Sharston
Encyclopedia
Sharston is an area within the Wythenshawe
district of South Manchester
, in the North West
of England
. The area was initially mostly industrial, with the Sharston Industrial Estate taking up a large part of the area which contains a post office
(with an area sorting office
), a dairy
, and a Bisto
factory, and various other businesses. However, more recent boundary changes within the Wythenshawe area now consider Sharston to cover a considerable portion of local residential housing. The industrial estate consists of sectors named after letters of the Greek alphabet. Alpha Point is notable for its 128 m zirconium pinnacle designed by the corporate artist Chris Gately. The Beta sector was once the home of the Ramsees Piso Bush Jam factory. This building later became the headquarters of Jam Factory Records who kept most of the original plant machinery which is still used to make speciality jams to promote album releases.
Sharston once had its own shopping parade on Altrincham Road (next to the junction of Mullacre Road), but this was demolished in 1970 when the M56 motorway
'Sharston bypass' was built through the area (the M56 connects to the nearby southern section of the M60 motorway
). A large public swimming baths was built in the area in the early 1960s, and a new shopping/business area (including the "Wythenshawe Labour Club" public house) was built in the late 1960s/early 1970s directly behind it on Freshpool Way. However, all of these were demolished in the 1990s and the land used for new housing developments. Several pedestrian subway tunnels that linked the area under the busy main roads have now been closed off and replaced with a series of pelican crossing
s.
"Sharston Hall" (from which the area gained its name) was a large manor house that was situated on Altrincham Road. It was built in 1701 and remained standing until 1986 when it was demolished following years of neglect and vandalism. A private medical clinic now stands in its place. The grounds behind the hall included a small woodland area which led onto Shenton Fields (informally known as "Shents Fields"), a large recreational playing field that ran up to the border of neighbouring Gatley
in Stockport
. Although some of the woodland area still stands, the playing fields were turned into an industrial area in recent years and now house several large warehouses and business premises.
Sharston is policed by the Wythenshawe Neighbourhood Policing Team (based at Wythenshawe Police Station on Poundswick Lane), part of the South Manchester Division of Greater Manchester Police
.
Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the city of Manchester, England.Formerly part of the administrative county of Cheshire, in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s to resolve the problem of its inner...
district of South 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...
, in the North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The area was initially mostly industrial, with the Sharston Industrial Estate taking up a large part of the area which contains a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
(with an area sorting office
Sorting office
Sorting office or Processing and Distribution Center is any location where postal operators bring mail after collection for sorting into batches for delivery to the addressee, which may be a direct delivery or sent onwards to another regional or local sorting office, or to another postal...
), a dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
, and a Bisto
Bisto
Bisto is a well-known brand of traditional British foods in the United Kingdom, most famous for its gravy products.-History:The very first Bisto product, in 1908, was a meat-flavoured gravy powder, which rapidly became a bestseller in the UK. It was added to gravies to give a richer taste and aroma...
factory, and various other businesses. However, more recent boundary changes within the Wythenshawe area now consider Sharston to cover a considerable portion of local residential housing. The industrial estate consists of sectors named after letters of the Greek alphabet. Alpha Point is notable for its 128 m zirconium pinnacle designed by the corporate artist Chris Gately. The Beta sector was once the home of the Ramsees Piso Bush Jam factory. This building later became the headquarters of Jam Factory Records who kept most of the original plant machinery which is still used to make speciality jams to promote album releases.
Sharston once had its own shopping parade on Altrincham Road (next to the junction of Mullacre Road), but this was demolished in 1970 when the M56 motorway
M56 motorway
The M56 Motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, is in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, England. It runs from Junction 4 of the M60 to Dunkirk, Cheshire and is in length. It is often busy with long-distance commuter traffic towards North Wales...
'Sharston bypass' was built through the area (the M56 connects to the nearby southern section of the M60 motorway
M60 motorway
The M60 motorway, or Manchester Orbital, is an orbital motorway circling Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It passes through all Greater Manchester's metropolitan boroughs except for Wigan and Bolton...
). A large public swimming baths was built in the area in the early 1960s, and a new shopping/business area (including the "Wythenshawe Labour Club" public house) was built in the late 1960s/early 1970s directly behind it on Freshpool Way. However, all of these were demolished in the 1990s and the land used for new housing developments. Several pedestrian subway tunnels that linked the area under the busy main roads have now been closed off and replaced with a series of pelican crossing
Pelican crossing
A Pelican crossing is a type of pedestrian crossing featuring a pair of poles each with a standard set of traffic lights facing oncoming traffic, a push button and two illuminated, coloured men facing the pedestrian from across the road - a red, stationary man to indicate that it is not safe to...
s.
"Sharston Hall" (from which the area gained its name) was a large manor house that was situated on Altrincham Road. It was built in 1701 and remained standing until 1986 when it was demolished following years of neglect and vandalism. A private medical clinic now stands in its place. The grounds behind the hall included a small woodland area which led onto Shenton Fields (informally known as "Shents Fields"), a large recreational playing field that ran up to the border of neighbouring Gatley
Gatley
Gatley is a suburban area of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England.-Toponymy:In 1290, Gatley was known as Gateclyve, which in Old English means "a place where goats are kept".-Early history:...
in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
. Although some of the woodland area still stands, the playing fields were turned into an industrial area in recent years and now house several large warehouses and business premises.
Sharston is policed by the Wythenshawe Neighbourhood Policing Team (based at Wythenshawe Police Station on Poundswick Lane), part of the South Manchester Division of Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
.