Stockport

Stockport
shown within Greater Manchester
Image:GManc-Stockport.png

Stockport is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, in North West England. With a population of 284,528 (2001), Stockport is one of the largest towns in the United Kingdom.

Originally a Saxon village, Stockport translates as "castle in a wood". Following the Norman Conquest, the settlement became ruled by a hereditary Baron of Stockport.

The 1835 Municipal Corporation Act made Stockport a town divided into seven wards. In 1888, its status was raised to County Borough.

Due to its close proximity to Manchester, Stockport rapidly expanded during the Industrial Revolution, helped particularly by the growth of the cotton manufacturing industries. However, economic growth took its toll, and 19th Century philosopher Friedrich Engels wrote in 1844 that Stockport was "renowned as one of the duskiest, smokiest holes in the whole of the industrial area".

Today, Stockport includes a large town centre around the A6, as well as several areas including:

Adswood
Bramhall, Bredbury, Brinnington
Cale Green, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Compstall
Davenport
Edgeley
Four Heatons
Hazel Grove, Heald Green, High Lane
Marple, Mellor
Offerton
Reddish, Romiley
Woodford, Woodley, Woodsmoor

Stockport is home to Second Division football team Stockport County Football Club, as well as two National Trust properties, Bramall Hall and Lyme Park. The UK's last producing Hat Factory can also be found in Stockport. The viaduct, built in 1842, is the largest free-standing brick structure in Europe, containing a total of eleven million bricks.

Its principal commercial district is located in the town centre, with most common department stores to be found in the Merseyway Shopping Centre. The Grand Central Square complex boasts three nightclubs, a cinema and a bowling alley. Stockport is located seven miles away from Manchester City Centre, making it convenient for commuters and shoppers.

Stockport Townhall

Although the suburbs of Bramhall and Cheadle rank amongst the wealthiest areas of the United Kingdom and 45% of the borough is green space, districts such as Adswood and Brinnington suffer from widespread poverty and post-industrial decay. Opinions on the general quality of life in Stockport greatly differ. In its favour, some highlight its close proximity to Manchester, and its abundance of amenities; but its perceived grittiness and loutish youth culture earned it 12th place in the internet-based 2004 guide "Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places To Live In The UK".

There are three parliamentary constituencies in the Stockport area: Stockport, Cheadle and Hazel Grove. Stockport has been represented by Labour MP Ann Coffey since 1992. The Liberal Democrat Patsy Calton was elected in Cheadle in 2001. Andrew Stunell has been the Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove since 1997.

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Districts of England - North West England
Allerdale \| Barrow-in-Furness \| Blackburn with Darwen \| Blackpool \| Bolton \| Burnley \| Bury \| Carlisle \| Chester \| Chorley \| Congleton \| Copeland \| Crewe and Nantwich \| Eden \| Ellesmere Port and Neston \| Fylde \| Halton \| Hyndburn \| Knowsley \| Lancaster \| Liverpool \| Macclesfield \| Manchester \| Oldham \| Pendle \| Preston \| Ribble Valley \| Rochdale \| Rossendale \| St Helens \| Salford \| Sefton \| South Lakeland \| South Ribble \| Stockport \| Tameside \| Trafford \| Vale Royal \| Warrington \| West Lancashire \| Wigan \| Wirral \| Wyre
Administrative counties with multiple districts: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside