Chorlton-cum-Hardy

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Coordinates: 53°26′31″N 2°16′37″W / 53.442°N 2.277°W / 53.442; -2.277

Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Chorlton
Chorlton-cum-Hardy shown within Greater Manchester
OS grid reference	SJ815935
Metropolitan borough	Manchester
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANCHESTER
Postcode district	M21
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
European Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Manchester Withington
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of the city of Manchester, in North West England. It is known locally as Chorlton. It is situated about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Manchester city centre. Pronunciation varies: "chórlton" and "chol'-on" are both common.

Historically, Chorlton was a village on Lancashire's southern border with Cheshire, and separate from Manchester. It was incorporated into the city of Manchester in 1904. Chorlton-cum-Hardy should not be confused with Chorlton-on-Medlock, which is a different area close to the centre of Manchester. Chorlton borders Stretford, Sale, Didsbury, Withington, Whalley Range and Old Trafford. The River Mersey runs past Chorlton along its southern boundary.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Toponymy 1.2 From the Middle Ages to the Victorian Period 1.3 Twentieth century developments 2 Governance 2.1 Political manoeuvring 3 Religion 3.1 Churches 3.2 Islam and Buddhism 4 Annual events 5 Creative and performing arts 6 Notable residents and visitors 6.1 Modern times 6.2 Late twentieth century 6.3 Popular music 7 Sport and recreation 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

History

Toponymy

The name Chorlton-cum-Hardy may be derived from the Old English Ceorlatun-cum-Ard-Ea, meaning "the settlement of ceorls [Saxon freemen] by trees near the water". On some early maps Hardy is shown as a separate, adjoining settlement,^[1] perhaps consistent with a slightly different Old English derivation of the name suggested by the Institute for Name-Studies: "Ceolfrith's settlement [at] Hearda's island".^[2] According to the place-name dictionaries of E. Ekwall (1936) and A. D. Mills (1991) it is probable that the derivation from 'Ceolfrith's tun' is the correct one for Chorlton-cum-Hardy, while the other three Chorlton place-names are from 'Ceorla tun'. Hardy was a separate settlement to the south and its name was only combined with Chorlton when it became necessary to distinguish this township from Chorlton-on-Medlock.

From the Middle Ages to the Victorian Period

In mediaeval times the district formed part of the Manor of Withington (itself dependent on the Manor of Manchester). Hough End which originally belonged to Chorlton was removed in 1641. Hough End Hall replaced the old manor house of Withington and is now a listed building. The estimated population ca. 1640 was 85, and the 1811 census gives it as 619: by 1851 it had only increased to 761.

Until the last quarter of the 19th century the population of Chorlton had increased very little though the development of public transport through Stretford had some effect on Chorlton. The building of Wilbraham Road to connect Fallowfield with Edge Lane in Chorlton in 1869 established the nucleus of a new residential area at the Barlow Moor Road crossing. A railway line from Manchester Central through Chorlton was built by the Midland Railway, and Chorlton station opened on 1 January 1880^[3]. This led to considerable residential and commercial development (effectively the establishment of a new village centred on the Barlow Moor Road / Wilbraham Road crossroads, north-east of the original village with a centre at Chorlton Green and Beech Road)^[4][5]

Because the county boundary was originally determined by the course of the Mersey it traditionally did not exactly follow the river when it changed course: this happened occasionally in the period before improved flood control measures were introduced in the valley. Thus the Bridge Inn (commonly known as Jackson's Boat) was once in Chorlton. The Mancheter / Trafford boundary has now been made to follow the present course of the river. The crossing here was originally by ferry boat fastened to a chain: in 1816 this was replaced by a wooden footbridge. By 1881 a new steel bridge had been built due to the damage caused to the old bridge and the old one was washed away altogether in October 1881.^[6]

