History of Harpurhey
The Township and Parish of Harpurhey
Lying between Blackley and Manchester is the district (formerly the township) of Harpurhey. It was the first portion of the north side of Manchester which was incorporated with that city about six years ago. On the occasion of its incorporation a part of St Michael's Ward was added to it for the purposes of municipal representation, and the new ward, including Harpurhey, received the appellation of Harpurhey Ward. Its present representatives are Councillors William SHERRATT, George NEEDHAM, and John RICHARDS, J.P. They have represented it from the beginning.
The municipal boundaries are Gorton-street on the north side to the river Irk, and Collyhurst-street on the north side to Moston-lane, and Factory Brow on the south side thereof. The boundary on the north-east side and on the north-west are not easily defined, Oldham-road and Newton-Heath being the former, and Cheetham and Crumpsall being the latter. The township of Harpurhey contained, according to the ordnance survey, 192 acres, 3 roods, and 13 perches
Originally Harpurhey was part of the ancient Manor of Manchester, as may be inferred from the rent roll of Thomas WEST, Lord Delawarr, who received in 1472, and subsequently, a payment of one pound 6s. 8d. annually from John HULTON of Farnworth Esquire, for a messuage and lands in "Harphey." This annual payment was made as soccage. How the name of the district originated is not known, but undoubtedly the latter syllable is derived from the nature of the holdings, which consisted principally of fields or "heys."
From 1472 there is a gap of 36 years, when a post mortem inquisition was made respecting the estates of Richard HULTON, who was described in latin as "an idiot and a fool," presumably not by intention or perversity, but by birth. He died seized of lands in Farnworth, Nether Hulton, Denton, and Harpurhey. The descent of the property to members of this family was uninterrupted till the beginning of the present century, although several lawsuits were instituted by relatives who disputed the rights of those who inherited or held.
In 1808 the Harpurhey estate was advertised for sale at the Bridgewater Arms, Manchester, the sale being fixed for Nov 30th. At this time Robert ANDREW appears to have been the lessee of a considerable portion of the estate, - Seven months after the sale at the Bridgewater Arms, an indenture was drawn up and executed between william HULTON, of Hulton Park in the county of Lancaster, esq, eldest son of William HULTON, late of the same place, deceased, of the first part, Henry HULTON, of Preston, of Preston, esq, and William CROSS, of the same place, esquire, of the second part, and Robert ANDREW, of Harpurhey, dyer, of the third part. It is witnessed, that for and in consideration of the sum of eight thousand pounds then in part paid, with security for the payment of the remainder, they, the said William HULTON, Henry HULTON, and William CROSS, do grant, bargain, alien, release, and confirm to the said Robert ANDREW all that messuage or tenement, cottages and buildings, situate in Harpurhey, now in the occupation of the said Robert ANDREW as tenant, together with the several closes, fields, or parcels of land thereto belonging: The Gutter Twiggs, the Home Close Clough and reservoirs, The Half Acre, The Holme Stead and Garden, The Long Hill Tough Hey, with the fence and the watercourses running on the north side thereof, The Sand Hole Tough Hey, The Hollow Meadow, The Collyhurst Brow, the Nearer Brow, The Wheat Fields, The Little Wheat Field, in all 67a. 0r. 8p., statute measure, to hold the same unto the said Robert ANDREW, his heirs and assigns, for ever.
In 1812, Robert ANDREW added to this purchase 30a. 1r. 36p. statute measure, and also the reversion and inheritance in fee simple of 12a. 0r. 33p. In these further purchases was included "All that river or stream of water called Moss Brook."
The site upon which Christ Church, Harpurhey, stands and which is occupied by the burial ground attached thereto, was given conjointly by Miss ANDREW, of Green Mount, and Samuel TAYLOR, of Moston. The church was consecrated September 24th, 1838. It was completed at a cost of 4,077 pounds 15s., and contains 960 sittings.
Story of Blackley and Neighbourhood by Philip Wentworth, 1892