Cheadle Hulme, United Kingdom

At 53.376°N 2.188°W / 53.376; -2.188, Cheadle Hulme is in the south of Greater Manchester. Stockport Metropolitan Borough straddles the Cheshire Plain and the Pennines, and Cheadle Hulme is in the west of the borough on the Cheshire Plain. The area lies in the Ladybrook Valley next to the Micker Brook, a tributary of the river Mersey which flows north–west from Poynton through Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme, joining the Mersey in Stockport.

The majority of buildings in the area are houses from the 20th century, but there are a few buildings, landmarks and objects that date from the 16th century, in addition to Bramall Hall which dates from the 14th century. In particular, there are many Victorian buildings in several places across the area. The local drift geology is mostly glacial boulder clay, as well as glacial sands and gravel. For many years the clay has been used for making bricks and tiles.

Cheadle Hulme's climate is generally temperate, like the rest of Greater Manchester. The mean highest and lowest temperatures of 13.2 °C (55.8 °F) and 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) are slightly above the average for England, while the annual rainfall of 806.6 millimetres (31.76 in) and average hours (1,394.5 hours) of sunshine are respectively above and below the national averages.

For many years, Cheadle Hulme was rural countryside, made up of woods, open land and farms. The local population was made up of farmers and peasants, living in small cottages and working the land under the tenancy of the Lord of the manor. Most families kept animals for food, grew their own crops, and probably bought and sold produce at Stockport market. Water was obtained from local wells and ponds, and sometimes the Micker Brook.

Local silk weaving became a large part of everyday life. The work took place in domestic cottages in a room known as a "loomshop", and the woven silk was transported to firms in Macclesfield 8 miles (13 km) away. Silk-weaving remained commonplace in the area until the early 20th century, when the process became industrialised. Other industries in the area included a corn mill, which collapsed some time during the First World War, located next to the Micker Brook; cotton weaving; and brickworks, one located where the fire station is and one near to the railway station. A coal wharf was situated opposite the railway station and supplied the area with coal.

The East Cheshire Chess Club is located on Church Road and there are two amateur theatre societies: Players' Dramatic Society on Anfield Road, and Chads Theatre on Mellor Road.

Cheadle Hulme Library, which opened on 28 March 1936, is also located on Mellor Road. The suburb once had its own cinema named the Elysian Cinema, located on Station Road, but this closed in March 1974. As of 2009, the closest cinemas to Cheadle Hulme are approximately 3 miles (5 km) away in Stockport (Red Rock) and the Parrs Wood entertainment centre, both leisure complexes which include restaurants, bars, bowling and fitness facilities.

Cheadle Hulme is also home to many public houses and restaurants that serve a variety of cuisine, including Indian, Chinese and Italian. The John Millington, a Grade II listed building, was formerly Millington Hall, built for Stockport alderman John Millington. A row of cottages near to the hall served as a meeting place for local Methodists from 1814, before a purpose-built chapel was established. A Sunday school was also established in the same place. The King's Hall was built in 1937 and was originally a dance hall before its conversion into a restaurant and public house.

Cheadle Hulme's first school, established in 1785, was named after local grocer Jonathan Robinson, who donated 3 acres (1.2 ha) of land on what is now Woods Lane. The school was built on what is now the corner of Woods Lane and Church Road, and was originally for the teaching of four boys and four girls. With the increasing population and the Education Act 1870 All Saints' National School was built across the road in 1873, next to All Saints' Church from which it took its name.

Hulme Hall Grammar School was established in 1928 (has since relocated), Queens Road Primary School opened in 1932, and the school that became Cheadle Hulme High School was built near to the site of the Jonathan Robinson School in the 1930s.

Most of the other schools in the area were established in the 1950s and 1960s, including Cheadle County Grammar School for Girls, built in 1956, which later became Margaret Danyers Sixth Form College, named after the same Danyers who was lady of the manor in the 14th century. The site is now the Cheadle campus of Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College.

There are nine primary schools, with two secondary schools: Cheadle Hulme High School and St. James' Catholic High School, which opened in 1980, In addition, three private schools and one special school, Seashell Trust are located in the area.