Alderley Edge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alderley Edge |
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 St Philip's Church, Alderley Edge |
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 Alderley Edge
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| Population | 4,780 |
| OS grid reference | SJ843785 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ALDERLEY EDGE |
| Postcode district | SK9 |
| Dialling code | 01625 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Alderley Edge is a lovely village in Cheshire, England. In 2011, about 4,780 people lived here. It's located about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Macclesfield and 12 miles (19 km) south of Manchester.
The village sits at the bottom of a steep, wooded sandstone hill called Alderley Edge. This hill is the most important natural feature of the area. Alderley Edge is well-known for its beautiful and often expensive houses. Many famous people, like Premier League footballers and actors, have chosen to live here. It is one of the most sought-after places to live in the UK, outside of London.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Alderley Edge History
People have lived in the Alderley Edge area for a very long time. Tools made of flint show that people were here during the Mesolithic period (Middle Stone Age). Evidence of copper mining from the Bronze Age has also been found. In 1995, a group of cavers discovered 564 Roman Empire coins, dating from AD 317 to AD 336!
The first written mention of Alderley Edge, then called Chorlegh, was in the 13th century. This name likely meant "peasants' clearing." The name Alderley first appeared in 1086. It might have come from "Aldred's clearing" or "the meadow of a woman called Alðrȳð."
For centuries, the area was mostly farmland. A watermill, Nether Alderley Mill, has been here since 1391. It was used to grind corn until 1939. Today, the National Trust owns and cares for the mill, and you can visit it.
The Railway Arrives
A big change came in 1842 when the railway arrived. The railway company built a line through the area. They even offered free train tickets for 20 years to Manchester businessmen who built houses near the station! This helped the village grow quickly.
The railway also gave Alderley Edge its current name. The railway company didn't want the station to be called "Chorley" because it could be confused with another town in Lancashire. So, in 1880, they renamed it Alderley Edge railway station. This new name combined the old village name with the name of the famous sandstone hill, "The Edge."
After the railway, the local landowner, Sir Humphrey de Trafford, planned new roads and houses. By 1910, many new homes had been built. Alderley also became a popular spot for day trips and excursions.
New Buildings and Growth
This period saw many important buildings appear. St Philip's Church, Alderley Edge, with its tall spire, was built in 1853. The village primary school opened a year later. Several schools for girls and boys also opened, including Alderley Edge School for Girls and The Ryleys School.
Alderley Edge became known for its tree-lined streets and large Victorian houses with big gardens. Wealthy cotton traders from Manchester built their mansions here. Today, these homes can sell for millions of pounds. The village has a charming high street with restaurants, designer shops, and specialty food stores.
The village continued to grow in the 20th century. Alderley Park, a large estate, was sold to a science company, Astra Zeneca. Now, it's owned by Bruntwood and is a huge science facility with over 150 science companies, plus homes and shops.
How Alderley Edge is Governed
| Alderley Edge | |
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| Crest | On a wreath of the colours upon a Red Sandstone Cliff Proper a griffin segreant Gules holding in the dexter forefoot a cresset Sable enflamed Proper. |
| Blazon | Argent on a bend Azure between two cross crosslets fitchy Sable a stag's head caboshed between two garbs Or. |
| Motto | In Praecipiti Stantem (Steadfast At The Edge) |
| Badge | A Stag's Head caboshed Or between the attires a Cresset issuant Sable enflamed proper. |
| Granted 5 September 1974 | |
For a long time, Alderley Edge was part of a larger area called Chorley. In 1894, Alderley Edge became its own civil parish. Since 2009, it has been part of the Cheshire East council area.
Working Life in Alderley Edge
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In 2001, about 2,157 people in Alderley Edge were able to work. Many people here are self-employed, meaning they work for themselves. The unemployment rate is quite low compared to other parts of England. This shows that Alderley Edge is a place with good job opportunities and a strong local economy.
Village Amenities
Famous Landmarks
The Edge: A Natural Wonder
"The Edge" is a wide, red sandstone hill that stands above Alderley village. It's a very special place! This hill was formed by weathering (like wind and rain) and by cracks in the rocks. It rises to almost 215 metres (705 feet) above sea level. That's about 110 metres (360 feet) higher than the flat land below.
