Manchester

Manchester is a City in the county of Greater Manchester.

Manchester is a city in Northwest England and is surrounded by several smaller cities, boroughs and suburbs that together form an urban area with a population exceeding 2.4 million. Manchester lies within one of the UK’s largest metropolitan areas, the Manchester City Region. Manchester has been a thriving settlement since Roman times when it was known as Mancunium. Manchester played a significant part in the Industrial Revolution and from

the early-19th century, Manchester’s economy depended on large scale cotton spinning; weaving sheds, known locally as ‘factories’ dominated Manchester’s landscape throughout the Industrial Revolution which resulted in Manchester becoming world’s first industrialised city. Manchester is also known for its sporting connections and is home to the Premier League football club, Manchester City, Manchester United and Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Manchester is also home to Manchester Metropoliton University, the largest university in the UK outside of London. Manchester is famous for its architecture.

Manchester was granted the title of city in 1853 due to its rapid population expansion at that time. Manchester’s current motto is ‘Arts et Industria’ which means ‘arts and industry’ in Latin. Manchester lies within a green belt region that extends into the wider surrounding counties, it is an area that sprawls across parts of England but mostly lies within northern England. The population increase between 2001-2011 was about 25% which makes Manchester one of Europe’s fastest growing metropolitan areas after Paris and Athens. Manchester is a very diverse city with more than 75 ethnic groups calling Manchester home, Manchester is also one of the most multi-cultural cities outside of London. Manchester has two professional football clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United. Manchester City play their home games at The Etihad Stadium which was opened in 2002 and Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United was built in 1910 and is currently being expanded to hold up to 76 000 spectators.

Manchester’s skyline is rapidly changing from that of a 20th century industrial city into a 21st century cosmopolitan metropolis due to new construction work springing up on all sides.

History of Manchester

Manchester has a history going back to the Roman times when Manchester was known as Mancunium. Manchester’s history has significant landmarks such as Manchester Cathedral and the Manchester Boardwalk. Manchester is also home to Victorian architecture and took part in the Industrial Revolution which turned Manchester into a world-renowned city.

Manchester City Council

The City of Manchester Council was founded in Manchester after the incorporation of the city in 1838. The council provides local government for Manchester and with neighboring Salford, parts of Trafford, Stockport and some small parts of Cheshire like Wilmslow and Tameside, it provides transport, education, social services and trading standards to Manchester residents. Manchester had its own County Borough from 1889 until 1974 when it merged with Salford to form the newly created metropolitan boroughs ofManchester and Salford. Manchester City Council is one of the largest employers in Manchester with more than 2000 employees, Manchester City Council is run by a directly elected citywide mayor and a cabinet who are accountable for their actions to Manchester residents.

Manchester Ship Canal

Manchester became the first British city to have an independent access to the sea in 1894 when Manchester Ship Canal was officially opened although canal building had started back in the early-1790s. The ship canal runs 22 miles from Salford Quays to Eastham Locks on the estuary of The River Mersey near Liverpool which allowed Manchester trading ships easy access into Manchester’s docks thus making Manchester an important world seaport until 1970 when it came under control of British Waterways until November woof Manchester council purchased Manchester Ship Canal of Manchester City council.

Manchester is home to 78000 businesses with more than 1500 of those employing over 500 people each making it an important economic center in Europe second only after London.

Manchester University

The University of Manchester is considered to be one of the country’s top universities outside London having been awarded the title of the best university outside of London in 2007 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. Manchester University is home to one of the UK’s oldest and biggest scientific research centers which work closely with similar research centers in Manchester such as Jodrell Bank Observatory and there is a strong link between Manchester and space exploration. Manchester works closely with NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). Manchester has played an important role in the development of computing having produced Manchester Mark 1, world’s first programmable computer, Manchester computers were also used by NASA for early space exploration missions during the moon landings. The West Pennine Moors

Manchester is surrounded by the West Pennine Moors which has Manchester City Council taking care of more than 11000 hectares (270 sq miles) of moorland and Manchester City Council also manages Manchester’s Community Forests. Manchester City Council work closely with Manchester residents to help maintain forests and wildlife preservation. Manchester’s climate often makes it prone to floods with some notable incidents throughout history like that of August 2007 when heavy rain caused severe flooding in Manchester city center.

Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport is reputedly one of busiest airports in the UK, Manchester airport is home to six airlines including low-cost airline RyanAir who operate flights within Europe as well as a number of cargo operators . The area around the airport has been developed for commercial use makingManchester Airport an important business tool for Manchester as well as a key region in Manchester’s economy. Manchester airport is the third busiest airport in the UK after Heathrow and Gatwick Airport.

