Partington

Partington
St Mary's Church, a Grade II listed building
Partington  Partington shown within Greater Manchester
Population	7,327  (2001 Census)
– density	5,348/sq mi (2,065/km^2)
OS grid reference	SJ715915
Civil parish	Partington
Metropolitan borough	Trafford
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANCHESTER
Postcode district	M31
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Stretford and Urmston
List of places UK England Greater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°25′N 2°26′W / 53.42°N 2.43°W

Partington is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England, about ten miles (16 km) to the south-west of Manchester city centre.^[1] Historically part of Cheshire, it lies on the southern bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, opposite Cadishead on the northern bank. It has a population of 7,327.^[2]

A paper mill built in Partington more than 250 years ago was the first factory in Trafford. The completion of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 transformed Partington into a major coal-exporting port and attracted a range of other industries. Until 2007 Shell Chemicals UK operated a major petrochemicals manufacturing complex in Carrington, Partington's closest neighbour, to the east.^[3] The gas storage facility in the north-eastern corner of the town was once a gasworks and another significant employer.

Shortly after the Second World War, local authorities made an effort to rehouse people away from Victorian slums in inner-city Manchester. An area of Partington extended as an overspill estate is now one of the most deprived parts of the Greater Manchester conurbation.^[4] The Cheshire Lines Committee opened a railway line through the town in 1873, but it closed in 1964.

Partington and Carrington Youth Partnership was established to provide the town's youth with activities and the town has seen investment in a new youth centre. Broadoak School, the only secondary school in the town, is used by Trafford College to provide further education.

History

Partington, first recorded in 1260,^[5] was in the medieval and post-medieval parish of Bowdon.^[6] The name derives from Old English: the first element may be a personal name such as Pearta or Pærta, or part "land divided up into partitions" followed by inga, meaning "people of"; the suffix tun means "farmstead".^[7] The village consisted of dispersed farmsteads, with no nucleated centre. It was surrounded by wetlands on all sides, reducing the amount of land available for agriculture.^[8] According to the hearth tax returns of 1664, Partington had a population of 99.^[9]

Erlam Farm is a Grade II listed building.

In 1755 a paper mill on the River Mersey was opened in Partington, the first factory to be established in present-day Trafford.^[10] Erlam Farmhouse dates from the late 18th century and is a Grade II listed building.^[11] Also protected as a Grade II listed building are the stocks on the village green. Its stone pillars are from the 18th century, although the wooden restraints were replaced in the 20th century.^[12]

The completion of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 transformed Partington into a major coal-exporting port. The canal was widened to 250 feet (76 m) for three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) to allow for the construction of a coaling basin, equipped with four hydraulic coal hoists. Partington was the nearest port to the Lancashire Coalfields, and brought the south Yorkshire collieries 30 miles (48 km) closer to the sea. Between 1898–1911, exports of coal accounted for 53.4 per cent of the total export tonnage carried by the ship canal. The coal trade in turn resulted in Partington becoming a major railway depot, and attracted a range of other industries, including the Partington Steel & Iron Company, which was encouraged by the availability of coal to construct a steelworks. The works became a part of the Lancashire Steel Corporation in 1930, and dominated the economy of nearby Irlam until their closure in 1976.^[13] After the Second World War, Partington was extended as an overspill estate.^[14]

Governance

The civil parish of Partington was created in 1894, under the Local Government Act 1894 and has its own town council.^[15][16] Partington became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in 1974 upon the borough's creation, but was previously in Bucklow Rural District. The town is part of the Bucklow St Martin electoral ward;^[17] Partington Parish Council is made up of local residents and ward councilors.

Partington also belongs to the Stretford and Urmston constituency and is part of the North West England constituency of the European Parliament. Since its creation in 1997 the constituency's Member of Parliament has been a member of the Labour Party, Kate Green being the present incumbent.^[18]

Geography

At 53°25′12″N 2°25′48″W / 53.42000°N 2.43000°W (53.42, -2.43), Partington lies west of Sale, north-east of the civil parish of Warburton, and is on Trafford's northern border with the City of Salford. It is nine miles (14 km) south-west of Manchester city centre. Sinderland Brook runs east–west through the area, and the town is about 20 m (66 ft) above sea level on generally flat ground.^[19]

Partington's local drift geology is a mixture of alluvial deposits, fluvio-glacial gravel, and peat deposited about 10,000 years ago, during the last ice age.^[20] The bedrock is Keuper sandstone in the south and Bunter sandstone in the north.^[21] The town's climate is generally temperate, like the rest of Greater Manchester. The mean highest and lowest temperatures (13.2 °C (55.8 °F) and 6.4 °C (43.5 °F)) are slightly above the national average, while the annual rainfall (806.6 millimetres (31.76 in)) and average hours of sunshine (1394.5 hours) are respectively above and below the national averages.^[22][23]

