Wythenshawe

Coordinates: 53°23′32″N 2°15′50″W / 53.3923°N 2.264°W / 53.3923; -2.264

Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe Hall, a former stately home and local landmark
Wythenshawe  Wythenshawe shown within Greater Manchester
Population	66,267 (2001 Census)
Metropolitan borough	City of Manchester
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANCHESTER
Postcode district	M22, M23
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Wythenshawe and Sale East
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Wythenshawe (pop. 66,000) is a district in the south of the city of Manchester in North West England.

Until 1931 the district formed a part of the administrative county of Cheshire. Wythenshawe, with an area of about 11 square miles, has often been referred to as one of the largest council housing estates in Europe,^[1] although now a significant proportion of the estate is privately owned housing.

The district comprises nine areas: Baguley, Benchill, Peel Hall, Newall Green, Woodhouse Park, Moss Nook, Sharston, Northenden and Northern Moor.

The boundaries of these areas have changed throughout the district's history, and previously known areas such as Brownley Green and Crossacres have since been assimilated into one of the areas listed above, though many residents still refer to them by name.

History

The name of Wythenshawe (pronounced /ˈwɪðənʃɔː/) seems to come from the Old English wiðign = "withy tree" and sceaga = "wood" (compare dialectal word shaw). This name originally referred only to Wythenshawe Hall or its site.

For many centuries the Tatton family owned Wythenshawe Hall and much land in what is now Wythenshawe. Manchester Corporation, which was in desperate need of land to house the city's rapidly increasing population, pressured Mr Tatton to part with the land in 1926. What was once farmland was transformed into one of the largest housing estates in Europe. Wythenshawe and Sale East is now a parliamentary constituency with five wards in Manchester and three in Trafford.

Immediately south of Wythenshawe is Manchester Airport, formerly called Ringway Airport. Before Manchester's Barton and Ringway airports were laid out, three farm fields lying between Rackhouse Road and Wythenshawe Road in what is now the north edge of Wythenshawe were used as Manchester (Wythenshawe) Aerodrome. This was the UK's first municipal airfield, and operated between April 1929 and early 1930. A converted barn was converted to act as the hangar and a farmhouse as the administration building. Temporary fuel pumps were installed.^[2]

Society and housing history

Wythenshawe is Manchester's largest district, a massive housing estate that was created in the 1920s intended as a "garden city" where an overspill population could be rehoused away from the slums and squalor of industrial Manchester.

The upheaval and resettlement of such large numbers of people from all the different communities took little account of social cohesion or community spirit, neither of which existed^{[original research?]}. The estate was built initially without shops, amenities or services, and there was very little employment directly to hand. Various residents' associations were set up to address these problems, but progress was very slow. Wythenshawe eventually expanded, and businesses were attracted to the area with the creation of the Sharston Industrial Estate and, later, the Moss Nook and Roundthorn industrial complexes. Wythenshawe gradually acquired all the amenities and facilities that the early planners forgot, including its schools, shops, pubs and churches. In the early 1970s, the Wythenshawe Forum was opened, which included a library, a swimming pool and a theatre. The area also got its own hospital, and Wythenshawe Hospital grew out of the earlier Baguley Hospital after the war in 1948.

A massive investment is dramatically improving social housing Willow Park Housing Trust has spent £140m improving 8000 homes, Parkway Green Housing Trust is investing £90m improving its 6000 homes.

Wythenshawe has 12 parks and 18 woodland areas including Wythenshawe Park which covers over 270 acres of green space and is home to Manchester’s only community farm. At the centre of the park is the historic Wythenshawe Hall with its Civil War and Tatton heritage. The park also has riding stables, a horticulture centre, tea rooms, children’s play area, athletics track, football pitches, tennis courts, bowls and golfing facilities. Other parks include Hollyhedge Park, Peel Hall Park, Painswick Park and Baguley Park. Northenden Riverside Park is the first new park to be established in the city this century.

Governance

The area used to comprise its own parliamentary constituency, having been Manchester Wythenshawe since the 1960s and represented by Alf Morris of the Labour Party. Prior to the 1997 election, the boundaries were redrawn and part of the neighbouring area of Sale included in the seat. The constituency is now called Wythenshawe and Sale East. In the same year, Alf Morris stepped down and was replaced by Paul Goggins. It is still considered a safe Labour seat, with Labour securing over 50% of the vote (and more than twice as many votes as its nearest rival) in the past three elections.

At the time of the 2001 UK Census Wythenshawe was divided into five local government wards: Baguley, Benchill, Northenden, Sharston, and Woodhouse Park. Each ward was represented by three local councillors, giving Wythenshawe 18 of the 99 seats on Manchester City Council. Following a review by the Boundary Committee for England published in 2003, the ward of Benchill was abolished, and its former territory was divided between the wards of Northenden, Sharston, and Woodhouse Park.^[3]

Wythenshawe typically returns all Labour councillors in local elections, although in the 2008 elections the Liberal Democrats gained a seat in Northenden.

Geography

Wythenshawe is situated approximately 8 miles (13 km) south of Manchester city centre and is the southernmost district within the Manchester boundary.

The district falls under the authority of Manchester City Council.

Public services

Wythenshawe is covered by the South Manchester Division of Greater Manchester Police. The Wythenshawe Neighbourhood Policing Team, which covers Sharston, North Benchill and Woodhouse Park is situated on Poundswick Lane.

In the media

Wythenshawe is the outdoor filming location for the Channel 4 series Shameless, which shows various shots of the local tower-blocks, housing estates and other architecture unique to this area. Wythenshawe also housed the outdoor sets for the show, which were built on private property. Production moved from Miles Platting and Ancoats (in East Manchester) in early 2007, following disruption to filming caused by local youths.

Economy

43,000 people work in Wythenshawe. It is home to Manchester Airport and UHSM Wythenshawe Hospital which are two of the largest employers in the area, and various national companies also have premises situated in Wythenshawe, including Virgin Media, F.Duerrs & Sons, and Wylex amongst others.

Many houses previously owned by the council are now under the control of local housing associations, such as Willow Park in Benchill. Responsibility for the housing stock continues to be transferred from the local council to housing associations in other areas of Wythenshawe as well. Through government grants and loans which were not available to local authorities, the housing associations have invested a great deal into the area and have improved the quality of the local housing stock.^{[citation needed]}

The Civic Centre in Wythenshawe. The Park Court flats at the far end were demolished in 2007.

Several greenfield and greyfield sites have been opened up to developers and there are a great deal of new housing developments within the town.

The town centre was renovated between 1999 and 2002, to include new stores and other new features. The main shopping area now features gates that are locked at night to prevent the vandalism that was seen in previous years. The tunnel going between the multi-storey car park and the large supermarket building now features a mosaic displaying various aspects of the town. The Forum centre, which houses a library, leisure centre, cafe and other amenities, has also been renovated in a more modern style. In 2007, further redevelopment continued when ASDA opened a new superstore with multi-storey car parking on the site of the old Co-operative store.

Notable people

• Caroline Aherne - Actress, Mrs Merton and The Royle Family
• Freddie Garrity - Singer,singer, frontman and comical element in the 1960s pop band Freddie and the Dreamers
• Edmund "Ed Banger" Garrity - Singer, Ed Banger and The Nosebleeds
• Eddie Large - Comedian, Little and Large comedy duo
• Nicholas Cochrane - Actor, Coronation Street
• Harry H Corbett - Actor, star of Steptoe and Son
• Jamie Draven - Actor, Ultimate Force, Billy Elliott, Messiah, Mobile
• Lewis McKenzie - Actor, There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
• Lorraine Cheshire - Actress, Early Doors, Life on Mars, Tittybangbang, Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise
• Melissa Porter - Television presenter, To Buy or Not to Buy, Escape to the Country
• Simon Gregson - Actor, Coronation Street
• Johnny Marr - Guitarist, The Smiths
• Jason Orange - Singer, Take That
• Lyn Paul - Singer, New Seekers
• Paul Young - Singer, Sad Café, Mike & the Mechanics
• Vini Reilly, Singer and guitarist with The Durutti Column
• Kirsty Howard, most notable for her charity work. Founder of the Kirsty Appeal
• Doreen Massey, geographer, author of 'Living in Wythenshawe' in The Unknown City, Contesting Architecture and Social Space (ISBN 0262024713)
• Andrew Ellis - Actor, This Is England, Heartbeat
• Dr. John Blades, Author, Senior Lecturer, Durham University, UK. critical studies of James Joyce and John Keats: The Poems and Wordsworth and Coleridge: Lyrical Ballads.
• Rob Gretton, (January 15, 1953 - May 15, 1999) DJ, Manager Joy Division, New Order, Instrumental in setting up Factory Records, Manchester's influential independent record label, Co founder of The Hacienda Club, Manchester, Record Label owner - Robs Records - (released The Doves first single)
• Mike Rossi, Guitarist, Slaughter and the Dogs
• Wayne Barrett, Vocalist, Slaughter and the Dogs

See also

• List of large council estates in the UK

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• http://www.manchester.gov.uk/a_to_z/service/1316/wythenshawe_park Wythenshawe Park
• http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/world/europe/10britain.html NY Times article about Wythenshawe youth
• http://www.wythit-heritagetrail.btik.com/ The Wythenshawe Heritage Trail
• http://www.wythit.com/wythit/Local_Activities/Local_History/ Wythenshawe local community website
• http://www.wythenshawehistory.btik.com/p_TEST.ikml history of Wythenshawe