Heywood, Greater Manchester
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Heywood | |
|
  Heywood shown within Greater Manchester |
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| Population | 28,024 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Metropolitan borough | Rochdale |
| Metropolitan county | Greater Manchester |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HEYWOOD |
| Postcode district | OL10 |
| Dial code | 01706 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Heywood and Middleton |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester | |
Heywood is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It is close to Middleton, and Bury, and played a part during the Industrial Revolution as a Lancashire mill town.
Heywood can be reached via junction 19 of the M62 motorway and is also served by the East Lancashire Railway (primarily a tourist attraction). Its main industry in the past has been cotton milling, although this has long since declined. Heywood is now home to one of the largest distribution parks in the North-West, supported by significant motorway links with Manchester and Liverpool.
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[edit] Geography and administration
Heywood is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale of Greater Manchester.
[edit] History
[edit] Early history
The town of Heywood has its origins in the 13th century, but the area owes much of its charm and character to Robert Peel, (the father of Sir Robert Peel, originator of Britain's first police force), who created the textile town virtually from a Greenfield site.
[edit] Industrial Revolution and cotton
The first spinning-mill commenced in it’s boundaries was at Wrigley Brook, now known as Queens Park Road in the latter part of the last century, however the extraordinary growth of the cotton-trade in Heywood was in 1845 when there were some thirty-six cotton-mills in the town, all with one exception were for the manufacture of heavy cotton goods, and comprised of 129,936 spinning machines, 203,066 mule-spindles, and 5320 looms in operation; the manufacturing annually of 8506 tons of cotton, and consuming 71,101 tons of coal in its mills and in its two paper-mills, there were approximetly 7510 persons employed.
In 1905 Plum Mill began operation as the largest mule-spinning mill in the world under one roof, however Plum Mill and its sister-mill "Unity Mill" were idled in the 1960s under the government reorganization of the cotton industry. The last large weaving mill in the town was J. Smith Hargreaves & Company, towel manufactures; however this too was idled in the 1980s and operations were transferred to W.T.Taylor & Co. Ltd, in Horwich near Bolton. H
eywood is an archetypal mill town, and during the Industrial Revolution its main industry was cotton. Many of the cotton mills have now been demolished, mainly for housing. One of the last mills remaining, though not in production since 1986, has recently been offered for redevelopment as apartments. The "Mutual Mills", a complex of four, are grade II listed buildings.
[edit] Peter Heywood
Peter Heywood, a member of the famous family, and a resident of Heywood Hall was reputedly the man who snatched the torch from the hand of Guy Fawkes as he was about to light the fuse which would have detonated kegs of gunpowder stashed in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster on the evening of November 5, 1605. Had Peter not grabbed the torch, it is likely that the entire building would have been destroyed - taking King James I and his MPs with it. Peter’s achievement and Guy Fawkes' failure (or the attempt) is remembered by Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night) on November 5.
[edit] Other history
Heywood became a borough on 18 February 1881, incorporating Heap, Hopwood, Pilsworth and Birtle-with-Bamford. At the time, the district included 67 cotton mills and weaving sheds, 67 machine works and other workshops, 75 cotton waste and other warehouses and 5,877 dwelling houses. It had 22 churches and chapels and 24 Sunday and day schools. The population was estimated at 25,000.
The town was originally served by railway, with a station to the south of the town. There were services to Bury Knowsley Street Station and Rochdale, but this line was closed in the 1970s. However, the line has recently been re-opened to Bury, as an extension to the East Lancashire Railway preservation project.
[edit] Present day
[edit] Industry and commerce
The main employer in the town is the distribution park with many of the country's major retailers having warehouse units there.
The town centre of Heywood has declined in recent years.[citation needed] The shops along Market Street have suffered at the hands of retail parks and supermarket developments. The centre of the town includes Morrisons supermarket and Dunnes Stores, and some smaller shops.
The whole town is currently undergoing a major regeneration as part of the Government's New Deal for Communities, and New Heart for Heywood are investing over £52m.[1] This bid was initially won in 2000 and work to regenerate this town is still ongoing. Some of the planned works for 2006-2008 include a new Health Connections Centre, a new family Surestart Centre, a new Primary School (although several are being knocked down as a result) and a multi-million pound sports and leisure village. There are controversial plans to build a second landfill site in the area.
[edit] Places of interest
- Heywood is home to some of the finest countryside in the North West of England. Ashworth Valley is a renowned local beauty spot.
- The Corgi Heritage Centre attracted visitors from all around the world, who came to marvel at its unprecedented range of collectible models. Unfortunately, as of January 2007, there seems to be no signs of activity.
- Queens Park in Heywood has recently undergone a multi-million pound facelift with many of its Victorian attractions restored such as the old fountain and many of the statues. It was officially 're-opened' in June 2006.
- Heywood Civic Centre which host events from bands performing gigs, musical theatre from local theatre companies(such as the towns amateur dramatics society HAODS and Heykids) to hosting private parties and functions as the centre can be hired out. Something is always going on at the centre so keep your eyes peeled for something you may fancy.
- The probation services unpaid work unit (formally Community Service) for Bury, Rochdale & Middleton is based in Heywood.
[edit] Notable residents
- Peter Kane, World Flyweight Boxing Champion. (1918 - 1991).
- Coronation Street Actress Julie Goodyear was born in Heywood and still lives in the town.
- Football player David Cross is from Heywood.
- TV Star Les Dennis maintains a holiday caravanette in the scenic Ashworth Valley area, and is a frequent visitor to the town.[citation needed]
- Pop band The Mock Turtles were formed in Heywood.
- Roger Fenton, pioneering British photographer, was born in Heywood.
- Former Everton and Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was born and raised in Heywood.
- Cricketer Steve Kirby is from Heywood. He currently plies his trade for Gloucestershire county cricket club.
- Lisa Stansfield Singer "All Around The World" is from Rochdale.
- Derek Jameson, former Radio 2 disc jockey, has retired to Heywood and lives on Coomassie Street with his Heywood born spouse.
- TV star Basil the yodelling dog currently resides in Heywood.
[edit] Trivia
Heywood is well known for its density of public houses, reputedly at one point, the highest per head of population in the country some 73 public houses "one on nearly every corner of each major street" and at some intersections four pubs were "competing for business" Highlights include the Queen Anne pub (also known as the 'Style Bar') in the town centre; in years gone by this pub it is reputedly told that it had staged public hangings in its back yard.
The only CAMRA rated pub in Heywood is the "Wishing Well" [2], which is, unusually for a public house.
Heywood is still often referred to as "Monkey Town" - which legend has it was attributed to the local penchant for bar stools with holes in the seat, ostensibly for tails. [3] A more likely etymology is derived from a now much reduced part of the town called Heap Bridge, or in local patois, "'Ape Bridge", hence "Monkey Town".
It is believed that the now ubiquitous 'high five' method of celebration originated in Heywood in the late 1960s.[citation needed]
it is belived that Craig Rodgers, from 80's punk band "Shamala" now resides in heywood.[citation needed]
