Wilmslow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilmslow |
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| Town and civil parish | |
 St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow |
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 Coat of Arms of Wilmslow Town Council |
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 Wilmslow
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| Population | 26,213 (2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | SJ840810 |
| • London | 154 mi (248 km) SE |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WILMSLOW |
| Postcode district | SK9 |
| Dialling code | 01625 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Wilmslow is a lively market town and civil parish in Cheshire, England. It is about 11 miles (18 km) south of Manchester. The town is part of the Cheshire East area. In 2011, about 24,497 people lived there.
Contents
History of Wilmslow
What's in a Name?
The name Wilmslow comes from an old English phrase. It means "Wīghelm's mound" or "Wīghelm's hill." This tells us it was likely named after a person called Wīghelm.
Lindow Man: An Ancient Discovery
A very important discovery was made near Wilmslow in Lindow Moss. This was Lindow Man, a body preserved in a peat bog for 2,000 years! He is one of the most significant finds from the British Iron Age.
Even though many wanted Lindow Man to stay nearby, he was moved. He is now a main part of the Iron Age display at the British Museum. In 2008, Lindow Man visited the Manchester Museum for a special exhibition.
Recent Events in Wilmslow
In March 1997, a bomb exploded near the railway station. It damaged train equipment, but luckily, no one was hurt.
Later that year, the area where Wilmslow is located, called Tatton, was in the news. This was during a general election. The local Member of Parliament (MP), Neil Hamilton, was accused of accepting money for asking questions in Parliament.
Because of this, an independent candidate named Martin Bell ran against him. Martin Bell won the election and became the new MP. He was even supported by actor David Soul during his campaign.
How Wilmslow Was Governed
Wilmslow used to be one of eight old parishes in Cheshire. It was divided into smaller areas called townships. Over time, these townships became civil parishes.
In 1894, Wilmslow became a civil parish again. It also got its own special council in 1895. In 1951, Wilmslow was given its own coat of arms. Later, in 1974, it became part of Macclesfield Borough. Then, in 2009, it joined the Cheshire East council area.
Wilmslow's Growth and Boundaries
Wilmslow's borders have changed over the years. In 1936, it lost a small part to Alderley Edge. However, it also gained much larger areas from other nearby parishes.
In 1974, Wilmslow and other towns did not want to be part of Greater Manchester. They successfully argued to stay in Cheshire. Even so, Wilmslow is still considered part of the larger Greater Manchester Urban Area.
People and Population
Who Lives in Wilmslow?
According to the 2001 census, Wilmslow had a population of 25,498 people. More than half of these were females (52.5%). About 20.4% of the population was aged 16 or under. Around 18.8% were aged 65 or older.
Most people in Wilmslow are from white ethnic groups (95.9%). About 4.1% of the population belongs to ethnic minority groups.
Religion in Wilmslow
Most people in Wilmslow identify as Christian (76.7%). Other religions like Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh are also present. About 13.3% of people said they had no religion.
Places to Worship
Wilmslow has several churches. There are three Church of England churches: St Bartholomew's, St Anne's, and St John's. St Bartholomew's is a very old building from the 16th century.
The Wilmslow Methodist Church is a modern building near the town centre. It replaced older churches from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Roman Catholic church in Wilmslow is called Sacred Heart & St Teresa's Church. It was built in the late 19th century.
Dean Row Chapel is a very old building from the late 17th century. It started as a Presbyterian church and is now a Unitarian chapel. There is also a United Reformed Church in Wilmslow.
Wilmslow's Location and Landscape
Wilmslow is in the North of England. It is about 11 miles (18 km) from Manchester city centre and 7 miles (11 km) from Macclesfield. The town centre has main areas like Bank Square, Grove Street, and Water Lane.
The River Bollin flows through The Carrs Park. This river was once used to power Quarry Bank Mill, which is now a National Trust site. Before the railway arrived in 1842, Wilmslow was mostly just a few farms and a church.
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Manchester Airport | Handforth | Woodford | |
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 Wilmslow  |
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| Knutsford Chorley |
Alderley Edge | Macclesfield |
Wilmslow's Economy
Wilmslow is part of the "Golden Triangle" in Cheshire. This area is known for being wealthy, along with Alderley Edge and Prestbury. In the Victorian era, rich merchants from Manchester moved here when the railways made travel easy.
Many important companies have a presence in Wilmslow:
- Umbro, a sports equipment company, started here and has its main office in the area.
- Royal London, a financial services company, has a key location here.
- The Information Commissioner's Office, a government agency, is also based in Wilmslow.
- Waters Corporation, which makes lab instruments, has its UK headquarters in the town.
Wilmslow is also famous for its luxury car dealerships. You can find showrooms for brands like Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati, Land Rover, Bentley, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, and Lamborghini. The Aston Martin dealership in Wilmslow sells the most Aston Martins in the UK!
Fun and Sports in Wilmslow
The town has several parks, including The Carrs Park, where people can relax and play.
Wilmslow held its first Scarecrow Festival in July 2010. Many local businesses took part, creating fun scarecrows. This festival is organized by the Rotary Club and local businesses.
