This once small country village which lies on the River Medlock was incorporated into the city of Manchester in 1838. The original township was known as Chorlton Row.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold, the population increased a hundredfold and as with other parts of Manchester, the area became filled with textile mills, shoddy housing, overcrowding and poor sanitation.

Charles Mackintosh established a factory on Cambridge Street where he perfected his fabric water proofing technique. He became world famous and today, the name of Mackintosh is almost synonymous with water proofed outer garments.

A Town Hall had been built in 1831, adjacent to a Police Station and Dispensary. The Town Hall has now become a Refectory for the Art College next door. The Manchester School of Art is part of the Manchester Metropolitan University nearby.

The older Victoria University of Manchester on Oxford Road (established in 1824) is very highly respected for its academia and the beautiful building is now listed Grade 2.

Notable residents of this area were David Lloyd George (Prime Minister 1916-1922), the Pankhursts who led the Suffragette movement and the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell.
Elizabeth’s house is to be completely restored thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund.