Chadderton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Chadderton | |
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  Chadderton shown within Greater Manchester |
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| Population | 33,001 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| - Density | 6,900 mile² (2,664 km²) |
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 165 miles (266 km) SSE |
| Metropolitan borough | Oldham |
| Metropolitan county | Greater Manchester |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OLDHAM |
| Postcode district | OL9 |
| Dialling code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Oldham West and Royton |
| List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester | |
.jpg/240px-Chadderton_Town_Hall_(front).jpg)
Chadderton is a town[1] within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England.[2] It lies at the foothills of the Pennines, on the Rochdale Canal and close to the River Irk, 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Oldham, and 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Manchester. It has a total resident population of 33,001.
Historically a part of Lancashire, Chadderton expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution as a mill town centered on textile manufacture and cotton spinning. Although Chadderton lost this industry during the 20th century, the legacy of its industrial past is marked by several surviving cotton mills.
Contents |
[edit] History
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The name Chadderton - ancient alternatives being Chatterton and Chatherton - is derived from the Celtic 'Cader' or 'Cater' signifying a fortified place in the hills, with the Anglo-Saxon suffix 'tun' indicating a settlement. After the Norman Conquest the township formed the south-eastern boundary of the Fee or Estate of Tottington, with the Barons Montbegon of Hornby Castle, near Lancaster, and later the Barons Lacy of Clitheroe Castle, as the great overlords.
Chadderton owes much of its history to the Industrial Revolution, in particular to 19th century cotton spinning, which brought rapid expansion, prosperity, and economic growth.
The Rochdale Canal passes through the western part of Chadderton.
[edit] Governance
Chadderton anciently formed part of the hundred of Salford for civil jurisdiction. In 1507, two constables were appointed to uphold law and order in Chadderton.[3] In 1873, a Local Board of Health was formed to administer the growing town. From 1894 to 1974, Chadderton Urban District was a local government district within the administrative county of Lancashire. Chadderton Urban District Council comprised eighteen members. For ecclesiastical purposes Chadderton was part of the of Prestwich-cum-Oldham, within the extensive Diocese of Lichfield. This was later divided to form the Diocese of Chester, and eventually the Diocese of Manchester.
During the early 20th century there were attempts to both merge with the County Borough of Oldham, and, conversely, petition Queen Elizabeth II to obtain separate Borough status for Chadderton. However, neither were achieved.
Under the Local Government Act 1972, the town's Urban District status was abolished, and Chadderton has, since 1 April 1974, formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, within Greater Manchester.[2][4]
Chadderton's twin town is Geesthacht in Schleswig Holstein, Germany which was established in 1966 by the former Chadderton Urban District Council.
Chadderton forms part of the Oldham West and Royton parliamentary constituency, which returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons. In 2006, representations were made to the Boundary Commission for England calling for the constituency name to be changed, to include the name of Chadderton. It was pointed out that Chadderton was much larger and more populous than Royton. However the commission rejected the proposed alternative name (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton) on the grounds that it was too long and it did not believe that there was a significant amount of support for a name change.[5]
[edit] Geography
Chadderton lies at the foothills of the Pennines, around 1 mile (1.6 km) east-southeast of Middleton, in the northeast of Greater Manchester. It is a gently undulating area, rising from 300 feet (91 m) above sea level in the west to 450 feet (137 m) in the east. Tandle Hill, above Chadderton Heights, on the hillier northern edge of the town, is its highest point at 509 feet (155 m).
Chadderton is situated on the edge of the "Oldham Coalfield" and is drained by a number of streams, including the River Irk, which is a tributary of the River Irwell.
[edit] Divisions and suburbs
Chadderton has three electoral wards, of which the constituents elect nine councillors to the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council. These are Chadderton Central, Chadderton North and Chadderton South.
[edit] Economy
There are two main shopping areas in Chadderton, Chadderton Mall and Elk Mill Retail Park. Chadderton Mall is located in the town centre, and Elk Mill Retail Park is situated on the boundary with nearby Royton.
For many years, Chadderton was home to a large BAE Systems (formerly the Avro aircraft factory) manufacturing plant, which was a major employer within the area.
