Longsight is an area in the City of Manchester,in North West England. It is around three miles south of Manchester City Centre, and has a total population of 16,007.[1]
| Longsight | |
|---|---|
| Population | Expression error: "16,007 (2001 Census)" must be numeric |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MANCHESTER |
| Postcode district | M13 |
| Dialling code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
Geography and administration
Previously known as Grindlow Marsh, it was incorporated into the City of Manchester in 1890. The district is bordered by Ardwick to the north, Rusholme and Victoria Park to the west, Levenshulme to the south, and Gorton to the east. Longsight is currently defined by Hyde Road, Grey Street, Stockport Road, Plymouth Grove, Richmond Grove, Hathersage Road, Anson Road, Dickenson Road, Beresford Road, Old Hall Lane, Stockport Road, East Road, Pink Bank Lane, Nutsford Vale, Buckley Road and Mount Road. The Old Roman Road to Buxton (the A6 or Stockport Road) roughly bisects the area.
Longsight is served in Westminster by the MP for Manchester Gorton, currently the Rt Hon Sir Gerald Kaufman.
The area is represented on Manchester City Council by Liberal Democrat Liaqat Ali, first elected in 2003, Abid Chohan elected in 2004 and Labour's Maryam Khan elected in May 2006.
Demographics
Longsight has a very ethnically diverse population.[2] According to the 2001 UK census, 52.7% of the population is from non-white ethnic groups. This includes 36.1% who describe themselves as Asian or Asian British (including 24.6% Pakistani, 7.2% Bangladeshi), and 9.1% Black or Black British. Many of the white people are of Irish decent and the current Irish population stands at 4.3% of the local population - slightly higher than the Manchester average of 3.8%. The largest religious groups are Christian (38.6%) and Muslim (34.7%), with 23.6% of the population not stating a religion. [3] The Census tended to underestimate immigrant communities, and it is likely that these groups in Longsight were underestimated are now proportionately larger. There is still inward immgration and there is now a substantial West African community in the area. There are a number of churches in the area, a large Pakistani community centre, and a Jain temple.
As the 2001 census figures cited above demonstrate, the religious affiliation of Longsight ward residents is one-third Muslim and around one-third Christian. The area is therefore home to a number of mosques and also churches of varying denomination, which include Saint Agnes Church, Bethshan International Church and Saint Roberts Church.
Transport
The train line, from Manchester Piccadilly to Stockport, passes through the area, though there is no longer a station. The nearest stations are Ardwick and Levenshulme. Longsight contains the Slade Lane railway junction and is the site of several railway depots, which service trains for Virgin Trains, Northern Rail and TransPennine Express. The earliest railway works was set up in 1842 by the Manchester and Birmingham Railway. Little is known about its early history, except that it produced fifteen single wheeler passenger engines to a design by Sharp Stewart and Company. In 1846 the M&BR was amalgamated with the LNWR under John Ramsbottom. One 0-6-0 was produced in 1858 but then the works closed down as the LNWR transferred its operations to Crewe.
Industry and commerce
The main shopping centre is near the corner of Stockport Road and Dickenson Road, and contains a library and supermarket as well as many smaller shops. The Longsight Market, one of the busiest markets in the North West of England, is located on Dickenson Road. It can be easily spotted by its brightly-coloured profiled roofs. The market hosts a general market every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and a second-hand market every Tuesday. There are a large number of takeaway food shops and restaurants and a very wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and other supplies to cater for the interests of the various immigrant communities in the area.
Cultural references
Longsight was immortalised in song by local singer Ian Brown formerly of The Stone Roses on his album 'Solarized'. The song was titled 'Longsight M13' reflecting the postcode of the area, which begins with M13. Graffiti appeared locally saying 'Stone Roses RIP' when the band split up, and 'Free Ian Brown' when he was jailed [4]. The song was written with Brown's former Roses bandmate, guitarist Aziz Ibrahim, who still lives in Longsight to this day.[5] Brown also mentions the area in the Stone Roses song Daybreak which contains the line "From Atlanta, Georgia, to Longsight, Manchester". In recent times Longsight has suffered like most inner city areas, with gangs, drugs and high profile shootings.
See also
References
- ^ Longsight, 2001 Census Results.
- ^ Central Manchester: Background Information and Ethnic Profile, Race for Health. Retrieved 14 May 2006.
- ^ National Statistics Neighbourhood Statistics from the UK census, accessed 1 May 2006
- ^ The Greatest (CD) - Ian Brown - sleevenotes
- ^ [1] Aziz Ibrahim's Biography, accessed 2 June 2006