Hale Barns
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hale Barns | |
|
  Hale Barns shown within Greater Manchester |
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| Population | 9143 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan borough | Trafford |
| Metropolitan county | Greater Manchester |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WARRINGTON |
| Postcode district | WA15 |
| Dial code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Altrincham and Sale |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester | |
Hale Barns is an affluent village in Altrincham in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, Hale Barns lies about twelve miles (19.3 km) south of Manchester city centre close to Manchester Airport and the River Bollin.
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[edit] Geography and administration
The ward profile produced by Trafford MBC describes its location and economic nature as follows.
"Hale Barns lies at the southern tip of the Borough (of Trafford). It is bounded to the east by the M56, to the south by the River Bollin, by the residential areas of Altrincham to the west and Newhall Green to the north. The Ward contains a large amount of agricultural land including two private golf courses. There is also a number of private sports clubs within the Ward providing facilities for tennis, bowling and football. It is generally considered to be an affluent Ward in the top 10% wealthiest areas in England." Trafford MBC 2006
[edit] Member of Parliament
Hale Barns forms part of the Altrincham and Sale West Constituency and is represented in the House of Commons by the Conservative MP, Graham Brady. This is one of only a small number of seats in the north-west held by the Conservative Party, and the only one in Greater Manchester.
[edit] Local government
Hale Barns is part of Trafford Metropolitan Borough of Greater Manchester. Up until local government reforms in 1974, Hale Barns formed part of the administrative county of Cheshire.
The Councillors representing Hale Barns on Trafford Council are:
- Dylan Butt (Conservative)
- Ian Mullins (Conservative)
- Bernard Sharp (Conservative)
[edit] History
The first reference to Hale Barns is contained within the Domesday Book. Any reference prior to that is slim to non-existent.
The land around Hale and Hale Barns is fertile, though poor draining, and was used agriculturally during the medieval era. By the middle of the 15th century Hale Barns had established an identity completely separate from neighbouring Hale as demonstrated by the tithe barn which was established around this time. The tithe barn was for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which was to be given to the church. Such an establishment can be seen as a sign of prosperity of the area, much like its current repute. The original barn no longer survives, but is thought to be the source of the town’s name.
Having long been agricultural land, in the 18th century the town was divided up into 5 farms: Tanyard, Partington, Oakfield, Broadoak, and Elm. The 18th century also saw Nonconformists establish a chapel on what is now Chapel Lane (at the end of Wicker Lane) which still stands today. In 1740, a school was founded by the Unitarian minister of Hale - a time when education was a rare commodity - and can be seen on a map of 1800 along with a tithe barn, two inns, five farms, four cottages the school house and school rooms.
In the late 19th century the Manor House was built on the site of the old farm Tanyard, for the purpose of the owner’s retirement. In 2006 a timber framed barn built around 1701 - originally belonging to the Tanyard Farm and later converted to stables for Manor House - was torn down due to lack of funds to maintain the building. The building - known simply as ‘Manor House Stables’ - was unfortunately the last timber framed building in Hale Barns.
During the 20th century urbanisation effected Hale Barns, turning the place from an agricultural village into the commuter town it is today, focused around ‘The Square’ - a shopping precinct. Its main road - Hale Road - runs through the centre of Hale Barns and leads towards Manchester Airport.
[edit] Etymology
The name Hale derives from the Anglo-Saxon halh meaning a nook or shelter,[1] as supported by the surrounding area which has natural features that would provide shelter. The name Hale has a number of recurrances throughout Britain which is unsurprising as during Anglo Saxon times shelter or a safe place was always important. The 'Barns' element of Hale Barns comes from the Old Tithe Barn mentioned earlier
[edit] Present day
[edit] Demographics
Trafford MBC Ward Profile describes the Ward as being diverse in nature and home to a large Jewish and Muslim community groups.
[edit] Churches & places of Worship
Places of workship include:
- Holy Angels - the very large Roman Catholic Church (linked to St Anbrose College - see below) is situated in Wicker Lane at the junction with Hale Road at the western end of the village centre. The parish forms part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury
- Hale Barns, All Saints (C of E). Built 1967 on the site of St. Paul. Marriages 1968-1985 have been deposited at the Cheshire Record Office. Baptisms from 1985 are held at the church (no burials).
Hale Barns was partly in the Anglican Parish of Ringway between 1900 and 1936.
- Hale & District Synagogue. Rebuilt on its previous footprint in 2003 the modern structure has a synagogue, nursery, function suite and dedicated study room Beit HaMidrash. It is also the site of the South Manchester Mikveh with a utensil mikveh that's adjuncted to the main mikveh building.
[edit] Schools and colleges
[edit] Primary schools
The Church of England ran a Village School next to the original church up until the late 1950s. It was closed and replaced by Elmridge Primary School which was built due to the house-building on the edge of the village and associated increase in population in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Elmridge Primary School is a co-educational day school with 243 pupils currently on role (2006/7 school year).
[edit] Secondary schools
St. Ambrose College is a Catholic Boy's Secondary School situated adjacent to Holy Angels Church and Hale Road, near the centre of Hale Barns village. The Christian Brothers came to England from Guernsey during the Second World War and remained to establish the college in 1946. The college celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2006.
In 2005 around 800 pupils attended the school. The College was awarded funding in the summer of 2006 for rebuilding on the current site as part of the Building Schools for the Future Programme.
[edit] Economic activity
A new shopping centre was built in Hale Barns in the 1960s. "The Square Shopping Centre" site is now being considered for redevelopment and proposals were subjected to consultation in 2005. In 2007 the Council and Developer will be participating in a Planning Inquiry after the council refused planning permission for the proposed redevelopment
[edit] References
- ^ "A History of Hale, Cheshire: From Domesday to Dormitory" by R. N. Dore. Published by John Sherratt and Son Ltd., Publishers, Altricham.
- "Manor House Stables, Hale Barns, Trafford: An Archaeological Watching Brief during Demolition of the Listed Timber-framed Barn." Survey by Manchester University.
[edit] External links
- Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council - Ward Profile for Hale Barns
- Holy Angels - local Catholic church
- St. Ambrose College - local boy's RC Secondary School
- Elmridge Primary School - school website
- Cheshire Parishes - Hale