Demography

Partington compared
2001 UK census	Partington[24]	Trafford[25]	England
Total population	7,723	205,357	49,138,831
White	96.9%	89.7%	90.9%
Asian	0.9%	4.6%	4.6%
Black	0.6%	0.7%	2.3%

According to the Office for National Statistics, at the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001, Partington had a population of 7,723. The 2001 population density was 5,348 inhabitants per square mile (2,065/km²), with a 100 to 93.1 female-to-male ratio.^[26] Of those over 16 years old, 34.7% were single (never married), 34.9% married, and 10.5% divorced.^[27] Partington's 3,354 households included 33.5% one-person, 28.7% married couples living together, 8.8% were co-habiting couples, and 16.3% single parents with their children.^[28] Of those aged 16–74, 38.9% had no academic qualifications, significantly higher than the averages of Trafford (24.7%) and England (28.9%).^[25][29] It has been described as one of the most deprived places in the Greater Manchester conurbation.^[30]

As of the 2001 UK census, 76.8% of Partington's residents reported themselves as being Christian, 0.8% Muslim, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Jewish, and 0.1% Sikh. The census recorded 14.7% as having no religion, 0.1% had an alternative religion and 7.1% did not state their religion.^[31]

Economy

Partington shopping centre

The main shopping area of Partington is on Central Road, in the centre of town. Partington also has a traditional market on Smithy Lane.^[32]

Spanish company, SAICA, bought a lease on a disused wharfside site by the Manchester Ship Canal in 2009 to recycle paper into packaging. The plant is the most "advanced, fully integrated facility in the UK". It uses water recycled from the ship canal and its heat and power plant supplies surplus power to the national grid.^[33] The plant cost £300 million and production started in January 2012.^[34]

Partington compared
2001 UK Census	Partington[35]	Trafford[36]	England
Population of working age	5,553	151,445	35,532,091
Full-time employment	40.2%	43.4%	40.8%
Part-time employment	12.1%	11.9%	11.8%
Self employed	3.9%	8.0%	8.3%
Unemployed	3.6%	2.7%	3.3%
Retired	13.0%	13.9%	13.5%

According to the 2001 UK census, the industry of employment of residents aged 16–74 was 19.3% retail and wholesale, 15.0% manufacturing, 14.7% property and business services, 10.8% health and social work, 9.1% transport and communications, 7.2% construction, 5.2% education, 4.8% hotels and restaurants, 3.8% finance, 3.1% public administration, 1.3% agriculture, 0.7% energy and water supply, 0.1% mining, and 4.9% other. Compared with national figures, Partington had a relatively high percentage of residents working in transport and communications, and a relatively low percentage working in public administration.^[37] The census recorded the economic activity of residents aged 16–74, 1.8% students were with jobs, 3.4% students without jobs, 7.7% looking after home or family, 10.6% permanently sick or disabled, and 3.8% economically inactive for other reasons.^[35] The proportion of those who were permanently sick or disabled in Partington was above the Trafford and England average (5.4% and 6.5% respectively).^[36]

Education

Trafford maintains a selective education system assessed by the Eleven Plus exam. There are three primary schools and one secondary school in Partington. The oldest school still standing in the town was opened in 1958 and used to be called Partington County Primary School. There is one other state primary schools at Forest Gate with Academy status. There is also a Roman Catholic school – Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School on Lock Lane. Broadoak School is a secondary school with academy status for pupils aged 11 to 16.^[38]

Transport

The overgrown remains of Partington railway station, which closed in 1964

Partington's main road is the A6144 between Lymm and the Brooklands area of Sale. The Manchester Ship Canal also carries some industrial traffic. The nearest road crossing over the canal is at Warburton Bridge, one of the few remaining pre-motorway toll bridges in the UK,^[39] and the only one in Greater Manchester.^[40] The Department for Transport describes Partington as "geographically isolated with road access restricted by the proximity of the Manchester Ship Canal and the nearby petrochemical works [in Carrington]" and notes that there are low levels of car ownership.^[41] The 255 operates every 30 minutes during the day, and hourly after 1955 into Manchester Piccadilly 7 days a week

The town was served by a railway station to the north of the town, the Cheshire Lines Committee Glazebrook to Stockport Tiviot Dale Line. The station was opened in 1873, eight years after the line opened, and was in use until 30 November 1964.^[42][43] A grant of £312,000 was made by the government to set up Partington Cooperative Transport (PACT) with the purpose of improving public transport in the town.^[41]

Amenities

The Fuse Venue

Partington skate park

Founded in 2003 as part of a government project for 11- to 19-year-olds, Partington and Carrington Youth Partnership (PCYP) has since expanded its scope and provides facilities for youths up to the age of 25. It runs a 5-a-side football league and Screamin' Wheels Skate Park.^[44][45] In 2009 it was announced that a £5 million youth centre would be built in the town. Based on designs by pupils from Broadoak Secondary School, the centre will provide facilities for workshops in dance, film-making, and art.^[46] Headmaster of the school, Andy Griffin, said "It's a massive thing for Partington as this will help kick-start regeneration of the town. I think it will also help bring people to Partington rather than leaving".^[47]

