The History of Northenden - Part 1 (1066 - 1881)
By Dr Simon Shawdene March 2006
Oxford English Definition of Northenden
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Our village hasn't always been the prosperous haven that it is today. There is a rich history throughout which its residents have striven to make Northenden the envy of the entire north west.
Our heritage stretches back centuries, to the saints who founded our ancient societies, through crusades and civil wars. Our ancestors fought for the land we take for granted. Battles raged from the banks of the Mersey to the runways of Ringway. Armies, governments and kings have fallen upon these very fields. We've had fingers in more pies than John Prescott could ever dream of.
We've struggled through war, famine, pestilence and death, and we emerged as the most desirable of Manchester's elite.
The village started out as nothing more than a piece of land next to a river. Man first settled here in the Bronze Age. Today, we're a bustling microcosm of the Northern Metropolis. Supported by our noble english government, we blaze a trail which is followed by the rest of the world. We are the envy of our suburban neighbours; they call us Didsbury Wannabees" whilst privately coveting our wealth of takeaways. Where Northenden leads, frequently the rest of the world will follow.
Today, Northenden has 710,000 residents, centred around the village. This impressive total is only the beginning - an important government incentive to foster continual development in the community has been underway since 1997. The programme has seen the village twinned with Kosovo, and vital links have been forged with developing communities in our twin towns in Eastern Europe.
Major housing developments are also underway, which will see complete transformation of areas around the church, palatine road, Woolworths and Wythenshawe Park. As always, we continue to attract high profile residents to live within the area.
The world famous range of facilities supporting our ever developing community continues to evolve. We have 214 restaurants in the village. 17 Off licenses. 3 Bookmakers. 3 Massage parlours. 3 Funeral Parlours. Not forgetting the exciting recent addition of a tattoo parlour! Didsbury Wannabees? You're all just jealous!
Our story begins in the Bronze Age, when travellers settled along the banks of the Mersey, using the land around the ford. The church was constructed and dedicated to St Wilfrid, who had died in AD 709. Spotting the congragation as a business opportunity, Tata, the founder of a chain of early theme pubs called "Tata's Tun", had an idea. He left Rostherne and opened "The Tata Arms" down at the end of Mill Lane. This was the beginning of the fabled Tatton Dynasty. We pick up the story in 1066...
1066 and all that.
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1066 - Harold Rex Interfectus Est. King Harold nearly gets his block knocked off with an arrow. Did the trick though. Not strictly anything to do with Northenden, but I've now spent 10 years looking for a reason for being forced into History GCSE and this seemed like a good excuse.
Northenden appears in Domesday Book.
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1086 - Northenden appears in the Domesday Book. The Domesday book is signed at Yew Tree School by King William and Alf Morris MP. Norwordine (Northenden) and Bagelei (Baguley) both get a mention on the page we've reproduced here on the left. Curiously enough, Didsbury doesn't. The village's name "Norwordine" is derived from the ancient term for a clearing in the northern part of a wooded area. "Bagelei" (Baguley) is derived from the Jewish name for a doughnut. Quite appropriately, Tesco's in the modern day Baguley sells some cracking doughnuts.
Windy Militant
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1311 - Squatting Miller. 1311, and Windy Miller settles on a piece of land near the Tatton Pub. The locals tell Miller that Tata is outraged ("I won't have corn being ground in my carpark") and intends to have him moved on. The wily old Miller stands his ground, dismissing this as bravado. Historians conclude this is most likely because Tata would have to have been pushing 250 by this time.
1316 - Creation of Wythenshawe. Just down the road, a couple of years later in 1316, "Witenscaw" is created by local scallies and gets its first mention in local charter "Ye Witenscaw Worlde". The community spirited ancestors of the Earl of Didsbury send a delegation to the area to teach the locals "how to speak properly". Hence, the name is changed to "Wythenshawe".
Wythenshawe pioneers sport in the 1300's
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1370 - Tattons Acquire Wythenshawe. "The Tatton Army", a posse founded by younger members of the family, leave Northenden and venture south to Wythenshawe to score some plastic bling from the Earl of Argos. They are mistaken for Scotland supporters by the locals and get a good kicking. An incandescent Robert Tatton returns to avenge the fate of his children. Backed up by reinforcements from Baguley, Tatton captures the land. This is recorded in the newly renamed "Ye Wythenshawe Worlde" as the first recorded instance of football hooliganism and mandates the immediate creation of the Beautiful Game on the Ye Poundswicke playing fields. Keen to keep such acts of hooliganism as the preserve of the gentry, Tatton marries Alicia de Massey as a front for the conquest. He also sends his mate Lord Didsbury down south to have Rugby created as a legitimate excuse for mindless yobbery by the upper classes.
Aye pal, and make mine a large one.
