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Longsight

Coordinates:53°27′22″N2°12′00″W/ 53.456°N 2.200°W/53.456; -2.200
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For eye imperfection, seelong sight

Longsight
Longsight Market
Longsight is located in Greater Manchester
Longsight
Longsight
Location withinGreater Manchester
Population15,429 (2011 Census)
OS grid referenceSJ865965
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMANCHESTER
Postcode districtM12, M13
Dialling code0161
PoliceGreater Manchester
FireGreater Manchester
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
Councillors
List of places
UK
England
Greater Manchester
53°27′22″N2°12′00″W/ 53.456°N 2.200°W/53.456; -2.200

Longsightis aninner cityarea ofManchester,England, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of thecity centre,bounded byArdwickandWest Gortonto the north and east;Levenshulmeto the south; andChorlton-on-Medlock,Victoria ParkandFallowfieldto the west.HistoricallyinLancashire,it had a population of 15,429 at the2011 census.[1]

History

[edit]
Main article:History of Manchester

As an ethnically and culturally diverse area, for many years, Longsight has been plagued by gang related violence, similar to that of nearbyMoss Side.[2]Most of the violence came from tensions between two rival gangs which fought "turf wars" with each other since the 1990s, resulting in many shootings and several deaths. The Gooch Gang, from neighbouring Moss Side, were jailed in 2009,[3]Consequently, gun crime in Greater Manchester as a whole has fallen dramatically, from a high of 120 gang-related shootings in 2006 to just 16 in 2011.[4]

Governance

[edit]
Longsight electoral ward withinManchester City Council.

Longsight has been in the parliamentaryconstituencyofManchester Gortonsince boundary changes in 2024. The seat has been represented inWestminsterby since2024 JulybyAndrew Gwynne.[5]

Councillors

The area is represented onManchester City Councilby three councillors, currently Abid Chohan,[6]Shahbaz Sarwar[7]and Suzanne Richards.[8]Abid Chohan was initially aLib Demcouncillor but defected toLabourahead of thelocal council elections in 2010.[9]

Election Councillor Councillor Councillor
2004 Mohammed Sajjad (Lib Dem) Abid Chohan (Lib Dem) Liaqat Ali (Lib Dem)
2006 Maryam Khan (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lib Dem) Liaqat Ali (Lib Dem)
2007 Maryam Khan (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lib Dem) Liaqat Ali (Lib Dem)
2008 Maryam Khan (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lib Dem) Luthfur Rahman (Lab)
2010 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab)[9] Luthfur Rahman (Lab)
2011 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab)
2012 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab)
2014 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab)
2015 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab)
2016 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab)
2018 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab)
2019 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab)
2021 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab)
2022 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab)
2023 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Luthfur Rahman (Lab) Abid Chohan (Lab)
2024 Suzanne Richards (Lab) Shahbaz Sarwar (Workers Party) Abid Chohan (Lab)

indicates seat up for re-election. indicates councillor defected.

Geography

[edit]
Much of the housing stock of Longsight consists of red-brickterraced houses

Previously known as Grindlow Marsh, it was incorporated into the City of Manchester in 1890. The district is bordered byArdwickto the north,Rusholmeto the west,Levenshulmeto the south, andGortonto the east, defined by Hyde Road, Grey Street, Stockport Road, Plymouth Grove, Daisy Bank Road, Pine Grove, Merwood Grove, Ash Grove, Longford Pl, Ayton Grove, Laindon Rd, Curzon Ave, Richmond Grove, Hathersage Road, Anson Road, Dickenson Road, Beresford Road, Old Hall Lane, Stockport Road, East Road, Pink Bank Lane, Nutsford Vale, Buckley Road and Mount Road. The oldRoman roadtoBuxton(theA6,Stockport Road) bisects the area.

Demography

[edit]
Further information:Demographics of Greater Manchester

Longsight has a very ethnically diverse population.[10]According to the 2011 UK census, 72.9% of the population is from non-white ethnic groups, a 20% increase over the 2001 figure of 52.7%.[11][12]This includes 55.3% who describe themselves as South Asian or South Asian British (including 35.7% Pakistani, 11.4% Bangladeshi); and 9.7% Black or Black British.[11]The largest religious group is Muslim with 53.8% of the population, compared with the 2001 figure of 34.7% Muslim and 38.6% Christian.[13]7.0% of the population declined to state a religion, with 12.7% statingno religion.[13][14]The census tended to underestimate immigrant communities,[15]and it is likely that these groups in Longsight were underestimated and are now proportionately larger.[needs update]

There are a number of places of Worship in the area, including a largePakistanicommunity centre, aJaintemple, theRussian OrthodoxChurch of thePokrov,Saint Agnes' Church, Bethshan International Church, and the British Conference of The Church of God (Seventh Day).