The National Trust owns The Edge. They keep it as a public wooded area, and it's a very popular place for people to visit. About 300,000 visitors come here every year! The Edge is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its unique geology. The woodland is full of old mines, which we'll talk about next.
Amazing Views
From the highest points of The Edge, you can see amazing views across Cheshire and the Peak District. There are also walking paths that lead to other nearby places. You can see the Cheshire Plain stretching out, and even the distant mountains of North Wales on a clear day.
Alderley Edge Mines
The hill at Alderley Edge has been a site for copper mining for a very long time. Archaeologists have found proof that mining happened here during Roman times and the Bronze Age. Records show that mining continued from the late 1600s until the 1920s.
Many of the mines are owned by the National Trust. A group called the Derbyshire Caving Club helps to look after them. They explore and search for parts of the mines that have been closed for centuries.
Thousands of people have visited the mines over the years. However, in the past, some visitors were not prepared, which led to accidents. Because of this, some parts of the mines were blocked off in the 1960s. But in 1969, the Derbyshire Caving Club got permission to reopen one of the mines. Now, many people can visit the mines safely in supervised groups.
Historic Buildings
Alderley Edge has many historic buildings. One of the oldest is Chorley Old Hall, which is the oldest surviving manor house in Cheshire. To the south of the village is the Alderley Park estate, which used to be the home of the Stanley family.
Local Legends
Alderley Edge is famous for its local legends, especially the story of the Wizard of the Edge.
The Wizard of the Edge
The most famous legend tells of a farmer from Mobberley. He was taking his white horse to sell at the market in Macclesfield. As he walked along The Edge, an old man in a grey robe stopped him. The old man offered to buy the horse, but the farmer refused, hoping for a better price at the market.
The farmer didn't sell his horse, so he returned to The Edge that evening. The old man appeared again and repeated his offer, which the farmer now accepted. The old man told the farmer to follow him. They reached a spot where the old man held out a magic wand and spoke a spell. The rock opened up, revealing huge iron gates!
The wizard, as he was, opened the gates. He told the farmer not to be afraid and to enter. Inside, the farmer saw countless men and white horses, all fast asleep. The wizard took payment for the horse from a chest. The farmer was amazed and asked what it all meant. The wizard explained that these sleeping warriors were ready to wake up and fight if England was ever in great danger. He then told the farmer to leave and go home.
There are different versions of this legend. Some say the wizard was Merlin and the sleeping men were King Arthur and his army. The author Alan Garner, who grew up in Alderley Edge, used this legend in his famous children's fantasy novels, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath.
Gold and Coins
Several ancient gold bars have been found at Alderley Edge. The first one was found on Artists Lane. After this discovery, people searched for more, and five more gold bars were found! In 1995, cavers also found a hoard of 564 Roman coins.
Getting Around Alderley Edge
Roads
For many years, traffic was a problem in Alderley Edge. So, a new road called the A34 Alderley Edge bypass was built to go around the village. It's about 5 kilometres (3 miles) long and helps reduce the number of cars driving through the village centre. The bypass cost £56 million and was opened in 2010.
Railway
Alderley Edge railway station is on the line that connects Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly. You can usually catch two trains an hour to Crewe and two to Manchester Piccadilly. There's also a service to Manchester Airport.
Buses
Alderley Edge also has a bus service, the 130 route. It runs hourly during the day (except Sundays) and connects the village to Macclesfield, Wilmslow, and Manchester Airport.
Famous People from Alderley Edge
Many well-known people have lived in Alderley Edge.
- The Pilkington family, who developed toughened safety glass, owned the woodland now known as The Edge. Their daughters later gave the land to the National Trust.
- The author Alan Garner, who wrote the fantasy novels set on Alderley Edge, grew up here.
- Several famous footballers have lived in the village, including Joleon Lescott, Dwight Yorke, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, and Andy Cole. David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham also used to live here.
- Actors from the TV show Coronation Street, like Helen Flanagan and Richard Fleeshman, live in the village.
- Musicians Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook are also residents.
- Singer-songwriter Matty Healy spent his childhood in Alderley Edge with his actor parents, Denise Welch and Tim Healy.
