Handforth is a village situated between Wilmslow, Heald Green, and Styal in Cheshire, England. Handforth is sometimes known as "the gateway to Cheshire"[citation needed] due to the fact that for those travelling South from Manchester, Handforth is the first settlement in Cheshire they pass through.
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Demographics
According to the 2001 Census data, the Handforth Ward has an area 496 ha, population 8014 (48% male, 97% white, 79% Christian) living in 3,692 households.
There is a large Manchester overspill council estate in Handforth, Spath Lane, built in the early 1960s to house people from Victorian slums and areas of Hulme in Manchester. As of late, it has been acquired by Contour Housing Association and they have since tidied up the estate.
Facilities
The main thoroughfare is Wilmslow Road. In early 2006, this street, which houses most of Handforth's shops, was restructured. Road-side car parking was increased, and a further pedestrian crossing (traffic lights) was added.
The village green was built-over in the early 1970s to create the health centre, library and car park.
There are currently five pubs: the Waggon and Horses on the edge of Cheadle, the Bull's Head, the Mermaid, the Freemason's and the Railway. A sixth, the Greyhound (formerly a pub/steak-house) closed in the late 1990s. It was demolished and is now[when?] a block of flats.
Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Bhs are situated off the A34 at Handforth Dean which is a major centre for shopping in the local area.
Handforth railway station has won awards in the past[citation needed], and is largely maintained by the Friends of Handforth Station group. The double-track electrified line, opened in 1842, runs from Manchester Piccadilly through to Crewe via Levenshulme, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport and Wilmslow.
Situated in Hall Road, Handforth Hall dates back to 1562[citation needed][citation needed] and is a beautiful black and white timber Tudor building. It had fallen into ruin but has now been restored. Originally named Honford Hall after the local feudal family the De Honfords.
Schools
Handforth is served by three primary schools, the Wilmslow Grange, Dean Oaks Primary and St Benedict's RC Primary. The nearest high school is in Wilmslow.
Churches
There are three places of worship: St. Mary's Methodist Church, St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church and St. Chad's Parish Church of England.
Parks
Meriton Road Park, opened in 1935, is situated to the rear of the Paddock Shopping Centre in the middle of the village. It provides the community with a fairly large recreation area which until the mid 1980s was the site for the Handforth Gala - an event which drew thousands from the surrounding area, mainly to see the Piccadilly 261 roadshow. Friends of Meriton Road Park is a community group formed in 2005 in response to concerns about the deterioration of the amenity. The group works closely with the local community and council to restore the fortunes of the park. 2009 should see the construction of a multi-sport court in place of the run-down tennis courts whilst a path will link the park directly to Wilmslow Grange School. There is also a possibility that a miniature railway may be moved to the park, having previously been resident at the Royal Schools For The Deaf's Cheadle site. The group is also researching the history of the park and have appealed to present and former residents for photos, cuttings and recollections.
External links
- Friends of Handforth Station
- Friends of Meriton Road Park
- Handforth Hall
- Saint Benedict's Roman Catholic Church
- Saint Chad's Parish Church of England
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