Collyhurst
Encyclopedia
Collyhurst is a locality in Manchester
. It is 1½ miles northeast of Manchester city centre
, on Rochdale Road and Oldham Road. The River Irk
passes through the area. Prominent buildings in Collyhurst include its local police station, Billy Green's pub, which featured on the TV show "Toughest Pubs in the UK" and in the video for The Beautiful South
's single "Manchester" and two Roman Catholic churches, St Patrick's and St Malachy's.
On August 15, 1953 the front coach of a Manchester
to Bury
electric train fell from the Collyhurst viaduct over the River Irk after colliding with a local steam train. Ten people were killed and 58 injured in the crash
.
Collyhurst is one of the most deprived places in Manchester and the UK.
Much of the red sandstone used for building in Manchester
and the surrounding area, including the stone for the Roman fort at Castlefield
, St Ann's Church
, the roof of the Collegiate Church
and the original buildings of Chetham's Hospital
, came from Collyhurst Quarry. Geologists use the term Collyhurst Sandstone for this type of soft red sandstone, which occurs in north-west England. It is a fine to medium grained sedimentary rock, created from desert sands blown into dune formations during the Early Permian period, when the area which now constitutes the British Isles
occupied a location within the desert belts to the north of the equator
. The rock is not very resistant to weathering and erosion and disintegrates relatively quickly. The quarry was mentioned by John Leland in the description of Manchester in his book. The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535 to 1543, saying that there was " a goodly quarre hard by the towne". The stone was transported the short distance into Manchester by river on barges or rafts. The quarry is now disused and the area around it has been turned into a park called "Sandhills" as part of Manchester City Council's Irk Valley Project.
in The Buildings of England; Lancashire; I, 1969. The oldest was St Oswald's in Rochdale Road in the Gothic
of the 13th century, the architect was E. H. Shellard; the east end was spectacularly picturesque and there was a steeple designed by John Lowe. Lowe was also the architect of the two other churches, the Albert Memorial Church in Queens Road, 1864, a red brick building with a northwest tower topped by a spire; and St James's in Teignmouth Street, 1874 (this had a steeple at the northwest corner, a porch on the southwest, and a polygonal apse). The Union Chapel, Queen's Park, was designed by R. Moffat Smith and has a low turreted tower.
on 23 May 1923 to commemorate British servicemen who died during the First World War.
scene. It played host to bands such as the Sex Pistols
, The Jam
, Joy Division
—then known as Warsaw—The Buzzcocks
, Slaughter and the Dogs and The Clash's "White Riot" tour before its closure in 1977. It has now been demolishd.
Churches.
From 1972 all the former C of E churches in Collyhurst and Monsal were amalgamated into a new benifice of The Church of the Saviour. This church was established on part of the site formaly occupied by St Oswalds church on Rochdale Road. This is an evangelical, Church of England church, with a care for all the people in this deprived area of Manchester.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. It is 1½ miles northeast of Manchester city centre
Manchester City Centre
Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England. It lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, next to the River Irwell...
, on Rochdale Road and Oldham Road. The River Irk
River Irk
The River Irk is a river in Greater Manchester in North West England that flows through the northern suburbs of Manchester before merging with the River Irwell in Manchester city centre....
passes through the area. Prominent buildings in Collyhurst include its local police station, Billy Green's pub, which featured on the TV show "Toughest Pubs in the UK" and in the video for The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
's single "Manchester" and two Roman Catholic churches, St Patrick's and St Malachy's.
On August 15, 1953 the front coach of a Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
electric train fell from the Collyhurst viaduct over the River Irk after colliding with a local steam train. Ten people were killed and 58 injured in the crash
Irk Valley Junction rail crash
The Irk Valley Junction rail crash occurred on 15 August 1953 at Collyhurst, just over a mile from Manchester Victoria station. At that point, the electrified line to Bury passes through Irk Valley Junction, so called because it lies on a viaduct above the River Irk...
.
Collyhurst is one of the most deprived places in Manchester and the UK.
Collyhurst sandstone and the quarry
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and the surrounding area, including the stone for the Roman fort at Castlefield
Castlefield
Castlefield is an inner city area of Manchester, in North West England. The conservation area which bears its name is bounded by the River Irwell, Quay Street, Deansgate and the Chester Road. It was the site of the Roman era fort of Mamucium or Mancunium which gave its name to Manchester...
, St Ann's Church
St Ann's Church, Manchester
St Ann's Church, Manchester, was consecrated in 1712. Although named after St Anne, it also pays tribute to the patron of the church, Ann, Lady Bland. St Ann's Church is a Grade I listed building.-Architecture and setting:...
, the roof of the Collegiate Church
Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral is a medieval church on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. The cathedral's official name is The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester...
and the original buildings of Chetham's Hospital
Chetham's School of Music
Chetham's School of Music , familiarly known as "Chets", is a specialist independent co-educational music school, situated in Manchester city centre, in North West England. It was established in 1969, incorporating Chetham's Hospital School, founded as a charity school by Humphrey Chetham in 1653...
