Heaton Moor

Governance

Heaton Moor is in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, mainly within the Heatons North ward. It was originally in the township of Heaton Norris, in the Salford hundred of Lancashire. Following the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act it was administered by Heaton Norris Local Board as part of the Stockport Poor Law Union. In 1913, Heaton Moor, as part of Heaton Norris, was absorbed into Stockport, in the county of Cheshire.

Geography

The land in Heaton Moor is predominantly flat with no rivers or streams. The soil is black and fertile as expected from land that was previously peat moor. Heaton Moor has little public open space with the exception of Heaton Moor Park and Thornfield Park, but because of its tree-lined roads and the building line set well back from the street, it gives the impression of having more space, and a Victorian business class style.

Today the conservation area roads including Clifton Road and Mauldeth Road make up what is locally known as "Millionaire's Row".

History

Before the opening of the railway, Heaton Moor was agricultural land in Heaton Norris. The land supported pigs, cattle and cereal. Heaton Norris was part of the Manchester barony of the Grelley family, but between 1162 and 1180 it belonged to William le Norreys. In the early 13th century, Heaton Norris was a sub manor of Manchester, it encompassed all of the Four Heatons. It was escheated (i.e. reverted) to the manor of Manchester around 1280. In 1322, there were 32 dwellings suggesting a population of 150, the ten freeholders of the escheated manor had the right to graze on common pasture and to cut wood. Evidence of this pre-railway existence can be seen from the name Shaw Farm, Shaw Fold farm, and the road pattern Heaton Moor Lane, Shaw Lane, Shaw Fold Lane, Pin Fold, Green Lane. Parsonage Road and Cranbourne Grove follow the lines of ancient tracks.

The opening of Heaton Chapel railway station marked a turning point in development of the area. Land was acquired, and streets were planned. The houses and new buildings along Heaton Moor Road were of a grandiose scale with generous gardens. They are set back from the road, and have imposing stone gate posts. The new residential roads such as Broomfield Road, Derby Road, and Peel Moat Road which were built when agricultural land was acquired, have the same characteristics. The building and infilling continued into the Edwardian era. There were a wide range of sporting facilities, such as crown green bowling, tennis and golf. A substantial terrace of shops was built on Heaton Moor Road, with glass and cast iron awnings. Intellectual life was provided for when the Reform Club was built in 1886 by Alfred Darbyshire.^[1]

The Savoy Cinema opened 1923, built in the Baroque style in red brick with white terracota dressings. When in 2006 the cinema announced its closure due to low audiences, there was uproar amongst locals. It was announced it could be replaced by a Varsity bar. A Save Our Savoy campaign was launched. Plans were rejected. It has new owners, has been refurbished and reopened in 2015.

A second hub was built around Thornfield, the former town hall at Moor Top.^[2] The main thoroughfare is now home to wine bars, boutiques, florists and upmarket restaurants.

Mauldeth Hall

Mauldeth Hall is a large Greek Revival villa, built in 1832-60, for Joseph Chessborough Dyer; extended in 1880-82 by Charles Heathcote so that it could become a "hospital for incurables". After it became derelict in the late 20th century the hall was converted to offices; most of the park and gardens of the hall have been taken over by Heaton Moor Golf Club. On Mauldeth Road is a classical lodge (probably also by Heathcote). It has been a Grade II listed building since 1975.

The original owner was obliged to sell the hall in the early 1840s and it was acquired by Edmund Wright (1781-1852) as his residence. It was then named Leegate Hall but Wright renamed it Heaton Hall; since there was also a Heaton Hall at Prestwich he renamed it again as Mauldeth Hall. On the death of Edmund Wright in 1852 the hall was acquired by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners as the residence of the first Bishop of Manchester. The bishop was James Prince Lee, bishop since 1848, who lived in the hall until his death in 1869. In 1915 the Hospital for Incurables at Mauldeth Hall and Walmersley House had accommodation for 125 inpatients.

Education

Tithe Barn Primary School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, is located just over the border in Heaton Mersey. Heaton Moor is home to Charnwood Nursery, which provides inclusive education for children with and without Special Educational Needs, and is also rated Outstanding. The Heaton Secondary Special School is available for students with disabilities. The Heaton Moor campus of Stockport College was on Buckingham Road. This is now demolished and is being converted into new homes.

The district had for many years a boys' boarding school called Heaton Moor College. Boys from mainly the Middle East stayed in the main school building, a large detached Victorian villa house, on Heaton Moor Road. Its large rear garden harboured other classroom buildings as well as a playground. It was at its height in the early to mid 1950's. In 1953 there were 202 pupils and a teaching staff of 12. A block of flats now stands on the site.

Religion

Transport

The Manchester and Birmingham Railway Company built the line from Manchester to Crewe, the Manchester to Heaton Norris section opened in 1840. Heaton Chapel Station opened in 1852. Heaton Moor is built along Heaton Moor Road, a road leading from Reddish to Didsbury. Various bus routes run through Heaton Moor including the 197 from Stockport to Manchester, the 22 from Stockport to Bolton, and the 84 from Reddish to Manchester Piccadilly, along with various education buses. There is no designated taxi rank within Heaton Moor.

Economy

Heaton Moor is affluent, and in the Victorian era had an equal residential status to Alderley Edge and Bowdon. Today, this moneyed reputation continues as the SK4 postcode is typically characterised by high disposable incomes. The estimated household weekly income for Heaton Moor in 2001 was significantly above the average for Greater Manchester.

Sport

The Heaton Moor Rugby Club has been representing the area in the Rugby fraternity for over 100 years. After a number of years of decline from near top level status pre league structures, a steady improvement in form in recent years has led to a re-emergence of the club in the local leagues. It has some of the best facilities in the region due to a unique sporting set up featuring Rugby, Cricket, Lacrosse and Tennis facilities in a multimillion-pound development.

The lacrosse team has been part of Heaton Moor since 1879, with Heaton Mersey Lacrosse club, going under the name Heaton Mersey, but playing in Heaton Moor on Green Lane at the Heatons Sports Club.

West Heaton Bowling, Tennis and Squash Club was established in 1873 and provides six all weather tennis courts (six floodlit), two squash courts and a bowling green.

Heaton Moor Golf Club was founded in 1892 and is an 18-hole undulating parkland course.

There were a number of independent professional wrestling federations that originated and were based in Heaton Moor. Most notable amongst these was WDW, which disbanded in 2002 but is set to make a comeback in spring 2016.

Personalities

Heaton Moor was the birthplace of cricketer Charles Marriott and dramatist Ronald Gow, and the novelist, broadcaster and working Labour Peer, Baroness Joan Bakewell.

The crime author Val McDermid and TV screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst (Shameless, Sorted, Clocking Off) and children's author Philip Caveney live (or have recently lived) here. Jo Welch grew up in Heaton Moor and set her first book, The Einstein Code, in the area.

The Guardian journalist and feminist Mary Stott and her husband lived here after moving from Leicester. Stuart Flinders from BBC North West Tonight is resident.

Dominic Monaghan, who plays Merry in the film trilogy of The Lord of the Rings was born here. Charlie Pace the television actor in Lost was born in Germany but raised here. Bass Guitarist from the Stone Roses Gary Mounfield (Mani) lives here.

Cecil Kimber, the founder of MG Car Company lived in Heaton Moor, and was a pupil of Stockport Grammar School.

Tennis siblings Liam Broady and Naomi Broady and basketball player John Amaechi are Heaton Moor residents.

Kate Richardson-Walsh, captain of Great Britain's 2016 gold medal winning hockey team, grew up in Heaton Moor, attending Tithe Barn school and Priestnall.