Newton Heath is an area of Manchester, England, north-east of Manchester city centre and with a population of 9,883.
Historically part of Lancashire, Newton was formerly a farming area, but adopted the factory system following the Industrial Revolution. The principal industry in the area became engineering, although many were employed in the mining and textiles industries in the thriving areas of Clayton Vale and Bradford.
Newton included what is now Miles Platting and it stretched to Failsworth. It was bounded by brooks and rivers on all four sides – the River Medlock, Moston Brook, Newton Brook and Shooters Brook. With the creation of Miles Platting the remainder of Newton became known as Newton Heath.
Manchester United F.C. has strong links with the area, having been formed from the Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Football Club.
History
All Saints Church
Newton Chapel, later becoming the Parish Church of All Saints Newton Heath began as early as 1556, a time of great turbulence religious upheaval (Mary 1st, King Henry VIII daughter was on the throne), the inhabitants being mainly Puritan in their sympathies. It was built of wattle and daub; the first of some 8 Chapels of Ease under the Manchester Collegiate Church (MCC), the nearest other Chapel of Ease being at Gorton (later at St James). Lands owned at Newton formed part of the historic estates of the MCC.
Newton Chapel stood on a wild heath, on the highest ground and on the site of the ancient Roman Road from Chester to Manchester (this road is what is now Briscoe Lane, Gaskell Street and on a straight line through to Roman Road, Failsworth), and on to York, at its junction with the roads connecting the townships of Moston and Droylsden. Close by is the road linking the townships of Manchester, Failsworth and Oldham.
Newton Chapel was rebuilt in 1598 and an old timber found in the rubble when rebuilding in 1814, was found to have a date of 1556 carved upon it, thus 1556 being the probable date of the first building.
The first permanent Curate at Newton Chapel (All Saints), was appointed in 1598, those before 1598 being clergy sent from the Manchester Collegiate Church. This 1598 chapel was built of oak stanchions and small branches, plastered with mud, and whitewashed. The gallery was reached by a stone stairway on the outside of the building. The floor of the chapel was bare earth, and being of clay was very cold. Rushes were strewn over the floor in winter, brought in by rush carts. There were stocks close to the chapel for the use of male offenders, and from the centre of the gallery projected a circular stall where female offenders were made to stand through services as a penance.
In 1738, the mud walls were replaced by brick, and interior repairs were carried out. In 1795 the building was declared unsafe as a place of worship. On Sunday 1 May 1808 an anniversary service was held in the chapel and the next morning at 6.00am, the building finally collapsed. Apparently it had been repaired some 4 years earlier and the reason for the final collapse was said to be that the repairs had been made in the winter season. Services continued amidst the dereliction, as no effort towards rebuilding was made for another 5 years.