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| coordinates = {{coord|53.5333|-2.2833|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Prestwich
| population = 31,
| metropolitan_borough = [[Metropolitan Borough of Bury|Bury]]
| metropolitan_county = [[Greater Manchester]]
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}}
'''Prestwich''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɛ|s|t|w|ɪ|tʃ}} {{respell|PREST|witch}}) is a town in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Bury]], [[Greater Manchester]], England,<ref name="GM Gazetteer">{{cite web|url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzo2r.htm |title=Greater Manchester Gazetteer |publisher=Greater Manchester County Record Office |access-date=20 June 2007 |at=Places names – O to R |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718144358/http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzo2r.htm |archive-date=18 July 2011 }}</ref> {{convert|
Within the boundaries of the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] of [[Lancashire]], Prestwich was the seat of the ancient parish of [[Prestwich-cum-Oldham]], centred around the [[Grade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester|Grade I listed]] [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Prestwich|Church of St Mary the Virgin]]. In recent times, it has grown in popularity as a commuter town of Manchester, being consistenly named one of the best places to live in the UK by ''[[The Sunday Times]]'',<ref name="st22">{{cite web |title=Why Prestwich, Greater Manchester, is one of the best places to live in 2022 |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-prestwich-greater-manchester-best-place-to-live-uk-zmz7pd65m |website=thetimes.co.uk |publisher=The Times |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dowle |first=Jayne |date=2024-03-27 |title=Why Prestwich, Greater Manchester, is one of the best places to live 2024 |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prestwich-greater-manchester-england-best-place-to-live-uk-2024-fmxdrntc5 |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> and has been nicknamed the 'new [[Didsbury]]' <ref name="st22" /><ref>{{cite news |title="Our town's more than the 'new Didsbury'. We just don't know where it's going" |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/our-towns-more-new-didsbury-28599296 |publisher=Manchester Evening News}}</ref> in comparison with the affluent suburb in the south of the city.
The oldest part of Prestwich, around Bury New Road, is known as Prestwich Village. There is a large Jewish community in Prestwich which, together with neighbouring [[Whitefield, Greater Manchester| Whitefield]], [[
==
Prestwich is possibly of [[Old English]] origin, derived from ''preost'' and ''wic'', which translates to the priest's farm.<ref>{{Harvnb|Mills|1976|p=123}}</ref> Another possible derivation is priest's retreat. Wic was a place-name element derived from the Latin vicus, place. Its most common meaning is dairy-farm.<ref name="domesday">[http://domesdaybook.net/helpfiles/hs855.htm Domesday Book] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227073738/http://domesdaybook.net/helpfiles/hs855.htm |date=27 February 2012 }}</ref>
The township was variously recorded as Prestwich in 1194, Prestwic in 1202 and Prestewic in 1203.<ref name=vch>{{Citation|editor1-last=Farrer |editor1-first=William |editor2-last=Brownbill |editor2-first=J. |title=The parish of Prestwich with Oldham: Prestwich|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53002 |work=A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 |publisher=British History Online |year=1911 |pages=76–80|access-date=30 November 2010}}</ref>
==
===Early history===
[[File:The Church Inn, Prestwich.jpg|thumb|left|The Church Inn (formerly the Ostrich Inn) next to St Mary's Church]]
[[File:Prestwich Village.jpg|thumb|left|The White Horse (left) and the Railway and Naturalist (right), Prestwich Village]]
Bury New Road roughly follows the line of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] road connecting forts at ''[[Mamucium]]'' ([[Manchester]]) and ''[[Bremetennacum]]'' ([[Ribchester]]). It is possible that a Roman fort or encampment was built at "Castle Hill", near the [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]] border, mirroring an encampment on Rainsough Hill equidistant from the Roman road.<ref>[
</ref> The camp was "just to the right of the old road to Bury, immediately beyond Singleton Brook, on the first field in the Parish of Prestwich, which was formerly known as Lowcaster". Roman coins have been found off Bury New Road, near Prestwich Golf Course and some in [[Prestwich Clough]].
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In the [[hearth tax]] of 1666 there were 97 hearths in the township, the rector's house was the largest with ten.<ref name= vch/> In the 17th and 18th centuries local government was based on the parish structure. The lord of the manor administered [[land tenure]] and [[inheritance]], but law and order was kept by parish constables assisted by the church wardens. The local justices sat in the "Star Chamber" in the Ostrich Inn, now the Church Inn, close to the parish church where the justices' seat can still be seen.<ref>Makepeace, C. E. (1974) ''Prestwich, a brief history''. Prestwich Borough Council</ref> The village had stocks which remained in use until 1800.<ref name= vch/>
===Development===
The settlement grew to serve the parish church making Church Lane the historic centre.<ref name="Love Prestwich"/> In the late 18th century the area was mainly rural with scattered farms and small settlements grew at Great and Little Heaton. The population was estimated at 670. Rooden Lane which became part of Bury Old Road was a centre for hand loom weaving and at [[Simister]] and neighbouring [[Bowlee]], silk weaving was established. During the 19th century another settlement grew around the junction of Fairfax Road and Bury New Road along with another village centre on Bury Old Road. The area between these centres remained rural, however, the arrival of the railway in 1881 encouraged affluent merchants from Manchester to build villas and move to the town.<ref name="Love Prestwich">{{cite journal|last=Anon|title=Love Prestwich: Part 1: Prestwich Today|publisher=Metropolitan Borough of Bury}}</ref>
By 1912 the population had increased to 12,800, and from the 1930s onwards the remaining fields were developed and by 1961 the population reached 31,000 and Prestwich had become a suburb of Manchester.<ref name="Love Prestwich" />
==Governance==
===Political representation===
[[File:Prestwich fc logo.png|thumb|right|The [[coat of arms]] of the council of the former Municipal Borough of Prestwich.]]▼
Prestwich, together with Whitefield and Radcliffe, is part of the marginal [[Bury South (UK Parliament constituency)|Bury South]] Parliamentary [[constituency]], which has been represented by MP [[Christian Wakeford]] since 2019
Prestwich was the [[ecclesiastical]] centre of [[Prestwich-cum-Oldham]] an [[civil parish|ancient parish]] in the [[Salford (hundred)|Salford Hundred]] of [[Lancashire]].<ref name=tde>{{Cite journal |last=Lewis |first=Samuel|title=Prestwich|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51224#s1|journal=A Topographical Dictionary of England |publisher=British History Online |pages=175–179|year=1848 |access-date=30 November 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mancuniensis.info/Maps/salfh_xs.pdf Map of the ten parishes of the Hundred of Salford] retrieved 2 November 2007</ref> It was in Manchester [[Poor Law Union]] (PLU) from 1841 to 1850 and the Prestwich PLU from 1850 to 1915 when it rejoined Manchester PLU until its abolition in 1930. In 1867 the Prestwich Local Board of Health was established which, as a result of the [[Local Government Act 1894]], became Prestwich [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]] to which parts of Great and Little Heaton townships were added. In 1903 Heaton Park was added to the City of Manchester and in 1933 part of the urban district west of the Irwell was added to Swinton and Pendlebury Urban District. Prestwich became a [[municipal borough]] in 1939. Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] it became an [[unparished area]] in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Bury]] in Greater Manchester,<ref name="GM Gazetteer"/> taking effect on 1 April 1974. The old Prestwich Town Hall has since been converted into a block of flats.▼
On [[Bury Council]], Prestwich is served by three wards, St Mary's, covering the western half of the town, Holyrood covering the north-east, and Sedgeley to the south.
▲Prestwich, together with Whitefield and Radcliffe, is part of the marginal [[Bury South (UK Parliament constituency)|Bury South]] Parliamentary [[constituency]], which has been represented by MP [[Christian Wakeford]] since 2019, who gained it from Labour by 402 votes, making it one of the most marginal in the country. However he then defected to Labour in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60054968 | title=Tory MP Christian Wakeford defects to Labour | work=BBC News | date=19 January 2022 }}</ref> It was previously represented by [[Ivan Lewis]] who was first elected for [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] in 1997, however due to allegations of indecent behaviour towards women was suspended from the party in 2018 and since resigned from the party to serve as an independent, and stood as an Independent in the 2019 election. Prior to this it was represented by Conservative [[David Sumberg]] since the constituency's creation in 1983. Prestwich was previously paired with the neighbouring town of [[Middleton, Greater Manchester|Middleton]] in the [[Middleton and Prestwich]] constituency first created in 1918.
===Civic history===
{{main|Prestwich-cum-Oldham}}
▲[[File:Prestwich fc logo.png|thumb|right|The [[coat of arms]] of the council of the former Municipal Borough of Prestwich.]]
▲Historically, Prestwich was the [[ecclesiastical]] centre of [[Prestwich-cum-Oldham]] an [[civil parish|ancient parish]] in the [[Salford (hundred)|Salford Hundred]] of [[Lancashire]].<ref name=tde>{{Cite journal |last=Lewis |first=Samuel|title=Prestwich|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51224#s1|journal=A Topographical Dictionary of England |publisher=British History Online |pages=175–179|year=1848 |access-date=30 November 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mancuniensis.info/Maps/salfh_xs.pdf Map of the ten parishes of the Hundred of Salford] retrieved 2 November 2007</ref>
In 1867 the Prestwich Local Board of Health was established which, as a result of the [[Local Government Act 1894]], became Prestwich [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]], to which parts of Great and Little Heaton townships were added. In 1903, Heaton Park was added to the City of Manchester, and in 1933, part of the urban district west of the Irwell was added to Swinton and Pendlebury Urban District. Prestwich became a [[municipal borough]] in 1939, with the council based at [[Prestwich Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Bid to save old town hall |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6024446.bid-save-old-town-hall/ |access-date=6 March 2024 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=19 June 2001}}</ref> Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] it became an [[unparished area]] in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Bury]] in Greater Manchester,<ref name="GM Gazetteer"/> taking effect on 1 April 1974.
▲On [[Bury Council]] Prestwich is served by three wards, St Mary's, covering the western half of the town, Holyrood covering the north-east and Sedgeley to the south. Over the years they have been represented by all three major political parties, currently with Labour marginally holding St Mary's over the Lib Dems, Sedgeley being represented by a mixture of Conservative and Labour councillors, while Holyrood is a Liberal Democrat stronghold.
==Geography==
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==Demography==
The [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]] estimated the population of Prestwich at 31,500.<ref name = "prestwichcensus">{{cite web |title=Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/customprofiles/build/#E63001210 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref>
===Jewish community===
The area in the south of Prestwich known as [[Sedgley Park]] has a very sizeable Jewish population and is served by some five synagogues.<ref>[http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/man_boroughs.htm#bury Jewish Communities and Records: Synagogues of Greater Manchester] Retrieved on 12 March 2008</ref> There are many Jewish businesses, specialist shops and [[delicatessen]]s along King's Road, Bury New Road and Bury Old Road.▼
Around 20% of the population of Prestwich is [[Jewish]],<ref name="prestwichcensus"/> and the area, along with neighbouring [[Whitefield, Greater Manchester| Whitefield]], [[Broughton, Greater Manchester|Broughton]] and [[Crumpsall]], makes up the second largest Jewish community in the UK outside London.
▲The
===Population change===
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[[File:Longfieldsuite.jpg|thumb|left|Longfield Suite main entrance]]
The high street of Prestwich is centred around the Longfield Centre. The centre, which includes the now-closed Longfield Suite, local library and [[NHS]] drop-in centre, is due to be "regenerated" with £100m worth of development work starting in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Vision |url=https://yourprestwich.com/our-vision/ |website=Your Prestwich |publisher=Muse and Bury Council |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> According to the Sunday Times, the area is an "interesting mix of old and new",<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Prestwich, Greater Manchester, is one of the best places to live in 2022 |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-prestwich-greater-manchester-best-place-to-live-uk-zmz7pd65m |website=thetimes.co.uk |publisher=The Times |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> with various more upmarket bars and restaurants alongside traditional venues. Many of the local pubs are run by [[Joseph Holt's Brewery|Joseph Holt]], and the brewery's first cask ale festival was hosted in the Woodthorpe pub in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joseph Holt to host its first cask ale festival |url=https://beertoday.co.uk/2023/10/31/joseph-holt-cask-ale-festival-1023/ |publisher=Beer Today |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref>
In the Sedgley Park area, there are a number of kosher restaurants and delis.