There are also popular running events. The Wilmslow Festive 10k race happens every November. The Wilmslow Half Marathon is an annual race that started in 1984 and usually takes place in March.
Media and News
Local news and TV shows for Wilmslow are provided by BBC North West and ITV Granada.
You can listen to several local radio stations, including BBC Radio Manchester, Heart North West, and Smooth North West. There's also Silk Radio and Canalside Radio, a community station.
For local news, people in Wilmslow read The Wilmslow Express and Knutsford Guardian newspapers.
Getting Around Wilmslow
Train Travel
Wilmslow railway station is on the main train line between Crewe and Manchester. It's also a junction for another line that goes to Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport.
You can catch trains to many places from Wilmslow:
- Avanti West Coast offers an hourly service to London Euston.
- Northern Trains provides regular local services to Manchester, Stockport, Manchester Airport, and Crewe.
- Transport for Wales Rail has an hourly service to Crewe, Shrewsbury, and Cardiff. Some of these trains continue to Swansea and Milford Haven.
Bus Services
Wilmslow's main bus stop is at Bank Square. Three regular bus routes are operated by D&G Bus:
- Route 88 goes between Altrincham and Macclesfield.
- Route 130 connects Manchester Airport to Macclesfield.
- Route 312 runs between Wilmslow and Handforth Dean.
There is also a free bus service between Knutsford and Handforth Dean retail park on certain days. There are no direct bus services to Stockport or Manchester anymore. Also, there are no bus services on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
Roads Around Wilmslow
The A34 road goes around the east side of Wilmslow. This road connects Salford and Winchester. It also links up with the A555, which goes to Manchester Airport.
Manchester Airport is only about four miles (6 km) away. However, Wilmslow is not under the flight paths, so it doesn't get much aircraft noise.
Famous People from Wilmslow
Many interesting people have lived in or come from Wilmslow.
- James Upton (1670–1749) was a clergyman and schoolmaster.
- Samuel Finney (1719–1798) was a miniature painter.
- James Tait (1863–1944) was a historian who lived a quiet, scholarly life in Wilmslow.
- William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898), who was Prime Minister of the UK four times, lived in Wilmslow for a short time in 1828 to study.
- Alan Turing (1912–1954) is perhaps Wilmslow's most famous resident. He was a pioneer in computer science and helped crack the German Enigma code during World War II. A special plaque was placed on his house in 2004 to honor him.
- Patrick George (1923–2016) was an English painter.
- Roger Thatcher (1926–2010) was a British statistician who spent his early years in Wilmslow.
- Antony Grey (1927–2010) was an important activist for gay rights.
- Richard Evans (born 1945) is a graphic designer, photographer, and illustrator.
- John Harris (born 1969) is a British journalist and writer.
- Ronald Brunskill (1929–2015) was an architectural historian.
Actors and Broadcasters
- William Roache (born 1932) has played Ken Barlow in Coronation Street since 1960. He has lived in Wilmslow for most of his adult life.
- John Waite (born 1951) is a radio and TV presenter who went to school in Wilmslow.
- Barbara Wilshere (born 1959) is an actress who attended Wilmslow High School.
- Jo Wheeler (born 1963) is a weather forecaster for Sky News.
- Fionnuala Ellwood (born 1964) is an actress known for Emmerdale.
- Journalist Miranda Sawyer (born 1967) and her brother, actor Toby (born 1969), grew up in Wilmslow.
- Chris Hawkins (born 1975) and his wife Clare Nasir (born 1970), both presenters, have lived in Wilmslow since 2012.
- Simon Gregson (born 1974) plays Steve McDonald in Coronation Street.
- Ashley Taylor Dawson (born 1982) plays Darren Osborne in Hollyoaks and owns a nightclub in Wilmslow.
Sports Stars
- Len Butt (footballer)
- Edwin Dutton (footballer)
- Sir Alex Ferguson (football manager)
- Park Ji-sung (footballer)
- Terry Nicholl (footballer)
- Danny Whitaker (footballer)
- Andy Fanshawe (1963–1992) was a British mountaineer.
- Liz Blatchford (born 1980) is a professional triathlete.
- David Horsey (born 1985) is a professional golfer who lives in Wilmslow.
- Sam James (born 1994) is an English rugby union player.
Musicians
- Syd Lawrence (1923–1998) was a British bandleader.
- Michael Rother (born 1950), a founder of the band Neu!, lived in Wilmslow as a child. He has good memories of the town and the River Bollin.
- Christopher Gayford (born 1963) is an English conductor.
- The Indie rock band Doves met at Wilmslow High School in the 1980s. Their song "Black and White Town" was inspired by Wilmslow.
- The Pop rock band The 1975 formed in Wilmslow in 2002. The band members met at Wilmslow High School.
Business People
- Peter Jones, owner of the Emerson Group property business, lives in Wilmslow.
- Iqbal Ahmed (born 1956), owner of the Seamark group's Asian food business, lives in Wilmslow.
See also
In Spanish: Wilmslow para niños