Twentieth century developments

The further growth of Chorlton was aided by the tramway lines of the Manchester Corporation in the years before the First World War: a terminus for these was built on Barlow Moor Road a short distance south of the junction with High Lane. Chorltonville was developed as a garden suburb south of Chorlton Brook: the houses are mostly large and semi-detached and individual in design, standing on bending tree-lined roads. Alexandra Park Aerodrome (1917-1924) was Manchester's first major airfield and was located just east of the Midland railway overbridge on Mauldeth Road.^[7]

After the World War came a period of residential development to the east of the 'new village' either side of Wilbraham Road and a council housing estate at Merseybank. From the 1960s onwards the story is more varied and includes a council estate on the southern side of Chorlton, at Nell Lane near Southern Cemetery; a small shopping precinct at Wilbraham Road and patchy redevelopment in various small areas. Chorlton Green and a small surrounding area have been designated as a conservation area by the City Council. Chorlton Park Apartments have been recognised for the quality of their design.

Governance

The district was a township of the ancient parish of Manchester in the Salford Hundred of Lancashire. From 1876 to 1894 it was part of the district administered by the Withington Local Board and from 1894 to 1904 part of Withington Urban District. Chorlton was absorbed into the City of Manchester in August 1904, together with the rest of the urban district.^[8] A separate Withington Committee of the City Council existed between 1904 and 1914.

Chorlton ward is now (in 2008) represented by two Labour councillors - Sheila Newman and Val Stevens - and one Liberal Democrat councillor - Paul Ankers. Chorlton Park ward (which incorporates the Mersey Bank and Nell Lane estates of south and south-east Chorlton) is represented by three Liberal Democrat councillors - Tony Bethell, Norman Lewis and Bernie Ryan.

Political manoeuvring

In 2006 Lib Dem Cllr Angela Gallagher defected to the Labour Party citing John Leech's Christie Hospital campaign as a major factor in her decision. Gallagher had donated over £22,000 to his General Election campaign fund.^[9] Gallagher subsequently lost her seat in the 2007 "Manchester local elections". http://www.manchester.gov.uk/elections/types/candidates.htm 2007.  by 42 votes to Liberal Democrat Paul Ankers.

Religion

Churches

The first church in Chorlton was south of the present Chorlton Green (the churchyard is still in existence next to the Bowling Green Hotel). This Chapel of St Clement was established very early in the 16th century and was later replaced by a brick-built chapel (in 1780). By 1860 there was a need for a larger church building and the new St Clement's Church was built at Edge Lane (opened 1866). Sir William Cunliffe Brooks was a benefactor to the township of Chorlton where he withdrew support from the building of the new church: two of his daughters who died in infancy are buried at the old church.^[10] The old church remained for another 90 years and was then demolished though the ground plan is still apparent (it was excavated in the 1990s). A second Anglican parish in Chorlton was established in 1898: this was St Werburgh's in the newer part of the suburb. The church (on Wilbraham Road) was built in 1900-02.^[11]

Methodism was probably introduced to Chorlton in the 1790s and a chapel was built in Beech Road ca. 1805. This was replaced by a larger one in 1827 and (on a new site) the present Methodist Chapel in 1873. The first Congregational Chapel was opened in 1883 and replaced by the present one in 1894 (this is now the United Reformed Church). Other denominations also established churches in Chorlton: the Unitarians in 1901; the Primitive Methodists in 1902; the Baptists in 1907; the Presbyterians in 1908; and the Emmanuel Free Church in 1909. Later still the Evangelical Church came into existence at Ivygreen Road (see http://www.chorltonevangelical.org/ Chorlton Evangelical Church).

Roman Catholicism was re-introduced to Chorlton (following its suppression in the 16th century Reformation) when Irish immigrants arrived in the mid-19th century. The parish of St Augustine was established in 1890 at the "Priory", Needham Avenue. Ten years later the priest moved into an existing building in High Lane which remained St Augustine's Church until 1927 (the site was on the corner of Church Road, now Chequers Road). Then it was replaced by the present church with a different dedication, further west on High Lane. This is the Church of St Mary and St John but commonly known as St John's (the changes in dedication were influenced by the existence of St Augustine's, Chorlton-on-Medlock, and St Mary's, Mulberry Street, Manchester).^[12]

Chorlton has been since 1847 in the Anglican Diocese of Manchester and Archdeaconry of Manchester; and since 1850 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford. Between 1541 and 1847 it was in the Diocese of Chester and before that in the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry.

