Beswick, Greater Manchester

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Beswick
latitude= 53.474256
longitude= -2.202663
population=
metropolitan_borough= City of Manchester
metropolitan_county= Greater Manchester
region = North West England
constituency_westminster=
post_town= MANCHESTER
postcode_area= M
postcode_district= M?
dial_code= 0161
os_grid_reference= SJ865975
static_

static_image_caption=
london_distance=

Beswick is a component area of the City of Manchester, in North West England. The River Medlock and the Ashton Canal both run through it. It neighbours the larger district of Bradford to the east and the two areas are sometimes referred to as Bradford-with-Beswick.

Like many districts in central and east Manchester, Beswick has been known for its deprivation and poverty, although the area has improved since it hosted the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

History

"Beswick Village" was ancient and around 1200–1230 it was known as "Bexwic" and it is believed to be a combination of a personal name and a settlement or dwelling place.

At the height of the Industrial Revolution there was less industry here than in "Bradford Village" and it was primarily a residential area of back-to-back terraced houses.

Governance

The village was a township of the ancient parish of Manchester in the Salford Hundred of the county of Lancashire. The township was the smallest of the constituent parts of Manchester parish. It became part of the Township of Manchester in 1838, being joined with Ardwick to form a Municipal Ward in the new township. For Poor Law purposes it was added to the Prestwich Poor Law Union, which was constituted by order of the Poor Law Board in 1850. In 1896 it was among the townships consolidated to form the Township of North Manchester for Poor Law purposes.

Landmarks

Philips Park is on the south side of the river Medlock and Philips Park Cemetery is on the north side. The park has the distinction of being Manchester's first public park and Mark Philips, who was the Member of Parliament for Manchester, opened it in 1846. It was the first of its kind in Britain and it set the standard for many others that soon followed in towns and cities throughout Britain. It was designed to have walks, expansive lakes and glasshouses for exotic plants. It is also famous for its annual Tulip Festival, which is still held every year. Philips Park Cemetery was opened in 1863.

References