Middleton, Greater Manchester
Encyclopedia
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
, in Greater Manchester
, England. It stands on the River Irk
, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) south-southwest of Rochdale
, and 5.1 miles (8.2 km) north-northeast of the city of Manchester
. At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
, Middleton had a population of 45,580.
Historically
a part of Lancashire
, Middleton took its name from being situated in the centre of several circumjacent settlements. Its early history is marked by its status as an ecclesiastical parish of the hundred of Salford
, ruled by aristocratic families. The Church of St Leonard
– a Grade I listed building
– laid at the centre of this community for centuries. The "Flodden Window", in the church's sanctuary, is thought to be the oldest war memorial in the United Kingdom, memorialising the names of the archers of Middleton who fought at the Battle of Flodden Field
(1513). In 1770, Middleton was a village of 20 houses; during the 18th and 19th centuries it grew into a thiving and populous seat of textile manufacture
, so much so that Middleton was granted borough status
in 1886.
Middleton today is a predominantly residential area of contrasting affluence; Langley
in the north of the town was one of Manchester City Council
's overspill
public housing estates, whilst Alkrington
in the south is a relatively affluent suburban area.
, an Anglo-Saxon
King, crossed the Pennines
with an army and passed through Manchester
to defeat the Brythons in the Battle of Chester
. A wave of Anglian
colonists followed this military conquest and their settlements are identified by the "ton" Old English suffix to local place names. Royton
, Crompton
, Moston
, Clayton
, Ashton
and Middleton are a number of settlements northeast of Manchester suggested to have been founded as part of this colonisation. It is therefore thought that Middleton as a settlement dates from the 7th century.
Although unmentioned in the Domesday Book
of 1086, Middleton is said to be "of great antiquity"; a community at Middleton is thought to have evolved outwards from a church that existed considerably earlier than the Norman conquest of England
.
The name Middleton first appears in 1194, and derives from the Old English
middel-tūn, meaning middle farm or settlement, probably a reference to its central position between Rochdale
and Manchester
.
During the Middle Ages
, Middleton was a centre of domestic flannel and woollen cloth production.
The development of Middleton as a centre of commerce occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries. Lord Suffield obtained a Royal Charter
from King George III
in 1791 to hold a weekly market and three annual fairs in Middleton. Suffield built a market house, warehouses and shambles in the town at his own expense.
Industrial scale textile manufacture
was introduced to Middleton as a result of the Industrial Revolution
. Middleton became a centre for silk
production in the 18th century, which developed into a cotton spinning
industry by the mid 19th-century and which continued through to the mid-20th century. This transition gave rise to Middleton as a mill town
.
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.
Warwick Mill is a monument to be seen from all around Middleton and was a venue for a workers' Luddite
revolt.
The town was linked to the national rail network until 1964 when Middleton railway station closed, leaving Mills Hill
the nearest station.
Lying within the historic county boundaries
of Lancashire
from the early 12th century, 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
. Following the Local Government Act 1894
parts of Great Heaton
and Little Heaton townships were added to the newly created Municipal Borough of Middleton
, a local government district in 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
. In the same year, parts of Unsworth
were amalgamated with Middleton, whilst part of it was moved to Royton Urban District
. It was proposed in the Redcliffe-Maud Report
that Middleton become part of a new Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
, however, following the Local Government Act 1972
, the Municipal Borough of Middleton was abolished and its territory became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
within the metropolitan county
of Greater Manchester
.
The Middleton parliamentary constituency
was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
. It was abolished in 1918 when Middleton became part of the Middleton and Prestwich constituency
.
Today Middleton forms part of the Heywood and Middleton parliamentary constituency, represented in the House of Commons
by Jim Dobbin
, a Member of Parliament
of the Labour Party
.
; Chadderton
and Royton
are close to the east. The town of Rochdale
lies to the north-northeast. The town is supposed to have derived its name, Middle-town, from its situation midway between Manchester and Rochdale. It is situated on an ancient road between those places. Middleton town centre is around 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level
.
Middleton experiences a temperate
maritime climate
, like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. There is regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year. Middleton is watered by two confluent streams which have their rise in the immediate district.
Middleton contains a fine example of schools and one school (St Anne's Academy)has just opened the doors to its brand new school providing a new headteacher Mrs.Caroline Preece.
Much of Middleton's built environment
is characterised by its 19th century red-brick terraced house
s, the infrastructure that was built to support these and the town's former cotton mill
s, although from the middle of the 20th century the town saw the growth of its outlying residential areas of Langley
, Hollin and Boarshaw which is predominately ex-local authority housing. The skyline is marked by St. Leonard's Church
. The urban structure
of Middleton is regular in comparison to most towns in England. Residential dwellings and streets are located around the town centre
.
