Cheadle Hulme
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Cheadle Hulme (population 28,952 in the 2001 census) is a small town on the southern periphery of Stockport (a large town on the southern edge of the English city of Manchester). The Old English place name Cheadle refers to ced "wood" as does leah "clearing in a wood" and may have been used since the 7th century. Viking influence in the 9th century may have introduced Danish field names such as hulm meaning "island in the fen" or "water meadow" to be used later in Cheadle Hulme. It is the home of the historic East Cheshire Chess Club, and Cheadle Hulme School, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2005.
Cheadle Hulme is notable for its small shopping area and the Seven Arches Viaduct, which are the two features that appear on the town's motif which adorns the lamp posts on the high street. Cheadle Hulme train station was the cut-off point for the different stages of the 2004 upgrade of the West Coast railway.
History
Stone axes found about 3 miles north of Cheadle Hulme around the Mersey valley and tributaries show clear evidence of population in the Neolithic (New Stone Age) period. There is some suggestion of a Roman road from Cheadle (or possibly Manchester) to Buxton running along Cheadle Road (Street Road) through modern Cheadle Hulme. Roman artefacts (coins, bracelets) discovered at Millington Hall, and Hulme Hall support this.
In 1321 Sir Robert (Roger) de Chedle, lord of Cheadle manor, died leaving no male heirs. The elder daughter, Clemence (married to William de Bagylegh) inherited the southern half (technically overlord to her sister's share), "Cheadle Holme". In the mid 17th century the estate was acquired by the Moseley family and became known as Cheadle Moseley, and later Cheadle Hulme.