel" about it, despite the A560 trunk road
running through its centre. It is an attractive place to shop,
with the reassuringly picturesque St Mary's Church and the village
green to offer a place of rest for the traveller and shopper alike.
Cheadle Community Website is at: http://www.cheadle-cheshire.net.
Cheadle
Hulme
Cheadle Hulme
is located in the South-west of the Borough of Stockport about
3 miles equidistant from Stockport town centre and the boundary
with Manchester. Cheadle Hulme developed from the merging of a
number of separate villages and hamlets - Lane End, Smithy Green,
Gill Bent, Grove Lane and Hulme Hall. Cheadle Hulme was once part
of the manor of Cheadle (Cedde) until around 1326.
The district was still known as Cheadle Moseley until the 20th
century. The word "Hulme" is derived from an
old Danish word "hulm" meaning "water meadow"
or an "island in the fen", therefore the whole placename
might be reasonably defined as meaning "a water meadow belonging
to the town of Cheadle".
Alternatively, the name "Cheadle" may have been derived
from the name of the Anglo-Saxon Saint Chad. The 1930s saw a considerable
swelling of the local population, (an increase of around 40%),
with an influx of new residents moving out of neighbouring Manchester.
Today it is a well sought after dormitory district for the people
of Manchester and Stockport.
Cheadle Hulme Village Website is at: www.cheadlehulme.net.
Bramhall
The district
of Bramhall lies to the south of the Borough of Stockport, about
4 miles from the boundary with Manchester and from Stockport town
centre. Bramhall has a long and celebrated history, with evidence
that there had been an Ancient British settlement in the area
and that part of an old Roman Road followed the line of Lumb Lane,
in all probability part of the road the fort in Manchester to
that in Buxton in Derbyshire. Entered in the Domesday Book in
1086 as "Bramale" from the Old English meaning
"nook or place where the broom tree grows". This
Civil Parish was originally in Cheshire in Stockport Ecclesiastical
Parish and in the Stockport Poor Law Union. In 1900 it became
part of Hazel Grove and Bramhall Urban District, and in 1974 became
part of Stockport Metropolitan Borough.
Before the railways came in the 1840's, the district was little
more than a hamlet at Bramhall Green, and a small group of cottages.
During this time, the principle industry was silk weaving. Bramhall
village was built up around the junction of three roads - Bramhall
Lane South, Ack Lane and Woodford Road. Bramhall has an attractive
town centre a wide diversity of building styles, from Tudor-style
buildings to Georgian and more modern styles.
Bramall Hall is an old Tudor manor house, and well worth visiting;
it is said to be one of best preserved black and white timber
buildings in Cheshire. Its oldest parts date from the 14th century,
though the estate itself dates back to around 1070 AD when William
the Conqueror subdued the north-west region; dividing the land
amongst his loyal followers, the manor of "Bramale" were given
to Hamo de Masci ("Massey" - he became the first baron
of Dunham Massey). In earlier Saxon times, (before the Conquest),
the estate formed part of the much bigger two neighbouring manors
of Brun and Hacun.
In the 12th century the manor passed to the Bromale family, and
stayed with them for 200 years until, through marriage, it passed
to Davenports, who resided at Bramall for 500 years. Only in recent
times has it come into the possession of Stockport. Also
See Bramhall Hall.
Marple
Marple village
is situated in the east of the Borough of Stockport, approximately
5 miles from Stockport Town Centre. Marple township was originally
in Cheshire. Its picturesque surroundings make it one of the most
attractive villages in the Borough and well worth a visit. Distinctive
features are the Peak Forest
Canal, the beautiful Goyt Valley, overlooked by the Peak
District National Park. Known as "Merpille"
by the early 13th century, there are at least two possible explanations
of the placename. One explanation is based on the two Old English
words "maere" and "pyll", together
meaning "a pool or stream near the boundary". Alternatively,
Marple, or "Merpel" as it was written when the
name first appeared on the pages of history, is believed to be
derived from either "maere hop hyll"meaning "the
hill at the boundary valley".
