Stockport is a large town in Greater Manchester lying about seven miles south of Manchester on the River Mersey. Stockport has never been a sea or river port as the Mersey is not navigable and in the centre of Stockport the shopping centre has been built above it.
There are signs that a ford was once across the Mersey, this was at the bottom of the town street now known as Bridge Street Brow. In 1797 the Ashton Canal was opened at Stockport and ran for five miles, this was in use until the 1930’s.
In the 16th Century the town became known for it’s hat industry and later the silk industry. During the Industrial Revolution Stockport was helped by its cotton manufacturers but had declined by the 19th century. Since the 20th century the town has become more diversified in its industries.
There is a regeneration programme in Stockport and it plans to build more accommodation in the town centre along with a larger retail market. Industrial areas around the town will be used for commercial and residential developments.
The Economy of Stockport is mainly round the town centre where shops such as My Little Angels, Julia and Dee’s, Sole Kids, Bonny Bouncer, Dollybird, Monsoon, River Island, Andela Beer, Fusion, Crossans Clothing and Garb Fashions can be found together with larger stores such as Bhs, Matalan, Marks and Spencer, Next and Woolworths. These are mostly to be found in the Merseyway Shopping Centre.
There is an Olympic sized swimming pool, a 10-screen cinema, bars, bowling alley and restaurants are all in the Grand Central Leisure Park complex.
The town is only a few miles from Manchester and this makes it ideal for those wishing to commute but not wanting to live in such a large town as Manchester.
Property fro rent is widely available in Stockport with costs around £303 to £450pcm for a l bed flat, £399 to £495pcm for a 2 bed flat, £495 to £525 for a 2 bed house and £550 to £695 for a 3 bed house.
Stockport is home to several places of interest, such as Bramley Hall, a timber framed manor house that has history dating back to the Middle Ages. Visitors are able to hear about the buildings six centuries of history.
Britain’s, one and only, hat museum is in town call the ‘Hat Works’ and is at Wellington Mill, this was a hat factory in the Victorian era.
A four-track railway viaduct is one of Western Europe’s largest buildings and is on the Manchester line. It was built in twenty-one months the first of eleven million bricks was laid in 1839.
Stockport Story Museum houses ten thousand years of Stockport history. The museum has free admission and is located in Staircase House, another interesting building.
Underbank Hall was built in the middle of town in the late 1500’s and was a family house until 1823. Since 1824 it has been used as a bank with the present day banking hall dating back to 1915. The building is Grade II listed.
The town has many public houses and restaurants to suit all tastes.
The M60 motorway and A6 cross at Stockport and the mainline railway station is on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line. Manchester airport is only a few miles from town making Stockport very accessible.
Stockport has professional football and rugby teams both playing at Edgeley Park Stadium. Stockport’s Metro Swimming Club is the most successful British club. In the 1996 Olympic Games Graeme Smith won bronze in the 1500m freestyle and at the 2004 Olympic Games, 200m butterfly, Stephen Parry won bronze.
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