Flixton, Greater Manchester

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Coordinates: 53°27′N 2°23′W / 53.45°N 2.39°W / 53.45; -2.39

Flixton
FlixtonHouse.jpg
Flixton House
Flixton is located in Greater Manchester
Flixton

 Flixton shown within Greater Manchester
OS grid reference SJ755945
Metropolitan borough Trafford
Metropolitan county Greater Manchester
Region North West
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MANCHESTER
Postcode district M41
Dialling code 0161
Police Greater Manchester
Fire Greater Manchester
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK Parliament Stretford and Urmston
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Flixton is a village and electoral ward within the Urmston area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. It lies about six miles (9.7 km) to the southwest of Manchester city centre, within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire.

Flixton's present-day population is concentrated in the northern half of the village, the rest of which is generally open space.

Contents

[edit] Etymology

Flixton has been recorded as fflixton, Fluxton, Flyxton, Flyxeton, Fleece-town, Flixston and Flixtone.[1] It is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey, and first appears in historical records in 1176 or 1177.[2] The name may be Scandinavian in origin, the Anglo-Saxon ton meaning a farmstead, although along with nearby Urmston, it may be an anglicised personal name from the 10th or 11th centuries and not a primary settlement name from earlier times.[3]

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

The area may have been inhabited during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Stone axes have been found on the banks of the River Mersey in Flixton, as well as on the banks of the River Irwell in Old Trafford. Further afield, two Neolithic arrowheads have been found in Altrincham and Dunham Massey, and a Bronze Age arrowhead in Warburton.[4]

The Radclyff Brass, found inside St Michael's Church. Richard Radclyff lived at Newcroft Hall in nearby Urmston.[5]

Medieval Flixton was one of several parishes which existed in the Hundred of Salford. The parish encompassed the manors of Urmston and Flixton, the latter first mentioned between 1189–1181 and granted by the Mascy family of Dunham. The manor of Flixton's boundaries are unclear, although they were perhaps formed by a mixture of natural and man-made features including Carr Ditch, which divided Flixton and Urmston.[6] St Michael's Church is also first recorded at about this time, although the building may predate this.[7] In keeping with a pattern found in northern and eastern Cheshire and south-eastern Lancashire, the parish comprised isolated farmsteads and a medieval manor house, rather than a village centre.[8] Notable place names in medieval Flixton include Shaw Hall, located east of the modern Flixton village, near the present-day Roebuck Hotel. The location of Berne is unknown, while Booths was possibly located near Hulme Bridge Farm near the Irwell. Wood may have existed in the north-western part of Flixton, near a Woods-end Farm noted in an 1818 survey.[9]

An early mention of Flixton appears in the Testa de Nevil, which includes the entry: "Albert Gredle, sen., gave to Henry, son of Siward, one carucate of land in Flixton by 10s. yearly. The heirs hold that land." The manor of Flixton was, for a time, controlled by the Grelleys, Barons of Manchester. Robert of Lathom, who inherited the manor, granted the parish of Flixton to the newly-created Burscough Priory, located near Ormskirk, in 1190. The Grelleys may not have been Flixton manor's only masters, as in 1250–1251 part of the area came into the possession of David de Hulton.[10] The Hultons united what in the 12th century was a fragmented manor. In 1330 they sub-let one half of it to the Valentine family, and the other to two branches of the Radcliffe family. The Valentines are included in the Exchequer Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332, which show five tax payers in Flixton: Richard le Valentine, Henry de l'Wode, William de l'Berne, Richard son of Robert and John de Booth.[2] The name Valentine also appears in Flixton's parish registers, which begin in 1570. Written on vellum and mostly in Latin,[11] the first records 11 baptisms, 2 marriages and 7 burials. Christian names include Hamlet, Randle and Ralph. The registers show that surnames such as Gilbody, Valentine, Millatt and Low remained prevalent in the area well into the 19th century.[12]

[edit] Industrial revolution

Flixton's population remained fairly stable until the end of the seventeenth century, when, along with other nearby parishes, it began to rise steadily. It was by that time a small hamlet, with several buildings around the parish church and its parsonage.[13] The 1664 hearth tax returns show that Flixton had 70 heads of household,[14] who were likely engaged mainly in agricultural activities. Evidence exists which suggests that some areas in the parish were used for textile production, with "yarn croft" in Flixton, Stretford and Warburton indicating the production of flax. Almost 20% of wills and other documents gathered from nearby areas contain references to textiles, hemp and flax.[15]

