White City, Manchester
Encyclopedia
The White City Retail Park is a retail park
on the south side of Chester Road in the Old Trafford area of Trafford
, Greater Manchester
in England
, at the southeast corner of the docks area and southeast of Manchester United
's ground. It is the site of the former Manchester Botanic Gardens which hosted the Art Treasures Exhibition of 1857
. The gateway of the Botanic Gardens still stands at the edge of the retail park. During its history, White City has also been the site of an amusement park and a stadium.
and horticulture
. The society built a botanical garden
on the site covering 16 acre. The site was chosen by John Dalton
for the society as it was down-wind of pollution from the city. The land, which was owned by Thomas de Trafford
, was leased to the society at a price of the society's choosing.
The gardens featured a complex of plant houses and a conservatory that was built by Clarke and Jones of Birmingham. The building hwas 321 feet (97.8 m) in length and the conservatory had a 40 feet (12.2 m) high dome. The buildings were heated by a system of hot water flowing through pipes. The Grade II listed gateway that still faces Chester Road was the entrance to the gardens.
In 1857 the gardens hosted the Art Treasures Exhibition
which was opened by Prince Albert
. The exhibition was visited by 1.3million visitors in 142-days. A further exhibition
was held in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
. This exhibition attracted 4.74 million people over 192-days.
By the end of the nineteenth century, interest in the gardens was waning as the wealthy moved away from the city centre. In 1907, part of the garden's site was leased to White City limited, a company set up by Heathcote and Brown. The company opened the "White City Amusement Park" on the site on 20 May 1907.
The remaining 11 acre was sold to Canine Sports Ltd on 1 November 1927 for the construction of a stadium. The site held its first motorcycle speedway
race on 16 July 1928. With the stadium being completed and greyhound racing starting in 1930.
In July 1953 a 6-lane cinder
track for athletics
was made.
The stadium started to host Stock car racing
run by Mike Parker Promotions in 1972, with the track being asphalt
ed in 1976. However, the stadium fell into disrepair and closed in 1982.
Retail park
In the United Kingdom, a retail park is a grouping of many retail warehouses and superstores with associated car parking. Its North American equivalent is a power centre. Retail parks are found on the fringes of most large towns and cities in highly accessible locations and are aimed at households...
on the south side of Chester Road in the Old Trafford area of Trafford
Trafford
The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 211,800, covers , and includes the towns of Altrincham, Partington, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
in 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...
, at the southeast corner of the docks area and southeast of Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
's ground. It is the site of the former Manchester Botanic Gardens which hosted the Art Treasures Exhibition of 1857
Art Treasures Exhibition, Manchester 1857
The Art Treasures of Great Britain was an exhibition of fine art held in Manchester, England, from 5 May to 17 October 1857. It remains the largest art exhibition to be held in the UK, possibly in the world, with over 16,000 works on display...
. The gateway of the Botanic Gardens still stands at the edge of the retail park. During its history, White City has also been the site of an amusement park and a stadium.
History of the site
In 1827 the Botanical and Horticultural Society was founded in Manchester to encourage the study of botanyBotany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. The society built a botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
on the site covering 16 acre. The site was chosen by John Dalton
John Dalton
John Dalton FRS was an English chemist, meteorologist and physicist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the development of modern atomic theory, and his research into colour blindness .-Early life:John Dalton was born into a Quaker family at Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth, Cumberland,...
for the society as it was down-wind of pollution from the city. The land, which was owned by Thomas de Trafford
Thomas de Trafford
Sir Thomas Joseph de Trafford, 1st Baronet, DL was a member of a prominent family of English Roman Catholics. He served as commander of the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry at the time of the Peterloo Massacre...
, was leased to the society at a price of the society's choosing.
The gardens featured a complex of plant houses and a conservatory that was built by Clarke and Jones of Birmingham. The building hwas 321 feet (97.8 m) in length and the conservatory had a 40 feet (12.2 m) high dome. The buildings were heated by a system of hot water flowing through pipes. The Grade II listed gateway that still faces Chester Road was the entrance to the gardens.
In 1857 the gardens hosted the Art Treasures Exhibition
Art Treasures Exhibition, Manchester 1857
The Art Treasures of Great Britain was an exhibition of fine art held in Manchester, England, from 5 May to 17 October 1857. It remains the largest art exhibition to be held in the UK, possibly in the world, with over 16,000 works on display...
which was opened by Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
. The exhibition was visited by 1.3million visitors in 142-days. A further exhibition
Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester 1887
The Royal Jubilee Exhibition of 1887 was held in Old Trafford, Manchester, England, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign. It was opened by Princess Alexandra, wife of Edward, the Prince of Wales, on 3 May 1887, and remained open for 166 days, during which time there...
was held in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
. This exhibition attracted 4.74 million people over 192-days.
By the end of the nineteenth century, interest in the gardens was waning as the wealthy moved away from the city centre. In 1907, part of the garden's site was leased to White City limited, a company set up by Heathcote and Brown. The company opened the "White City Amusement Park" on the site on 20 May 1907.
The remaining 11 acre was sold to Canine Sports Ltd on 1 November 1927 for the construction of a stadium. The site held its first motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
race on 16 July 1928. With the stadium being completed and greyhound racing starting in 1930.
In July 1953 a 6-lane cinder
Cinder
A cinder is a pyroclastic material. Cinders are extrusive igneous rocks. Cinders are similar to pumice, which has so many cavities and is such low-density that it can float on water...
track for athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
was made.
The stadium started to host Stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
run by Mike Parker Promotions in 1972, with the track being asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
ed in 1976. However, the stadium fell into disrepair and closed in 1982.
See also
- Art Treasures Exhibition, Manchester 1857Art Treasures Exhibition, Manchester 1857The Art Treasures of Great Britain was an exhibition of fine art held in Manchester, England, from 5 May to 17 October 1857. It remains the largest art exhibition to be held in the UK, possibly in the world, with over 16,000 works on display...
- Botanical Gardens Cricket GroundBotanical Gardens Cricket GroundBotanical Gardens Cricket Ground was a cricket ground in Manchester. The ground was loacted adjacent to Manchester Botanical Garden. The ground was on land owned by Sir Humphrey de Trafford, who allowed Manchester Cricket Club to lease the ground....
- Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester 1887Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester 1887The Royal Jubilee Exhibition of 1887 was held in Old Trafford, Manchester, England, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign. It was opened by Princess Alexandra, wife of Edward, the Prince of Wales, on 3 May 1887, and remained open for 166 days, during which time there...