Newton Heath

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Lore & Background

Newton Chapel, later becoming the Parish Church of All Saints Newton Heath began as early as 1556. It was built of wattle and daub; the first of some 8 Chapels of Ease under the Manchester Collegiate Church. Newton Chapel stood on a wild heath, on the highest ground and on the site of the ancient Roman Road from Chester to Manchester, and on to York. The chapel was rebuilt in 1598 and again in 1814. The present neo-classical gothic building of 1814 was built to a design by William Atkinson. The building was extended by a chancel in 1879. French Huguenots settled in the area in the 16th century and brought cotton and linen weaving and bleaching skills. The Rochdale Canal made movement of raw materials and finished products a practical reality. Later came other industries, including a soap works, Elijah Dixon's match manufacturing factory, and rope works as well as engineering and glass making works.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Newton Heath is one of resilience forged in soot and steel. The district itself was bounded by brooks on all four sides—the River Medlock, Moston Brook, Newton Brook, and Shooters Brook—enclosing a community that shifted from agriculture to heavy industry. It was within this environment that the football club took root. Frederick Attock led the formation of the team in 1878, outfitting them in green and gold jerseys that reflected their railway origins. For over two decades, the Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Football Club competed fiercely, securing a place in the First Division in 1892. However, the club's location shifted in 1893 when it moved to Bank Street in Clayton. The identity of the team evolved further in 1902, when the name was officially changed to Manchester United Football Club. This transition marked the end of the Newton Heath era but preserved the spirit of the railway workers who founded the side, ensuring their legacy continued under a new banner while retaining the competitive success established during those early years.

Reader's Guide

Newton Heath was home to famous companies such as Mather & Platt, who established a vast engineering works producing pumps, electrical machinery and fire sprinkler systems. The aircraft manufacturer Avro was also based in Newton Heath before relocating. Another local engineering company was Heenan & Froude, who designed and manufactured the structural steelwork for Blackpool Tower. P. Frankenstein and Sons Ltd. had their head offices at Victoria Rubber Works. The Wilson's & Co brewery on Monsall Road was founded in 1834. The parish was the birthplace of the Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Football Club which was established in 1878 and later became Manchester United. The team played on a pitch at North Road, and were initially outfitted in green and gold jerseys. By 1892, they had been admitted to the Football League. The club remained in the area until 1893, when it moved to new premises at Bank Street in nearby Clayton. The name was changed to Manchester United Football Club in 1902.

Did You Know?

• Newton Heath's population is 9,883.
• The Rochdale Canal helped move raw materials and finished products in the area.
• All Saints Church is on the 'At Risk Register' of Listed Buildings maintained by Historic England.
• Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Football Club was formed in 1878.