Editing Reddish

{{Short description|Suburb of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{hatnote group|
{{Other uses}}
{{distinguish|Redditch}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name            = Reddish
| country                  = England
| region                   = North West England
| population               = 28,052
| population_ref           = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]])
| population_density       = {{convert|11009|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=on}}
| os_grid_reference        = SJ893935
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.4383|-2.1613|display=inline,title}}
| post_town                = STOCKPORT
| postcode_area            = SK
| postcode_district        = SK4, SK5
| dial_code                = 0161
| constituency_westminster = [[Denton and Reddish (UK Parliament constituency)|Denton and Reddish]]
| metropolitan_borough     = [[Metropolitan Borough of Stockport|Stockport]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[Greater Manchester]]
| london_distance          = 159&nbsp;mi&nbsp;(256&nbsp;km)&nbsp;[[Boxing the compass|SE]]
| area_total_sq_mi         = 2.73
| static_image_name        = Houldsworth Square, Reddish.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Houldsworth Square in central Reddish
}}
'''Reddish''' is an area of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Stockport]], [[Greater Manchester]], England, {{convert|4.6|mi|km|1}} south-east of [[Manchester city centre]]. At the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]], the population was 28,052.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/stockport-e08000007#sthash.h8OB2S9A.dpbs|title= Reddish North 2011 Census figures|access-date= 5 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/reddish-south-e05000798#sthash.bCbElAJ9.dpbs|title=Reddish South Census Figures 2011|access-date= 5 February 2015}}</ref> [[Historic counties of England|Historically]] part of [[Lancashire]], Reddish grew rapidly in the [[Industrial Revolution]] and still retains landmarks from that period, such as [[Houldsworth Mill, Reddish|Houldsworth Mill]], a former [[cotton mill|textile mill]].

[[Reddish Vale]] is a [[country park]].

==History==
{{main|History of Reddish}}

===Toponymy===
Reddish is recorded as Redich (1205, 1212), Redych, Radich (1226), Radish, Rediche (1262), Redditch (1381), Redwyche, Radishe and Reddishe (16th century).<ref name=vichist>Farrer and Brownbill, [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=41435 pp.&nbsp;326–9].</ref><ref name=booker197>Booker, p. 197.</ref> The name either means "reedy ditch" ([[Old English|OE]] ''hrēod-dīc'') or "red ditch" (OE ''rēad-dīc''). Ekwall (1922) allows either form, stating "red" is less probable; Mills (1991) and Arrowsmith (1997) only give the "reed" option.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ekwall |first=E |title=NS 81 The place-names of Lancashire |year=1922 |publisher=Chethams|location=Manchester|page=30}}</ref><ref name=Arrow23>Arrowsmith, p. 23.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Mills |first=A D |title=Dictionary of English Place-Names (2nd ed) |year=1997 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0-19-280074-4|page = 285 }}</ref> The ditch referred to is possibly the [[Nico Ditch]],<ref name=Arrow23/> an earthwork of uncertain origin bordering Reddish, Manchester and Denton.<ref>Hartwell ''et al.'', p. 197.</ref> Folklore has it that the names [[Gorton]] and Reddish arose from a battle between Saxons and Danes.<ref name=booker197/><ref>{{cite book |author-link = John Harland | last = Harland | first = John |author2=Wilkinson, Thomas Turner  | title = Lancashire Legends, Traditions | publisher = Llanerch Press | year= 1993 | pages = 26–9 |isbn = 1-897853-06-8 | orig-year = 1873}}</ref><ref name=Higson>{{cite web| url = http://www.gortonnews.org.uk/archive/newsletterjan04.pdf| title = The battle of Gorton| access-date = 2006-04-20| author = Higson, John| author2 = Jeff Goldthorpe| date = January 2004| work = Gorton News| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929002229/http://www.gortonnews.org.uk/archive/newsletterjan04.pdf| archive-date = 2007-09-29}}</ref> John Higson wrote in 1852<ref name=Higson/>

<blockquote>The neigh'ring trench is called the Nicker Ditch<br />Flowing with blood, it did the name convey<br />To th' bordering hamlet, Red-Ditch. Near here, Where<br />the last 'tween the foes was fought,<br />Where victory was won, that memorable<br />Eminence proudly was distinguished<br />By the name of Winning Hill. The streamlet<br />Aforemention'd gains appellation<br />Of Gore Brook, also the contiguous<br />Happy hamlet through which it floweth still<br />Bears, in glorious commemoration,<br />And e'er shall, the honour'd name of Gore Town.</blockquote>

Farrer and Brownbill dismiss this interpretation as "popular fancy".<ref>Farrer and Brownbill, [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=41420#n1 pp&nbsp;275–279, footnote 1.] "Out of Gore-ton and Red-ditch, with the help of the intervening Nico Ditch, popular fancy has made the story of a great battle in the neighbourhood; Harland and Wilkinson, ''Traditions''. 26.</ref>

===1066 to late 18th century===
[[File:Reddish Hall.jpg|thumb|left|Reddish Hall as drawn by James Croston (Booker, p211)]]
Reddish does not appear in the [[Domesday Book|Domesday survey]]; this is in common with most of the then southeast Lancashire area.<ref>Hartwell ''et al.'', p. 18.</ref> A corn mill is known to have existed at the junction of Denton Brook and the River Tame from about 1400 onwards.<ref>Downham, p. 142.</ref> The two main mediaeval houses were Reddish Hall at {{gbmapping|SJ899932}} (demolished 1780,<ref name=vichist/> but visible on maps dated 1840) and Hulme Hall at {{gbmapping|SJ889926}}, later known as Broadstone, then Broadstone Hall (demolished 1945<ref name=Cronin>Cronin, p. 45.</ref>). The Reddish family were major landowners in the area from at least 1212 to 1613 when title passed by marriage to the Coke family. It passed down the family to [[Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester (seventh creation)|Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester]], who sold his land in Reddish at the end of the 18th century, and in 1808 it was bought by [[Robert Hyde Greg]] and John Greg.<ref name=vichist/> There were Hulmes in Reddish in the 13th century, and the land passed through the family until about 1700 when it was given to a charitable trust.<ref name=vichist/>

Very few buildings in Reddish pre-date the 19th century. Canal Bridge Farm, close to Broadstone Mill, is dated to the mid to late 18th century (the name is later).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2013/2978/8803/9020/12299/houldsworthtextapp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404111757/http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2013/2978/8803/9020/12299/houldsworthtextapp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-04-04 |title=Houldsworth Conservation Area Character Appraisal |access-date=5 April 2010 |date=April 2007 |format=PDF |work=Stockport MBC webpages |publisher=Stockport MBC }}</ref> Hartwell dates a small group of farm buildings and cottages at Shores Fold, near the junction of Nelstrop Road and Marbury Road, to the sixteenth and late seventeenth to early 18th century. These would have been on the traditional Reddish – Heaton Norris border, but are now firmly inside Heaton Chapel.<ref>Hartwell ''et al.'', p. 230.</ref>

===Industrial Revolution===
The [[Stockport Branch Canal]] passed through Reddish and opened in 1797.<ref>Cited in many places, e.g. Downham [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000202.pdf p. 144].  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031311/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000202.pdf |date=March 8, 2008 }}</ref> It seems to have had little effect by 1825, when Corry's description of Reddish, in full, was "The population of Reddish is but thin".<ref>{{cite book | last = Corry | first = John | author-link = John Corry (writer) | title = The history of Lancashire, Volume 1 | orig-year = 1825 | url = http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/MOME?af=RN&ae=U104587369&srchtp=a&ste=14 | access-date = 2006-10-01 | year = 2006 | publisher = Thomson Gale }}</ref> Booker states that in 1857 Reddish was almost entirely agricultural, being made of meadow and pasture ({{convert|1320|acre|km2}}); arable land ({{convert|90|acre|m2}}); wood and water ({{convert|50|acre|m2}}); and buildings and streets ({{convert|44|acre|m2}}). At that time, Reddish contained "neither post-office, schoolmaster, lawyer, doctor, nor pawnshop".<ref>Booker, p. 200, repeated verbatim by Farrer & Brownbill.</ref> The population increased over tenfold in the next fifty years with the Industrial Revolution.