During the industrial revolution many of the townships in the area experienced fairly rapid population growth, although Flixton remained an exception, its population growing by only 22% between 1801 and 1851. This was in stark contrast to Altrincham (165%), Bowdon (242%) and Stretford (238%), and is attributed to the emigration of villagers to more industrialised areas, such as Manchester, and also the agricultural depression of the 1830s and 1840s. The domestic production of textiles, popular during the 17th and early 18th centuries in Flixton and other nearby townships, and the newer factory-based system which replaced it, had disappeared in Altrincham by the middle of the 19th century. Weaving continued in Flixton, although Flixton Cotton Mills, built in 1851, led within ten years to the end of domestic textile production. In nearby Urmston, 28% of the township's population was in 1851 engaged in textile work,[16] but the area did not experience the level of industrialisation seen in towns like Ashton-under-Lyne, east of Manchester, where 16 mills were built between 1815 and 1829, doubling the population. The reasons for this reliance on land rather than industry are unclear.[17]

Population growth in Flixton from 1801–1951
Year 1801 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911 1921 1931 1951
Population 1,625 1,982 2,249 2,099 2,230 2,064 2,050 1,512 1,776 2,786 3,656 4,845 5,411 8,523 14,678
Source: A Vision of Britain through Time[18]

Flixton was a remote rural area with few transport links to nearby towns, the rivers Irwell and Mersey for the most part cutting off access to other areas. Carrington Old Bridge, removed in about 1840, was an old wooden bridge too narrow to accommodate carts, which were forced to use a nearby ford. Another ford existed near Flixton Church, and yet another near Shaw Hall.[19] An omnibus service carried passengers to and from Stretford, where the nearest railway station was located, but it was the town's connection on 2 September 1873 to the UK's railway network, through the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (later the Cheshire Lines Committee) line from Manchester to Liverpool, which helped transform the area,[20] and Flixton became a middle-class railway suburb of Manchester.[21]

[edit] Governance

[edit] Civic history

In 1841 Davyhulme, Flixton and Urmston became part of the Chorlton Poor Law Union, until 1849 when, with Stretford, it was transferred to Barton upon Irwell Poor Law Union. An 1894 Act of Parliament created urban and rural district councils, and along with Carrington, Davyhulme, Dunham Massey, Hale, Partington, Timperley and Warburton, Flixton became part of Barton upon Irwell Rural District (Urmston gained an urban district council).[22][23] Land was exchanged between Flixton and Irlam Urban District and Barton Moss civil parish. A further exchange of land occurred in 1920, with Carrington civil parish. In 1933 the civil parish became a part of Urmston Urban District.[24]

[edit] Political representation

From 1918–1983 Flixton was a part of the borough constituency of Stretford.[citation needed] From 1983–1997 it was inlcluded in the new constituency of Davyhulme, and was represented by the Conservative party MP Winston Spencer-Churchill, grandson of Winston Churchill. Davyhulme was replaced in 1997 by Stretford and Urmston. Its first MP was Beverley Hughes, who stood for election for the Labour Party. She won the 1997 General Election with 58.5% of the vote, against the Conservatives' John Gregory with 30.5%. She was replaced in 2010 by Kate Green, who won 48.6% of the vote, compared to the Conservatives' Alex Williams with 28.7%. The Liberal Democrats gained 16.9% of the vote.[25]

Flixton elects three Councillors to Trafford Council and as of the 2011 local election all three seats are held by the Conservative Party. The current councillors are Jonathan Coupe, Keith Summerfield, and Vivienne Ward.[26]

[edit] Geography

At 53°44′27″N 2°38′44″W / 53.74083°N 2.64556°W / 53.74083; -2.64556 (53.4427°, -2.3844°) and 170 miles (274 km) northwest of central London, Flixton is located between Urmston and Irlam, which lie to the east and west. For the purposes of the Office for National Statistics, Flixton forms a south westerly part of the Greater Manchester Urban Area,[27] with Manchester city centre 6.4 miles (10.3 km) to the north-eastnorth.[28]

Flixton ward's southern boundary is formed by the River Mersey, and is opposite the neighbouring ward of Bucklow St Martins. With the creation of the Manchester Ship Canal, formerly the path of the River Irwell, the township's western boundary with Irlam was adopted in 1896.[29] Today, the ward's boundary is further east, running south through farmland near Woodsend Circle. Flixton's north and eastern boundaries are formed by Moorside Road and the area slightly east of Chassen Road railway station. Most of the town's population lives to the north, the south being mainly open land.[30]