Manchester postcode: M2 3

Retail in Manchester

There are great places to visit near Manchester including some great towns, hills, hiking areas, old mines, ancient sites, round cairns, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.

Manchester's best nearby towns can be found at Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.

Manchester's best nearby hills can be found at Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.

There are a several good hiking areas in the Manchester area like Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge.

Manchester has some unmissable old mines nearby like Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, and Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin).

The area around Manchester features a number of interesting ancient sites including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.

Manchester has some unmissable round cairns nearby like Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.

Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin) are great places to visit near Manchester if you like ruins.

Manchester's best nearby historic sites can be found at Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.

Manchester's best nearby lakes can be found at Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.

There are a several good historic monuments in the Manchester area like Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.

Don't miss Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook's rivers and streams if visiting the area around Manchester.

Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood are great places to visit near Manchester if you like woodlands.

Don't miss Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough's geological features if visiting the area around Manchester.

Don't miss Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Aspull Sough, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve, and Pennington Flash's nature reserves if visiting the area around Manchester.

There are a several good villages in the Manchester area like Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Whelley, and Standish.

There are a several good historic buildings in the Manchester area like Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate.

There are a number of country parks near Manchester including Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park.

There are a number of waterfalls near Manchester including Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow.

Don't miss Rivington Pike Easter's events if visiting the area around Manchester.

Manchester's best nearby bluebell woods can be found at Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.

Nob End SSSI is a great place to visit close to Manchester if you like sssis.

There are a several good parks in the Manchester area like Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.

The area around Manchester boasts some of the best shopping centres including Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.

There are a several good gardens in the Manchester area like The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Manchester has some unmissable canals nearby like Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal.

There are a several good cities in the Manchester area like Salford, and Manchester.

There are a number of museums near Manchester including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green.

Don't miss The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline's disused railway lines if visiting the area around Manchester.

Places near Manchester feature a number of interesting moated sites including Wigan Golf Club.

Airports to visit near Manchester include Manchester Airport.

Manchester History

There are some historic monuments around Manchester:

Areas of Manchester

Like most towns and cities Manchester is comprised of a number of areas, once separate villages or small towns and parishes now part of Manchester.

Many of the areas of Manchester have their own character and places of interest.

Places to see near Manchester

Etymology of Manchester

The name Manchester originates from the Latin name Mamucium or its variant Mancunio and the citizens are still referred to as Mancunians. These names are generally thought to represent a Latinisation of an original Brittonic name. The generally accepted etymology of this name is that it comes from Brittonic *mamm- (“breast”, in reference to a “breast-like hill”). However, more recent work suggests that it could come from *mamma (“mother”, in reference to a local river goddess). Both usages are preserved in Insular Celtic languages, such as mam meaning “breast” in Irish and “mother” in Welsh. The suffix -chester is from Old English ceaster (“Roman fortification”, itself a loanword from Latin castra, “fort; fortified town”).

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History of Manchester

Manchester is mentioned as having a market in 1282. Around the 14th century, Manchester received an influx of Flemish weavers, sometimes credited as the foundation of the region’s textile industry. Manchester became an important centre for the manufacture and trade of woollens and linen, and by about 1540, had expanded to become, in John Leland’s words, “The fairest, best builded, quickest, and most populous town of all Lancashire.” The cathedral and Chetham’s buildings are the only significant survivors of Leland’s Manchester. During the English Civil War Manchester strongly favoured the Parliamentary interest. Although not long-lasting, Cromwell granted it the right to elect its own MP. Charles Worsley, who sat for the city for only a year, was later appointed Major General for Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire during the Rule of the Major Generals. He was a diligent puritan, turning out ale houses and banning the celebration of Christmas; he died in 1656. Significant quantities of cotton began to be used after about 1600, firstly in linen/cotton fustians, but by around 1750 pure cotton fabrics were being produced and cotton had overtaken wool in importance. The Irwell and Mersey were made navigable by 1736, opening a route from Manchester to the sea docks on the Mersey. The Bridgewater Canal, Britain’s first wholly artificial waterway, was opened in 1761, bringing coal from mines at Worsley to central Manchester. The canal was extended to the Mersey at Runcorn by 1776. The combination of competition and improved efficiency halved the cost of coal and halved the transport cost of raw cotton. Manchester became the dominant marketplace for textiles produced in the surrounding towns. A commodities exchange, opened in 1729, and numerous large warehouses, aided commerce. In 1780, Richard Arkwright began construction of Manchester’s first cotton mill. In the early 1800s, John Dalton formulated his atomic theory in Manchester.