Wythenshawe

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type= Greater Manchester
official_name= Wythenshawe
population= 66,267 (2001 Census)
latitude= 53.3923
longitude= -2.264
metropolitan_borough= City of Manchester
metropolitan_county= Greater Manchester
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Wythenshawe and Sale East
post_town= MANCHESTER
postcode_district = M22, M23
postcode_area= M
dial_code= 0161
os_grid_reference=
static_

static_image_caption=Wythenshawe Hall, a former stately home and local landmark
london_distance= Wythenshawe (pop. 66,000) is a district in the south of the City of Manchester in North West England.

Until 1931 the district formed a part of the administrative county of Cheshire.Wythenshawe, with an area of about 11 square miles, has often been referred to as one of the largest council housing estates in Europe,cite web | author=Derick Deakin | title=History of the Estate | work=Wythit | url=http://www.wythit.com/wythit/Local_Activities/Local_History/Default.aspx?CmsContentID=1098 | accessmonthday=30 September |accessyear=2006 ] though now a significant proportion of the estate is privately owned housing. The district comprises nine areas: Baguley, Benchill, Peel Hall, Newall Green, Woodhouse Park, Moss Nook, Sharston, Northern Moor and Northenden.

The boundaries of these nine areas have been continuously changed throughout the district's history, and previously known areas such as Brownley Green and Crossacres have since been assimilated into one of the nine areas listed above, though many residents still refer to them by name.

History

The name of Wythenshawe (pronEng|ˈwɪðənʃɔː) seems to come from the Old English "wiðign" = "withy tree" and "sceaga" = "wood" (compare dialectal word shaw). This name originally referred only to Wythenshawe Hall or its site.

For many centuries the Tatton family owned Wythenshawe Hall and much land in what is now Wythenshawe. Manchester Corporation, who were in desperate need of land to house the city's rapidly increasing population, pressured Mr Tatton to part with the land in 1926. What was once farmland was transformed into one of the largest housing estates in Europe. Wythenshawe and Sale East is now a parliamentary constituency with five wards in Manchester and three in Trafford.

Immediately south of Wythenshawe is Manchester Airport, formerly called Ringway Airport. Before Manchester's Barton and Ringway Airports were laid out, three farm fields lying between Rackhouse Road and Wythenshawe Road in what is now the north edge of Wythenshawe were used as Manchester (Wythenshawe) Aerodrome. This was the UK's first municipal airfield, operating between April 1929 and early 1930. A converted barn acted as the hangar and a farmhouse as the administration building. Temporary fuel pumps were installed.

Governance

The area used to comprise its own parliamentary constituency, having been Manchester Wythenshawe since the 1960s and represented by Alf Morris of the Labour Party. Prior to the 1997 election, the boundaries were redrawn and part of the neighbouring area of Sale included in the seat. The constituency is now called Wythenshawe and Sale East. In the same year, Alf Morris stepped down and was replaced by Paul Goggins. It is still a safe Labour seat.

At the time of the 2001 UK Census Wythenshawe was divided into six local government wards: Baguley, Benchill, Brooklands, Northenden, Sharston, and Woodhouse Park. Each ward was represented by three local councillors, giving Wythenshawe 18 of the 99 seats on Manchester City Council. Following a review by the Boundary Committee for England published in 2003, the ward of Benchill was abolished, and its former territory was divided between the wards of Northenden, Sharston, and Woodhouse Park. [citation |title=Draft recommendations on the future electoral arrangements for Manchester |publisher=The Electoral Commission |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/file/0004/6538/Manchester_D_8002-7032__E__.pdf |format=pdf |date=February 2003 |accessdate=16 September 2008]

Wythenshawe typically returns all Labour councillors in local elections, although in the 2008 elections the Lib Dems gained a seat in Northenden.

Geography

Wythenshawe is situated approximately convert|8|mi|km|0 south of Manchester City Centre and is the southernmost district within the City Of Manchester boundary.

The district falls under the authority of Manchester City Council.

In the media

Wythenshawe is the outdoor filming location for the Channel 4 series "Shameless", which shows various shots of the local tower-blocks, housing estates, and other architecture unique to this area. Wythenshawe also housed the outdoor sets for the show, which were built on private property. Production moved from Miles Platting and Ancoats in early 2007, following disruptions to filming caused by local youths.

Economy

Many houses previously owned by the council are now under the control of local housing associations, such as Willow Park in Benchill. Responsibility for the housing stock continues to be transferred from the local council to housing associations in other areas of Wythenshawe as well. The housing associations have invested a great deal into the area and have improved the quality of the local housing stock.Fact|date=February 2007

Several greenfield and greyfield sites have been opened up to developers and there are a great deal of new housing developments within the town.

The town centre was renovated between 1999 and 2002, to include new stores and other new features. The main street now features gates that are locked at night to prevent the vandalism that was seen in previous years. The tunnel going between the multi-storey car park and the large supermarket building now features a mosaic displaying various aspects of the town. The Forum centre, which houses a library, leisure centre and other amenities, has also been renovated in a more youth-centric, modern style. In 2007 further redevelopment continued when ASDA opened a new superstore with multi-storey car parking on the site of the old Co-operative store.

Notable people

* Caroline Aherne - Actress, Mrs Merton and The Royle Family
* Edmund "Ed Banger" Garrity - Singer, Ed Banger and The Nosebleeds
* Eddie Large - Comedian, Little and Large comedy duo
* Nicholas Cochrane - Actor, Coronation Street
* Harry H Corbett - Actor, star of Steptoe and Son
* Jamie Draven - Actor, Ultimate Force, Billy Elliott, Messiah, Mobile (TV series)
* Lewis McKenzie - Actor, There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
* Lorraine Cheshire - Actress, Early Doors, Life on Mars, Tittybangbang, Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise
* Melissa Porter - Television Presenter, To Buy or Not to Buy, Escape to the Country
* Simon Gregson - Actor, Coronation Street
* Johnny Marr - Guitarist, The Smiths
* Jason Orange - Singer, Take That
* Lyn Paul - Singer, New Seekers
* Paul Young - Singer, Sad Café, Mike & the Mechanics
* Vini Reilly, Singer and guitarist with The Durutti Column
* Kirsty Howard, most notable for her charity work. Founder of the Kirsty Appeal
* Doreen Massey, geographer, author of 'Living in Wythenshawe' in The Unknown City, Contesting Architecture and Social Space (ISBN 0262024713)
* Andrew L.P Ellis - Actor, "This Is England", "Heartbeat"

Images of Wythenshawe Horticultural Centre

References

External links

*http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/world/europe/10britain.html NY Times article about Wythenshawe youth.
*http://www.wfmradio.org/ Wythenshawe FM Community Radio Station
*http://www.wythit-heritagetrail.btik.com/ The Wythenshawe Heritage Trail
*http://www.wythenshaweforum.co.uk/forum_centre.asp