Heaton Norris

Historically part of Lancashire, Heaton Norris was part of the Manchester barony of the Grelley family, but between 1162 and 1180 it belonged to William le Norreys. In the early 13th century, Heaton Norris, a sub manor of Manchester, encompassed all of the Four Heatons. It was escheated (i.e. reverted) to the manor of Manchester in around 1280. 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. There was no chapel of ease, unlike neighbouring St Ostwalds at Didsbury, and it did not get one until St Thomas' was built in 1758. The township remained part of the parish of Manchester in the Salford Hundred of Lancashire until 1835 when the southern portion of the parish was absorbed into Stockport. and the remainder, Heaton Moor and Heaton Chapel, was added to Stockport County Borough on 9 November 1913. There was a referendum in the 1930s on whether the area wished to become part of Manchester again, but the vote was lost. On 1 April 1936 the parish was abolished and merged with Stockport. In 1931 the parish had a population of 13,410. Since 1974, it has formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester. Weaving was first recorded in 1580 and by 1776 farms were being advertised as having cowsheds and large loom houses. The rural nature changed with the arrival of the railway station at Heaton Norris in 1840 and Heaton Chapel in 1852, when the area became largely residential in order to house workers in local mills. The majority of Heaton Norris is characterised by deck-access or high-rise estates (such as Lancashire Hill) and Victorian terraced housing. Heaton Norris Rovers, now known as Stockport County Football Club, was formed in 1883, and used to play on a pitch behind the Nursery Inn suburban pub on Green Lane. In 1902 they left the Green Lane ground and moved to Edgeley Park. == Geography ==

Heaton Norris, Heaton Mersey, Heaton Moor and Heaton Chapel are on the north bank of the River Mersey and south of the Cringle Brook; it is sited to the west of Reddish and the River Tame. The land slopes gently towards the north from a high point in the south above a steep descent to the River Mersey. Most of the townships are between above sea level, and above the river. Heaton Norris is about south of St Ann's Square, Manchester. The soil is clay on marl and red sandstone. == Transport ==

and Stockport Viaduct at the foot of Norris Bank The former Manchester to Buxton Roman road, now the A6, passes through Heaton Norris. The M60 motorway passes to the south of the suburb; junction 1 serves Heaton Norris. A spur of the West Coast Main Line (WCML) between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly passes through the suburb, over the large brick-built Stockport Viaduct. Heaton Norris railway station was a stop on the line, before it was closed in 1959. The Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway (ST&AJR), operated by Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC), ran parallel the north bank of the river. This provided passenger services between Manchester Central, Liverpool, and until January 1967; freight services continued until 1983 when the line was closed. The Stockport Branch Canal of the Ashton Canal terminated at Heaton Norris. == Industry ==

In 1820 miller and political figure William Nelstrop established his flour mill on Lancashire Hill. Nelstrops Albion Flour Mills were rebuilt on the same site in 1893 following a fire. The company is now one of Britain's largest independent flour millers. == Community facilities ==

Notable landmarks in Heaton Norris include: • Bryant's Warehouse/former London and North Western Railway Goods Warehouse (Grade II listed) • A large B&Q superstore which, when first opened, was the largest in the country. • Bowerfold Open Space, known locally as The Bonks, popular with locals for dog walking, equestrianism, its football pitch, and, after heavy snowfalls, sledging. • All Saints' Church, designed by Preston and Vaughan and consecrated in 1888, is on the corner of Manchester Road and All Saints Road; it runs a number of community projects, such as the award winning free music school for children, ''Heaton's Hotpots'' free meals and various groups for children, young people and families. The church also has an active brass band and choir. == In popular culture ==

In the 1990s, the BBC mock talk show The Mrs Merton Show, and its spin-off black comedy sitcom, Mrs Merton and Malcolm (1999), the title character, Mrs Merton, played by Manchester native Caroline Aherne, often refers to living in Heaton Norris. The latter series was set in the area. Another BBC sitcom, Early Doors, principally written by and starring Aherne's collaborator Craig Cash (also a former Heaton Norris resident), revolved around a failing pub, which by inference and local references was also in Heaton Norris. The pub was set in The Grapes, Stockport, and based on the since closed Three Crowns in Heaton Norris. Some of the scenes for the BBC One comedy drama Sunshine, starring Steve Coogan, Bernard Hill, Craig Cash and Phil Mealey, were filmed in the Nursery Inn, a local pub. Part of an advert for Paddy Power starring Ryan Giggs' brother Rhodri was also filmed in Heaton Norris Park. == See also ==