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1642 to 1646 - The English Civil War. By 1641 the Tatton Army have moved into Wythenshawe Hall. They are Royalist supporters of Charles I. During the civil war of 1642 - 1646 the Parliamentarians, using the Boathouse Inn in Northenden as barracks, attack Wythenshawe hall ousting Tatton, who flees the area after the seige. He is reputed to be staying in the nurse's home in Hoole. Rumours to the contrary reach Northenden and it turns out that he has in fact been living in Oxford. Tatton returns to Wythenshawe in 1647, remarking that he "Couldn't stand those bloody southerners a minute longer".
1745 - Scots invade Northenden. "Bonnie Prince Charlie" Stuart and his Scots army cross the Mersey. It turns out that they were just "havin' a wee squirt pal, ye gorta problem wi' that?" against a tree on Withington golf course. Soon however, one of them spots a pub across the river... with lightning speed, the first Northenden footbridge is erected next to the weir. By 1746, the Scots army has spread throughout Northenden, constructing a number of settlements which survive to the present day. These are known as the Crown Inn, Church Inn, Spread Eagle, Jolly Carter, The Farmer's Arms, and Booze Buster on Palatine Road.
Hollyhedge Flats: Blimey Osama, it's a bit cramped in 'ere.
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1801 - First Census. The first ever census survey is carried out in the area. The results are:
- Northenden 538
- Northen Etchells 620
- Baguley 423
- Hollyhedge Flats 14,620
- Man City 0 - We deserved more (Keegan)
1814 - Sharston School. In 1814, Sharston School is erected on Sharston Green. Soon after, we see the first of the traditional annual battles of Poundes-Wicke, in which 200 kids go on the rampage intoxicated by Mead and Hemp. The traditional Poundswick riots survived until 1985; the mead and hemp of course replaced by their modern day equivalents - Tennents Super and Crack.
Really, Melissa, that's Just Not On.
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1836 - Altrincham Poor Law. The Altrincham Poor Law union formed including Northenden, Northen Etchells and Baguley. Somewhat perversely only a year later however, Altrincham, having been involved in founding the union, dissociate themselves following pressure from the neighbouring townships of Hale Barnes and Ye Bowedon. Apparently such common practice really can't be tolerated, you know, because it's really just not on, and Daddy says he'll be the laughing stock of the sailing club and we might have to move.
1840 - Northenden Church Rooms. A church room built opposite St Wilfrids Church on Ford Lane in Northenden is ceremonially opened by Alf Morris MP. Celebrated Local businessman and village benefactor Joseph Johnson points out that the village has no village green and implies that his financial support to the village may be withdrawn if he and his family have nowhere to relax in the afternoon sun. A small area of grass outside the village hall is designated the village green and is ceremonially opened by Alf Morris MP. Northenden village green survives to the present day and is listed amongst the North of England's top ten beauty spots.
Hoots Man. Just like home. Oops.
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1860 - Fourth Bridge built at Cheadle Over Mersey. Unfortunately it is built 240 miles south of the intended location by an army of Scottish brickies who, staggering out of the tatton arms at 11am following an eighteen hour session, think they are back home. For nearly a year, this bridge is used by the Scots to reach the pub from their portacabin on the golf course. Despite removing the necessity of swimming across the river, it is still somewhat inconvenient because reaching the pub without swimming now involves a 4 mile march to Cheadle to use the bridge. This wouldn't be a problem for the Tartan Army, but in this instance unfortunately there are no pubs along the way.
1861 - Footbridge goes up. Following the Fourth Bridge fiasco, a permanent iron footbridge is built over the mersey near Northenden New Rd (now Palatine Road). The bridge is designed by local architects and constructed free of charge by the Tartan Army responsible for the Forth Bridge at Cheadle, upon discovery that there will be a toll bar at Barlow Moor road. The local architects do not crack on to the Jocks what a "Toll Bar" is until after the bridge is finished.
Boom!
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1872 - Gas Board install mains in Church. Gas is installed in Northenden Parish Church. It is supposed to be installed in the vicarage too, but a misunderstanding prompts the engineers to pack up early after the vicar's wife is heard telling Choirmaster Mr. Price that "We've enough hot air around here already". Hordes of freezing locals lobby the Rectory for evening services but the Vicar refuses on the grounds that he has a "5 o'clock at Shadow Moss".
1876 - Church Rebuilt. All of St. Wilfrid's church is reconstructed except the tower, as the vicar is keen to avoid having his bells nicked. This is the vicar's idea of wit. The newly reconstructed church is opened by the Bishop of Chester... and Alf Morris MP.
Borders - open til 10.
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1881 - Borders Opened; Crime rockets. Tolls abolished on Palatine Road, Altrincham Road, Brownley Road, Longley Lane, and Royle Green Road. A massive influx of Geordies, Scots and Southerners is recorded in the village census. Masonry from Manchester Cathedral brought to two Northenden Residences. At this point however, no-one knows what has happened to the lead off the roof of the Holy Name Church. It is suspected to have ended up in Stretford.