Openshaw
Openshawis a suburb ofManchester,Greater Manchester,England, about three miles east of theManchester city centre.Historicallypart ofLancashire,Openshaw was incorporated into the city of Manchester in 1890. Its name derives from theOld EnglishOpinschawe,which means an open wood orcoppice.[1]
During theSecond Industrial Revolution,when Openshaw become an area ofheavy industry,socialismandtrade unionismflourished. In 1910 the Openshaw Socialists were formed;Keir Hardie,founder of theLabour Party,spoke at their inaugural meeting. Annie Lee became Manchester's first socialist womanaldermanin 1936, having been secretary of the Openshaw Independent Labour Party since the 1890s. Following profoundde-industrialisation.Openshaw is now a multicultural area with diverse shops and services opening, reflecting the demographic change.
Industry
[edit]There is little industry in the district now. Very large enterprises such as a government munitions factory (ordnance works) and associated railway yards were closed afterWorld War I.Companies which employed thousands of people, but of which nothing remains, includeRank Hovis McDougall,Ferguson, Pailin & Co(later GEC Switchgear), theEnglish Steel Corporation,B&S Massey andCrossley,and the Gorton Works of theManchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway,later theGreat Central Railwayfollowed by theLondon & North Eastern Railway.
Gorton Worksexemplified the industries that sustained the economy of Openshaw and adjacent districts of Manchester during and after theSecond Industrial Revolution.[note 1]It was established in 1848 to servicelocomotivesand build carriages and wagons. The first locomotive was built in 1858 and by 1923, Gorton Works had built more than 900 locomotives. The laststeam enginewas built forBritish Railwaysin 1950. The works then produced electric locomotives until it closed in 1963. The site is now the New Smithfield Wholesale Market, Manchester's wholesale fruit and vegetable market.[2][note 2]
Openshaw is, however, within the East Manchester Regeneration Scheme and some new businesses are moving into the area.[3]
Education
[edit]There are fourprimary schoolsin Openshaw: Higher Openshaw Community Primary School, St Barnabas' CE Primary School, St Clement's CE Primary School and Varna Community Primary School.
Openshaw hasWright Robinson College;The East Manchester Academyis nearby.
The Openshaw Campus ofThe Manchester Collegeon Whitworth Street near Ashton Old Road (A635) specialises in new technical and industrial training, including construction craft and building services, motor engineering and computer technology. On this campus is also theBridge College,a specialist school operated by theTogether Trustcharity.
Lime Square redevelopment
[edit]As part of the area's redevelopment under the East Manchester Regeneration Scheme, a new shopping precinct has been built called Lime Square. The majority of Lime Square is taken up by aMorrisonssupermarket that was built in 2010, withThe Rangealso in the same unit. It is also home toThe Gym Group,McDonald'sfast food restaurant, a doctors' surgery, several charity shops, aB & M,Greggs,Farmfoods,Savers,Poundland,Costa Coffee,and aBetfredbookmaker's, among others.
Transport
[edit]Gorton railway stationprovides frequent trains toManchester Piccadillyon theGlossop–Hadfieldand Rose Hill Marple line.
Openshaw is served by several bus services, most services are operated byStagecoach Manchester.
- 7:Ashton-under-Lyne–Gorton–Reddish–Stockport
- 7A: Ashton-under-Lyne – Gorton – Reddish – Stockport
- 7B: Ashton-under-Lyne –Droylsden– Reddish – Stockport
- 171:Newton Heath– Gorton –Levenshulme–East Didsbury–Withington Hospital
- 172:Chorlton-cum-Hardy– West Didsbury – Levenshulme – Gorton – Newton Heath
- 219: Manchester – Openshaw –Guide Bridge– Ashton-under-Lyne –Stalybridge
- 220: Manchester – Openshaw –Audenshaw–Dukinfield– Stalybridge
- 221:Dukinfield– Audenshaw – Openshaw – Manchester
Music
[edit]English actor and lead vocalist forthe Monkees,Davy Jones,was born in Leamington Street, Openshaw.[4][5]
ComposerPeter McGarr,born in 1953, lived in Openshaw for many years.[6]
Openshaw media
[edit]From March 2002, theNorth East Manchester Advertisernewspaper was delivered free to every home in Openshaw, providing a local news source. However, in September 2012 the newspaper ceased publication. TheOpenshaw Gazettewas launched in the same month; it now exists as a Facebook page[7]and Twitter account.[8]
Notes
[edit]- ^Gorton locomotive works were not related to theBeyer, Peacock & Company's Gorton Foundry.
- ^Location:53°28′16″N2°10′37″W/ 53.471°N 2.177°W.
References
[edit]- ^"Openshaw - Districts & Suburbs of Manchester UK".Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2003.
- ^"Gorton Locomotive Works, Openshaw, photographs".The National Archives.The National Archives [UK]. 2019.Retrieved27 December2019.
- ^"New East Manchester - the Vision".Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2009.Retrieved25 November2009.
- ^Davy Jones (musician)#Early life
- ^"Stars pay tribute to Davy Jones after Manchester-born star of The Monkees dies at 66 | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk".Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2012.
- ^"Peter McGarr: UK Music Composer".www.petermcgarr-composer.co.uk.
- ^"Openshaw Gazette".www.facebook.com.
- ^"@openshawgazette"onTwitter
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)