, came from Collyhurst Quarry. Geologists use the term Collyhurst Sandstone for this type of soft red sandstone, which occurs in north-west England. It is a fine to medium grained sedimentary rock, created from desert sands blown into dune formations during the Early Permian period, when the area which now constitutes the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
occupied a location within the desert belts to the north of the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
. The rock is not very resistant to weathering and erosion and disintegrates relatively quickly. The quarry was mentioned by John Leland in the description of Manchester in his book. The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535 to 1543, saying that there was " a goodly quarre hard by the towne". The stone was transported the short distance into Manchester by river on barges or rafts. The quarry is now disused and the area around it has been turned into a park called "Sandhills" as part of Manchester City Council's Irk Valley Project.
Churches
There are now two Roman Catholic churches in Collyhurst, St Patrick's and St Malachy's. There was once also St Edmund's in Monsall Street (architect P. P. Pugin, 1894). The three former Anglican churches have been demolished since they were described by Nikolaus PevsnerNikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
in The Buildings of England; Lancashire; I, 1969. The oldest was St Oswald's in Rochdale Road in the Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
of the 13th century, the architect was E. H. Shellard; the east end was spectacularly picturesque and there was a steeple designed by John Lowe. Lowe was also the architect of the two other churches, the Albert Memorial Church in Queens Road, 1864, a red brick building with a northwest tower topped by a spire; and St James's in Teignmouth Street, 1874 (this had a steeple at the northwest corner, a porch on the southwest, and a polygonal apse). The Union Chapel, Queen's Park, was designed by R. Moffat Smith and has a low turreted tower.
War memorial
There is a memorial on Rochdale Road next to what used to be Collyhurst Flats, erected by public subscription and unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Earl of Derby KG (Secretary of State for War)Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, TD, PC, KGStJ, JP , known as Lord Stanley from 1893 to 1908, was a British soldier, Conservative politician, diplomat and racehorse owner. He was twice Secretary of State for War and also served as British Ambassador to...
on 23 May 1923 to commemorate British servicemen who died during the First World War.
Popular music
For a brief period in the mid 1970s, The Electric Circus, a run down venue on Collyhurst Street (formerly the Palladium variety club), found itself at the centre of Manchester's punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene. It played host to bands such as the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
—then known as Warsaw—The Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, Slaughter and the Dogs and The Clash's "White Riot" tour before its closure in 1977. It has now been demolishd.
Churches.
From 1972 all the former C of E churches in Collyhurst and Monsal were amalgamated into a new benifice of The Church of the Saviour. This church was established on part of the site formaly occupied by St Oswalds church on Rochdale Road. This is an evangelical, Church of England church, with a care for all the people in this deprived area of Manchester.
Notable people
Although the area is one of the poorest in the city, it has been home to a number of sport stars and entertainers, including:- Jim AllenJim Allen (playwright)James "Jim" Allen was a socialist playwright from England, best known for his collaborations with Ken Loach.- Early life :...
, British playwright (The Spongers) - Pat Barrett, former British/European light welterweight boxer
- Stan BowlesStan BowlesStanley Bowles was a leading English footballer who gained a reputation as one of the game's greatest mavericks. He was a cousin of Paul Bowles.-Career:...
, former EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and QPRQueens Park Rangers F.C.Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
footballer - Jackie BrownJackie Brown (boxer)For the Scottish flyweight boxer called Jackie Brown, see Jackie Brown .Jackie Brown was a flyweight boxer, who was British and European flyweight champion, and was also recognised by the National Boxing Association as the World flyweight champion.-Professional career:He had his first professional...
, former world champion flyweight boxer - Les DawsonLes DawsonLeslie "Les" Dawson was a popular English comedian remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife.-Life and career:...
, British comedian - Harry Fleming, former boxing manager to Johnny KingJohnny KingJohnny King is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a winger with the St. George Dragons for the last seven years of their eleven consecutive premiership-winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was a representative in the Australian national team from 1966–1970, earning...
, Jackie Brown and Jock McAvoyJock McAvoyJock McAvoy was a British boxer who fought from 1927 to 1945. He was born Joseph Patrick Bamford in Rochdale, Lancashire. Jo Bamford adopted the name Jock McAvoy so that his mother did not realise he was boxing... - Michael GomezMichael GomezMichael Gomez , also known as "The Irish Mexican" or "The Predator", is a former professional boxer...
, Irish born super featherweight boxer - Bruce Jones, British actor
- Brian KiddBrian KiddBrian Kidd is an English football coach and former player, who is currently Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City....
, former EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, Manchester United, ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Manchester City footballer - Johnny King, former British and Empire bantamweight champion
- Carlo SartoriCarlo SartoriCarlo Domenico Sartori is an Italian former footballer.Born in Caderzone, Italy, the Sartoris moved to Manchester when Carlo was a child, and he grew up in the Collyhurst area of the city....
, former Manchester United footballer - Jack SmethurstJack SmethurstJack Smethurst is an English TV and film comic actor whose career dates back to the 1950s.-Career:Smethurst made his film debut in 1958's Carry On Sergeant...
, British actor - Nobby StilesNobby StilesNorbert "Nobby" Peter Stiles MBE is a retired English footballer. He was born in Collyhurst, Manchester.Stiles played for England for five years, winning 28 caps and scoring 1 goal. He played every minute of England's victorious 1966 FIFA World Cup campaign...
, former Manchester United and World Cup1966 FIFA World CupThe 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
winning footballer