Prestwich is now considered to be an affluent area and has been called the "[[Didsbury]] of North Manchester".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/prestwich.asp |title=Prestwich Tourist Information |publisher=About Britain |access-date=4 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602043931/http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/prestwich.asp |archive-date=2 June 2009 }}</ref>
==Transport==
[[File:Prestwich 1904.jpg|thumb|right|Tram to Manchester passing through Prestwich village in 1904]]
Public transport in Prestwich is coordinated by [[Transport for Greater Manchester]]. It has good transport links to [[Manchester city centre]], Bury and other parts of Greater Manchester
Prestwich is served by four tram stations on the [[Manchester Metrolink]] line from Manchester to Bury, at [[Besses o' th' Barn tram stop|Besses o' th' Barn]] on the Whitefield border to the north, [[Prestwich tram stop|Prestwich]] in the centre of the village, [[Heaton Park tram stop|Heaton Park]] in the centre-east and [[Bowker Vale tram stop|Bowker Vale]] on the [[Blackley]] border to the south-east. There are a number of parking spaces at the Besses and Prestwich, stops, however, the nearest dedicated park-and-ride station is at Whitefield with over 200 spaces.<ref>{{cite web |title=Park and Ride |url=https://tfgm.com/public-transport/park-and-ride |website=Transport for Greater Manchester |access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref> The metrolink line was originally a train line, with Prestwich station first built by [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] in 1879.<ref name="Mgs">{{Cite journal|journal=Exploring Greater Manchester|url=http://www.mangeogsoc.org.uk/egm/6_1.pdf|title=Manchester Victoria to Bury: an historical trip on Metrolink|last=Hindle|first=Paul|publisher=Manchester Geographical Society|access-date=3 December 2010}}</ref> ▼
Bury New Road is the main road through the centre of the town. Buses on the road operate between Prestwich and central Manchester and Bury, with high frequency services operated by [[Go North West]] Local bus routes link the village to northern areas of [[City of Salford|Salford]] including [[Pendlebury]], [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]], [[Monton]] and [[Eccles, Greater Manchester|Eccles]]. [[Blackburn Bus Company|The Lancashire Way]] and [[The Witch Way]] express services link Prestwich to Manchester, [[Burnley]] and [[Borough of Pendle|Pendle]]. The road was first constructed by a turnpike trust in 1826.<ref name="Mgs"/>
Bury New Road also intersects the [[M60 motorway (Great Britain)| M60 motorway]] at Junction 17, the Whitefield Interchange, a short distance north of the centre of Prestwich.<ref>{{cite web |title=Junction 17 of M60 |url=https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=M60_motorway_(Great_Britain)¶ms=53.5388_N_2.2889_W_region:GB_type:landmark&title=Junction+17+of+M60 |website=GeoHack |access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref>
▲Prestwich is served by four tram stations on the Metrolink line from Manchester to Bury, at [[Besses o' th' Barn tram stop|Besses o' th' Barn]] on the Whitefield border to the north, [[Prestwich tram stop|Prestwich]] in the centre of the village, [[Heaton Park tram stop|Heaton Park]] in the centre-east and [[Bowker Vale tram stop|Bowker Vale]] on the [[Blackley]] border to the south-east. There are a number of parking spaces at the Besses and Prestwich stops, however, the nearest dedicated park-and-ride station is at Whitefield with over 200 spaces.
