HARPURHEY
Harpouresheie, 1327.
This small township, at one time called Harpurhey
with Gotherswick, (fn. 1) lies on both sides of the road from
Manchester to Middleton, extending westward to the
Irk. In 1830 it was described as abounding in
pleasant views. (fn. 2) It has long been a suburb of Manchester, and almost covered with buildings. The
area is 193 acres. In 1901 the population was
reckoned with that of Blackley.
The spinning, manufacture, and printing of cotton
were carried on in 1833; (fn. 3) in 1854 there were two
print works and a spinning shed. Cotton mills and
print and dye works continue to exist.
An ancient stone hammer was found near Turkey
Lane. (fn. 4)
Harpurhey was included in the Parliamentary
borough of Manchester from the first but was not
taken into the municipal borough until 1885. It
ceased to be a township in 1896, becoming part of
the new township of North Manchester.
MANOR
HARPURHEY may derive its name
from the 80 acres demised for life to one
William Harpour by Sir John La Warre,
lord of Manchester, early in the 14th century, loco
beneficii. (fn. 5) In 1327 the same John La Warre granted
24 acres of land and wood called Harpurshey, lying
next to the pale of his park of Blackley, to Adam son
of Robert de Radcliffe and Alice his daughter, wife
of John son of Henry de Hulton, and the heirs of
Alice, at a rent of 26s. 8d. (fn. 6) This estate continued to
be held by the Hultons of Farnworth until the
16th century, (fn. 7) when it passed to the Hultons of Over
Hulton. (fn. 8) It was sold in 1808–10 by William
Hulton to Thomas Andrew and Robert Andrew, the
former purchasing Boardman's Tenement and the
latter Green Mount and other lands. Thomas
Andrew's estate, as Harpurhey Hall, descended to his
son Edward, after whose death it was in 1847 sold to
John Barratt. Robert Andrew died in 1831, having
bequeathed the estate to trustees for his daughter and
heir Robina, wife of Captain Conran. (fn. 9)
GOTHERSWICK
GOTHERSWICK, called a hamlet of Manchester
in 1320, (fn. 10) was also held by the Hultons of Farnworth (fn. 11) and became merged in Harpurhey, the name
having long been lost. (fn. 12)
The land tax returns of 1797 show that Joseph
Barlow, Robert and Thomas Andrew, and Samuel
Ogden were the proprietors. (fn. 13)
For the Established worship Christ Church, Harpurhey, was built in 1837–8. (fn. 14) The patronage is
vested in five trustees. St. Stephen's was built in
1901; the Crown and the Bishop of Manchester
present in turns. There are mission churches.
The Wesleyan Methodists have a church. The
Salvation Army has a barracks. There is also a
Presbyterian Church. (fn. 15)