The water-powered calico printworks in Reddish Vale on the [[River Tame, Greater Manchester|River Tame]] is known to have been working before 1800. Industrial development followed the line of the canal<ref>Downham, p. 149.</ref> and was steam-powered throughout. A variety of manufacturers moved into Reddish during this period.

Robert Hyde Greg and John Greg, sons of Samuel Greg of [[Quarry Bank Mill]], who owned about a third of Reddish by 1857,<ref>Booker, p. 201.</ref> opened Albert Mills for cotton spinning in 1845. Moor Mill, manufacturing knitting machines, was built around the same time. [[Houldsworth Mill, Reddish|William Houldsworth's Reddish Mill]] for cotton spinning was opened in 1864. Hanover Mill was built in 1865 for cotton spinning, but in 1889 was converted to make silk, velvet, woven fur etc.

The Reddish Spinning Company, partly owned by Houldsworth, opened in 1870. Furnival & Co, making printing presses, opened in 1877.<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Furnival_and_Co Furnival and Co<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Andrew's Gas Engine works opened in 1878.<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._E._H._Andrew_and_Co J. E. H. Andrew and Co<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The [[Manchester Guardian]]'s printworks opened in 1899. [[Craven Brothers]], a manufacturer of machine tools and cranes, opened the Vauxhall Works on Greg Street, in 1900.<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Craven_Brothers Craven Brothers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  Broadstone Spinning Company opened a large [[double mill]] in 1906/7. These major employers were accompanied by numerous smaller concerns, including dyeworks, bleachworks, wire ropeworks, brickworks, screw manufacturers, makers of surveying equipment, and a tobacco factory.<ref name="Downham">Downham.</ref>

A small number of closures of major industrial employers took place in the first half of the 20th century, due to the ebb and flow of trade. Andrew's Gas Engine Works was taken over in 1905 by [[Richard Hornsby & Sons]] of [[Grantham]],<ref>Astle</ref><ref name=OHYGC>{{cite book | last = Newman | first = Bernard | title = One hundred years of good company | year = 1957 | publisher = [[Ruston & Hornsby]] | location = Lincoln | pages=75–6}}</ref> the business was transferred to Grantham and the Reddish works closed some time during the [[Great Depression|great depression]] following [[World War I|WWI]].<ref name=OHYGC/> Cronin indicates that the works were still in operation in 1930.<ref name="Cronin 82">Cronin, p82.</ref> The Atlas wire rope works closed in 1927.<ref>Ashmore, pp 45, 86.</ref>

Reddish took its share of the decline in Lancashire cotton production and finishing. Broadstone Mills ceased production in 1959;<ref>Holden p168, Ashmore p84, Arrowsmith p258.</ref> Reddish Mills closed in 1958 with the loss of 350-400 jobs;<ref>Cronin p58</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=TWO COTTON MILLS TO CLOSE |work=[[The Times]] |publisher=The Times |page= 10|date=1958-10-28 }}</ref> Spur Mill followed in 1972;<ref>Ashmore p85, Cronin p79.</ref> and the long-lived Reddish Vale printworks closed by 1975;<ref>Ashmore p85.</ref> Albert Mill continued to trade as R. Greg and co under new ownership, but finally closed in 1982.<ref name="Cronin 82"/> Ashmore wrote in 1975 that "Stockport has ceased to be a cotton town."<ref>Ashmore p27.</ref>

The decline of Broadstone Mills was accompanied by high farce. In November 1958 the company sold a number of spinning mules as scrap for just over £3,000. By agreement, the machines remained in the mill over the winter. A small number had been broken and removed by April 1959, when the government announced a compensation package for firms that agreed to scrap spinning capacity. As the title in the mules had passed to the scrapman, it was decided that the company was not entitled to compensation amounting to over £60,000, despite the fact that the machinery was still on its premises. Actions in the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] and the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Court of Appeal]] in 1965 were fruitless.<ref>{{cite news |title=SOURCE OF RUEFUL REFLECTION |work=[[The Times]] |publisher=The Times |page=5 |date=1965-03-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ELIMINATED TOO SOON |work=[[The Times]] |publisher=The Times |page=5 |date=1965-10-19}}</ref>

Some of the mills vacated by the spinners found other uses. The Reddish Spinning Company's mill was taken over by V. & E. Friedland who became the world's largest manufacture of doorbells; an extension to the mill won several architectural awards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Now MBB spotlight will fall on Europe |work = [[Manchester Evening News]] |date = 3 August 1994 | quote=CARADON Friedland of Reddish, the world's leading maker of doorbells and chimes&nbsp;...}}</ref> The mill is now residential. Broadstone Mill was partly demolished, but now houses small commercial units.<ref>{{cite news | title = Opportunities knock for entrepreneur Richard | url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/s/231/231151_opportunities_knock_for_entrepreneur_richard.html | work = Manchester Evening News | publisher = Manchester Evening News | date = 2006-12-19 | access-date = 2007-01-02 }}</ref> Regeneration efforts at Houldsworth Mill were instrumental in Stockport Council winning British Urban Regeneration Association's award for best practice in regeneration.<ref>{{cite news | title = Stockport awarded Houldsworth honour | url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/s/179/179995_stockport_awarded_houldsworth_honour.html | work = Manchester Evening News | publisher = Manchester Evening News | date = 1 November 2005 | access-date = 2006-11-10}}</ref> £12 million has been spent to convert the mill into mixed use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princes-regeneration.org/pmwiki.php?n=RTH.HouldsworthMill |title=Houldsworth Mill: The Prince's Regeneration Trust |access-date=2006-11-10 |date=17 October 2006 |publisher=The Prince's Regeneration Trust |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927164449/http://www.princes-regeneration.org/pmwiki.php?n=RTH.HouldsworthMill |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> The area around Houldsworth mill is now designated as a conservation area.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2013/2978/8803/9020/12299/houldsworthca| title = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council - Houldsworth (1981)| access-date = 5 April 2010| work = Stockport MBC web pages| publisher = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>
 {{cite web 
 |url=http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/business/commercialproperty/s/144/144599_60m_scheme_to_launch_reddish_urban_village.html 
 |title=£60 m scheme to launch Reddish urban village 
 |access-date=2006-11-10 
 |date=1 February 2005 
 |work=Manchester Online 
 |publisher=GMG Regional Digital 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223175920/http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/business/commercialproperty/s/144/144599_60m_scheme_to_launch_reddish_urban_village.html 
 |archive-date=2005-12-23 
 |url-status=dead 
 }}</ref>