In early times it was an agricultural region with some d small-scale
manufacturing of woollen cloth. It was local entrepreneur, Samuel
Oldknow of Mellor, who introduced mechanised and industrialised
production methods that transformed the district. Oldknow established
the first Mill by the River Goyt, sank coal mines, built houses
for his workers, constructed new roads and was instrumental in
the creation of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield
Canals which meet at Marple Junction. From the 1930's onwards
there was a national decline in the cotton industry and Marple
ceased its textile production. Today, Marple is a much sought-after
location for living, and its canal connections, especially the
Marple flight of 16 locks, attract many visitors to watch boaters
or to walk the attractive and historic towpaths.
Edgeley
The district
of Edgeley is located centrally within the borough, and about
8 miles from Manchester city centre to the north-west. Once in
the Cheadle township, the name probably comes from the Old English
meaning "on the edge of a hill" which aptly describes
this location. Edgeley, or "Eddyshelegh", as
it was known in older times, can be traced back to the early part
of the 13th century. Castle Street, once the main arterial thoroughfare,
is now completely pedestrianised. Edgeley is also home to Stockport
County Football Club, (The Hatters), who have their ground in
the district.
SCFC, Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire
SK3 9DD. Tel : 0161-286-8888.
Their website is at: http://www.stockportcounty.com.
Reddish
Reddish is
located about 1½ miles north of Stockport town centre just
outside the Manchester boundary. A once thriving industrial centre
with Houldsworth and Albion Mills dominating its landscape and
workforce. Houldsworth Square is still the focal centre point
of Reddish. Known by 1212 as "Rediche" from Old
English words meaning "reed or reedy ditch", this township
or Civil Parish was at one time in Lancashire.
Apart from its industrial heritage, the Reddish Heritage Trail
offers fine opportunities for rural walks, as does the local Reddish
Vale Country Park, which is a place to observe wildlife and for
fishing. The Vale's beautiful surroundings are popular with picnickers
and walkers on the Trans-Pennine Trail that runs through the Park
on its route across Stockport. Houldsworth Mill has recently been
converted into commercial units for business enterprises, as well
as gymnasium and modern apartments. The Albion Mill looks down
on Stockport and the River Mersey from the top of Lancashire Hill
- it still operates as a working flour mill as it has done for
many years.
Hazel
Grove
Hazel Grove
is located towards the south-east of Stockport Borough a convenient
2.5 miles from Stockport town centre. Hazel Grove was known in
1690 as "Hesslegrove" and meaning, literally,
"a hazel grove", due to the proliferation of those hazel
trees in the locality. Locality in Bosden, Bramhall, Norbury,
Offerton, Torkington and Stockport townships, formerly known as
"Bullock Smithy", (a once famous resting place
on the coaching run from Manchester to Buxton), until 1836, when
the name "Hazel Grove" was revived.
Hazel Grove nowadays has a very large shopping centre along the
the A6 trunk road corridor running southwards out of the borough.
Local Torkington Park offers a peaceful and attractive location
for a day trips out, and its remote location makes Hazel Grove
a virtual gateway to the Peak
District, to Disley, Buxton and Lyme
Park. Its extensive range of fine restaurants and specialist
shops make Hazel Grove a popular shopping venue as well as for
fine dining nights out.
Romiley
The district
of Romiley lies in the north-east of the Borough of Stockport
on the edge of the Peak District, and located about 4 miles from
Stockport town centre.
Romiley has a long history - The Domesday Survey of 1086 called
the place "Rumelie" (roomy lea) meaning "a
spacious woodland clearing". This Parish was once in Cheshire,
in Stockport Ecclesiastical Parish and in the Stockport Poor Law
Union.
It was in the first years of the 19th century that Romiley developed
in its present day form, due in large part to the completion of
the Peak Forest Canal and the resultant improved transport infrastructure
and increase in industrial opportunities which came with it. Oakwood
Mill, for example, was built by the side of the canal in the mid-1830's
and became a major local employer. Further residential and industrial
development took place after the completion of the railway in
1863, and the local railway station still makes it possible for
commuters to work in Manchester and Stockport and to travel back
to Romily by train.
The Church Lane Conservation Area is located in the centre of
Romily close to the magnificent St Chads Church. Romiley Forum
is a major entertainment venue in the centre of the village which
offers an ongoing and changing programme of drama, dance, music
and comedy events and shows.
