Poynton

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Poynton
latitude= 53.348
longitude= -2.114
population = 14,433
civil_parish= Poynton-with-Worth
shire_district= Macclesfield
shire_county= Cheshire
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Macclesfield
post_town= STOCKPORT
postcode_area= SK
postcode_district= SK12
dial_code= 01625
os_grid_reference= SJ925835

Poynton is a village in the civil parish of Poynton with Worth, located in the Borough of Macclesfield, in Cheshire. It lies convert|7|mi|km|0 north from Macclesfield and convert|5|mi|km|0 south of Stockport. In the 2001 census, the civil parish was recorded as having a population of 14,433. [http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=792658&c=Poynton&d=16&e=15&g=429178&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 2001 census data] ]

History

The name of Poynton is of Saxon origin, but the settlement was omitted in the Domesday survey. The first mention of the manor of Poynton is in 1289 when it was part of the barony of Stockport. Past names include "Ponynton" and "Poynington"cite web|accessdate=2007-12-12
url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51222&strquery=prestbury#s6
title="A Topographical Dictionary of England", Samuel Lewis (ed.), 1848]

The Warren family held the manor until 1801 when Sir George, the last surviving male, died. He was succeeded by his daughter, Lady Warren Bulkeley. She died childless in 1826 when she left it to Frances Maria Warren, Lady Vernon. The Lords Vernon held the estate until the final sale in 1920. Several halls were built on the site in Poynton Park, known locally as Poynton pool, with each one then demolished to make way for a new one. The last hall, Poynton Towers, was finally taken down in the 1930s. Sir George Warren bought the Worth estate in 1792, and Worth Hall, originally the home of the Downes family of Worth, has now been redeveloped as flats and lies within the confines of Davenport Golf Club.

From the 1870s private house-building gathered pace and gradually Poynton became a commuter town for those working in Manchester. Since the Second World War several housing estates have been built by both the Local Authority and private developers.The population has risen from 5000 to over 15,000 since 1945. To accommodate the educational needs of the population, Poynton High School and several primary schools were established, these include St. Paul’s RC, Vernon, Worth, Lower Park and Lostock Hall.The village boasts a fine Gothic-style church (St. George's) opposite a Victorian fountain.

Industry

Agriculture was Poynton's original main occupation, until coal was found near the surface of the land. By 1789, technology had advanced with the invention of engines to pump water from the workings, thus allowing deeper pits to be sunk, seen through the development of Anson Colliery (now the site of the Anson Engine Museum). Output in 1789 was over 26,000 tons rising to a peak production of 243,673 tons in 1859. The collieries closed in 1935 when the economically viable coal reserves had been exhausted. [ [http://www.poyntonweb.co.uk/visitorscentre/poynton_industry_history.htm Industrial history of Poynton.] "Poyntonweb website". Retrieval Date: 25 September, 2007.] Other industries in Poynton's past include stone quarrying, brickmaking, silk and cotton weaving, shirt making, and hat trimming. Today these have been replaced by high tech and other light industry.

Transport

Sir George Warren was a promoter of the extension of the turnpike road from Manchester by way of Hazel Grove to Sandon in Staffordshire where it joined what is now the A51 road.

During the late 18th century, the Pickford family developed their family business of waggoners on the London to Manchester route with The Birches Farm at Poynton as its headquarters. The business thrived greatly but then outgrew Poynton, relocating to London in 1823. Pickfords is today one of the best known removal firms in Britain.

The Manchester and Birmingham Railway opened a stretch of line through Poynton in 1845 which today is the London–Manchester main line. There is a station on this line, offering local services mainly between Manchester and Macclesfield. The Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple railway was opened in 1869, with stations at Higher Poynton and Middlewood, but it was closed in 1970. The line has now been developed into a pleasant route, called the Middlewood Way, for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

A canal was originally proposed in 1765, but was not built until 1826 due to opposition from outside parties. Thomas Telford was the canal architect. Macclesfield Canal is considered one of the most beautiful stretches of waterway in the country, forming part of the Cheshire Ring. It is well used for leisure activities and there is a large marina at Higher Poynton.

Local Government

Poynton is administered by a Parish Council, Macclesfield Borough Council and Cheshire County Council. The civil parish itself was created in 1880 by uniting the hitherto two separate civil parishes of Poynton and Worth.Youngs, F. A. (1991). "Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Volume II: Northern England." London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0861931270] There was controversy in the late 1980s when Poynton was forced to accept being part of the postal district of Stockport, which local people feared (groundlessly, it turned out) would affect property prices.Fact|date=September 2007

Poynton has had a tradition of self help. Poynton Co-op was founded in 1862, staying independent until February 1992. There were many Friendly Societies, Burial Clubs, Workmen's Club and the Miners' Union. The Methodist Chapel was established in 1847 followed by the Baptists and Primitive Methodists chapels; together with St George's Church they were the social centres of the village. Lord Vernon opened the first school in 1838 which was extended as the number of children attending it grew, and this building is still used today as the thriving Poynton Youth and Community Centre.

Poynton is home to the Poynton Show, [ [http://poyntonshow.co.uk Poynton Show website.] Retrieval Date: 1 September 2007.] held every August bank holiday weekend, one of the largest one day tented shows in the North West and the premier horticultural and agricultural show in the area. Approximately 10,000 - 15,000 people visit the show each year.

It is also notable for St George's Singers, [ [http://www.st-georges-singers.org.uk/ St George's Singers website.] Retrieval Date: 1 September 2007.] one of the leading choral societies in North West England.

Famous Poyntonians

* Yvette Fielding (previously of "Blue Peter" and currently of "Most Haunted" on LivingTV)

* Mark Simpkin - property show presenter
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1668405/ Tony Craig] , TV presenter and producer.

* Simon Casson BBC Radio Five Live producer

* Leslie Wood - Illustrator

* Sarah Harding - Member of the group Girls Aloud

Local Bands

* [http://www.poyntonband.co.uk/ (Vernon Building Society) Poynton Brass Band]
* [http://www.commodores.info/ Poynton Commodores Drum & Bugle Corps]
* [http://www.pybb.org.uk/ Poynton Youth Brass Band]

Local Schools

* [http://www.school-portal.co.uk/Grouphomepage.asp?GroupId=66650 Poynton High School]
* [http://www.vernon-jun.cheshire.sch.uk Vernon Junior School]
* Vernon Infant School
* Worth Primary School
* [http://www.lowerpark.school.cheshire.org.uk Lower Park School]
* [http://www.lostockhallprimary.co.uk Lostock Hall School]
* [http://www.stpaulspoynton.co.uk/ St Paul's RC Primary School]

Notes and References

External links

* [http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk Macclesfield Borough Council]
* [http://www.cheshire.gov.uk Cheshire County Council]
* [http://www.enginemuseum.org/index.html Anson Engine Museum]