===Brewing, pubs and clubs===
[[File:Houldsworth WMC.jpg|thumb|Houldsworth WMC. Also used as a church and school before dedicated buildings were built.]]Reddish has been home to at least three breweries. Richard Clarke & Co brewed in the area for over 100 years, before being taken over, and later closed, by [[Boddingtons]] in 1962.<ref>{{cite news|title=40 years ago |url=http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/nostalgia/s/10/10380_comic_is_star_of_jollywood.html |work=Stockport Express |publisher=Guardian Media Group |date=2002-12-10 |access-date=2006-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929053138/http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/nostalgia/s/10/10380_comic_is_star_of_jollywood.html |archive-date=2006-09-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Boddingtons' bid £1M. for R. Clarke | work = The Times | page = 13 | date = 1962-12-08}}</ref> David Pollard's eponymous brewery opened in the former print works in Reddish Vale in 1975, moving out to Bredbury in 1978; the business went into liquidation in 1982.<ref name=Jones>{{cite book | editor = Jones, Rhys P | title = Viaduct and vaults: a celebration of Stockport's pubs | year = 1991 | location = St Albans | publisher = CAMRA Ltd | isbn = 1-85249-054-3 | page = 43 }}</ref> The small 3 Rivers Brewery started brewing in Reddish in 2003 but had ceased brewing when the company was wound up in 2009.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.3riversbrewery.co.uk/history.html| title = History page| access-date = 2006-10-30| publisher = 3 Rivers Brewery| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071009182925/http://www.3riversbrewery.co.uk/history.html| archive-date = 2007-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=WebCHeck |url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//wcframe?name=accessCompanyInfo |publisher=Companies House |access-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229053844/http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ |archive-date=29 December 2008 }}</ref>

The pub stock is not well-regarded: "Never offering the best selection of pubs in the borough, it is now easily the worst area for real ale availability&nbsp;..."<ref name=SPG>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockportpubs.org.uk/areas3.html#REDD |title=Stockport Pub Guide M-Z |access-date=2006-10-30 |last=Edwardson |first=Peter |date=28 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716084644/http://www.stockportpubs.org.uk/areas3.html#REDD |archive-date=2006-07-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is a typical description. It has been suggested that this may be a consequence of [[Robert Hyde Greg]]'s disapproval of alcohol,<ref name=Godfrey/> (due to the alcoholism of an uncle of his father, see also [[Samuel Greg]]).
The pubs are supplemented by several [[Working men's club|working men's]] and political clubs. The Houldsworth WMC was awarded a [[blue plaque]] by Stockport MBC in December 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/councildemoc/council/campaigns/blueplaquewinners/ |title=Blue Plaque Winners |access-date=2007-02-08 |work=Stockport MBC web site }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Reddish WMC was founded by in 1845 by millowner Robert Hyde Greg as a [[Mechanics' Institute]] and Library. Its members claim it to be the oldest club registered with the [[Working Men's Club and Institute Union|CIU]].<ref>In the early stages of the blue plaque campaign that saw the Houldsworth WMC honoured, the council's web site mistakenly listed and described Reddish WMC. The web page was originally at [http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/councildemoc/council/campaigns/blueplaqueselection/reddishworkingmensclub www.stockport.gov.uk/content/councildemoc/council/campaigns/blueplaqueselection/reddishworkingmensclub]{{dead link|date=October 2013}}, now removed, and stated "The club was founded by Robert Hyde Greg in 1845 as a Mechanics Institute and Library and located within the Albert Mills. It was acknowledged to be the oldest club on the Club and Institute Union Register. From 1878, it occupied part of the Albert British School until 1891, when a new building was erected on the present site."</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Alex | last = Scapens | title = Club celebrates its 150 year history | url = http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/532/532001_club_celebrates_its_150_year_history.html | work = Stockport Express | publisher = M.E.N media | date = 29 August 2007 | access-date = 2007-09-21}}

Sandfold brewing, which used to be called 3 rivers.</ref>

==Governance==
The extents have been well-defined for at least several hundred years. Reddish was a [[Township (England)|township]] and [[chapelry]] in the ancient parish of [[Manchester (ancient parish)|Manchester]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/1312|title=History of Reddish, in Stockport and Lancashire|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=7 November 2024}}</ref> but lay outside the Manor of Manchester. This had the effect that boundaries of Reddish were described by the boundaries of the Manor of Manchester, with the exception of that with [[Cheshire]], which was the [[River Tame, Greater Manchester|River Tame]]. The manor boundaries were surveyed and recorded in 1322, and the relevant part was:<ref>{{cite book |last=Farrer |first=William |title=Record Society for the publication of Original Documents relating to Lancashire and Cheshire. Vol LIV. Lancashire Inquests, Extents, and Feudal Aids. Part II |year=1907 |publisher=The Record Society |pages=65–6 }}</ref>

<blockquote>following the said water [Tame] to the mid [stream] between the county of Chester and Assheton unto the Mereclowe at Redyshe so following Mereclowe unto Saltergate, from thence following the ditch of Redyshe unto Mikeldiche, following that unto Peyfyngate, following that unto Le Turrepittes between Heton Norreyes and Redishe, from thence following Le Merebroke unto the confluence of the waters of Tame and Mersey</blockquote>

"Mere" means boundary in this context. The description was traced into early 20th century features by Crofton<ref>{{cite journal |last=Crofton |first=H T |year=1905 |title=Agrimensorial remains around Manchester |journal=Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society |volume=23 |pages=112–71}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Crofton |first=H T|title=NS 52 A history of Newton chapelry in the ancient parish of Manchester |year=1904 |publisher=Chetham Society |location=Manchester }}</ref> and can be cast as

<blockquote>following the middle of the Tame as far as Denton Brook at Reddish; and so following Denton Brook and a tributary as far as Thornley Lane South; and then following Thornley Lane as far as Nico Ditch; and following Nelstrop Road as far as the turf-pits between Heaton Norris and Reddish (these are lost); and from there following Black Brook as far as near the conjunction of the waters of the Tame and Goyt.</blockquote>

However, Black Brook cannot be le Merebroke as it does not flow to the Tame, but joins Cringle Brook, which flows into the Mersey several miles away via Chorlton Brook. With this exception, Crofton's interpretation of the 1322 boundaries matches those shown on [[Ordnance Survey]] maps of the 19th century.

In 1866 Reddish became a separate [[civil parish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10376981|title=Relationships and changes Reddish CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=7 November 2024}}</ref> Reddish became an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] in 1894.<ref name=VB1/> By 1901 the neighbouring [[County Borough of Stockport]] had effectively run out of land, and was overflowing into abutting districts. In 1901, after petitioning the [[Local Government Board]], Stockport expanded into several areas including the whole of Reddish, described by Arrowsmith as Stockport's "greatest prize".<ref>Arrowsmith, p. 239. Astle, pp.&nbsp;73–4. Cronin, pp. 8, 35.</ref><ref name=VB2>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10376981 |title=Reddish Tn/CP Lancashire through time |work=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=Great Britain Historical GIS Project |access-date=2006-10-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726185137/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10376981 |archive-date=July 26, 2007 }}</ref> Stockport gained Reddish's [[Rates (tax)|tax income]] and building land, and in return Reddish received several civic amenities. A council school opened in 1907,<ref>Astle p [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000102.pdf 49] (pdf).  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031314/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000102.pdf |date=March 8, 2008 }}</ref> and a combined fire station, free library, and baths opened in stages during 1908 (Cronin identifies a small building at the rear as a mortuary).<ref>Arrowsmith p 239. Astle pp [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000102.pdf 49] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031314/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000102.pdf |date=2008-03-08 }}, [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000132.pdf 77] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031305/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000132.pdf |date=2008-03-08 }}, [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000134.pdf 79] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031324/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000134.pdf |date=2008-03-08 }}, [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000151.pdf 94] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031320/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000151.pdf |date=2008-03-08 }} (pdf). Cronin pp&nbsp;35–6.</ref> The council opened new municipal parks at Mid Reddish (on land presented by Houldsworth) and at South Reddish.<ref>Astle p [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000135.pdf 80] (pdf).  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031317/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000135.pdf |date=March 8, 2008 }}</ref> A park at North Reddish followed, described in 1932 as "recently laid out, provid(ing) a number of horticultural features combined with recreation facilities, and illustrat(ing) the layout of a modern recreation park".<ref>Stockport Advertiser History of Stockport, 1922–1932, being a supplement to the Advertiser centenary history 1822–1922, pp [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000012.pdf 7] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031302/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000012.pdf |date=2008-03-08 }}, [http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000023.pdf 18] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308031308/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/00000023.pdf |date=2008-03-08 }} (pdf).</ref> At that time, the Stockport Canal and the Reddish Iron Works made up two of the park's boundaries.