Census table

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Ethnic group 2011 Percentage[11] 2001 Percentage[12]
White; British 21.5% 39.9%
White; Irish 2.0% 4.3%
White; Gypsy or Irish Traveller 3.0% 6.0%
White; Other White 3.1% 3.1%
Mixed; White and Black Caribbean 1.5% 1.7%
Mixed; White and Black African 0.6% 0.7%
Mixed; White and Asian 1.3% 1.4%
Mixed; Other Mixed 0.8% 0.7%
South Asian; Indian 2.9% 2.7%
South Asian; Pakistani 35.7% 24.6%
South Asian; Bangladeshi 11.4% 7.2%
Asian; Chinese 1.9% 1.6%
Asian; Other Asian 3.4% 1.7%
Black; African 5.1% 3.7%
Black; Caribbean 2.7% 4.4%
Black; Other Black 1.9% 1.0%
Other; Arab 1.8% n/a
Other; Any Other Ethnic Group 1.9% 1.3%

Economy

[edit]
Longsight Market 2008

The main shopping centre is near the corner of Stockport Road and Dickenson Road, and contains a library and supermarkets as well as many smaller shops. Longsight Market, one of the busiest markets in theEngland[citation needed],is located on Dickenson Road. It can be easily spotted by its brightly coloured profiled roofs. The market hosts a general market every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday[16]and a second-hand market every Tuesday and Thursday. There are a large number of authentic Pakistani takeaway food shops and restaurants and a very wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and other supplies to cater for the interests of the various immigrant communities in the area.

Architecture and housing

[edit]
Former First Church of Christ, Scientist by Edgar Wood
Slade Hall

The area of Longsight contains many of the notable buildings ofVictoria Park.Daisy Bank Road is a particularly good example, featuringEdgar Wood'sGrade I listedFirst Church of Christ, Scientistand the Edwardian art nouveau Chadlington House, as well as the residences ofCharles HalléandEmmeline Pankhurst.Pankhurst's family house is also situated on the edge of Longsight at Plymouth Grove.

Larger Victorian period properties are predominantly clustered around the leafy western parts of Longsight, an area informally known as Westpoint.[17]Many grand Victorian villas can also be found overlooking Crowcroft Park in the most southern part of Longsight.

Situated on Stockport Road near the main market of Longsight is Longsight Library. Run byManchester City Council,it provides services such as borrowing books, adult education services and a child homework centre. Great measures have been taken to make the architectural view of new Longsight Library building aesthetically pleasing.

The Apollo Theatre, Longsight Market, Noman Newsagents, Crowcroft Park and new Longsight Library are the important places in the Longsight area.

Transport

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Railway

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A spur of theWest Coast Main Linepasses through Longsight, which is located betweenManchester PiccadillyandStockport.

The area was once served byLongsight railway station,but this was closed in 1958. The nearest station is now atLevenshulme,which provides localNorthernstopping services between Manchester, Stockport and locations inCheshire.Ardwick stationis also situated nearby, on theHope Valley line,but has a threadbare service.

Longsight Electric TMDandLongsight Diesel TMDservice trains forAvanti West Coast,CrossCountry,NorthernandTransPennine Express.A plan to houseEurostartrains atManchester International Depotwas abandoned in the 1990s.

The earliest railway works was set up in 1842 by theManchester and Birmingham Railway(M&BR). Little is known about its early history, except that it produced fifteen single wheeler passenger engines to a design bySharp, Stewart and Company.In 1846, the M&BR was amalgamated with theLondon and North Western Railway(LNWR) underJohn Ramsbottom.One0-6-0was produced in 1858, but then the works closed down as the LNWR transferred its operations toCrewe.The Longsight steam locomotive depot provided engines for express trains to London and elsewhere, and for local passenger trains.

Buses

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Bus services in the area are provided byStagecoach Manchester.The192,according to Stagecoach, is the busiest bus route in Great Britain, with around 9 million passengers carried annually. The service runs every 5–10 minutes daily until the late hours.

The following routes serve Longsight:

  • 53: Cheetham Hill – Gorton – Rusholme – Old Trafford – Salford Quays – Pendleton
  • 150: Gorton – Levenshulme – Chorlton-cum-Hardy – Stretford – The Trafford Centre
  • 191: Manchester (Albert Sq.)– Longsight – Levenshulme – Stockport – Stepping Hill Hospital – Hazel Grove
  • 192: Manchester (Piccadilly) – Longsight – Levenshulme – Stockport – Stepping Hill Hospital – Hazel Grove
  • 197: Manchester (Albert Sq.) - Longsight – Levenshulme – Green End – Stockport

Roads

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TheA6,which connects Carlisle with Luton, passes through Longsight; it connects the suburb with Stockport and Manchester city centre.