There is a mixture of high-density urban areas, suburb
s, and semi-rural locations in Middleton, but overwhelmingly the land use
in the town is urban. The territory of Middleton is contiguous with other urban areas on its southern and eastern sides, and for purposes of the Office for National Statistics
, forms part of the Greater Manchester Urban Area
, the United Kingdom's third largest conurbation. The M60 motorway
passes to the south of Middleton; the M62
passes to the north. A heavy rail line enters Middleton from Moston
and Blackley
to the south, and passes to the east of Middleton's town centre before continuing on northwards to Rochdale
.
Varyingly agreed divisions and suburbs of Middleton include Alkrington
, Bowlee
, Boarshaw, Cheapside, Greenhill, Hebers, Hollin, Hopwood, Jumbo, Langley
, Middleton Junction, Moorclose, Rhodes, Stanycliffe, Stakehill, Thornham
and Tonge
. Areas such as Greengate and Mills Hill, although in other territories, are often described as part of Middleton.
, thermoplastics and nonwovens
producer The Vita Group have a registered office in Middleton.
Bluebird Bus and Coach is a travel company based in Middleton.
JP Travel, also a travel company are based in Middleton on Mills Hill Road. http://www.jptbuses.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP_Travel
Robert McBride, household and personal care product manufacturers, have a divisional head office and their largest UK factory on Middleton Way.
Several of Middleton's buildings were designed by Edgar Wood
, a local-born influential architect
of his day. Several in Middleton are landmarks and are notable.
Middleton has recently benefited from redevelopments which have seen the construction of a new sports, leisure and civic centre, 'Middleton Arena'. A large new Tesco supermarket has also just been opened in the town centre.
In the early 1970s, The Arndale Property Trust cleared land adjacent to Middleton Gardens to build an 'American-style' modern shopping precinct. The Middleton Arndale Centre commenced trading in 1971, although it was officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent in March 1972.
The Parish Church of St Leonard
was completed in 1524, incorporating two stone arches made of stonework from an earlier Norman
church. A wooden Saxon
church is believed to have occupied the site long before the Norman church was built, in about 1100.
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 England and Scotland. 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 monumental brass
es in the area, including the only brass in the UK of an English Civil War
officer in full armour, Major-General Sir Ralph Assheton.
The church was designated a Grade I listed building
in 1957.
on the road between Chester
and York
. It is said to date from at least 1632.and part of it go back to the 1500s
towards Middleton. The original parkland around the hall has now been developed into high end housing.
badly damaged by an arson attack in 2007.
. Four golf clubs are within easy reach of the town centre; North Manchester Golf Glub, The Manchester Golf Club (at Slattocks), Heaton Park Golf Club and Blackley Golf Club.
In January 2009, Middleton saw the opening of a new £13 million sports and leisure venue in the town centre. The Middleton Arena is a joint venture by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and supermarket chain, Tesco
. The facility has replaced the old Middleton Civic Centre and Middleton Leisure Centre, allowing the site currently occupied by these buildings to be cleared for further development into a supermarket.
Middleton is also home to Rochdale Triathlon Club. Weekly coached swimming sessions are currently held at Middleton Leisure Centre, but will switch to Middleton Arena once the development has been completed.
was opened to replace the old one, next to the Middleton Arndale shopping centre. The station cost £4.5 million and replaced the previous station which dated to the 1970s.
Middleton is located close to junction 19 of the M62 motorway
and, at Rhodes, junction 21 of the M60 motorway
.
The nearest railway station is Mills Hill railway station
, in nearby Mills Hill.
, schools within the town perform at mixed levels.
What is presently the Middleton Campus of Hopwood Hall (a college of further education
), was, from 1946 to 1989, a De La Salle
Catholic College of Higher Education
affiliated to the Victoria University of Manchester
. Originally founded as a teacher training college, the chapel, designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, was the architectural prototype for the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
. The chapel still exists but its spire is no longer topped with a cross. Hopwood Hall College benefits from its extensive grounds and leisure facilities which were developed over many years by the De La Salle College.
sometimes given to people from the town (and other places see Moonrakers
). Middleton has been the birthplace and home to notable people, of national and international acclaim. Amongst the most notable persons of historic significance from the town include Thomas Langley
(born in Middleton in 1363) who served as Bishop of Durham, Cardinal of the Catholic Church
, Lord Chancellor of England, and as England's first de facto Foreign Secretary. Samuel Bamford
was a radical
writer and politician. He led the Middleton contingent to the meeting at St. Peter's Fields in August 1819, pressing for parliamentary reform, which ended in the Peterloo Massacre
.