[edit] Demography

As of the 2001 Census Flixton ward's population was 9,473,[31] 9,164 of whom were white, the remainder being either of mixed race, Asian, Black or Chinese.[32] 3,789 people are listed as single, 3,543 as married for the first time, and the remainder either remarried, separated, divorced or widowed.[33] 7,771 people considered themselves Christian, 952 stated they had no religion, and 606 did not state their religion. 86 people are listed as Muslims, 22 as Hindus, 10 as Buddhist and 8 as Jewish.[34]

[edit] Culture

Flixton Band, formed in 1877, played at the official opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894, attended by Queen Victoria. It was disbanded in 1933 but reformed in 1967, since when it has performed on television and radio, and achieved many competition successes.[35]

Local artist Frances Lennon, born in nearby Stretford, moved with her husband to Flixton in the late 1970s. Following his death she became a full-time painter, releasing several books including A Trafford Childhood (1986) and A Manchester Childhood (2001). Dubbed "the people's artist",[36] she was the official artist for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and produced a special book of paintings relating to games and sports.[37][38]

'Hermans Hermits' Peter Noone and his group were originally known as "The Heartbeats" and played at St. Clements Branch Church Youth Club for a Christmas Jive on 22 December 1962, and also for a "Twist & Shout" on 29 June 1963. Peter Noone went to Stretford Grammar & lived on the Woodsend estate. Some of the Hermits also lived in the area, Karl Green went to Wellacre, & Keith Hopwood went to Urmston Grammar.

[edit] Landmarks

Shaw Hall, whose name first appears in 1508 and is derived from a small wood, was described by historian Michael Nevell as "the most significant medieval estate within the township".[2] Reputed to be a Jacobean era mansion,[29] it was referred to as a manor in 1594, although whether this was also the case during the medieval period is unknown.[2] It was the home of the Valentines, the Asshawes, and the Egertons, and during the English Civil War was defended against a potential attack by Royalist forces. The Egertons remained at Shaw Hall until 1757; thereafter it was occupied by various families, until it was demolished in the 20th century.[39]

Flixton House, a late 18th-century Grade II listed building set in the 218 acres (88 ha) of Flixton Park and Gardens,[40] was the focus of one of the first footpath battles in England after its owner, Ralph Wright, in 1824 closed several footpaths crossing his estate. Local residents accepted the closures, but Wright also attempted to change the route of footpaths not on his land, ploughing the entrance to one and sowing it with oats. A local farmer, Samuel Wood, objected to Wright's tactics, and removed each obstruction, restoring the footpath. Wright successfully gained an order supporting his changes at his third attempt, but by then the case had attracted considerable interest, and in 1826 the Manchester Society for the Preservation of Ancient Footpaths was formed. After several years of expensive legal wrangling, Wright's order was quashed, and in June 1827 the footpaths affected were reopened. Wright obtained further orders and again closed the footpaths, before the matter was finally resolved at the Quarter Session on 29 October that year, to Wright's cost.[41] His loss proved to be a landmark case in the establishment of footpaths in England.[42]

Abbotsfield Park, known locally as Chassen Park, was the unlikely venue for a 1963 Beatles' concert, booked before The Beatles became famous. The Urmston and District Model Engineering Society operates a miniature railway around the park, and ran a yearly May Day Steam rally in conjunction with the Lancashire Traction Engine Club until 2010.[43]

A tree was planted in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and it became known as 'The Jubilee Tree'.[44] this tree can be found on the central island of the junction of Church Road and Flixton Road. This tree was destroyed in a storm in recent years and a new one planted.[citation needed] Stocks were once located where the tree now stands; apparently seldom used, they were removed in 1823.[45]

[edit] Transport

Flixton is a terminus for several bus services running through the Urmston district, and 'Flixton' is a common destination on buses from Manchester. Services terminating at Town's Gate are the 256 and X58 to Manchester, whilst buses 15 & 245 terminate at Woodsend Circle. Other services also terminate at the Red Lion.[46]