==Landmarks==
===Historic Buildings===
<gallery>
File:Rookwood Wrenwood.jpg|[[Arts and Crafts Movement|Arts and Crafts]], grade II listed building on Hilton Lane, built c1880<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.bury.gov.uk/Environment/LandAndPremises/Buildings/ListedBuildings/ListedBuildings.htm |title=Wrenwood and Rookwood |publisher=Bury Council |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026130543/http://www.bury.gov.uk/Environment/LandAndPremises/Buildings/ListedBuildings/ListedBuildings.htm |archive-date=26 October 2007 }}</ref>
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File:Poppythorn Cottage.jpg|Poppythorn Cottage on Poppythorn Lane
</gallery>
===Parks===▼
[[Richard Buxton (botanist)|Richard Buxton]] (1786–1865), a shoemaker born at Sedgley Hall Farm<ref name=vch/> published a botanical guide to the plants found around the Manchester area in 1849.<ref name="Buxton">{{cite book|last=Buxton|first=Richard|title=A botanical guide to the flowering plants, ferns, mosses and algæ, found indigenous within {{convert|16|mi|km}} of Manchester: with some information as to their agricultural, medicinal, and other usesr|publisher=Longman and Co|location=Manchester|year=1849|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o00EAAAAQAAJ&q=Richard+Buxton|access-date=11 May 2009}}</ref> In the early 20th century James Cosmo Melvill wrote that [[Kersal Moor]], Prestwich Clough, Mere Clough, the Park and Hurst Clough were the homes of most of the interesting plants. Many other noted local botanists had studied the area including [[Leo Grindon]] and Thomas Rogers.<ref>Melvill, J. C. (1905) "Flora", in: Nicholls, W. ''History and Traditions''; pp. 165–182</ref>▼
[[File:Prestwich Clough near M60.jpg|right|thumb|One of the trails to Mere Clough]]▼
In 1906 {{convert|9|acre|ha|abbr=off|spell=in}} of land were given to the Prestwich Urban District Council by William Gardner, a further {{convert|13|acre|ha|abbr=off|spell=in}} were purchased and the "sylvan and beautiful" Prestwich Clough was opened to the public as a place of recreation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.prestwichandwhitefieldguide.co.uk/news/prestwich_history/lookingback/4762095.___Sylvan____view_of_the_Clough_in_1908/|title=Looking back:'Sylvan' view of the Clough in 1908|last=pratt|first=Ian|date=26 November 2009|work=Prestwich and Whitefield Guide|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|access-date=3 January 2010}}</ref>▼
Much of the area of the park was industrialised during the 18th and 19th centuries but has been reclaimed with extensive woodlands, reservoirs and grasslands. While this area has become a haven for wildlife, there are still remnants of the area's industrial past. Philips Park has been designated as a [[Local Nature Reserve]] (LNR) and Prestwich Clough as a [[Site of Biological Importance]] (SBI) due to the important contribution they make to the wildlife heritage of [[Greater Manchester]]. The [[Irwell Sculpture Trail]], the Irwell Valley Way and a [[National Cycle Route]] all pass through the park. The "Friends of Prestwich Forest Park" and the [[BTCV]] co-ordinate volunteer activities and events such as the Prestwich Clough Centenary Celebrations.<ref>[http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/176936/ Prestwich Clough Day 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516122805/http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/176936/ |date=16 May 2007 }} Retrieved 26 October 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prestwichclough.co.uk/|title=Prestwich Clough Centenary Committee <!-- Bot generated title -->|website=prestwichclough.co.uk|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> The renovated Philips Park Barn which has become a major [[Environmental science|environmental]] education and countryside centre for the borough and is used by a number of local groups .<ref>[http://www.bury.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/PlanningProjects/CountrysideAndWildlife/PrestwichFP.htm Prestwich Forest Park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020092030/http://www.bury.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/PlanningProjects/CountrysideAndWildlife/PrestwichFP.htm |date=20 October 2007 }} Retrieved 26 October 2007</ref>▼
==Education==
Prestwich has four secondary schools: [[The Heys School]], [[St Monica's High School]], [[Parrenthorn High School]] and [[Manchester Mesivta School]]. Two of these are faith schools, with St Monica's being Catholic and Mesivta Jewish. St Monica's featured a Sixth Form centre offering vocational courses from 2011 but the centre was closed down in 2017, so for both A-level and vocational studies the nearest tertiary education providers are both in Bury, [[Holy Cross College (UK)|Holy Cross College]] and [[Bury College]].