Notable scientists from Middleton include the biologist John R Cain, founder of astronautical hygiene
, who attended Hollins High School and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School.
Steve Coogan
, John Richmond
, Clint Boon
of Inspiral Carpets
, Maartin Allcock
of Fairport Convention
and Jethro Tull
, Brendan
and Martin Coogan
all attended the local Cardinal Langley School. Bernard Manning
(1930–2007), Manchester-born (Ancoats
) comedian, lived in Alkrington
. All four members of the indie-rock group The Courteeners
are also from the area. The Chameleons
, a post-punk
band, was formed in the area, and was described by the Middleton Guardian as "Middleton's most famous export".
Notable sportsmen connected with Middleton include Manchester United F.C.
(and former England national football team
) Paul Scholes
(Salford-born) and locally-born Mark Allott
the Oldham Athletic midfielder, both educated at St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, and later Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School.
Fashion designer John Richmond
and Olympic gold medalist Keri-Anne Payne
also attended Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School.
Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
The Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after its largest town, Rochdale, but spans a far larger area which includes the towns of Middleton, Heywood, Littleborough and Milnrow, and the village of Wardle.The borough was...
, in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England. It stands on the River Irk
River Irk
The River Irk is a river in Greater Manchester in North West England that flows through the northern suburbs of Manchester before merging with the River Irwell in Manchester city centre....
, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) south-southwest of Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, and 5.1 miles (8.2 km) north-northeast of the city of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, Middleton had a population of 45,580.
Historically
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
a part of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Middleton took its name from being situated in the centre of several circumjacent settlements. Its early history is marked by its status as an ecclesiastical parish of the hundred of Salford
Salford (hundred)
The hundred of Salford was an ancient division of the historic county of Lancashire, in Northern England. It was sometimes known as Salfordshire, the name alluding to its judicial centre being the township of Salford...
, ruled by aristocratic families. The Church of St Leonard
Church of St Leonard, Middleton
St Leonard's is an Anglican parish church in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England. It was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage in 1957....
– a Grade I listed building
Grade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester
-See also:*Architecture of Manchester*Conservation in the United Kingdom*Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester*List of tallest buildings in Manchester*Scheduled Monuments in Greater Manchester-Bibliography:...
– laid at the centre of this community for centuries. The "Flodden Window", in the church's sanctuary, is thought to be the oldest war memorial in the United Kingdom, memorialising the names of the archers of Middleton who fought at the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
(1513). In 1770, Middleton was a village of 20 houses; during the 18th and 19th centuries it grew into a thiving and populous seat of textile manufacture
Textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution changed the nature of work and society. Opinion varies as to the exact date, but it is estimated that the First Industrial Revolution took place between 1750 and 1850, and the second phase or Second Industrial Revolution between 1860 and 1900. The three key drivers in...
, so much so that Middleton was granted borough status
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
in 1886.
Middleton today is a predominantly residential area of contrasting affluence; Langley
Langley, Greater Manchester
Langley is an area of Middleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Created as a Manchester overspill estate in the 1950s and 60s, it is south-southwest of Rochdale and north-northeast of Manchester City Centre.Langley as a district pushes down into Middleton as...
in the north of the town was one of Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
's overspill
Overspill estate
An overspill estate is a housing estate planned and built for the rehousing of people from decaying inner city areas usually as part of the process of slum clearance....
public housing estates, whilst Alkrington
Alkrington
Alkrington Garden Village, more commonly known as Alkrington, is a suburb of Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England....
in the south is a relatively affluent suburban area.
History
In 616 Æthelfrith of BerniciaÆthelfrith of Northumbria
Æthelfrith was King of Bernicia from c. 593 until c. 616; he was also, beginning c. 604, the first Bernician king to also rule Deira, to the south of Bernicia. Since Deira and Bernicia were the two basic components of what would later be defined as Northumbria, Æthelfrith can be considered, in...
, an Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
King, crossed the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
with an army and passed through Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to defeat the Brythons in the Battle of Chester
Battle of Chester
The Battle of Chester was a major victory for the Anglo Saxons over the native Britons near the city of Chester, England in the early 7th century. Æthelfrith of Northumbria annihilated a combined force from the Welsh kingdoms of Powys, Rhôs and possibly Mercia...
. A wave of Anglian
Angles
The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
colonists followed this military conquest and their settlements are identified by the "ton" Old English suffix to local place names. Royton
Royton
Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies by the source of the River Irk, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines, north-northwest of Oldham, south-southeast of Rochdale and northeast of the city of Manchester.Historically a...
, Crompton
Shaw and Crompton
Shaw and Crompton is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Beal at the foothills of the South Pennines, north of Oldham, southeast of Rochdale, and to the northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Moston
Moston, Greater Manchester
Moston is a district of Manchester, in North West England, approximately 3 miles north east of the city centre. Historically a part of Lancashire, Moston is a predominantly residential area, with a population of about 12,500 and covering approximately .-History:The name Moston may derive...