The separate civil parish was merged into Stockport parish on 1 April 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/stockport.html|title=Stockport Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=7 November 2024}}</ref> In 1931 the parish had a population of 15,463.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10376981/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Reddish CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=7 November 2024}}</ref> Reddish's position north of the Tame means it was [[Historic counties of England|historically]] part of [[Lancashire]].<ref name=VB1>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10220464 |title=Reddish UD Lancashire through time |work=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=Great Britain Historical GIS Project |access-date=2006-10-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726185137/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10220464 |archive-date=July 26, 2007 }}</ref> On the merger with Stockport in 1901 the boundary between Lancashire and Cheshire was moved to place it in Cheshire.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Green, Judith A.  |author2=Lander, S. J. |name-list-style=amp |chapter = Table of population|editor=Harris, B. E. |title=A History of the county of Chester |publisher=Oxford University Press for the Institute of Historical Research |location=Oxford |year=1979 |page=188 |isbn=0-19-722749-X|quote=In 1901 Reddish U.D. and part of Heaton Norris C.P. were transferred from Lancashire to Cheshire, and a further part of Heaton Norris was added in 1913}}</ref> In 1974 Stockport and several adjacient territories became a unified [[metropolitan borough]] in the newly created [[metropolitan county]] of [[Greater Manchester]].

==Parliamentary representation==
The parliamentary constituency of [[Denton and Reddish (UK Parliament constituency)|Denton and Reddish]] has been represented by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Andrew Gwynne]]  since [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]].  At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Gwynne got 51% of votes, and the second-placed [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate 25%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/history/0,,-869,00.html |title=Denton and Reddish |access-date=2006-10-04 |work=Guardian Unlimited Politics |publisher=Guardian Newspapers Limited |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829122020/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/history/0%2C%2C-869%2C00.html |archive-date=August 29, 2008 }}</ref>  The seat has been held by Labour since its creation in 1983.

===Council representation===
Reddish is divided into two wards ([[Reddish North (Stockport electoral ward)|Reddish North]] and [[Reddish South (Stockport electoral ward) 2023 onwards|Reddish South]]) for the purpose of electing councillors to [[Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council]]. Each ward returns three councillors.

As of May 2020, Roy Driver, David Wilson and Kate Butler (all [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]) represent Reddish North; Janet Mobbs, Jude Wells (both Labour) and Gary Lawson (The Green Party) represent Reddish South. The 2021 local election saw Reddish South's first independent candidate, Daniel Zieba, who came fourth, beating the Liberal Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0|title=Your Councillors by Ward|work = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council webpages|access-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{further|Geography of Greater Manchester}}
[[File:Reddish lamppost.jpg|thumb|right|A lamp standard near Houldsworth square. It pictures the herons commonly seen in [[Reddish Vale]], the railway viaduct, and the clock monument to [[William Houldsworth|Sir William Houldsworth]].]]
Reddish borders [[Heaton Chapel]] and [[Brinnington]] of [[Metropolitan Borough of Stockport|Stockport]]; [[Denton, Greater Manchester|Denton]] of [[Tameside]]; and [[Gorton]] and [[Levenshulme]] of the [[City of Manchester]].

Reddish is a densely populated area and is near to affluent parts of Greater Manchester, such as [[Heaton Chapel]] and [[Heaton Moor]]. Reddish continues to be an attraction to many people in the [[Greater Manchester]] area to work, live and relax.

===Climate===

{{More citations needed section|date=November 2019}}

Reddish has a mild climate. The main population is situated along a linear stretch parallel with Reddish Vale. Reddish Vale and the lower lying land in the valley is often cooler and effectively a 'frost pocket'. It is still mild comparatively speaking; temperatures on a clear night will likely be colder than the land at the top of valley floor or, roughly speaking, along Reddish Road/Gorton Road. The effects of a Fohn Wind are often present here, where the warm air rises from the valley floor, tempering the air at the top and thereby reducing overnight lows, more particularly in winter.

As a comparison, temperatures on any given clear night throughout the year can be between 1-3 degrees C warmer than the Manchester weather station, situated at the nearby Woodford Aerodrome, but on a cloudy night are almost equal. Daytime highs are similar and predominately almost exacting to Woodford, though fluctuations due to localised weather patterns can produce variations.

Again, on a cloudy day, the temperatures can be slightly cooler than Woodford. Dependent on the prevailing weather patterns and the wind direction, temperatures can be either lower by around 1 degree C and occasionally (more noticeably on a warm sunny day) and in the absence of early morning mist/fogs(common in '''Woodford and Reddish Vale''') can be up to 2 degrees C warmer than Woodford.

Due to its suburban nature and geographical location, close to the municipal centres of Stockport and Manchester, it benefits from an ''''[[urban heat island]]'''' effect.

Most of Reddish would be equivalent to Usda Zone 8B/9A in recent years and, with the influence of global warming, with typical annual minimum lows of around -5/-6C.

Summer high temperatures average around 20-21C and peak at around 28C in any given year, occasionally to around 32C.
Overnight lows average around 12-14C typically.

Winter high temperatures average around 6-9C. Winter overnight lows typically average around 3C.

Many tender plants can grow here and in the Stockport/Manchester area in general; the municipal planting consists of much New Zealand flora, such as Phormiums and Cordylines and Mediterranean plantings such as European Fan Palms and Canary Island date palms and Yuccas in residential gardens are commonplace.

'''Weather data''' specifically for '''South Reddish''' can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20110710210003/http://www.everyoneweb.com/palmsnexotics/

{{Geographic Location
|title     = '''Neighbouring districts and places.'''
|Northwest = [[Levenshulme]]
|North     = [[Gorton]]
|Northeast = [[Denton, Greater Manchester|Denton]]
|West      = [[Burnage]]
|Centre    = Reddish
|East      = [[Brinnington]]
|Southwest = [[Heaton Chapel]]
|South     = [[Heaton Norris]]
|Southeast = [[Stockport]] 
}}

==Demography==
{{further|Demographics of Greater Manchester}}
{{Historical populations
|title       = Population
|align       = left
|percentages = pagr
|footnote    = <ref name=Godfrey>{{cite book | author = Ordnance Survey |author2=Jill Cronin  | title = ''Old Ordnance Survey Maps: North Reddish and S W Denton'' | year = 1994 | publisher = Alan Godfrey Maps | location = Gateshead | isbn = 0-85054-654-0 | orig-year = 1904 }}
</ref><ref>Booker, p. 200.</ref><ref name=Wilson>{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=John Marius |title=Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales |year=1870–72 |title-link=Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales }} Cited at {{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=1312&st=reddish |title=Reddish Lancashire through time |work=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=Great Britain Historical GIS Project |access-date=2006-10-05 }}</ref>
|source      = 
| 1774| 302
| 1811| 456
| 1821| 574
| 1831| 860
| 1841| 1188
| 1851| 1218
| 1861| 1363
| 1901| 8668
| 1911| 14252
}}

White British is the predominant [[Ethnic groups of the United Kingdom|ethnicity]]. For the North Reddish ward, just under 97% of the population of 16,120 were identified as white (including [[Ireland|Irish]] and other white), 1.48% as [[mixed-race]], 0.73% as black, 0.6% as Chinese and 0.43% as Asian. For the South Reddish ward, just under 96% of the population of 13,935 were identified as White, 1.28% as mixed race, 1.28% as Asian, 0.86% as Black and 0.84% as Chinese.