[edit] Education

Further information: List of schools in Trafford

Flixton's first school was founded by Peter Egerton, in 1643, and built close to the parish church. The building was later replaced by the Dog and Partridge inn, but another school was opened near the present-day Roebuck pub in 1662, of thatched wood and plaster. Shawtown school, which was slightly closer to Urmston than the building it replaced, was still extant in 1826, but was later used as cottages. Another school was built in 1861, opposite the parish church,[citation needed] and was expanded in 1893.[47] It was demolished during the 20th century.[citation needed]

Flixton Girls' School is a non-selective sports specialist academy school, taking girls aged 11–16 of all abilities. In Trafford, 40% of pupils are selected for grammar schools at the age of 11, so the level of attainment of pupils on entry to Flixton Girls' High School is below the national average, as is the proportion of higher attainers. The school was described in its 2004 Ofsted report as "an effective school which provides a good standard of education."[48]

Wellacre Academy is another local school.

[edit] Religion

St Michael's Church, in Flixton Village

Flixton is in the Church of England Diocese of Manchester[49] and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford.[50]

Historically church life has centred around St Michaels Church, built on raised land close to the centre of Flixton village. The church was founded in the 12th century,[51] and was for about 500 years attached to Lichfield Cathedral.[52]

The Catholic Community of Flixton worship at St Monica's Church on Woodsend Road South. The parish was founded in 1950 and the attached school opened in 1959. The present church of St Monica was opened in 1969. The building underwent major renovations in 1993 and it was extended in 1999 with a new suite named The Jubilee Rooms.[53]

[edit] Sports

Flixton was witness to bull and bear baiting, performed in several places throughout the village. One of these was in Shawtown, on "Schoo' Green", and another was at "Th' Grane", at the top of Woodsend Road, opposite the Red Lion pub. The practice was ended in 1816. Badger baiting was also practised, at certain inns.[54] Anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that hunting, cockfighting and horse racing took place in Flixton, the latter in the fields around the parish church.[55]

Flixton F.C. was formed in 1960, playing in the Manchester and Wythenshawe League, then moved to the Lancashire and Cheshire League in 1963, winning its third division at the first attempt. They won promotion to Division One of the North West Counties League for the 2006–07 season. Flixton were very close to playing at Wembley Stadium but they lost in the Semi Final of the FA Vase to Brigg Town.

Trafford F.C. although a break-away fraction from Flixton F.C. in 1990, play one division higher in the Northern Premier League Division One North and also hail from Flixton.

The William Wroe Golf Course, on a rare snowy day

Flixton has three golf courses: the municipally owned William Wroe Golf Course, Davyhulme Golf Course, and the privately owned Flixton Golf Course, reputedly the longest nine-hole golf course in England.

The Urmston Leisure Centre is located within Flixton.