, Clayton
Clayton, Greater Manchester
Clayton is a suburb of the city of Manchester, in North West England. It is situated about 3 miles east of the city centre, on Ashton New Road. Clayton takes its name from the Clayton family who owned large parts of land around the area, including Clayton Vale, through which the River Medlock flows...
, Ashton
Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines...
and Middleton are a number of settlements northeast of Manchester suggested to have been founded as part of this colonisation. It is therefore thought that Middleton as a settlement dates from the 7th century.
Although unmentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086, Middleton is said to be "of great antiquity"; a community at Middleton is thought to have evolved outwards from a church that existed considerably earlier than the Norman conquest of England
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
.
The name Middleton first appears in 1194, and derives from the Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
middel-tūn, meaning middle farm or settlement, probably a reference to its central position between Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Middleton was a centre of domestic flannel and woollen cloth production.
The development of Middleton as a centre of commerce occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries. Lord Suffield obtained a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
from King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
in 1791 to hold a weekly market and three annual fairs in Middleton. Suffield built a market house, warehouses and shambles in the town at his own expense.
Textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution changed the nature of work and society. Opinion varies as to the exact date, but it is estimated that the First Industrial Revolution took place between 1750 and 1850, and the second phase or Second Industrial Revolution between 1860 and 1900. The three key drivers in...
was introduced to Middleton as a result of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
. Middleton became a centre for silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
production in the 18th century, which developed into a cotton spinning
Spinning (textiles)
Spinning is a major industry. It is part of the textile manufacturing process where three types of fibre are converted into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. The textiles are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. There are three industrial processes available to spin yarn, and a...
industry by the mid 19th-century and which continued through to the mid-20th century. This transition gave rise to Middleton as a mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
.
The town's local newspaper, the Middleton Guardian has a history going back to Victorian times
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
JW Lees
JW Lees
J.W. Lees is a British brewery based in Middleton, Greater Manchester that has produced real ale since 1828. Its permanent brands are J.W. Lees Bitter, first brewed in 1828, John Willie's Premium Ale, Coronation Street Premium Ale , Brewer's Dark, Moonraker, Dark Smooth, Extra Smooth, Greengate...
houses its brewery at Middleton Junction. The brewery owns several pubs in the Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
area.
Warwick Mill is a monument to be seen from all around Middleton and was a venue for a workers' Luddite
Luddite
The Luddites were a social movement of 19th-century English textile artisans who protested – often by destroying mechanised looms – against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt were leaving them without work and changing their way of life...
revolt.
The town was linked to the national rail network until 1964 when Middleton railway station closed, leaving Mills Hill
Mills Hill railway station
Mills Hill railway station is in the Mills Hill area of Middleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. The station is 9 km north of Manchester Victoria on the Caldervale Line...
the nearest station.
Governance
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
from the early 12th century, Middleton was once an ecclesiastical parish of the hundred of Salford
Salford (hundred)
The hundred of Salford was an ancient division of the historic county of Lancashire, in Northern England. It was sometimes known as Salfordshire, the name alluding to its judicial centre being the township of Salford...
, and in Oldham poor law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
union.
In 1861 commissioners were established for the improvement of Middleton and Tonge
Tonge, Greater Manchester
Tonge is an outlying area of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. The name is supposed to be derived from the Old English "tang" or "twang" meaning a fork in a river. Tonge comprises two areas, namely Tonge Fold and Tonge Moor...
townships or civil parishes. In 1878, the township of Alkrington
Alkrington
Alkrington Garden Village, more commonly known as Alkrington, is a suburb of Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England....
and parts of the townships of Hopwood
Hopwood, Greater Manchester
Hopwood is a suburb of Heywood, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It is north of the M62 motorway....
and Thornham
Thornham, Greater Manchester
Thornham is the name of a suburban area and ecclesiastical parish overlapping the towns of Middleton, Royton and Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England...
were added to the area of the commissioners. It was in 1886 this territory was incorporated as a borough
Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1882 - 1974
The following is a list of towns in England and Wales which were granted charters of incorporation conferring borough status under the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 or the Local Government Act 1933.-1882–89:Forty-six boroughs were incorporated in this period...
, giving it Borough status in the United Kingdom
Borough status in the United Kingdom
Borough status in the United Kingdom is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district...