Line 141 ⟶ 164:
The migration of Jewish families, mainly from the nearby [[Cheetham Hill|Cheetham]] area of Manchester and [[Broughton Park]] in [[City of Salford|Salford]], and the later arrival of Muslims into this urban area, resulted in synagogues, such as [[Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/prestwichadvertiser/news/s/1060632_what_will_we_do_without_him|title=What will we do without him?|first=Manchester Evening|last=News|date=19 April 2010|website=menmedia.co.uk|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> and mosques being constructed alongside Christian places of worship. There are Jewish cemeteries at Philips Park Cemetery, Prestwich Village Cemetery was used from 1841 to 1951, and Rainsough Cemetery from 1923. According to [[Nikolaus Pevsner|Pevsner]], the 1934 Holy Law Synagogue was the first "purpose-built" synagogue in Prestwich.
<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pevsner|first1=Nikolaus|last2=Hartwell|first2=Clare|last3=Hyde|first3=Matthew|title=Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East| date=2004|publisher=Yale University Press|location=New Haven and London|isbn=0-300-10583-5|page=368|edition=1st}}</ref>
▲==Parks==
▲[[Richard Buxton (botanist)|Richard Buxton]] (1786–1865), a shoemaker born at Sedgley Hall Farm<ref name=vch/> published a botanical guide to the plants found around the Manchester area in 1849.<ref name="Buxton">{{cite book|last=Buxton|first=Richard|title=A botanical guide to the flowering plants, ferns, mosses and algæ, found indigenous within {{convert|16|mi|km}} of Manchester: with some information as to their agricultural, medicinal, and other usesr|publisher=Longman and Co|location=Manchester|year=1849|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o00EAAAAQAAJ&q=Richard+Buxton|access-date=11 May 2009}}</ref> In the early 20th century James Cosmo Melvill wrote that [[Kersal Moor]], Prestwich Clough, Mere Clough, the Park and Hurst Clough were the homes of most of the interesting plants. Many other noted local botanists had studied the area including [[Leo Grindon]] and Thomas Rogers.<ref>Melvill, J. C. (1905) "Flora", in: Nicholls, W. ''History and Traditions''; pp. 165–182</ref>
▲[[File:Prestwich Clough near M60.jpg|right|thumb|One of the trails to Mere Clough]]
▲In 1906 {{convert|9|acre|ha}} of land were given to the Prestwich Urban District Council by William Gardner, a further {{convert|13|acre|ha}} were purchased and the "sylvan and beautiful" Prestwich Clough was opened to the public as a place of recreation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.prestwichandwhitefieldguide.co.uk/news/prestwich_history/lookingback/4762095.___Sylvan____view_of_the_Clough_in_1908/|title=Looking back:'Sylvan' view of the Clough in 1908|last=pratt|first=Ian|date=26 November 2009|work=Prestwich and Whitefield Guide|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|access-date=3 January 2010}}</ref>
▲'''Prestwich Forest Park''' consists of {{Convert|200|ha|acres}} of land on the western side of Prestwich incorporating, [[Philips Park, Whitefield|Philips Park]], Prestwich Clough, Mere Clough, Waterdale Meadow and [[Drinkwater Park]].
▲Much of the area of the park was industrialised during the 18th and 19th centuries but has been reclaimed with extensive woodlands, reservoirs and grasslands. While this area has become a haven for wildlife, there are still remnants of the area's industrial past. Philips Park has been designated as a [[Local Nature Reserve]] (LNR) and Prestwich Clough as a [[Site of Biological Importance]] (SBI) due to the important contribution they make to the wildlife heritage of [[Greater Manchester]]. The [[Irwell Sculpture Trail]], the Irwell Valley Way and a [[National Cycle Route]] all pass through the park. The "Friends of Prestwich Forest Park" and the [[BTCV]] co-ordinate volunteer activities and events such as the Prestwich Clough Centenary Celebrations.<ref>[http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/176936/ Prestwich Clough Day 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516122805/http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/176936/ |date=16 May 2007 }} Retrieved 26 October 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prestwichclough.co.uk/|title=Prestwich Clough Centenary Committee <!-- Bot generated title -->|website=prestwichclough.co.uk|access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> The renovated Philips Park Barn which has become a major [[Environmental science|environmental]] education and countryside centre for the borough and is used by a number of local groups .<ref>[http://www.bury.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/PlanningProjects/CountrysideAndWildlife/PrestwichFP.htm Prestwich Forest Park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020092030/http://www.bury.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/PlanningProjects/CountrysideAndWildlife/PrestwichFP.htm |date=20 October 2007 }} Retrieved 26 October 2007</ref>
==Sport==
The most successful [[Association football]] team representing Prestwich is [[Prestwich Heys A.F.C.]], who play in the [[North West Counties Football League]], level nine in the [[English football league system]]. Other local teams include Prestwich F.C., Prestwich Marauders F.C., and Bury Amateurs.