The housing stock remains mainly terraced and semi-detached. For the North Reddish ward, the 6,914 housing units were divided into 8% detached house, 46% semi-detached, 36% terraced and 10% flats. For the South Reddish ward, the 6,598 housing units were divided into 5% detached house, 29% semi-detached, 44% terraced and 22% flats. There are no [[tower block]]s in Reddish,<ref>Cronin, p. 8.</ref> unlike several neighbouring areas.

Some housing built by factory owners for their employees remains. Greg Street, Birkdale Road and Broadstone Hall Road South have mid-19th century terraces built by the Gregs for the workers at their, now demolished, Victoria and Albert Mills.<ref>Ashmore pp 28, 84. Cronin, pp. 7, 41.</ref> Furnival Street was built in 1886 to house workers at the (demolished) Furnival's ironworks<ref>Cronin, pp. 7, 12.</ref> The largest collection is that built by Houldsworth near to his Reddish Mill, even though only Liverpool Street and Houldsworth Street remain after clearance in about 1974.<ref>Ashmore, pp.&nbsp;28–9</ref> The houses on Houldsworth Street, directly facing the mill, are grander and would have been for the higher placed workers.<ref>Cronin, pp.&nbsp;40–1. Hartwell ''et al.'', p. 582.</ref>

==Economy==
The shopping area around Houldsworth Square contains about eighty small shops<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/aboutstockport/visitors/shopping/districtcentres/distcentstratreviewjan04?a=5441 |title=Stockport District Centres ANNUAL UPDATE January 2004 |access-date=2006-10-25 |date=January 2004 |format=PDF |publisher=Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202535/http://www.stockport.gov.uk/aboutstockport/visitors/shopping/districtcentres/distcentstratreviewjan04?a=5441 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and has been chosen as one of eight areas to benefit from the Agora Project,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/aboutstockport/visitors/shopping/districtcentres/reddish/agoraproject?a=5441 |title=Agora Project |access-date=2006-10-25 |publisher=Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202628/http://www.stockport.gov.uk/aboutstockport/visitors/shopping/districtcentres/reddish/agoraproject?a=5441 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business.mmu.ac.uk/business/agora/ |title=AGORA |access-date=2006-10-25 |publisher=Manchester Metropolitan University Business School |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104161739/http://www.business.mmu.ac.uk/business/agora/ |archive-date=January 4, 2007 }}</ref> an [[European Union|EU]]-funded project to reverse the decline in local shopping areas.

Stockport MBC describes Reddish as one of the eight major district centres in the borough that offer "local history, modern convenient facilities and traditional high street retailing". The other seven are
[[Bramhall]], [[Cheadle, Greater Manchester|Cheadle]], [[Cheadle Hulme]], [[Edgeley]], [[Hazel Grove]], [[Marple, Greater Manchester|Marple]] and [[Romiley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/aboutstockport/visitors/shopping/districtcentres |title=District Centres |access-date=2007-02-08 |work=Stockport MBC web site |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021022456/http://www.stockport.gov.uk/aboutstockport/visitors/shopping/districtcentres/ |archive-date=2007-10-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Reddish is home to many tertiary services. Houldsworth Square, named after local [[Victorian era]] mill-owner [[Sir William Henry Houldsworth|William Houldsworth]]), has many shops and banks serving the local population. There are schools, such as [[Reddish Vale Technology College|Reddish Vale High School]] in South Reddish, which in 2006 became the only school in Greater Manchester to be announced by the Government as a 'Trust Pathfinder' school. In 2014, the school was judged by OFSTED as "an inadequate school" and was later put into special measures.

===Affluence===
There are several measures of overall wealth and poverty. The [[Human Poverty Index]] calculates a value based on longevity, literacy, unemployment and income. High values indicate increasing poverty. The [[Denton and Reddish (UK Parliament constituency)|parliamentary constituency]] scores 14.4, close to the UK average of 14.8. This compares well with neighbours [[Manchester Gorton (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester Gorton]] (20.5) and [[Stockport (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockport]] (14.2), but poorly with the other Stockport constituencies of [[Hazel Grove (UK Parliament constituency)|Hazel Grove]] (10.9) and [[Cheadle (UK Parliament constituency)|Cheadle]], placed third best in the UK with a value of 7.9.<ref>{{cite book |last=Seymore |first=Jane |title=Poverty in Plenty: A Human Development Report for the UK |year=2000 |publisher=Sterling Earthscan Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=978-1-85383-707-4 |pages=143, 147–8, 153, 156 |chapter=Appendix 4, Human Poverty Index for British Parliamentary Constituencies and OECD Countries}}</ref>

On a narrower level, the estimated household weekly income for the period April 2001 to March 2002 for North and South Reddish wards was £440 and £400 respectively. In comparison with nearby wards, this is higher than Gorton North, Gorton South and Brinnington (at £350, £330 and £340 respectively), slightly lower than Denton West (£480) and significantly lower than Heaton Moor and Heaton Mersey (£590).<ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ National Statistics Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |date=11 February 2003 }}, Model-Based Estimates of Income for Wards (April 01 to March 02), retrieved 14 February 2006.</ref> The averages for the North-West region and the UK were £489 and £554 respectively (2001–4).<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?ID=1150&Pos=1&ColRank=2&Rank=224 North West Selected Key Statistics], National Statistics, retrieved 14 February 2006.</ref>

==Landmarks==
Reddish is home to several listed buildings and structures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/business/regeneration/historicareasregeneration/Conservation1/listedbdgs?a=5441 |title=Listed buildings in stockport |access-date=2007-01-08 |date=2006-02-03 |format=PDF |work=Stockport MBC web pages |publisher=Stockport MBC }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> All the Grade I and Grade II* listings are part of Houldsworth's community.

