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Middleton, Greater Manchester
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Middleton | |
  Middleton shown within Greater Manchester |
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| Population | 45,580 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 166 mi (276 km) SSE |
| Metropolitan borough | Rochdale |
| Metropolitan county | Greater Manchester |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MANCHESTER |
| Postcode district | M24 |
| Dialling code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Heywood and Middleton |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester | |
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England.[1] It stands on the River Irk, 5.1 miles (8.2 km) north-northeast of the city of Manchester, and 4.7 miles (7.6 km) south-southeast of Rochdale, with a total resident population of 45,580.
Historically a part of Lancashire, Middleton took its name from being situated in the centre of several circumjacent settlements. In 1770, it formed a village of 20 houses, though its status rose during the 18th and 19th centuries into a thiving and populous seat of textile manufacture.
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The name Middleton first appears in 1194, and derives from the Old English middel-tūn, meaning middle farm, probably a reference to its central position between Rochdale and Manchester.[2] It owes much of its history to the Industrial Revolution, when it was a significant mill town, with links to the silk industry stretching back to the 19th century.
The town's local newspaper, the Middleton Guardian has a history going back to Victorian times.
JW Lees houses its brewery at Middleton Junction. The brewery owns several pubs in the Greater Manchester area.
The famous Warwick Mill is a monument to be seen from all around Middleton and was a famous venue for a workers revolt.
In recent times, Middleton has gained the most expensive Bus station in the world.[citation needed]
Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire since a very early time, Middleton was once an ecclesiastical parish of the hundred of Salford, and in Oldham poor law Union. In 1861 commissioners were established for the improvement of Middleton and Tonge townships or civil parishes. In 1878, the township of Alkrington and parts of the townships of Hopwood and Thornham were added to the area of the commissioners. It was in 1886 this territory was incorporated as a borough, giving it Borough status in the United Kingdom. In 1894 parts of Great Heaton and Little Heaton townships were added to the Municipal borough of Middleton, which was within the administrative county of Lancashire. In 1933 there were exchanges of territory between the borough of Middleton, the City of Manchester and Chadderton Urban District. Also in 1933 parts of Unsworth were amalgamated with Middleton, whilst part of it was moved to Royton Urban District. In 1974, though it was initially proposed that it become part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham,[3] Middleton became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale within the Metropolitan county of Greater Manchester.[1]
Middleton forms part of the Heywood and Middleton parliamentary constituency.
- Further information: Geography of Greater Manchester
At (53.5547, -2.1887) Middleton lies immediately north of Manchester; Chadderton and Royton are close to the east. The town of Rochdale lies to the north-northeast.
The M60 motorway passes to the south of Middleton. For purposes of the Office for National Statistics, Middleton forms part of the Greater Manchester Urban Area.[4]
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The parish church of St Leonard's was completed in 1524, incorporating two stone arches made of stonework from an earlier Norman church built on the site. A wooden Saxon church is believed to have occupied the site long before the Norman church was built, in around 1100.[5]
The present church was built by Sir Richard Assheton, in celebration of the knighthood granted to him by Henry VIII for his part in the Battle of Flodden Field, the largest battle ever fought between Scotland and England. The Flodden Window, in the sanctuary, is thought to be the oldest war memorial in the UK. It memorialises on it the names of the Middleton archers who fought at Flodden Field in 1513.
The church also has one of the finest collections of brasses in the area, including the only brass in the UK of a Civil War Officer in full armour, Major-General Sir Ralph Assheton.
Situated below the parish church, on Long Street, this was originally a coaching inn on the road between Chester and York. It is said to date from at least 1632.
Most of Middleton's other main buildings were designed by Edgar Wood, an influential English architect of his day.
Middleton has a busy leisure centre and also a civic centre. There are plans to re-develop both places to improve the area in which they are situated and the services they currently offer.
Middleton is also host to many local clubs for various sports, one of which is Middleton Cricket Club who are currently playing in the Central Lancashire Cricket League. Three golf clubs are within easy reach of the town centre; North Manchester, Manchester and Heaton Park.
Recently a brand new Middleton Bus Station was built in place of the old one, next to the Middleton Arndale shopping centre. The bus station is purported to have been (at time of construction) the most expensive bus station in Europe.[citation needed]
Middleton is located close to junction 19 of the M62 Motorway.
