Strangeways, Manchester

Until the 19th century, Strangeways was rural, with Strangeways Hall, Park and Gardens. Strangeways was recorded in 1322 as Strangwas, from the Anglo-Saxon Strang and gewæsc meaning "[a place by] a stream with a strong current".

Strangeways Prison, seen from Derby Street, down Blacklock Street

The chimney of Strangeways Brewery in 2005

Strangeways Brewery was famous as the home of Boddingtons Bitter. It closed in 2005 and was demolished in 2007.[1]

• 1459: First known mention of the de Strangeways family in the area.
• 1544: A settlement document describes widespread property attached to Strangeways Hall, including 24 houses, 20 town properties, 20 cottages, and various land up to several miles away.
• 1641: Strangeways Hall appears on a map. It was in Elizabethan or Jacobean style.
• 1624: John Hartley (1609-1655) bought Strangeways Hall. His father Nicholas Hartley and elder brother Richard were wool merchants in Manchester.
• Early 18th century: A grey stucco, palladian-style addition to Strangeways Hall was built.
• 1713: The Reynolds family took over the hall.
• 1768: Francis Reynolds granted a lease to Robert Norton to build a house and silk dyeing works by the Hall's fish pond.
• 1777: Strangeways Hall first known to be let to a tenant (Hugh Oldham).
• 1788: Strangeways Hall was run as a girls' boarding school.
• 1816: Start of the area being built over with houses.
• 1838: Land in Strangeways area was sold to the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company; Manchester Victoria station is there now.
• 1858: Strangeways Hall demolished and its materials sold
• 1859: A newspaper report that the Hall was "several times rebuilt".
• 1864: Completion of building of the Assize Courts on the site of Strangeways Hall. (It was destroyed in the 1939-1945 Blitz and its site is now a car park on Great Ducie Street).
• 1868: Strangeways Prison opened. It was built on the site of Strangeways Hall's fish ponds.
• late 19th century: Jewish immigration to the area, fleeing from violence in Russia.

• Link to part of Pigot's map of Strangeways area in 1813; the blue arrow marks Strangeways Hall.
• Development of Strangeways
• Image of Strangeways Hall c.1840

53.493°N 2.244°W / 53.493; -2.244