[[File:Reddish Mill 1.jpg|thumb|[[Houldsworth Mill, Reddish|Reddish (Houldsworth) Mill]]]]*Grade I
:*[[St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish|St. Elisabeth's Church]] and wall at St. Elisabeth's Church (Grade II*)
* Grade II*
:*[[Houldsworth Mill, Reddish|Houldsworth Mill]], Houldsworth Street. Designed by Abraham Henthorn Stott. Opened 1860s, closed as a cotton mill 1958.
:*Houldsworth Working Men's Club, Leamington Road. Designed by Abraham Henthorn Stott. Opened 16 May 1874.
:*St Elisabeth's C of E Primary School (Houldsworth School), Liverpool Street. Wall at St. Elisabeth's C of E Primary School, Liverpool Street. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse. Consecrated 1883.
:*St. Elisabeth's Church Rectory and wall at St. Elisabeth's Church Rectory, Liverpool Street. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse.
* Grade II
:*Broadstone Mill House, Broadstone Road
:*Clock and drinking fountain, Houldsworth Square
:*North Reddish Infant & Junior School, Lewis Road
:*Tame Viaduct, [[Reddish Vale]]
:*40 Sandy Lane
:*Shoresfold Farmhouse and numbers 2 and 4 Marbury Road
* Locally listed
:*Bull's Head Building, formerly the Bull's Head pub, Gorton Road. Now occupied by Manchester Vacs, a retailer and repairer of vacuum cleaners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/in-your-area/landmark-former-pub-reddish-given-10986245 |title=Landmark former pub in Reddish is given new lease of life by vac firm |access-date=2016-05-20 |date=2016-03-14 |work=Manchester Evening News |publisher=Manchester Evening News }}</ref>

==Transport==

===Buses===
The B6167 was designated a [[Bus rapid transit|Quality Bus Corridor]] in 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.u-to-us.com/reddish/ |title=Reddish Corridor |access-date=2006-10-21 |date=14 October 2004 |work=u to us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619003723/http://www.u-to-us.com/reddish/ |archive-date=2006-06-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a number of modifications made. As of 2006, any improvements have not been quantified. The main bus route is the high frequency service 203 operated by [[Stagecoach Manchester]], which runs from Stockport via Reddish and Gorton to Manchester city centre. Less-frequent services run to [[Ashton-under-Lyne|Ashton]] via Gorton & [[Droylsden]]; Ashton via Denton; Manchester via [[Didsbury]] and [[Rusholme]]; [[Hazel Grove]]; and [[Wythenshawe]].<ref>Bus routes & timetables are at {{cite web| url = http://www.gmpte.com/| title = GMPTE - Public Transport for Greater Manchester, UK| access-date = 2006-10-20| publisher = GMPTE}} See: 7 (Stockport-Ashton); 178 (Reddish-Wythenshawe Hospital); 203 (Stockport - Manchester); 317 (Hazel Grove-Ashton).</ref>

===Canal===
The [[Ashton Canal]] and the Stockport Branch Canal were built to join Manchester and Stockport to the coal mines in Oldham and [[Ashton-under-Lyne]]. The branch was dependent on the main for its utility, and hence its planning, passing through parliament, and construction came after that of the main. The main opened in 1796 and the branch in 1796. The branch was just under five miles (8&nbsp;km) long; it left the Ashton Canal at Clayton, passed through Gorton & Reddish and terminated just over the boundary in Heaton Norris, adjacent to what was then the main [[Turnpike trust|turnpike]] between Manchester and Stockport. The [[Beat Bank Branch Canal]] was planned as a sub-branch and was intended to cross Reddish Vale to a colliery at Denton, but the scheme was abandoned by 1798.<ref>Arrowsmith, p. 161.</ref><ref name=Ashmoretransport>Ashmore, pp.&nbsp;58–70.</ref> By 1827, the canal was bringing coal to Stockport from as far as [[Norbury, Greater Manchester|Norbury]] and [[Poynton]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Butterworth |first=James |author-link = James Butterworth |title=A history and description of the towns and parishes of Stockport, Ashton-under-Lyne, Mottram-Long-den-Dale and Glossop |year=1827–1828|location=Manchester |pages=250, 282}}</ref>

The canal was purchased by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway in 1848.<ref name=Ashmoretransport/> Traffic declined and the canal was described as derelict as early as 1922.<ref name="Downham"/> Commercial traffic ceased in the 1930s;<ref name=Ashmoretransport/> the canal was declared officially closed in 1962 and filled in.<ref>Arrowsmith, p. 263.</ref>

===Roads===
The B6167 is the main road through Reddish; it allows access to the [[A57 road|A57]] for Manchester or the [[M60 motorway|M60]]/[[M67 motorway|M67]] junction at the north, and to Stockport and the M60 to the south. The road, currently designated Sandy Lane, Reddish Road, Gorton Road and Reddish Lane, was turnpiked by the Manchester, Denton and Stockport Trust following the [[Manchester and Hyde Turnpike Road Act 1818]] ([[58 Geo. 3]]. c. vi).<ref name=Ashmoretransport/><ref>Arrowsmith, p. 160</ref>

===Railway===
[[Reddish North railway station]] lies on the Hope Valley Line between [[Sheffield railway station|Sheffield]], [[New Mills Central railway station|New Mills Central]] and [[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester Piccadilly]]. Services are generally half-hourly on Mondays to Saturdays, hourly on Sundays.

[[Reddish South railway station]] only has a weekly return [[Parliamentary train|''parliamentary service'']] on Saturday mornings, running between Stockport and Stalybridge.

The history of the development of rail infrastructure in the UK is complicated, with lines and stations being built by a myriad of railway companies and joint ventures. Routes did not always follow the best path; they were created, altered or blocked through lobbying of parliament by interested parties intent on protecting their interests and preventing competition. Due to their strategic position between Manchester and London, Stockport and Reddish played their parts. Reddish played host to three railway lines, two railway stations and a traction depot. To improve readability, the names of the stations and lines are the latest (or last) used.

====Reddish South====
The [[West Coast Main Line]] running between [[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester Piccadilly]] and London via [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]] was opened in 1840-2 by the [[Manchester and Birmingham Railway]] (M&B), crossing the [[River Mersey|Mersey]] valley on a large viaduct at Stockport. In 1849, a line was opened from the north side of the viaduct via [[Reddish South railway station|Reddish South]] and [[Denton railway station|Denton stations]] to join the [[Woodhead Line]] (Piccadilly to Sheffield) of the [[Sheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Manchester Railway]] (SA&MR) at [[Guide Bridge railway station|Guide Bridge]]. A short branch went to Denton Colliery. The station at Reddish South contained a large goods yard and trade through the station played an important role, alongside the canal, in the industrialisation of the area.<ref name=Arrowsmithrail>Arrowsmith, pp.&nbsp;231–6</ref>

The M&B became part of the [[London and North Western Railway]] (LNWR) by 1849; the SA&MR became part of the [[Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway]] (MS&L) in 1847. At this stage, both companies used Piccadilly as their Manchester terminus. The LNWR held a monopoly on the important London route.<ref name=Arrowsmithrail/>

====Reddish North====
In 1862, the MS&L built a line from [[Hyde North railway station|Hyde Junction]] to near [[Compstall]] on the [[River Goyt]]. In 1865, this was extended over the river to [[New Mills Central railway station|New Mills]] and later joined the [[Midland Railway]]'s Derbyshire lines. By 1867, Midland trains were running from London to Piccadilly via this (considerably longer) route, providing competition to the LNWR. In 1875, the [[Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee]], a joint venture between the MS&L and the Midland, opened a new more direct route from near Romiley to Piccadilly giving Reddish its second station, [[Reddish North railway station|Reddish North]].<ref name=Arrowsmithrail/>

====Reddish Electric Depot====
The Midland was given notice to leave Piccadilly in the same year that Reddish North opened and construction of [[Manchester Central railway station]] started.<ref name=Arrowsmithrail/> The [[Fallowfield Loop railway line|Fallowfield Loop line]] was opened in 1892, to allow access from the Woodhead Line to Manchester Central and [[Trafford Park]], passing through a corner of Reddish. Stations were built just outside Reddish at [[Hyde Road railway station|Hyde Road]] and [[Levenshulme South railway station|Levenshulme South]].<ref name=Johnson>{{cite book | last = Johnson| first = E M | title = The Fallowfield line: an illustrated review of the Manchester Central Station line| year = 2000 | publisher = Foxline | location = Romiley | isbn = 1-870119-69-X | pages = 3–6}}</ref> In 1936, the MS&L's successor, the [[London and North Eastern Railway]], planned to electrify the Woodhead Line and the Fallowfield Loop line, primarily for shipping coal from [[Yorkshire]], but World War II interrupted progress.