. Following the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
parts of Great Heaton
Great Heaton
Great Heaton was a township in the parish of Prestwich-cum-Oldham and hundred of Salford, in Lancashire, England. It was occupied land between Prestwich and Manchester, near Heaton Park....
and Little Heaton townships were added to the newly created Municipal Borough of Middleton
Municipal Borough of Middleton
The Municipal Borough of Middleton was, from 1886 to 1974, a municipal borough in the administrative county of Lancashire, England, coterminate with the town of Middleton.-Civic history:...
, a local government district in the administrative county
Administrative counties of England
Administrative counties were a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government from 1889 to 1974. They were created by the Local Government Act 1888 as the areas for which county councils were elected. Some large counties were divided into several administrative...
of Lancashire. In 1933 there were exchanges of territory between the borough of Middleton, the City of Manchester and Chadderton Urban District
Chadderton Urban District
Chadderton Urban District was, from 1894 to 1974, a local government district of the administrative county of Lancashire, England. It was centred on the town of Chadderton....
. In the same year, parts of Unsworth
Unsworth
Unsworth is a residential area of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It is seven miles north of the city of Manchester and four miles south of Bury.-History:...
were amalgamated with Middleton, whilst part of it was moved to Royton Urban District
Royton Urban District
Royton was, from 1863 to 1974, a local government district in Lancashire, England which covered the modern-day town of Royton, and its suburbs and districts....
. It was proposed in the Redcliffe-Maud Report
Redcliffe-Maud Report
The Redcliffe–Maud Report is the name generally given to the report published by the Royal Commission on Local Government in England 1966–1969 under the chairmanship of Lord Redcliffe-Maud.-Terms of reference and membership:...
that Middleton become part of a new Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 219,600, and spans . The borough is named after its largest town, Oldham, but also includes the outlying towns of Chadderton, Failsworth, Royton and Shaw and Crompton, the village of...
, however, following the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, the Municipal Borough of Middleton was abolished and its territory became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
The Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after its largest town, Rochdale, but spans a far larger area which includes the towns of Middleton, Heywood, Littleborough and Milnrow, and the village of Wardle.The borough was...
within the metropolitan county
Metropolitan county
The metropolitan counties are a type of county-level administrative division of England. There are six metropolitan counties, which each cover large urban areas, typically with populations of 1.2 to 2.8 million...
of Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
.
The Middleton parliamentary constituency
Middleton (UK Parliament constituency)
Middleton was a county constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, it was represented by one Member of Parliament. The constituency was abolished in 1918.-Members of Parliament:...
was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...
. It was abolished in 1918 when Middleton became part of the Middleton and Prestwich constituency
Middleton and Prestwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Middleton and Prestwich was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Middleton and Prestwich districts of Greater Manchester. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
.
Today Middleton forms part of the Heywood and Middleton parliamentary constituency, represented in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
by Jim Dobbin
Jim Dobbin
James "Jim" Dobbin is a British Labour Co-operative politician and microbiologist, who has been the Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton since 1997.-Education and career:...
, a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Geography
At 53°33′17"N 2°11′19"W (53.5547, −2.1887) and 166 miles (267 km) north-northwest of London, Middleton stands on undulated land immediately north of ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
; Chadderton
Chadderton
Chadderton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of Lancashire...
and Royton
Royton
Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies by the source of the River Irk, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines, north-northwest of Oldham, south-southeast of Rochdale and northeast of the city of Manchester.Historically a...
are close to the east. The town of Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
lies to the north-northeast. The town is supposed to have derived its name, Middle-town, from its situation midway between Manchester and Rochdale. It is situated on an ancient road between those places. Middleton town centre is around 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Middleton experiences a temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
maritime climate
Oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
, like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. There is regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year. Middleton is watered by two confluent streams which have their rise in the immediate district.
Middleton contains a fine example of schools and one school (St Anne's Academy)has just opened the doors to its brand new school providing a new headteacher Mrs.Caroline Preece.
Much of Middleton's built environment
Built environment
The term built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from personal shelter and buildings to neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water supply or energy networks.The built...
is characterised by its 19th century red-brick terraced house
Terraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...
s, the infrastructure that was built to support these and the town's former cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
s, although from the middle of the 20th century the town saw the growth of its outlying residential areas of Langley
Langley, Greater Manchester
Langley is an area of Middleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Created as a Manchester overspill estate in the 1950s and 60s, it is south-southwest of Rochdale and north-northeast of Manchester City Centre.Langley as a district pushes down into Middleton as...
, Hollin and Boarshaw which is predominately ex-local authority housing. The skyline is marked by St. Leonard's Church
Church of St Leonard, Middleton
St Leonard's is an Anglican parish church in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England. It was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage in 1957....