[[Prestwich Cricket, Tennis & Bowling Club]] is located near Prestwich [[Manchester Metrolink|Metrolink]] station. It is one of the oldest clubs in the Manchester area, and was the first multi-sports club in the UK to achieve Clubmark or equivalent accreditations in all its official sporting sections.<ref name="clubmark">{{cite web
|url= http://www.clubmark.org.uk/news/prestwich-sports-club-a-shining-example
|title= Prestwich sports club... a shining example
|accessdate= 2011-11-16
|date=
|publisher= Clubmark/Sport England
}}</ref> The club has [[cricket]], [[bowls|crown green bowling]], tennis and [[association football|football]] facilities and a clubhouse.
Golf is played at Prestwich Golf Club, and crown green bowling in St. Mary's Park. Both are also found at the nearby Heaton Park, where the bowling greens were built for the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]].
==Culture and media==
''The Prestwich and Whitefield Guide'' and ''The Bury Times'' are sold in the locality. The ''[[Jewish Telegraph]]'' is produced and printed in Prestwich.
The Longfield Centre civic hall,
There are several private members' clubs in the town including, Prestwich Church Institute,the Carlton Club, Heaton Park Social (Working Men's) Club, and two political clubs—Prestwich [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] Club and Prestwich [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] Club.▼
▲There are several private members' clubs in the town, including
▲'''Sedgley Park''' is an area of Prestwich, bounded to the north by Scholes Lane, to the east by Bury Old Road and to the west by Bland Road/George Street. The district has a large [[Jewish]] population, with a number of [[synagogue]]s. There are many [[Jewish]] businesses, shops and [[delicatessen]]s along Bury New Road, Kings Road and Bury Old Road. The housing is varied, but the bulk of the property is residential interwar semi-detached (1920s and 1930s). Sedgley Park is also home to the [[Greater Manchester Police]] training headquarters. There was once a park, to the south-west of Bury Old Road and Scholes Lane, but this has long since been developed with residential property (Lanes Estate). Sedgley Park Teacher Training College was established after the Faithful Companions of Jesus bought a house to accommodate it in 1903.<ref>[https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/diocese/history/ Diocese of Salford; history; former bishops]</ref> When [[Mike Leigh]] was a lecturer at the Catholic women teachers' training college ''Sedgley Park'' he devised and directed two big-cast projects for the [[Manchester Youth Theatre]]: ''Big Basil'' and ''Glum Victoria and the Lad with Specs'' .<ref>Coveney, p. 80</ref> The National Archives holds records relating to the college.<ref>[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1969657 Manchester, Prestwich, Sedgley Park Training College formerly Salford Training College]; the National Archives</ref>
==Notable people==
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* [[Betty Tebbs]], campaigner for women's rights and peace, lived in Prestwich.
* [[Emma Jane Unsworth]], author, grew up in Prestwich and has also lived there as an adult.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wallwork|first=Melanie|date=1 May 2014|title=The Bury Times: The Big Interview – Author Emma Jane Unsworth talks tattoos, parks and Prestwich|url=http://www.burytimes.co.uk/leisure/the_big_interview/11186193.Author_Emma_Jane_Unsworth_talks_tattoos__parks_and_Prestwich_ahead_of_book_launch/|access-date=27 March 2015}}</ref>
* [[Dudley D. Watkins]], cartoonist, who created [[Oor Wullie]], [[The Broons]] and drew for ''[[The Dandy]]'' comic amongst others.
* [[Victoria Wood]], writer, comedian and actress, was born in Prestwich.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz/s/216/216494_victoria_wood_to_return_to_drama.html|title=Victoria Wood to return to drama|date=23 June 2006|work=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>
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[[Category:Towns in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury]]
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