After the war, the railways were nationalised as [[British Rail]] (BR). The electrification plan was put in place as the [[Manchester-Sheffield-Wath electric railway]], opening in 1954 using a 1500&nbsp;V&nbsp;DC system.

[[Reddish Electric Depot]]  was constructed to maintain the [[British Rail Class 76|Class&nbsp;76]] & [[British Rail Class 77|Class 77]] locomotives and [[British Rail Class 506|Class 506]] electric multiple units; the depot was also used to house the prestigious [[Midland Pullman]] in the early 1960s. The building was 400&nbsp;ft (120&nbsp;m) long. However, electrification was not continued beyond the depot to Trafford Park.<ref name=Johnson/><ref name=Suggitt>{{cite book | last = Suggitt| first = Gordon | title = Lost railways of Merseyside and Greater Manchester | year = 2004| publisher = Countryside Books | location = Newbury | isbn = 1-85306-869-1 |page = 134 }}</ref> Shortly afterwards, BR adopted the [[25 kV AC|25&nbsp;kV&nbsp;AC]] system for electrification, with the effect that the Woodhead Line "passed very quickly from ultra-modern to obsolescent".<ref name=JRULM>{{cite book | last = Hulme| first = Charles| title = Rails of Manchester: a short history of the city's rail network | year = 1991| publisher = John Rylands University Library of Manchester | location = Manchester | isbn = 0-86373-105-8 |page = 24 }}</ref>

Local passenger services stopped using the Fallowfield Loop line in 1958, although through trains continued until 1969.<ref name=Johnson/><ref name=Suggitt/> The [[Beeching Report]] of 1963 recommended that the Woodhead Line be retained and the Hope Valley line, serving Reddish North station, to be closed; in 1966, BR controversially implemented the reverse.<ref name=JRULM/>

The depot continued to service locomotives and electric multiple units until the Woodhead Line was closed in 1981. Despite rumours that the depot would be used to service the [[Manchester Metrolink]], the depot fully closed in 1983; it was quickly vandalised and has since been demolished. The Fallowfield Loop line closed completely in 1988 and the track was taken up.<ref name=Johnson/><ref>{{cite book |last= Johnson|first=E M |title=Woodhead: Manchester London Road, Gorton, Guide Bridge, Glossop and the Longdendale Valley Pt. 1 |year=1997 |publisher=Foxline |location=Romiley |isbn=1-870119-43-6|page= 37 }}</ref> The site has since been redeveloped as a housing estate.

==Education==
Reddish's only [[Secondary education#England, Wales and Northern Ireland|secondary school]] is [[Reddish Vale High School]]. Sited on the edge of the [[Green belt (UK)|green belt]], the school has its own farm and is characterised by [[Office for Standards in Education|OFSTED]] as "an inadequate school" as of 2014. It teaches about 1,400 pupils from the ages of 11 to 16, but does not have a [[sixth form]].<ref name=OFSTED2004>{{cite book |last=Woodward |first=Mark |title=Inspection Report: Reddish Vale Technology College |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/106/106134.pdf |access-date=2006-10-11 |year=2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051030094104/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/106/106134.pdf |archive-date=2005-10-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentView.aspx?EstablishmentID=6128 |title=Department for Education and Skills / Details for Reddish Vale Technology College |access-date=2007-05-25 |work=EduBase |publisher=Crown copyright |year=1995–2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031028/http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentView.aspx?EstablishmentID=6128 |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://farm.reddish.stockport.sch.uk |title=Reddish Vale Farm |access-date=2007-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708065044/http://farm.reddish.stockport.sch.uk/ |archive-date=2012-07-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reddish.stockport.sch.uk/ |title=Reddish Vale Technology College, Reddish, Stockport, Specialist School |access-date=2007-05-25 |publisher=RVTC |year=1998–2007 }}</ref>

As of 2007, Reddish has ten nursery and primary schools, including some church schools ([[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and [[Church of England]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/educationservices/educationalinstitutions/primaryschools/?a=5441 |title=Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council / Primary Schools |access-date=2007-05-25 |work=SMBC webpages |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311122430/http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/educationservices/educationalinstitutions/primaryschools/?a=5441 |archive-date=2007-03-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edubase.gov.uk |title=Department for Education and Skills / Welcome to EduBase |access-date=2007-05-25 |work=EduBase |publisher=Crown copyright |year=1995–2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928233133/http://www.edubase.gov.uk/ |archive-date=2008-09-28 }}</ref> It has been proposed to close three of these and build a new school. The site chosen was formerly a clay pit for a brickworks and later a landfill site. Much of the landfill took place before modern controls and there is local concern about the suitability of the site.<ref>{{cite hansard |title=Primary Schools (Denton and Reddish) |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm051101/debtext/51101-26.htm |house=[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] |date=1 November 2005 |column_start=801 |column_end=804 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901154558/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm051101/debtext/51101-26.htm |archive-date=September 1, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=£5million new Reddish school moves step closer |url=http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/206/206958_5million_new_reddish_school_moves_step_closer.html |work=Stockport Express |publisher=Guardian Media Group |date=7 December 2005 |access-date=2007-05-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Poisoned school site is a 'minefield' |url=http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/213/213598_poisoned_school_site_is_a_minefield.html |work=Stockport Express |publisher=Guardian Media Group |date=31 May 2006 |access-date=2007-05-25 }}</ref>

==Community facilities==
Of the 1907 facilities provided by Stockport, only the library is still open. The baths closed in 2005; there is a campaign to reopen them,<ref name=reddishbaths>{{cite web |url=http://www.reddishbaths.org.uk |title=Friends of Reddish Baths |access-date=2006-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102175210/http://www.reddishbaths.org.uk/ |archive-date=2007-01-02 }}</ref> but it does not have the backing of the council.<ref name=SE3>{{cite news | title = Councillors pull plug on residents' bath takeover | url = http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/211/211047_councillors_pull_plug_on_residents_bath_takeover.html | work = Stockport Express | publisher = Guardian Media Group | date = 30 March 2006 | access-date = 2006-11-10}}</ref> The ground floor of the fire station is used as a community centre. The mortuary closed in the 1980s.<ref name=Cronin/>

==Religion==
Reddish falls in the [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|Diocese of Manchester]] for the [[Church of England]], and the [[Diocese of Salford]] for the [[Roman Catholic Church]].

