Editing Edgeley (section)

==History==
[[File:Lark Hill Road, Edgeley c.1906.jpg|thumb|Lark Hill Road, c. 1906]]
[[File:St. Matthew's Church, Edgeley - geograph.org.uk - 60458.jpg|thumb|St Matthew's Church, Edgeley]]
References to Edgeley, or "Eddyshelegh", are recorded in the early part of the 13th century. However the main history of the area dates from the beginning of the [[Industrial Revolution]] where it was a [[working class]] hub, after the decline of industrial Britain, Edgeley like many northern urban areas suffered economically and the area fell into decay, after some subtle investment the area is slowly showing signs of improvement.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

On 27 November 1792, an advertisement appeared in the ''Manchester Mercury'' to let land at Edgeley as:

<blockquote>An Eligible situation for Bleach Ground or Print Field in which there are a number of Fine White Sand Springs with a Rivulet capable of Turning Wash Wheels etc. The Grounds lie very contiguous to the populous Manufacturing Town of Stockport where Bleachers and Printers are both much wanted and every encouragement will be given to a good tenant{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}</blockquote>

William Sykes took the land and established the [[Sykes Bleaching Company]]. There were few trees in the area, but as wood was needed in the drying process, he undertook extensive tree-planting in the area.<ref>[http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000161.pdf Stockport Advertiser History of Stockport Chapter IX p. 103]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> He built a "stately house", Edgeley House, which was the home of the family for succeeding generations until it became Alexandra Park.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gardens (en)|first=Parks and|title=Alexandra Park – Edgeley|url=https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/alexandra-park-stockport|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Parks & Gardens|language=en}}</ref> Wells were sunk including the "Silver Well", and by 1830 these had quadrupled the water supply. Reservoirs were also built. These undertakings were of great value to people in the area in times of excessive drought.<ref>[http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000163.pdf Stockport Advertiser History of Stockport Chapter IX p. 105]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The Sykes family originally owned most of the land in Edgeley, and employed many people. They invested their wealth back into the area with parks, churches, schools and Edgeley Park.<ref>[http://www.edgeley-stockport.com A Guide to Edgeley's Area, Shops, Business & History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916142452/http://www.edgeley-stockport.com/ |date=16 September 2008}}</ref>

The Brinksway Chapel, built in 1823, was nicknamed the 'Beef–Steak Chapel' as it was built to encourage [[vegetarianism]] by men with shares of one pound each. Saint Matthew's Church was built on the site in 1843.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/business/regeneration/districtcentres/edgeleydistrictcentre |title=Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council – Edgeley |access-date=5 April 2010 |archive-date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301105016/http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/business/regeneration/districtcentres/edgeleydistrictcentre/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>