The nearest train station is Mills Hill railway station, in nearby Chadderton.
A list of schools and colleges that are situated in the Middleton area.
- Alkrington (County) Primary School
- Boarshaw Community Primary School
- Elm Wood Primary School
- Hollin Primary School
- Bowlee Park Community School
- Little Heaton Church of England Primary School
- Middleton Parish Church of England Primary School
- Parkfield Primary School
- St. Gabriels Church of England Primary School
- St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Primary School
- St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School
- St. Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School
- St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School
- St. Michael's Church of England Primary School
- Alderman Kay School
- Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School
- Middleton Technology School
- St. Annes Academy
- Hopwood Hall College - Middleton Campus, Rochdale Road. This was formerly De La Salle teacher training college from 1946 to 1989, the chapel of which was the architectural prototype for Liverpool's Roman Catholic cathedral. The chapel still exists but its spire is no longer topped with a cross.
The college benefits from its massive grounds and leisure facilities which were developed over many years by the De La Salle College. Hopwood Hall itself is in a very dilapidated condition and has been a cause for concern for many years.
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A list of notable people that are from, or have lived in, Middleton:
- Thomas Langley, b.1363 Cardinal of Roman Catholic Church. Bishop of Durham, Lord Chancellor of England, England's first foreign secretary. Born Middleton
- Steve Coogan, comedian and actor
- Paul Scholes, Manchester United and England footballer attended Cardinal Langley School
- Martin Coogan, radio DJ and front man of The Mock Turtles
- Brendan Coogan, TV presenter, best known for presenting BBC's Top Gear
- David Gedge, of the Indie bands The Wedding Present and Cinerama
- David May, former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers footballer
- Bob Smithies, TV presenter and author
- Samuel Bamford, political writer and poet, leader of Middleton weavers at Peterloo massacre
- Clint Boon, Inspiral Carpets band member and DJ
- Suranne Jones, Coronation Street actress
- Basil D'Oliveira, England cricketer, lived on Rochdale Road during his 2 or 3 years at the club in the early 1960s.
- Nedum Onuoha, Manchester City footballer.
- Jim Allen, controversial award-winning playwright of The Spongers and Raining Stones.
- John Richmond, fashion designer and former Cardinal Langley student
- Paula Wilcox, star of TV programme "The Lovers" wth Richard Beckinsale lived on Mainway
- Kenny Clements, ex Manchester City was from Middleton
- Tommy Booth, ex Manchester City was from Middleton
- Colin Crompton, comedian lived in Middleton
- Maartin Allcock, sessions guitarist and member of Fairport Convention was from Middleton
- Bernard Manning, Comedian, lived on Mainway
- Mike Harding, Comedian, Radio DJ, Musician lived on Mellalieu Street and Manchester New Road
- Travis Yates, Billy Elliot The Musical Star and Child Actor
- The Courteeners, Up and Coming band hail from Middleton
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
People from Middleton are sometimes known as "Moonrakers". According to tales this was due to poachers stashing their ill-gotten wares in ponds and pretending to rake the moon's reflection off the ponds, claiming to the authorities that they were trying to recover the green cheese (ie. the moon).[citation needed]
Langley, a large council housing estate in Middleton, was the setting and location for Ken Loach's 1993 film Raining Stones starring Bruce Jones. It was also the setting for the 1978 TV play, The Spongers. Both were written by Jim Allen who lived in Middleton and helped build the Langley estate as a young builder.
- ^ a b Anon (2003-07-31). A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County. Greater Manchester County Records Office. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
- ^ Nicolaisen, Gelling & Richards, The Names of Towns and Cities in Britain, p. 135
- ^ Philosophy on councils has yet to emerge. The Times. July 8, 1972
- ^ Office for National Statistics (2001). Census 2001:Key Statistics for urban areas in the North; Map 3 (PDF). statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2007-07-09.
- ^ The Church Building (HTTP). Middleton Parish Church. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
- Nicolaisen W. F. H., Gelling M., & Richards M. (1970). The Names of Towns and Cities in Britain. B. T. Batsford Ltd. ISBN 0713401133.
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