In 1934, the area voted to leave Lancashire and join Cheshire. [1]
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.[2]
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.[1]
In the early 13th century, Heaton Norris was a sub manor of Manchester; it encompassed all of the Four Heatons. 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.[3] Evidence of this pre-railway existence can be seen from the name Shaw Farm, Shaw Fold farm and the road pattern; Heaton Moor Road, Shaw Road, Shaw Fold Lane, Pin Fold, Green Lane. Parsonage Road and Cranbourne Avenue follow the lines of ancient tracks.[1]
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.[2]
The Savoy Cinema opened 1923, built in the Baroque style in red brick with white terracota dressings.[1] When, in 2006, the cinema announced its closure due to low audiences,[4] there was uproar amongst locals; it was announced that it could be replaced by a Varsity bar.[5] A Save Our Savoy campaign was launched.[6] Plans for the bar were rejected.[7] It has new owners, has been refurbished and reopened in 2015.[8]
A second hub was built around the former council offices in Thornfield Road, in the area known as Moor Top. The main thoroughfare is now home to a champagne bar, boutiques, florists and upmarket restaurants.
Mauldeth Hall
Mauldeth Hall
Mauldeth Hall is a large Greek Revival villa, built in 1832–60, for Joseph Chessborough Dyer; it was 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.[9] It has been a Grade II listed building since 1975.[10]
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; James Prince Lee, in position since 1848, lived in the hall until his death in 1869.[11] In 1915 the Hospital for Incurables at Mauldeth Hall and Walmersley House had accommodation for 125 inpatients.[12]
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 has been converted into new homes. St Thomas's Junior School is situated on Buckingham Road.
The district had for many years a boys' boarding school called Heaton Moor College. Boys mainly from 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 1950s. In 1953 there were 202 pupils and a teaching staff of 12. A block of flats now stands on the site. [citation needed]
Religion
St Paul's and the war memorial
St Paul's Church – low Anglican built 1876 by Bird and Whittenbury, extended in 1896 and the octagonal tower added in 1900 by EP Oakley.
Heaton Moor Congregational Church – later Heaton Moor United Reformed Church – now Virgin St Mary and St Mina Coptic Church – built 1896 by Derbyshire and Smith.
Heaton Moor United Church (Methodist & United Reformed – united in 2010) (formerly Heaton Moor Methodist Church) – corner of Heaton Moor Road and Stanley Road.
Heaton Moor Evangelical Church, formerly on Green Lane, is now known as Emmanuel Community Church and meets on Sundays at Houldsworth Mill, Reddish, though youth and other clubs still meet on the Green Lane site.
United Reformed Church (See Heaton Moor United Church above).[1]
Shopping arcade, with wrought iron and glass canopy
Heaton Moor is an affluent area; in the Victorian era, it had an equal residential status to Alderley Edge, Cheshire and Bowdon.[2] Today, this moneyed reputation continues as the SK4 postcode is typically characterised by high disposable incomes.[16] The estimated household weekly income for Heaton Moor in 2001 was significantly above the average for Greater Manchester.[17]
Sport
Heaton Moor Rugby Club has facilities for Rugby, Cricket, Lacrosse and Tennis in a multimillion-pound development.
Heaton Mersey lacrosse team has been based in Heaton Moor since 1879, playing on Green Lane at the Heatons Sports Club.
West Heaton Bowling, Tennis and Squash Club, established in 1873, has six all weather tennis courts, two squash courts and a bowling green.
Heaton Moor Golf Club, founded in 1892, is an 18-hole relatively flat, tree lined course set in a conservation area.
Moor Road Runners, founded in 2022, is the main Running club in Heaton Moor with runs typically starting and finishing at one of the many pubs in the area.
Manchester-born musician Norman Beaker, the ninth British blues artist to be inducted as Legend in the Blues Hall of Fame,[18] has lived in Heaton Moor[19][20] since 1985.
Kate Richardson-Walsh, captain of Great Britain's 2016 gold medal-winning hockey team, grew up in Heaton Moor, where she attended Tithe Barn School and Priestnall School.
The novelist, broadcaster and working Labour peer, Baroness Bakewell.
The crime author Val McDermid and TV screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst (Shameless, Sorted, Clocking Off) [citation needed] and children's author Philip Caveney live (or have recently lived)[when?] here. Children's author Jo Welch grew up in Heaton Moor and set her first book, The Einstein Code, in the area.[24]
The Guardian journalist and feminist Mary Stott and her husband lived here after moving from Leicester.[25]