Islam and Buddhism

Present day Chorlton has a considerable population of Muslims, mostly of South Asian origin. There is a mosque in the nearby suburb of Whalley Range and an Islamic High School for Girls at High Lane in Chorlton. There are relatively small numbers of Buddhists: one of their establishments is also in High Lane in the former Primitive Methodist Chapel.

Annual events

Every year on a Sunday at the end of June or early July, Chorlton is home to a summer event called the Beech Road Festival which resembles garden fêtes of old. On the day of the festival stalls are set up along a large part of Beech Road, selling arts, crafts and foods of all kinds and on Chorlton Green itself there are more stalls and a traditional tug-of-war game is played between teams from most of the older pubs around the area. In Beech Road Park, at the opposite end of the road to the Green, there are more stalls, a small fairground, and a stage with live music. In recent years these festival days have proved highly popular with large crowds turning out, especially on hotter days. The profits from the event are used to improve such facilities as those provided in the park.

More recently a Chorlton Arts Festival^[13] has taken place each year in the spring with a varied programme of events all over Chorlton in a nine-day period; a Chorlton Food & Drink Festival has also been instituted in early October.

Another event, called the Unity Festival takes place soon after the Beech Road Festival in Chorlton Park, but has a more political purpose; to encourage racial and cultural unity in the area. The event includes performances by young dancers, musicians and singers and has a small collection of stalls also.

On the first Saturday in May^[14] morris dancing is performed on the Green.

Creative and performing arts

The area is well-populated with creative people such as artists, writers and actors, as the area is seen by some as being more 'bohemian' than others.^{[citation needed]} Until the end of January 2009 Chorlton was the location for the Cosgrove Hall animation studios where the children's series Chorlton and the Wheelies (named after the area) and Dangermouse were both created, amongst many other titles. The area is also frequently used by film crews for TV dramas and comedies^{[citation needed]}, as it retains much of its original Victorian architecture.

Notable residents and visitors

Modern times

• Saint Ambrose Barlow, a member of the notable Barlow family, was born at Barlow Hall. He suffered martyrdom for his faith.
• Charles Peace, a notorious petty criminal who killed P. C. Nicholas Cock in 1876 (at the Old Trafford end of Manchester Road). On conviction he was hung at Leeds.
• Alderman James Herbert Dawson, one of the promoters of the garden suburb at Chorltonville, was a long-serving councillor in Manchester and in Lytham St Annes. ^[15].

Late twentieth century

Notable residents have included locally-born actor Warren Clarke who lived at 8, Grindley Avenue, former Manchester City footballer Nicky Reid, who was also brought up locally, and Freddie Garrity (of Freddie and the Dreamers). The area also attracts many soap actors who often stay temporarily in the area due to its reputation, such as Naomi Radcliffe, Craig Charles and Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Coronation Street actress Doris Speed lived in Sibson Road and for over twenty years she played Annie Walker - landlady of the Rovers Return in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

It was in Chorlton-cum-Hardy that George Best lodged when he first came to Manchester, also on Sibson Road in the house next door but one to Doris Speed's house.

Quentin Crisp died in Chorlton-cum-Hardy shortly before his 91st birthday, on the eve of a nationwide revival of his one-man show. His body was cremated with a minimum of ceremony, and his ashes flown back to New York and scattered over Manhattan.

Matthew Williamson, an English fashion designer, was born in Chorlton.^{[citation needed]}

Popular music

Chorlton-cum-Hardy railway station was long assumed to be the venue for a notable concert in 1964 by a number of visiting blues musicians including Sonny Boy Williamson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.^[16] However recent research by C. P. Lee has identified Alexandra Park railway station as the actual location.^[17]

The Bee Gees spent nearly eight years of their childhood living in 51, Keppel Road, Chorlton: in 1958 they moved to Australia. The street also lent its name to a Bee Gees documentary in 1997. The Stone Roses were a Chorlton band, with guitarist John Squire living and working for Cosgrove Hall in the suburb. Mike Pickering of M People lived on Ryebank Road. The members of the indie-rock band Polytechnic are also residents of the area.