. The urban structure
Urban structure
Urban structure is the arrangement of land use in urban areas. Sociologists, economists, and geographers have developed several models, explaining where different types of people and businesses tend to exist within the urban setting. Three models are described in this article...
of Middleton is regular in comparison to most towns in England. Residential dwellings and streets are located around the town centre
Town centre
The town centre is the term used to refer to the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town.Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail. They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations...
.
There is a mixture of high-density urban areas, suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s, and semi-rural locations in Middleton, but overwhelmingly the land use
Land use
Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. It has also been defined as "the arrangements, activities and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover...
in the town is urban. The territory of Middleton is contiguous with other urban areas on its southern and eastern sides, and for purposes of the Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
, forms part of the Greater Manchester Urban Area
Greater Manchester Urban Area
The Greater Manchester Urban Area is an area of land defined by the Office for National Statistics consisting of the large conurbation that encompasses the city of Manchester and the continuous metropolitan area that spreads outwards from it, forming much of Greater Manchester in North West England...
, the United Kingdom's third largest conurbation. The M60 motorway
M60 motorway
The M60 motorway, or Manchester Orbital, is an orbital motorway circling Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It passes through all Greater Manchester's metropolitan boroughs except for Wigan and Bolton...
passes to the south of Middleton; the M62
M62 motorway
The M62 motorway is a west–east trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22...
passes to the north. A heavy rail line enters Middleton from Moston
Moston, Greater Manchester
Moston is a district of Manchester, in North West England, approximately 3 miles north east of the city centre. Historically a part of Lancashire, Moston is a predominantly residential area, with a population of about 12,500 and covering approximately .-History:The name Moston may derive...
and Blackley
Blackley
Blackley is an area of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is north of Manchester city centre, by a meander of the River Irk. Further north is Middleton...
to the south, and passes to the east of Middleton's town centre before continuing on northwards to Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
.
Varyingly agreed divisions and suburbs of Middleton include Alkrington
Alkrington
Alkrington Garden Village, more commonly known as Alkrington, is a suburb of Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England....
, Bowlee
Bowlee
Bowlee is a village in Greater Manchester, England along Heywood Old Road on the outskirts of Middleton between Rhodes and Heywood. Historically it forms part of Lancashire..-RAF Bowlee:...
, Boarshaw, Cheapside, Greenhill, Hebers, Hollin, Hopwood, Jumbo, Langley
Langley, Greater Manchester
Langley is an area of Middleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Created as a Manchester overspill estate in the 1950s and 60s, it is south-southwest of Rochdale and north-northeast of Manchester City Centre.Langley as a district pushes down into Middleton as...
, Middleton Junction, Moorclose, Rhodes, Stanycliffe, Stakehill, Thornham
Thornham, Greater Manchester
Thornham is the name of a suburban area and ecclesiastical parish overlapping the towns of Middleton, Royton and Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England...
and Tonge
Tonge, Greater Manchester
Tonge is an outlying area of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. The name is supposed to be derived from the Old English "tang" or "twang" meaning a fork in a river. Tonge comprises two areas, namely Tonge Fold and Tonge Moor...
. Areas such as Greengate and Mills Hill, although in other territories, are often described as part of Middleton.
Economy
Industrial polymerPolymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
, thermoplastics and nonwovens
Nonwovens
Nonwoven fabric is a fabric-like material made from long fibres, bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. The term is used in the textile manufacturing industry to denote fabrics, such as felt, which are neither woven nor knitted. Nonwoven materials typically lack...
producer The Vita Group have a registered office in Middleton.
Bluebird Bus and Coach is a travel company based in Middleton.
JP Travel, also a travel company are based in Middleton on Mills Hill Road. http://www.jptbuses.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP_Travel
Robert McBride, household and personal care product manufacturers, have a divisional head office and their largest UK factory on Middleton Way.
Landmarks
Edgar Wood
Edgar Wood was an architect who practised from Manchester at the turn of the 20th century and gained a considerable reputation both in Britain and abroad, notably in Germany. British design was then of European significance. His work is principally domestic, but he designed several churches and...
, a local-born influential architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
of his day. Several in Middleton are landmarks and are notable.
Middleton has recently benefited from redevelopments which have seen the construction of a new sports, leisure and civic centre, 'Middleton Arena'. A large new Tesco supermarket has also just been opened in the town centre.
In the early 1970s, The Arndale Property Trust cleared land adjacent to Middleton Gardens to build an 'American-style' modern shopping precinct. The Middleton Arndale Centre commenced trading in 1971, although it was officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent in March 1972.
St. Leonard's Church
Church of St Leonard, Middleton
St Leonard's is an Anglican parish church in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England. It was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage in 1957....
was completed in 1524, incorporating two stone arches made of stonework from an earlier Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
church. A wooden Saxon
Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066. Anglo-Saxon secular buildings in Britain were generally simple, constructed mainly using timber with thatch for roofing...
church is believed to have occupied the site long before the Norman church was built, in about 1100.
