Middleton, United Kingdom

Middleton lies on undulated land immediately north of Manchester; the towns of Chadderton and Royton are close to the east. The town of Rochdale lies to the north-north-east. The town's name is derived from Middle-town, from its situation midway between Manchester and Rochdale. It is situated on an ancient road between those places. Middleton town centre is around 220 feet (67 m) above sea level.

Middleton experiences a temperate maritime climate, like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. There is regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year. Middleton is watered by two confluent streams which have their rise in the immediate district, Wince Brook and Whit Brook, as well as the River Irk, which flows along the southern side of the town centre.

Much of Middleton's built environment is characterised by its 19th-century red-brick terraced houses, the infrastructure that was built to support these and the town's former cotton mills, although from the middle of the 20th century the town saw the growth of its outlying residential areas of Langley, Hollin and Boarshaw which are predominately ex-local authority housing. The skyline is marked by St. Leonard's Church. The urban structure of Middleton is regular in comparison to most towns in England. Residential dwellings and streets are located around the town centre.

Middleton's town centre is mostly commercial, with Tesco and Middleton Arndale occupying the majority of the town centre. Middleton Gardens also contains many businesses and pubs.

Industrial polymer, thermoplastics and nonwovens producer The Vita Group have a registered office in Middleton. Kitbag operates a distribution centre from Greengate.

Bluebird Bus and Coach was a travel company based in Middleton. Bus company JP Travel was also based in Middleton.

Robert McBride, a household and personal care product manufacturer, is also based in the town.

JW Lees houses its brewery at Middleton Junction; the brewery owns several pubs in Greater Manchester area.

Almost every part of Middleton is served by a school of some kind, some with religious affiliations. According to the Office for Standards in Education, schools within the town perform at mixed levels.

Primary schools include St. Peter's Roman Catholic, Alkrington, St. Michael's CofE, St. Thomas-More's Roman Catholic Primary School, Bowlee Park Community and Middleton Parish School.

Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School, formerly Cardinal Langley Grammar School, is one of the local secondary schools; others are Dixons Middleton Academy (formerly Middleton Technology School), the Edgar Wood Academy and St. Anne's Academy.

Further education is provided by the sixth form at Cardinal Langley, as well as the Middleton campus of Hopwood Hall College. From 1946 to 1989, the campus was used by the De La Salle Catholic college of higher education affiliated to the Victoria University of Manchester. Founded as a teacher training college, the chapel, designed by Frederick Gibberd, was the architectural prototype for the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. The chapel still exists on the campus, known as the Milnrow building, but its spire is no longer topped with a cross. Hopwood Hall College benefits from its extensive grounds and leisure facilities which were developed over many years by the De La Salle College.