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Langton 1898, p. 13
  2. ^ a b c d Nevell 1997, p. 46
  3. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 24
  4. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 15
  5. ^ Lawson 1898, p. 28
  6. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 37
  7. ^ Nevell 1997, pp. 28–29, 32
  8. ^ Nevell 1997, pp. 45–46
  9. ^ Nevell 1997, pp. 46–47
  10. ^ Langton 1991, pp. 14–15
  11. ^ Langton 1991, p. 78
  12. ^ Lawson 1898, p. 24
  13. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 56
  14. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 58
  15. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 68
  16. ^ Nevell 1997, pp. 85–89
  17. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 91
  18. ^ Flixton UD: Total Population, visionofbritain.org.uk, http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TOT_POP&u_id=10351753&c_id=10001043&add=N, retrieved 6 September 2011 
  19. ^ Harrison 1894, p. 13
  20. ^ Nevell 1997, pp. 100, 109–110
  21. ^ Haywood 2009, pp. 237–238
  22. ^ Nevell 1997, p. 95
  23. ^ Relationships / unit history of FLIXTON, Vision of Britain, http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10351753&c_id=10001043, retrieved 2011-06-23 
  24. ^ Greater Manchester Gazetteer, Greater Manchester County Record Office, http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzd.htm, retrieved 2011-06-20 
  25. ^ Stretford and Urmston, Guardian.co.uk, http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/constituency/1347/stretford-and-urmston, retrieved 7 April 2010 
  26. ^ Flixton: Councillors in this Ward, trafford.gov.uk, http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DemServWard.asp?ward_id=36875015-8E52-4461-A23F-DC232A1DD1AE&id=0&cmetemplate=dynamic/standard.tmp, retrieved 2 February 2012 
  27. ^ (PDF) Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban areas in England and Wales Part 8, statistics.gov.uk, 2004, http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/urban-areas-in-england-and-wales/urban-areas-in-england-and-wales-part-8.pdf, retrieved 4 September 2011 
  28. ^ Landranger 109: Manchester & surrounding area (5th ed.), Ordnance Survey, 1983, ISBN 0-319-22109-1 
  29. ^ a b "Townships: Flixton", A History of the County of Lancaster (british-history.ac.uk) 5: pp. 46–50, 1911, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=52998, retrieved 2007-04-20 
  30. ^ (PDF) Flixton Ward Profile 2010/2011, trafford.gov.uk, 2010-2011, http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DocMan2Document.asp?document_id=99504D12-4C09-48E5-8580-317944B21CAF, retrieved 20 June 2011 
  31. ^ Flixton (Ward) Population (UV01), neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk, April 2001, http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6174334&c=M41+6HZ&d=14&e=16&g=356297&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1308587763532&enc=1&dsFamilyId=75, retrieved 20 June 2011 
  32. ^ Flixton (Ward) Ethnic Group (UV09), neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk, April 2001, http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6174334&c=M41+6HZ&d=14&e=16&g=356297&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1308587763517&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87, retrieved 20 June 2011 
  33. ^ Flixton (Ward) Marital Status (UV07), neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk, April 2001, http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6174334&c=M41+6HZ&d=14&e=16&g=356297&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1308587763532&enc=1&dsFamilyId=83, retrieved 20 June 2011 
  34. ^ Flixton (Ward) Religion (UV15), neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk, April 2001, http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6174334&c=M41+6HZ&d=14&e=16&g=356297&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1308587763532&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95, retrieved 20 June 2011 
  35. ^ History of the Band, flixtonband.org.uk, http://www.flixtonband.org.uk/history.htm, retrieved 21 July 2007 
  36. ^ Honorary degree for Games artist, news.bbc.co.uk, 14 July 2004, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3891499.stm, retrieved 29 November 2008 
  37. ^ "A 92-year-old artist was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree from the University – 76 years after leaving school at the age of 16" (PDF), Universal (salford.ac.uk), Spring/Summer 2005, http://www.salford.ac.uk/publications/universal/spring-summer2005.pdf, retrieved 22 June 2011 
  38. ^ The people's artist, bbc.co.uk, 3 February 2005, http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2005_05_thu_04.shtml, retrieved 22 June 2011 
  39. ^ Lawson 1898, pp. 51–54
  40. ^ FLIXTON HOUSE AND OUTBUILDING ADJOINING IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF FLIXTON HOUSE, list.english-heritage.org.uk, 8 January 1981, http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1067878, retrieved 20 June 2011 
  41. ^ Lawson 1898, pp. 77–78
  42. ^ (PDF) 2002 - 2006 Management & Improvement Plan (Working Document), trafford.gov.uk, http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/Download.asp?c=docman2&f=pdf&id=987E097A-D570-445E-9DBA-A6CA60F99A0F, retrieved 23 April 2007 
  43. ^ May Day of Steam, http://www.maydaysteam.co.uk/, retrieved 20 June 2011 
  44. ^ http://www.trafford.gov.uk/content/tca/display_image.asp?ImageID=367
  45. ^ Langton 1991, p. 99
  46. ^ "Salford". TfGM Transport Map. http://www.tfgm.com/pdfmaps/network/3-salford-150711.pdf. Retrieved 29 August 2011. 
  47. ^ Langton 1991, pp. 89–90
  48. ^ "Flixton Girls' High School" (PDF). Inspection Report. Ofsted. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=258630&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\\school\\106\\s10_106364_20040512.pdf. Retrieved 2007-10-15. [dead link]
  49. ^ "The Church of England Diocese of Manchester". http://www.manchester.anglican.org/default.asp. Retrieved 2007-05-07. 
  50. ^ "Catholic Diocese of Salford". http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/. Retrieved 2007-05-07. 
  51. ^ http://www.stmichaelsflixton.co.uk/www.stmichaelsflixton.co.uk/info.php?p=9&pno=0
  52. ^ Lawson 1898, p. 6
  53. ^ History
  54. ^ Langton 1991, pp. 93–95
  55. ^ Langton 1991, p. 101
Bibliography

[edit] Further reading

  • For an interior view of Shaw Hall, see Rimmer, Alfred (2010) [1890], Summer Rambles Around Manchester, Kessinger Publishing, LLC, ISBN 1120867509 

[edit] External links

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