The present church was built by Sir Richard Assheton, in celebration of the knighthood granted to him by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
for his part in the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
, the largest battle ever fought between England and Scotland. The Flodden Window, in the sanctuary, is thought to be the oldest war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
in the UK. It memorialises on it the names of the Middleton archers
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
who fought at Flodden Field in 1513. The church also has one of the finest collections of monumental brass
Monumental brass
Monumental brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood...
es in the area, including the only brass in the UK of an English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
officer in full armour, Major-General Sir Ralph Assheton.
The church was designated a Grade I listed building
Grade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester
-See also:*Architecture of Manchester*Conservation in the United Kingdom*Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester*List of tallest buildings in Manchester*Scheduled Monuments in Greater Manchester-Bibliography:...
in 1957.
Old Boar's Head Inn
Situated below the parish church, on Long Street, this was originally a coaching innCoaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
on the road between Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. It is said to date from at least 1632.and part of it go back to the 1500s
Alkrington Hall
Alkrington Hall was built in 1736 and was the seat of the Lever family. Its dominant position on a wooded hillside, looks out over the Irk ValleyRiver Irk
The River Irk is a river in Greater Manchester in North West England that flows through the northern suburbs of Manchester before merging with the River Irwell in Manchester city centre....
towards Middleton. The original parkland around the hall has now been developed into high end housing.
Tonge Hall
Tonge Hall is a Tudor structureTudor architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
badly damaged by an arson attack in 2007.
Sports
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 LeagueCentral Lancashire Cricket League
The Central Lancashire League is a fifteen team cricket league, traditionally based in Lancashire, England. It is now based around Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. The league runs competitions at First Team, Second Team, Third Team, Under 18, Under 15, Under 13 and Under 11 levels.The...
. Four golf clubs are within easy reach of the town centre; North Manchester Golf Glub, The Manchester Golf Club (at Slattocks), Heaton Park Golf Club and Blackley Golf Club.
In January 2009, Middleton saw the opening of a new £13 million sports and leisure venue in the town centre. The Middleton Arena is a joint venture by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and supermarket chain, Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
. The facility has replaced the old Middleton Civic Centre and Middleton Leisure Centre, allowing the site currently occupied by these buildings to be cleared for further development into a supermarket.
Middleton is also home to Rochdale Triathlon Club. Weekly coached swimming sessions are currently held at Middleton Leisure Centre, but will switch to Middleton Arena once the development has been completed.
Transport
In 2005, the new Middleton Bus StationMiddleton Bus Station
Middleton bus station is a bus station located in the town of Middleton in Greater Manchester. The bus station is found next to the Middleton Arndale shopping centre on the site of the old bus station...
was opened to replace the old one, next to the Middleton Arndale shopping centre. The station cost £4.5 million and replaced the previous station which dated to the 1970s.
Middleton is located close to junction 19 of the M62 motorway
M62 motorway
The M62 motorway is a west–east trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22...
and, at Rhodes, junction 21 of the M60 motorway
M60 motorway
The M60 motorway, or Manchester Orbital, is an orbital motorway circling Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It passes through all Greater Manchester's metropolitan boroughs except for Wigan and Bolton...
.
The nearest railway station is Mills Hill railway station
Mills Hill railway station
Mills Hill railway station is in the Mills Hill area of Middleton in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. The station is 9 km north of Manchester Victoria on the Caldervale Line...
, in nearby Mills Hill.
Education
Almost every part of Middleton is served by a school of some kind, some with religious affiliations. According to the Office for Standards in EducationOffice for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
, schools within the town perform at mixed levels.
What is presently the Middleton Campus of Hopwood Hall (a college of further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
), was, from 1946 to 1989, a De La Salle
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
Catholic College of Higher Education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
affiliated to the Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
. Originally founded as a teacher training college, the chapel, designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, was the architectural prototype for the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Christ the King is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Liverpool and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool. The Metropolitan Cathedral is one of two cathedrals in the city...
. The chapel still exists but its spire is no longer topped with a cross. Hopwood Hall College benefits from its extensive grounds and leisure facilities which were developed over many years by the De La Salle College.
Notable people
"Moonraker" is a nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
sometimes given to people from the town (and other places see Moonrakers
Moonrakers
Moonrakers is the colloquial name for people from Wiltshire, a county of South West England in the West Country.-Legend:This refers to a folk story set in the time when smuggling was a significant industry in rural England, with Wiltshire lying on the smugglers' secret routes between the south...
). Middleton has been the birthplace and home to notable people, of national and international acclaim. Amongst the most notable persons of historic significance from the town include Thomas Langley
Thomas Langley
Thomas Langley was an English prelate who held high ecclesiastical and political offices in the early to mid 1400s. He was Dean of York, Bishop of Durham, twice Lord Chancellor of England to three kings, and a Pseudocardinal. In turn Keeper of the King's signet and Keeper of the Privy Seal before...
(born in Middleton in 1363) who served as Bishop of Durham, Cardinal of the Catholic Church
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
, Lord Chancellor of England, and as England's first de facto Foreign Secretary. Samuel Bamford
Samuel Bamford
Samuel Bamford , was an English radical and writer, who was born in Middleton, Lancashire.-Biography:...
was a radical
Radicalism (historical)
The term Radical was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later became a general pejorative term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order...
writer and politician. He led the Middleton contingent to the meeting at St. Peter's Fields in August 1819, pressing for parliamentary reform, which ended in the Peterloo Massacre
Peterloo Massacre
The Peterloo Massacre occurred at St Peter's Field, Manchester, England, on 16 August 1819, when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000–80,000 that had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation....
.
Notable scientists from Middleton include the biologist John R Cain, founder of astronautical hygiene
Astronautical hygiene
Astronautical hygiene is the application of science and technology to the recognition and evaluation of hazards, and the prevention or control of risks to health, while working in low-gravity environments....
, who attended Hollins High School and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School.
Steve Coogan
Steve Coogan
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...
, John Richmond
John Richmond (fashion designer)
John Richmond is an English fashion designer based in Milan, he was born in Manchester in 1960 and moved to London, then eventually to Italy to pursue his dreams....
, Clint Boon
Clint Boon
Clint Boon is an English musician and DJ. Boon originally rose to notability as the keyboards player with Inspiral Carpets.-Career:...
of Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983. The band is named after a clothing shop on their Oldham estate...
, Maartin Allcock
Maartin Allcock
Maartin Allcock , also known as Martin Allcock, is a multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer.-Biography:...
of Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
and Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
, Brendan
Brendan Coogan
Brendan Coogan is a British television presenter, from Middleton, Lancashire, best known for previously presenting Top Gear on the BBC. His brothers are actor-comedian Steve Coogan and former Mock Turtles frontman Martin Coogan....
and Martin Coogan
Martin Coogan
Martin Coogan is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Castlecomer and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1961 until 1973.-Inter-county:...
all attended the local Cardinal Langley School. Bernard Manning
Bernard Manning
Bernard John Manning was an English comedian and nightclub owner. He was born and raised in Manchester in northwest England....
(1930–2007), Manchester-born (Ancoats
Ancoats
Ancoats is an inner city area of Manchester, in North West England, next to the Northern Quarter and the northern part of Manchester's commercial centre....
) comedian, lived in Alkrington
Alkrington
Alkrington Garden Village, more commonly known as Alkrington, is a suburb of Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England....
. All four members of the indie-rock group The Courteeners
The Courteeners
The Courteeners are a rock band formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England in 2006 by Liam Fray , Michael Campbell , Daniel Conan Moores , Mark Cuppello -Formation:...
are also from the area. The Chameleons
The Chameleons
The Chameleons were an English post-punk band that formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England in 1981. They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever...
, a post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band, was formed in the area, and was described by the Middleton Guardian as "Middleton's most famous export".
Notable sportsmen connected with Middleton include Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
(and former England national football team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
) Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
(Salford-born) and locally-born Mark Allott
Mark Allott
Mark Stephen Allott is an English football midfielder who currently plays for Chesterfield in League one.- Tranmere Rovers :...
the Oldham Athletic midfielder, both educated at St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, and later Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School.
Fashion designer John Richmond
John Richmond (fashion designer)
John Richmond is an English fashion designer based in Milan, he was born in Manchester in 1960 and moved to London, then eventually to Italy to pursue his dreams....
and Olympic gold medalist Keri-Anne Payne
Keri-Anne Payne
Keri-Anne Payne is a British swimmer, specialising in marathon open water swimming, and long-distance freestyle swimming in the pool. She is a two-time World 10 km Open Water champion, and an Olympic silver medallist.Payne was born in South Africa to British parents...
also attended Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School.
External links
- www.link4life.org, A brief history of Middleton.
- www.thisismiddleton.co.uk, a comprehensive guide to Middleton.
- www.middletontowncentre.co.uk, a guide to Middleton Town Centre with event and regeneration news.
- www.vmims.com, Historical and genealogical information relating to Middleton.
- www.statsandmaps.co.uk Stats and Maps is the Rochdale Borough statistics and maps website. It is a shared evidence based that provides quick and easy on-line access to data, information, and intelligence about the borough of Rochdale, and aims to meet the needs of the local community, LSP partners, and the general public.