Middleton History
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Middleton History by Middletonia
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In 616 Æthelfrith of Bernicia, an Anglo-Saxon King, crossed the Pennines with an army and passed through Manchester to defeat the Brythons in the Battle of Chester.[3] A wave of Anglian colonists followed this military conquest and their settlements are identified by the "ton" Old English suffix to local place names.[3] Royton, Crompton, Moston, Clayton, Ashton and Middleton are a number of settlements northeast of Manchester suggested to have been founded as part of this colonisation.[3] It is therefore thought that Middleton as a settlement dates from the 7th century.[3]
Although unmentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, Middleton is said to be "of great antiquity"; a community at Middleton is thought to have evolved outwards from a church that existed considerably earlier than the Norman conquest of England.[4]
The name Middleton first appears in 1194, and derives from the Old English middel-tūn, meaning middle farm or settlement,[4][5] probably a reference to its central position between Rochdale and Manchester.[6]
During the Middle Ages, Middleton was a centre of domestic flannel and woollen cloth production.[citation needed]
The development of Middleton as a centre of commerce occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries. Lord Suffield obtained a Royal Charter from King George III in 1791 to hold a weekly market and three annual fairs in Middleton. [4] Suffield built a market house, warehouses and shambles in the town at his own expense.
Industrial scale textile manufacture was introduced to Middleton as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Middleton became a centre for silk production in the 18th century, which developed into a cotton spinning industry by the mid-19th century and which continued through to the mid-20th century.[4] This transition gave rise to Middleton as a mill town.
The town's local newspaper, the Middleton Guardian has a history going back to Victorian times.[citation needed]
JW Lees houses its brewery at Middleton Junction. The brewery owns several pubs in the Greater Manchester area.
Warwick Mill is a monument to be seen from all around Middleton and was a venue for a workers' Luddite revolt.[citation needed]
The town was linked to the national rail network until 1964 when Middleton railway station closed. Mills Hill is now the nearest station.
"Moonraker" is a nickname sometimes given to people from the town (and other places see Moonrakers). Middleton has been the birthplace and home to notable people, of national and international acclaim. Amongst the most notable persons of historic significance from the town include Thomas Langley (born in Middleton in 1363) who served as Bishop of Durham, Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Lord Chancellor of England, and as England's first de facto Foreign Secretary. Samuel Bamford was a radical writer and politician. He led the Middleton contingent to the meeting at St. Peter's Fields in August 1819, pressing for parliamentary reform, which ended in the Peterloo Massacre.[20]
Notable scientists from Middleton include the biologist John R Cain, founder of astronautical hygiene, who attended Hollin High School and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School.
Steve Coogan,[21] John Richmond, Clint Boon of Inspiral Carpets, Maartin Allcock of Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull, Brendan and Martin Coogan all attended the local Cardinal Langley Grammar School, later known as Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School. Bernard Manning (1930–2007), Manchester-born (Ancoats) comedian, lived in Alkrington.[22] Gold selling music producer Louis Gibzen attended Middleton Technology School. All four members of the indie-rock group The Courteeners are also from the area.[23] The Chameleons, a post-punk band, was formed in the area, and was described by the Middleton Guardian as "Middleton's most famous export".[24]
Notable sportsmen connected with Middleton include Manchester United F.C. (and former England national football team) Paul Scholes (Salford-born) and locally-born Mark Allott the Oldham Athletic midfielder, both educated at St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, and later Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School. Frank (Typhoon) Tyson--- Test Cricketer from the late 1950s attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar school. Norma Ball. Wife of Bobby Charlton attended Queen Elizabeth's grammar school. Married Bobby at St Gabriel's church in Middleton.
Fashion designer John Richmond and Olympic silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne also attended Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School.
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