Notable residents

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  • Aziz Ibrahim,former guitarist forThe Stone Roses.
  • Charles Hallélived at 3 Addison Terrace, on the north side of Daisy Bank Road in Victoria Park, in 1848; he was founder of theHallé Orchestra.
  • ArtistFord Madox Brownlived at the same address as Hallé from 1883 to 1887.[18]
  • Edwin Chadwick,social reformer and liberal politician, was born in Longsight. He was later partially responsible for the1848 Public Health Actand then the succeeding1875 Public Health Act.AWetherspoonspub in the area was named the 'Sir Edwin Chadwick', but was closed within three years after custom failed to live up to expectations.[19]
  • Jason Garrity,speedway rider.
  • John Thaw,the television, stage and cinema actor, was born in Longsight in 1942.
  • Ethel 'Sunny' Lowry,[20]the first British woman to swim theEnglish Channel,was born in Longsight in 1911.[21]
  • FormerManchester UnitedfootballersDanny Welbeck[22]andWes Brown[23]are both from the area.
  • Harry PotterstarAfshan Azadwas born in Longsight.[24]
  • Keith Bennett, one of theMoors murdersvictims, was from Longsight. He was 12 years old when he disappeared on his way from his house to that of his grandmother on 16 June 1964. His disappearance was reported to police the following morning but, in spite of endless police searches, he was not found. 22 years later, in November 1986, Moors murderersIan Brady(who had also lived in Longsight when he was younger) andMyra Hindleyrevealed that he was one of their victims, just as police had first suspected after arresting them for three other murders in October 1965. Despite numerous searches for his body onSaddleworth Moor,it has yet to be found. His mother Winnie Johnson continued to live locally until her death in August 2012; she made constant calls in the media for help to locate her son's body.[25]
  • Faisal Islam,ofBBC News,grew up in Longsight and attended the local private school.
  • OasismembersLiamandNoel Gallagherwere born in Longsight, but later moved toBurnage.

Cultural references

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Longsight was immortalised in song by local singerIan Brownformerly ofthe Stone Roseson his albumSolarized.The song was titled "Longsight M13" reflecting thepostcodeof the area, which begins with M13.Graffitiappeared locally saying 'Stone Roses RIP' when the band split up, and 'Free Ian Brown' when he was jailed.[26]The song was written with Brown's former bandmate, guitaristAziz Ibrahim,who still lives in Longsight.[27]Brown also mentions the area inthe Stone Rosessong "Daybreak" which contains the line "FromAtlanta,Georgia,to Longsight,Manchester".

See also

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References

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  1. ^"City of Manchester ward population 2011".Retrieved5 January2016.
  2. ^Thompson, Tony (28 July 2002)."Gang warfare in Games city".The Observer.London.Retrieved26 November2007.
  3. ^"Gooch Gang members will be sentenced for bringing 'murder and mayhem' to Manchester".The Telegraph.7 April 2009.Retrieved21 August2012.
  4. ^"Manchester gang-related shootings decline".BBC News.22 December 2011.Retrieved21 August2012.
  5. ^"Andrew Gwynne MP".
  6. ^"Abid Chohan".manchester.gov.uk.Manchester City Council.Retrieved30 May2024.
  7. ^"Shahbaz Sarwar".manchester.gov.uk.Manchester City Council.Retrieved30 May2024.
  8. ^"Suzanne Richards".manchester.gov.uk.Manchester City Council.Retrieved30 May2024.
  9. ^abStaff writer (18 April 2010)."Lib Dem councillor defects to Labour Party".Manchester Evening News.Trinity Mirror.Retrieved23 March2017.
  10. ^"Central Manchester: Background Information and Ethnic Profile".Race for Health. Archived fromthe originalon 12 March 2007.Retrieved14 May2006.
  11. ^abc"Ethnic Group, 2011; Area: Longsight (Ward)".Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. 30 January 2013.Retrieved13 March2013.
  12. ^ab"Ethnic Group, 2001; Area: Longsight (Ward)".Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. 9 November 2004.Retrieved13 March2013.
  13. ^ab"Religion, 2011; Area: Longsight (Ward)".Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. 30 January 2013.Retrieved13 March2013.
  14. ^"Religion, 2001; Area: Longsight (Ward)".Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. 18 November 2004.Retrieved13 March2013.
  15. ^"Manchester Health Finance (Census Data)".UK Parliament. 25 February 2005.
  16. ^"Longsight Outdoor Market".NMTF.Retrieved21 February2024.
  17. ^"Google Maps".
  18. ^"The Belle Vue Archive".Our Manchester.Retrieved15 November2007.
  19. ^"Pubs of Manchester: Sir Edwin Chadwick, Stockport Road".Pubs of Manchester. 11 March 2013.Retrieved30 May2017.
  20. ^"Sunny Lowry's Story".Victoria Baths. 22 May 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2007.Retrieved15 November2007.
  21. ^"Swimming the Channel: Between the wars".Dover Museum. Archived fromthe originalon 30 September 2008.Retrieved15 November2007.
  22. ^Sadler, David."David Sadler: Longsight lad Danny Welbeck shows Carlos Tevez how it should be done",Manchester Evening News,29 September 2011. Accessed 3 September 2013.
  23. ^"The making of Wes Brown",The Independent,25 October 2008. Accessed 3 September 2013.
  24. ^Deborah Haile (13 February 2006)."Student off to Hogwarts - again".Manchester Evening News.Retrieved22 January2012.
  25. ^"Moors Murders timeline".
  26. ^The Greatest (CD) - Ian Brown - sleevenotes
  27. ^"Aziz Ibrahim's Biography".Aziz Ibrahim. Archived fromthe originalon 23 January 2010.Retrieved15 November2007.
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