Openshaw

Openshaw
Openshaw
 Openshaw shown within Greater Manchester
OS grid referenceSJ885975
Metropolitan boroughCity of Manchester
Metropolitan county Greater Manchester
RegionNorth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town MANCHESTER
Postcode district M11
Dialling code 0161
Police Greater Manchester
Fire Greater Manchester
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK ParliamentManchester Central
List of places
UK
England
Greater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°28′N 2°10′W / 53.47°N 2.17°W / 53.47; -2.17

Openshaw is an area of Manchester, England, about two miles east of the city centre. Historically part of Lancashire, Openshaw was incorporated into the city of Manchester in 1890. Its name derives from the Old English Opinschawe, which means an open wood or coppice.[1] Openshaw is part of the New East Manchester area and is undergoing extensive redevelopment under the East Manchester Regeneration Scheme.[2]

As a result of the Industrial Revolution, Openshaw became an area of heavy industry with residents working in factories or at Bradford Colliery. Socialism and trades unionism saw a fertile breeding ground in the area and in 1910 the Openshaw Socialists were formed, with Keir Hardie (founder of the Labour Party) as their inaugural guest speaker. Annie Lee became Manchester's first socialist woman alderman in 1936, having been secretary of the Openshaw Independent Labour Party from the 1890s.

The ordnance works closed down after the end of the First World War, and the railway yards also closed as a result, Openshaw has a population only a fraction of that a century ago. Nothing remains of companies such as RHM on Ogden Lane, Ferguson, Pailin & Co. (later GEC Switchgear), the English Steel Corporation, B&S Massey and Crossley Brothers, which employed thousands of people. There is very little industry in the district but Openshaw falls within the East Manchester Regeneration Scheme and new businesses are moving into the area. Openshaw is the 11th most deprived area in the UK as a result of massive de-industrialisation.[3]

It is the site of the Openshaw Citadel.

Education

There are four primary schools in Openshaw, St Clement's C of E Primary School on Abbey Hey Lane, Varna Community Primary School (formerly Varna Street primary school), Higher Openshaw Community School (formerly Clayton Brook Primary School) off High Leigh Road and St Barnabas C of E on Parkhouse Street.

Openshaw has no high school although Wright Robinson Sports College and Fairfield High School for Girls are nearby.

The Openshaw Campus of Manchester College of Arts and Technology on 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.

Lime Square redevelopment

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 a Morrisons supermarket that was built in 2010 and is one of the chain's largest locations. It is also home to a McDonald's fast food restaurant which opened in 2013, a doctors' surgery, a B & M, several charity shops, a Greggs bakery, Perito's Express and a Betfred bookmakers'.

Transport

Gorton railway station provides frequent trains to Manchester Piccadilly on the Glossop-Hadfield and Rose Hill Marple line.

Openshaw is served by several bus services, most services are operated by Stagecoach Manchester.

Music

English actor and lead vocalist for the Monkees, Davy Jones was born at 20 Leamington Street, Openshaw.[4][5]

Composer Peter McGarr, born 1953, lived in Openshaw for many years.[6]

Openshaw Media

From March 2002, the North East Manchester Advertiser newspaper was delivered free to every home in Openshaw. However, in September 2012 the newspaper ceased publication, resulting in no local news outlet. Partly in response to the void left by the Advertiser, the Openshaw Gazette was launched that same month. Currently the Openshaw Gazette exists as a Facebook page[7] and Twitter account,[8] however it may become a printed newsletter if demand continues to grow.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/districts/openshaw.html
  2. ↑ http://www.neweastmanchester.com/area_map/15_-_openshaw_west/area_map/15_-_openshaw_west/area_map/15_-_openshaw_west/the-vision.aspx
  3. ↑ http://eden-network.org/teams/openshaw-manchester/
  4. ↑ Davy Jones (musician)#Early life
  5. ↑ http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/tv_and_showbiz/s/1487050_stars-pay-tribute-to-davy-jones-after-manchester-born-star-of-the-monkees-dies-at-66
  6. ↑ http://www.petermcgarr-composer.co.uk
  7. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Openshaw-Gazette/340227242736389
  8. ↑ https://twitter.com/openshawgazette

Media related to Openshaw at Wikimedia Commons

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