Hyde, Greater Manchester
Hyde is a town in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, England within the historic boundaries of the county of Cheshire. Hyde was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1881, covering the parishes of Hyde, Compstall, Godley and Newton. In 1936 the borough was extended by the annexation of the parish of Hattersley and part of the parish of Matley from Tintwistle Rural District. The town became part of the metropolitan borough of Tameside in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972.
History
Hyde's name derives from hide - a measure of land equivalent to 120 acres (0.5 km²).
With a population around 35,000 it was built on the success of the cotton mills during the Industrial Revolution of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The Peak Forest Canal runs through Hyde; A branch of the canal leading to Ashton, the other way leads to Woodley, Romiley and Marple. At the end of Woodend Lane one can see Captain Clarks Bridge, commemorating Cpt Clark. Originally there were 40 working mills. By 1872 only 27 remained - of these half closed from 1921-1939. There is one working mill in the town today. Hyde Town Hall dominates the market place area. The large bell in the clocktower is known as Oud Josh, named after Joshua Bradley, a former Mayor of Hyde who had risen up from a poor child worker in the mills. It has the ring of Big Ben.
There were many mill-owning families including the Sidebotham, Hibbert and Horsefield families. However, the major employers in mills were the Ashton family, who did both spinning and weaving, a successful practice when most mills concentrated on one process. This is the one working mill still surviving today.
The Ashton family also built Hyde Chapel in Higham Lane, Gee Cross.
The name Hyde came into common usage by 1830 but if one looks at Newton Hall in Dukinfield Road, there were buildings present in the thirteenth century.
Sport
One of the town's most noted achievements came with the success of the Hyde Seal water polo team, who from 1904-1914 were the finest in the world - three times winning the world championships.
But their sporting heritage extends to Dr Ron Hill, a former European gold-medallist marathon runner.
The town is home to Hyde United Football Club, (recently promoted to the Conference North after winning the UniBond League First Division and Premier Divisions in successive seasons) The largest defeat in English professional football history, a 26-0 loss against Lancashire team Preston North End in a 1887 FA Cup match is often attributed to Hyde United but as they were not formed until 1919 that distinction must go down to Hyde FC who were founded in 1885. Hyde United play their home games at Ewen Fields, a ground they share with the Manchester United reserve team. Hyde also contains the area of Flowery Field which hosts Flowery Field Cricket Club of the Lancashire County League who are on the other side of the town to Werneth Low's Hyde Cricket Club who play in the Cheshire League.
Hyde also has a claim in the history of boxing, as world champion Ricky Hatton, born in nearby Stockport, lives in Hyde.
Geography
One of the most beautiful areas of Tameside is the Werneth Low Country Park in Hyde, which is also home to Hyde War Memorial Trust.
Shipman
Britain's most prolific serial killer, Dr Harold Shipman, had his doctor's surgery in the town. Two other serial killers, Myra Hindley and Ian Brady lived in Hyde at the time of the Moors Murders.
Transport
It is served by four railway stations, Hyde Central and Hyde North are on the Manchester Piccadilly - Romiley - Rose Hill 'Hyde Loop' line. Flowery Field, Newton (for Hyde) and Godley are on the electrified Piccadilly - Glossop - Hadfield line.
Sportsmen
- Len Hopwood Lancashire & England cricketer.
- Lee A. Martin Manchester United footballer.
Notable locals
- Timmy Mallett Television Presenter and Entertainer
- Becky Want (BBC local radio Presenter) born in Hyde 1961