Dunstable-born artist and musician Damon Gough, known as Badly Drawn Boy is also resident here. In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, he was quoted as saying "Chorlton's where home is. It's the place I would want to be if the world ended". Jim Noir, another musician based in Chorlton, recorded his album 'Tower of Love' in his own house. Another local musician who resides in Chorlton is Mark Collins of long surviving rock band The Charlatans.

Sport and recreation

Broughton Park Rugby Union F.C., is one of the oldest rugby union clubs in England and was established in 1882, just one year after the Lancashire County Rugby Union was founded and eleven years after the formation of the national Rugby Football Union. The club has had a number of different grounds in its time, mainly in the Salford/Prestwich area, but also in the south of Manchester. Since 2004 its present new facility is at Hough End in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. Originally the club had only one senior side, but now fields four senior sides and supported by one Colts (U19), four youth (U13-U17) and four mini (U8-U12) teams; a total involvement of some 220 players each week. Broughton Park R.F.C. is the City of Manchester's highest placed representative in the Rugby Union Leagues.^[18]

Chorltonville After the Second World War the Owners' Committee sold off the tennis courts and recreation area. The tennis courts were absorbed by gardens of adjoining Chorltonville houses, and the recreation area became a private football ground, currently owned by Chorlton & West Didsbury Football Club^[19].

Cricket and golf South West Manchester Cricket Club is one of the oldest in the Manchester area and has four adult teams who all play in the Manchester and District Cricket Association: the ground is at Ellesmere Road North. Chorlton cum Hardy Cricket Club is based at Hardy Lane. Barlow Hall serves as the club house of the Chorlton-cum-Hardy Golf Club, with a bar and a sizable dining room.^[20]

Parks, water parks and bowling greens Stretford Stadium, within Longford Park, is the home of Trafford Athletic Club. Most of the area of the park is in Stretford but the eastern part is in Chorlton with an entrance on Ryebank Road. Also in the park are tennis courts and bowling greens. An area of Chorlton Park was used many centuries ago for horse racing. Bowls has been for many years a popular sport in the area: many of the greens are attached to public houses, e.g. the Lloyds Hotel and the Bowling Green Hotel. The Recreation Ground (Beech Park) was opened in 1896 having been donated to the community by Lord Egerton. Chorlton Water Park is on the north side of the Mersey: access from southern Chorlton is via Maitland Avenue. It may be reached from the southern banks of the River Mersey by a footbridge.

See also

• Chorlton-cum-Hardy railway station
• Southern Cemetery, Manchester
• Merseybank
• Chorltonville
• Chorlton Park (public park)

References

Notes

Bibliography (in reverse order of date)

External links

• "Pictures of Chorlton today". Aidan O'Rourke (Eyewitness in Manchester). http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/001ewm/045_chorlton/index.html. 
• Chorlton Civic Society. "The civic society, an independent organisation campaigning for the welfare of Chorlton and its surroundings". http://www.chorltoncivicsociety.org.uk/. 
• "Original Chorltonville Brochure". http://www.chorltonville.org/estate/brochure/index.htm. 
• "Old photographs of Chorlton". http://www.oldchorlton.me.uk/html/chorlton-cum-hardy.html. 
• "Chorlton's Councillors on Manchester City Council". Manchester City Council. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/localdemocracy/councillors/chorlton.htm. 
• "Chorlton Website (various aspects of life in Chorlton including local forum". http://www.chorlton.co.uk. 
• "GENUKI article on Chorlton". http://www.genuki.org.uk:8080/big/eng/LAN/ChorltoncumHardy/. Retrieved on 2009-04-27. 

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