* St Agnes, Gorton Road;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.manchester.anglican.org/churches_detail.asp?ID=158 | title = Church Details - Diocese of Manchester Web Site | access-date = 2006-10-14 | work = The Diocese of Manchester web site | publisher = The Diocese of Manchester | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070307013515/http://www.manchester.anglican.org/churches_detail.asp?ID=158 | archive-date = 2007-03-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northreddish.org.uk/ |title=St Agnes Church, North Reddish - An Inclusive Church |access-date=2006-10-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929034408/http://www.northreddish.org.uk/ |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref> (Church of England). 1908, brick, some good glass.<ref>Hartwell ''et al.'', p. 372.</ref>
* Bethel Christian Centre/Reddish Community Church/Bethel Apostolic Church, Sykes Street; ([[Apostolic Church (1916 denomination)|Apostolic Church]]).
* Christ Church, Lillian Grove;<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://freespace.virgin.net/methstock.members/Christchurch/Church/index.htm 
 |title=Welcome to Christ Church 
 |access-date=2006-10-14 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527090619/http://freespace.virgin.net/methstock.members/Christchurch/Church/index.htm 
 |archive-date=2006-05-27 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref> ([[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodist]]/[[United Reformed Church]]).
* [[St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish|St Elisabeth]], Lemington Road;<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.manchester.anglican.org/churches_detail.asp?ID=159| title = Church Details - Diocese of Manchester Web Site| access-date = 2006-10-14| work = The Diocese of Manchester web site| publisher = The Diocese of Manchester| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070307013525/http://www.manchester.anglican.org/churches_detail.asp?ID=159| archive-date = 2007-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.saintelisabeths.org/| title = St Elisabeth's| access-date = 2006-10-14| archive-date = 6 August 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160806054128/http://www.saintelisabeths.org/| url-status = dead}}</ref> ([[Anglo-Catholic]] - Church of England); 1883 [[Gothic Revival architecture|Victorian Gothic]] building by [[Alfred Waterhouse]]. Paid for by [[Sir William Henry Houldsworth|Houldsworth]]
* Holy Family, Thornley Lane North;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/parishes/masstimes.html#REDDISHDENTON |title=Parish details (Mass times and Websites) |access-date=2006-10-14 |year=2006 |work=Salford Diocese pages |publisher=Salford Diocese |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908014441/http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/parishes/masstimes.html#REDDISHDENTON |archive-date=2006-09-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Roman Catholic).
* St Joseph, Gorton Road<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/parishes/masstimes.html#STOCKPORT |title=Parish details (Mass times and Websites) |access-date=2006-10-14 |year=2006 |work=Salford Diocese pages |publisher=Salford Diocese |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908014441/http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/parishes/masstimes.html#STOCKPORT |archive-date=2006-09-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Roman Catholic).
* St Mary, Reddish Road;<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.manchester.anglican.org/churches_detail.asp?ID=153| title = Church Details - Diocese of Manchester Web Site| access-date = 2006-10-14| work = The Diocese of Manchester web site| publisher = The Diocese of Manchester| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070307013435/http://www.manchester.anglican.org/churches_detail.asp?ID=153| archive-date = 2007-03-07}}</ref> (Church of England). Reddish's first church, built 1862-4<ref name=Wilson/><ref>{{cite book |last = Pevsner | first = Nikolaus | author-link = Nikolaus Pevsner |author2=Edward Hubbard  | title = The Buildings of England: South Lancashire|year = 1969 | publisher = Penguin | location = London |page = 372| isbn = 0-14-071036-1 }}</ref> at a cost of £2500 in the "decorated English style".<ref name=Wilson/> 
* Reddish Christian Fellowship, Broadstone Road;<ref>{{cite web| url = http://users.churchserve.com/uk/rcfell/index.htm| title = Welcome to Reddish Christian Fellowship| access-date = 2006-10-13| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://archive.today/20070502125613/http://users.churchserve.com/uk/rcfell/index.htm| archive-date = 2007-05-02}}</ref> sited in an end-of-terrace house.
* Stockport Seventh-day Adventist Church, Coronation Street;<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.adventistdirectory.org/view_Entity.asp?EntityID=29742| title = Stockport - Adventist Organizational Directory| access-date = 2006-10-13| date = 12 January 2003| work = Archives&Statistics | publisher = General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists }}</ref> ([[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]); modern building.
<gallery>
File:St Elisabeths.JPG|St Elisabeth's Church. The shadow across the roof is cast by the chimney from the nearby Reddish (Houldsworth) Mill.
File:St Josephs External View.jpg|St Joseph's Church
File:St Josephs Interior.jpg|St Joseph's Church interior
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[Norman Foster (architect)|Norman Foster]] was born in Reddish in 1935 and went on to study architecture at the [[University of Manchester]]. Foster is one of the leading architects in the world and is noted for buildings including [[30 St Mary Axe]], the new [[Wembley Stadium]], [[Hearst Tower (New York City)|Hearst Tower]], [[Torre Caja Madrid]] and [[Deutsche Bank Place]]. His work under-construction includes [[APIIC Tower]], [[Hermitage Plaza]], the new [[Camp Nou]] stadium, home of [[FC Barcelona]] and [[200 Greenwich Street]], the second tower of the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] in [[Lower Manhattan]].
*[[Paul Morley]], music journalist, critic and author of The North (And Almost Everything In It) grew up in Reddish.
* [[Origin of AIDS#1959: David Carr|David Carr]], incorrectly believed (due to a mix-up in samples) to have been the first human to contract [[AIDS]], was born in Reddish.
* [[Clifford Poole]], who worked as a music educator and composer in [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], was born in Reddish.<ref name=ce>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/clifford-poole-emc "Clifford Poole"]. ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'', by Betty Nygaard King, July 16, 2007</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Greater Manchester}}
*[[Listed buildings in Stockport]]

==References==
===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last=Astle |first=William |title=Stockport Advertiser Centenary History of Stockport |url=http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle's%20History%20of%20Stockport/default.asp |access-date=2007-09-21 |publisher=The Stockport Advertiser |location=Stockport |year=1922 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121181542/http://interactive.stockport.gov.uk/Heritage/Astle%27s%20History%20of%20Stockport/default.asp |archive-date=November 21, 2008 }}
* {{cite book | last = Arrowsmith | first = Peter | title = Stockport: a History | year = 1997 | publisher = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council | location = Stockport | isbn = 0-905164-99-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Ashmore|first=Owen|title=The Industrial Archaeology of Stockport| year=1975 |publisher=University of Manchester |location= Manchester| isbn=0-902637-17-7 }}
* {{cite book | last = Booker | first = John | title = A history of the ancient chapels of Didsbury and Chorlton | url = https://archive.org/details/ahistoryancient01bookgoog | year = 1857 | publisher = Chetham }}
<!-- these two are online, so leave some of the fields in for now -->
* {{cite book | last = Cronin | first = Jill | title = Images of England: Reddish | year = 2000 | publisher = Tempus Publishing | location = Stroud | isbn = 0-7524-1878-5 }}
* {{cite book | last = Downham | first = W A | editor = Astle, William | title = Stockport Advertiser Centenary History of Stockport | publisher = The Stockport Advertiser | location = Stockport | chapter = Chapter XIII | year = 1922 }}
* {{cite book | last = Farrer | first = William |author2=Brownbill, John  | title = The Victoria history of the county of Lancaster. - Lancashire. Vol.4 | orig-year = 1911 | url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.asp?pubid=288 | year = 2003–2006 | publisher = University of London & History of Parliament Trust }}
* {{cite book | last = Hartwell | first = Clare |author2=Matthew Hyde |author3=Nikolaus Pevsner  | title = Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East | year = 2004 | publisher = Yale University Press | location = New Haven and London | isbn = 0-300-10583-5 }}

===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Reddish}}
* [http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/councildemoc/council/decisionmaking/areacommittees/heatonsandreddishareacommittee?a=5441 Heatons and Reddish Area Committee at Stockport MBC]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Areas of Stockport}}
{{Greater Manchester}}

[[Category:Areas of Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport]]