Providing opportunities for sport, a £2 million sports complex was opened next to Broadoak Secondary School in 2008.^[46] It features a pool, a sports hall, outdoor pitches and grass courts, and facilities for other activities.^[48] The town is served by an Anglican church, St Mary's, a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, a Methodist chapel, and a Baptist church called the People's Church. St Mary's Church is a Grade II listed building,^[49] and Our Lady of Lourdes' RC Church and parish was founded in 1957.^[50] Partington is in the Catholic Dioceses of Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury^[51] and the Anglican Diocese of Chester.^[52]

References

Notes

1. "Greater Manchester Gazetteer". Greater Manchester County Record Office. Places names – O to R. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
2. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Trafford Retrieved 2009-08-22
3. "Royal Dutch Shell plc Annual Report and Form 20-F 2007". Royal Dutch Shell. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
4. Indices of Deprivation 2015 - Department for Communities and Local Government
5. Nevell (1997), p. 32.
6. Nevell (1997), p. 27.
7. Nevell (1997), p. 24.
8. Nevell (1997), p. 45
9. Nevell (1997), p. 59.
10. Nevell (1997), p. 89.
11. "Erlam Farmhouse, Bailey Lane". English Heritage. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
12. "Stocks, Partington". English Heritage. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
13. Farnie (1980), p. 98.
14. Nicholas Timmins (26 June 1995). "Two Labour councils set to relinquish housing". The Independent. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
15. "Partington Town Council". Trafford MBC. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
16. Nevell (1997), p. 95.
17. "Bucklow St Martin ward profile" (PDF). Trafford MBC. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
18. "Stretford and Urmston". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
19. Nevell (1997), p. 26.
20. Nevell (1997), p. 1.
21. Nevell (1997), p. 3.
22. "Manchester Airport 1971–2000 weather averages". Met Office. 2001. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
23. Met Office (2007). "Annual England weather averages". Met Office. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
24. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS06 Ethnic group . Retrieved 19 April 2009.
25. "Trafford Metropolitan Borough key statistics". Statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
26. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS01 Usual resident population . Retrieved 19 April 2009.
27. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS04 Marital status . Retrieved 19 April 2009.
28. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS20 Household composition . Retrieved 19 April 2009.
29. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS13 Qualifications and students . Retrieved 19 April 2009.
30. "Western Gateway/Trafford UDP". Salford City Council. 8 January 2002. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
31. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS07 Religion . Retrieved 19 April 2009.
32. "Local Markets". Trafford.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
33. "SAICA Recycled Paper Plant, United Kingdom". Packaging Gateway.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
34. "SAICA kicks off production at £300m paper mill". Packaging News. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
35. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS09a Economic activity - all people . Retrieved 18 April 2009.
36. "Trafford Local Authority economic activity". Statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
37. "Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban area results by population size of urban area". ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. 22 July 2004. KS11a Industry of employment - all people . Retrieved 18 August 2009.
38. http://broadoakschool.thedeantrust.co.uk/
39. Warburton (1970)
40. Nicholls (2004), p. 90.
41. "Get on Board: An agenda for improving personal security – Case studies; 12. Community Transport the Nightlink Service, Manchester Mini-Bus Agency". Department for Transport. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
42. Nevell (1997), p. 100.
43. "Station Name: PARTINGTON (2nd site)". Disused Stations Site Record. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
44. "Partington & Carrington Youth Partnership: History". Partington & Carrington Youth Partnership. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
45. "Activities for children over the summer school holidays". Trafford.gov.uk. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
46. "£5m youth club plan". Manchester Evening News. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
47. "New £5m youth centre for Partington". Messengernewspapers.co.uk. 15 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
48. "Partington". Traffordleisure.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
49. "Planning and building control: listed buildings" (PDF). Trafford MBC. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
50. "Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Partington, parish history". Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Partington. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
51. "Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury". Dioceseofshrewsbury.org. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
52. "Churches in the Diocese of Chester". Chester.anglican.org. Retrieved 22 April 2009.

Bibliography

• Farnie, D. A. (1980). The Manchester Ship Canal and the rise of the Port of Manchester. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-0795-X.
• Nevell, Mike (1997). The Archaeology of Trafford. Trafford Metropolitan Borough with University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. ISBN 1-870695-25-9.
• Nicholls, Robert (2004). Curiosities of Greater Manchester. Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3661-4.
• Warburton, Norman (1970). Warburton: The Village and the Family. Research Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7050-0007-9.

External links

• Partington general information and history