Wythenshawe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wythenshawe Hall

Wythenshawe is a suburb in the South of the city of Manchester and is often referred to as the largest housing estate in Europe.^[1].

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 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.

Wythenshawe is made up of nine areas: Baguley, Benchill, Moss Nook, Newall Green, Northenden (previously a village), Peel Hall, Sharston, Northern Moor and Woodhouse Park.

The name of Wythenshawe seems to come from the Anglo-Saxon Withigensceaga = "small wood of withy trees". This name originally referred only to Wythenshawe Hall or its site.

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 Park in what is now the north edge of Wythenshawe were used as a temporary municipal airfield between April 1929 and early 1930.

The local population has had chance for a democractic vote with regards to ownership of the housing stock. Previously what was once council houses are now under the control of local housing associations, such as Willow Park in Benchill. Other areas currently under the control of the local council are also passing into the hands of housing associations. The housing associations have invested a great deal into the area and have improved the quality of the local housing stock.

The Civic Centre in Wythenshawe

Several green field and grey field site have been opened up to developers and there are a great deal of new housing developments within the town.

Further investment has been earmarked for the area, including new public transport facilities, a hotel and expansion of the local town centre shopping facilities. This coincides with a local developmental plan that incorporates Manchester Airport