HANDFORTH      

Handforth is situated approximately 12 miles due south of Manchester on the A34 in the beautiful county of CHESHIRE. Handforth, originally Handforth-cum-Bosden, was for many years in the parish of Cheadle with which it has historical links. The origin of the name is usually ascribed to 'Hanna's Ford' and goes back to Saxon times when such a crossing was on the nearby River Dean. The first mention of Handforth was in a charter which is dated between 1233 and 1236. During the crusades, Handforth acquired its own Coat of Arms, which displays the Honford Star. Henry de Honford painted a silver star on his black shield after seeing a brilliant star fall from the sky during a night attack on the Saracens.

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Photographs taken from 'Portrait of Wilmslow, Alderley Edge & Handforth' by Ron Lee

Handforth parish church is St. Chad's, named after the seventeen century monk who arrived in the area to preach Christianity. The present St. Chad's was built in 1899 to replace the earlier church built in 1837. St Chad's has recently celebrated it's centenary. The other churches in the village are St. Mary's the Methodist church erected in 1872 and St. Benedict's RC church built in 1968/69. Handforth has a total of two Hotels and six Pubs, two of the pubs dating back to the early eighteenth century, The Greyhound (sadly no longer in existence) and The Wagon and Horses, both were regular stopping off places for horse drawn coaches when the first 'turnpike' main road to the south opened in 1768. The Bulls Head, now a carvery, is mentioned in records of 1828. From 1862 there were two major industries in the area, one Paper Manufacturing and the other Calico Printing. Handforth's development really took-off with the coming of the railway in 1842. The River Dean runs close by Handforth and empties into the River Bollin at Twinnies Bridge in the Carrs at Wilmslow. The joint confluence then continues across the Cheshire plain to join the River Mersey near Warrington . The valleys of the rivers Bollin and Dean provide pleasant walks where an abundance of bird life can be seen and heard by the attentive observer.

Probably the oldest building in Handforth is Handforth Hall, built by Sir Urian Brereton in 1562. Sir Urian Brereton died at Handforth Hall on March 19th 1577 and is buried in his chapel in Cheadle Church. The present Hall followed the original, believed to date back to the fourteenth century. It is a beautiful black and white timbered building which has been extensively restored in recent years.  

The chief feature of the Hall is it's grand staircase. The staircase contains a secret hiding hole and may well have been used for valuables. Although extending back for some distance, it is unlikely that it was used as a 'Priest's Hole' as the Brereton family was noted for it's Puritanical leanings during the 17th century. However, there is a possibility that Sir Urian's grandson, Father Ambrose Barlow, now canonized a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church, may have used it when visiting the Hall with his mother. It is on record that Saint Ambrose Barlow did on occasions use his mother's maiden name of Brereton in order to deceive the Royal Pursuivants. The Hall is now occupied as a private residence. 

                                            There is an interesting inscription above the Hall's doorway:-                                     

                    "This haulle was buylded in the yeare of our Lord God MCCCCCLXII                   

by Urban Brereton knight whom married Margaret daughter

and heyre of Wyllam Handforth of Handforthe esquyer

and had issue VI sons and II daughters"

One of the oldest families in the area, mentioned in historical records, is the Brooke family. There are numerous memorials to the Brooke family to be found in St. Chad's Parish church. The family arms surmounted by a crest of a Badger (or Brock) can be seen on many of these memorials. A plaque displaying this crest can also be found on the recently restored Brooke Farm and it is likely that this name was punned from the word 'Brock'.

The Handforth of modern times has received an influx of Manchester overspill and the Spath Lane estate was built for this purpose in 1968. The population of Handforth at this time was some 7000. Several new estates have developed over the years as Handforth has become a dormitory town for such business centres as Manchester and Stockport. The Estate has recently been purchased by the Collingwood Housing Association and as a result all of the properties are benefiting from an upgrade with new UPVC windows and doors together with upgraded central heating systems. The village has benefited from the Paddock Shopping Centre which has over the last two or three years undergone a complete refurbishment since being purchased by The Emerson Group. After many years in decline this popular shopping precinct is once again becoming the hub of village life. The nearby Handforth Dean shopping centre has been a difficult challenge for many of the village shops, situated as it is on the A34 Handforth and Wilmslow By Pass. This By Pass is soon to be extended to continue from it's present end on the south side of Wilmslow to beyond the village of Alderley Edge. (The work on this by pass has now been commenced (April 2009).

Take a look, if you have time, at some pictures of the village  Please be patient they will be worth waiting for! I change these pictures from time to time to reflect changes in the village and also to reflect the changing seasons.

Handforth is fortunate to be situated in the beautiful Cheshire countryside and is within easy reach of several interesting and picturesque locations. 

Take a quick look at some places that you might wish to visit Out and About around Handforth.

Page updated:- 16/06/2010