Handforth

Handforth
Population	8,014 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SJ8583
Unitary authority	Cheshire East
Ceremonial county	Cheshire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WILMSLOW
Postcode district	SK9
Dialling code	01625
Police	Cheshire
Fire	Cheshire
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Tatton

Handforth is a suburban area situated between Wilmslow, Heald Green, and Styal in Cheshire, England. Travelling south from Manchester, Handforth is the first place in Cheshire, although other areas nearer Manchester lie within the historic boundaries of the county.

In the 1950s, two overspill housing estates, Spath Lane and Colshaw Farm, were built in the area to re-house people from inner city Manchester.

Toponym

The name Handforth is believed to be ascribed to 'Hanna's Ford' and dates back to Saxon times when such a crossing was on the nearby River Dean.

History

Handforth, originally Handforth-cum-Bosden, was for many years in the parish of Cheadle, Greater Manchester with which it has historic links. The first mention of Handforth was in a charter which is dated between 1233 and 1236. During the Crusades, Handforth acquired its own Coat of Arms, which displays the Honford Star. The Honford Star originated from Henry de Honford who, while fighting in the Crusades, painted a silver star on his black shield after seeing a star fall from the sky during a night attack on the Saracens.

The oldest building in Handforth is Handforth Hall, a black and white timber building built during the Tudor period by Sir Urian Brereton in 1562. It was originally named Honford Hall after the local feudal family the de Honford's. Sir Urian was escheator of Cheshire, one of the privy grooms to Henry VIII and knighted at Leith, in 1544. Sir Urian Brereton died at Handforth Hall on 19 March 1577 and is thought to be buried in a chapel at St Mary's Church, Cheadle. In the south chapel are three recumbent effigies. Two are in alabaster and are thought to represent members of the Hondford (or Handford) family, Sir John, who died in 1461 and his son, also named John. The third is in sandstone and represents Sir Thomas Brereton who died in 1673. The most famous resident of Handforth is Sir Urian's great grandson, the Parliamentary General, Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet, who fought in the English Civil War.

Handforth-cum-Bosdon was part of the Stockport Registration District between 1837 to 1877, until it was divided onto the separate parishes of Handforth and Bosden. Handforth continued to be part of the Stockport Registration District from 1877 to 1936 when it was then incorporated into the parishes of Wilmslow and Cheadle and Gatley. The parish of Bosden was abolished in 1900 and incorporated into the parish of Hazel Grove and Bramhall.

Geography

At 53.348189°N -2.21297°E
, Handforth is situated in Cheshire East, a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire. Handforth borders with Heald Green to the north, which is situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester. Cheshire East straddles the Cheshire Plain and the Pennines. The area lies near the River Dean, a tributary of the River Bollin that flows north–west, which eventually joins the River Mersey near Lymm. The local geology is mostly glacial clay, as well as glacial sands and gravel.

The majority of buildings in the area are houses from the 20th century, but there are a few buildings that are pre-20th century that date back to the 19th century and as far as the 16th century, such as Handforth Hall.

Demography

Population

According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 data, the Handforth Ward has a population of 8014, of which 4155 (51.8%) are females and 3859 (48.2%) are males. 1678 people (20.9%) are aged 16 and under, and 1577 people (19.7%) are aged 65 and over.

Handforth Compared
2001 UK Census	Handforth	Cheshire	England
Total population	8,014	673,781	49,138,831
White	96.8%	98.4%	90.9%
Asian	1.1%	0.5%	4.6%
Black	0.2%	0.2%	2.3%

Ethnicity

Ethnic white groups (British, Irish, other) account for 96.79% (7,757 people) of the population, with 3.21% (255 people) being in ethnic groups other than white.

Of the 3.21% (255 people) in non-white ethnic groups:

• 101 (39.61%) belonged to mixed ethnic groups
• 85 (33.33%) were Asian or Asian British
• 17 (6.67%) were Black or Black British
• 52 (20.39%) were Chinese or Other Ethnic Groups

Religion

A break-down of religious groups and denominations:

• Christian - 79.17% (6345 people)
• Buddhist - 0.15% (12 people)
• Hindu - 0.39% (31 people)
• Jewish - 0.34% (27 people)
• Muslim - 1.02% (82 people)
• Sikh - 0.10% (8 people)
• Other religions - 0.12% (10 people)
• No religion - 12.80% (1026 people)
• Religion not stated - 5.90% (473 people)

Transport

Handforth railway station, opened in 1842, is on a double-track electrified line that runs from Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe via Levenshulme, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport and Wilmslow.. The A34 Manchester to Newcastle-under-Lyme and Winchester bypass is situated to the east. The main thoroughfare is Wilmslow Road. Manchester Airport lies just four miles (6 km) to the north west, but Handforth lies away from the approach and departure routes and therefore suffers only slightly from aircraft noise.

Facilities

Schools

Handforth is served by three primary schools, Wilmslow Grange, Dean Oaks Primary and St Benedict's RC Primary.

Churches

There are three places of worship: St. Mary's Methodist Church, St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church and St. Chad's Church of England.

Parks

Meriton Road Park, opened in 1935, covers an area of 3.4 hectares (9 acres) and is situated to the rear of the Paddock Shopping Centre. Until the mid 1980s the park was the site for the Handforth Gala.

External links

• Friends of Handforth Station
• Friends of Meriton Road Park
• Handforth Hall
• Saint Benedict's Roman Catholic Church
• Saint Chad's Parish Church of England
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