[edit] Landmarks
Chadderton Town Hall, in its present form, was the Chadderton's second town hall and was opened in 1913.
Chadderton Hall Park occupies an area of 6.47 hectares in what were once the gardens of Chadderton Hall, built in 1620. From 1839 to 1860 the hall and grounds were used as a boarding school for young ladies and later a school for boys. At the end of the 19th century they were leased to Joseph Ball, who transformed the house and grounds into a pleasure garden, complete with a boating lake and a menagerie. The hall was demolished in 1939. The park is owned today by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and was opened to the public in 1956.
Foxdenton Park contains the restored Foxdenton Hall, built in 1700 on the site of an earlier hall. The park occupies an area of 5.26 hectares and was opened to the public in 1922.
[edit] Sports
Chadderton Sports Centre, which is now a gymnasium, located near Chadderton Town Hall, once provided the main swimming and gym facilities for the town.
Chadderton F.C. is a non-league football team playing in the North West Counties Football League Division Two. Boundary Park, located partly within Chadderton and partly within neighbouring Royton, is the home of Oldham Athletic A.F.C..
[edit] Transport
Chadderton is accessed by the A669 road linking Middleton and Oldham, the A663, just near the centre of Chadderton, which connects drivers with the A627(M) motorway, just outside the centre of Chadderton, which links with the M62 motorway at Junction 20, and the M60 motorway.
There are frequent buses running through Chadderton towards Oldham and Middleton (58, 59), and also frequent services to Manchester (24, 181, 182 plus peak time service 20). National Express coaches also serve Chadderton with coaches stopping on Broadway, at the junction of Middleton Road, mainly used for the 060 service to Liverpool via Manchester, and to Leeds.
Other destinations with direct bus connections from the centre of Chadderton include Ashton-under-Lyne, Rochdale, Royton, and Shaw. There is no railway station in the centre of Chadderton. The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway branch from Middleton Junction to Werneth almost bisected the urban district, and there was a branch from this to a coal depot on Broadway, very close to Chadderton town centre, but no passenger station within Chadderton was ever provided on these lines. The nearest train stations are Mills Hill, to the west of Chadderton, where passengers can travel to Manchester, Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford and Leeds[6], and Oldham Werneth, to the east of Chadderton, where passengers can travel to Manchester, Oldham Mumps and Rochdale[7]. Both stations are on the Oldham Loop Line line and the trains that serve these stations are operated by Northern Rail
The line from Manchester to Oldham via Werneth is planned for conversion to Metrolink, and as part of the rebuilding, Metrolink stations are planned for South Chadderton and Freehold.
[edit] Notable people
Chadderton is the birthplace of former England national football team player David Platt, and acknowledged as the home of Henry Taylor, the British Olympic freestyle swimming triple gold medallist and champion. Taylor was a regular at Chadderton Baths.
[8]In 1948 Chadderton-born scientist Geoff Tootill helped create the world's first wholly-electronic fully-programmable computer, affectionately named Baby, an invention first used by the Meteorological Office in Bracknell to aid its staff in the forecast of weather.
Supermodel Karen Elson grew up in the town and attended North Chadderton School.[9]
[edit] Education
- Further information: List of schools in Oldham
| School | Locality | Description | Ofsted | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firwood Manor Preparatory School | Broadway, Chadderton | Preparatory School | website |
[edit] References
- ^ Chadderton visitoldham.co.uk, URL accessed October 21, 2006
- ^ a b Anon (2003-07-31). A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County. Greater Manchester County Records Office. Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
- ^ Daly, J.D (N.D.). Oldham From the XX Legion to the 20th Century, 29. ISBN 5-00-091284-5.
- ^ HMSO. Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70.
- ^ Final Recommendations for Parliamentary Counstituency Boundaries in Greater Manchester (DOC). Boundary Commission for England (19 July, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
- ^ Northern Rail - Timetables - 08. Northern Rail. Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
- ^ Northern Rail - Timetables - 26. Northern Rail. Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
- ^ http://www.chadderton-hs.freeuk.com/geoff_tootill__baby__compu.htm - URL accessed 04/01/08
- ^ North Chadderton School and Sixth Form Prospectus (PDF). northchaddertonschool.co.uk (2008).
