The town of Mottram is situated on a steep hill at the western extremity of the vale of Longdendale, and consists principally of one broad and well paved street. In the immediate vicinity are numerous small hamlets and mills stretching along the bank of the river Mersey, which expands into a broad stream about a mile and a half from the town. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Chester, value £219, in the patronage of the bishop. The parish church, which is situated on a hill, is a structure of pebbly stone, with a lofty, square, embattled tower. It has been rebuilt on the foundation of a still more ancient edifice, and is dedicated to St. Michael. In the interior are some ancient monuments and sepulchral chapels belonging respectively to the manors of Hollingworth and Stayley, also an old stone font, and tombs of Serjeant Bretland, "Old Roe and his wife," &c. In addition to the parish church are the following district churches, viz: St. Mary's, Newton; St. Paul's, Stayley; Christ Church, Tintwistle; St. John's, Godley-cum-Newton-Green; St. James's, Millbrook, and the ancient chapel of Woodhead, the livings of which are all perpetual curacies,* varying in value from £200 to £90. The parochial charities produce about £150 per annum. There is an endowed grammar school, founded in 1620 by Robert Garsett and Sir Richard Wilbraham, which has an income of £90 from lands and rent-charges. The Independents, Wesleyans, Moravians, and New Connexion Methodists have places of worship within the parish. There are also National and denominational schools. In the parish are traces of Bucton Castle, supposed to be of British origin, and near the old parsonage-house intrenchments resembling those of a Roman station."
"GODLEY, a township in the parish of Mottram-in-Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county palatine of Chester, 3 miles S.E. of Ashton-under-Lyne, and 6 N.E. of Stockport. Manchester is its post town. It is situated on Warneth Brook, and derives its name from the family of Godleigh, who possessed the manor in the reign of John. The Manchester and Sheffield railway passes through the township. The village, which is considerable, is a suburb of the town of Hyde. There are cotton-mills, affording employment to many of the people. The living is a perpetual curacy annexed to the vicarage* of Mottram, in the diocese of Chester. Godley House is the principal residence. John Tollemache, Esq., is lord of the manor."
"HATTERSLEY, a township in the parish of Mottram in Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county Chester, 2½ miles E. of Hyde, and 2 N. of Broadbottom railway station. It is situated near the river Etherow. The soil is a mixture of clay and sand, and the land chiefly pasture. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington is lord of the manor and chief landowner."
"HOLLINGWORTH, a township in the parish of Mottram in Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county Chester, 3 miles S.E. of Staleybridge, 4 E. of Ashton-under-Lyne, and 2 N.W. of the Hadfield railway station. The cotton manufactories are the chief support of this township, giving employment to a large number of its inhabitants. The land is principally in pasture, and the soil various. The parish church is at Mottram. There is a National school, besides Sunday and day schools. The Wesleyans, Independents, and New Connexion Methodists have each a place of worship. The principal residences are Holyngworthe Hall and Old Hall-the former, a very ancient mansion, is the seat of Robert-de-Holyngworthe, in whose family it has remained for several centuries; the latter is a modern mansion situated in a small park. John Tolemache, Esq., is lord of the manor."
"MATLEY, a township in the parish of Mottram-in-Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county Chester, 8 miles E. of Manchester, 7½ N.E. of Stockport, and 2 S.E. of the Stalybridge railway station on the Manchester and Sheffield railway. The township is small and wholly agricultural. The soil consists of sand and clay, and the subsoil sandstone rock. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington is lord of the manor."
"MICKLEHURST, a hamlet in the parish of Mottram in Longdendale, county Chester, 4 miles N.E. of Ashton-under-Lyne. It is situated near the river Thane."
"NEWTON MOOR, a populous township in the parish of Mottram-in-Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county Chester, 7½ miles S.E. of Manchester, its post town, 2½ S. of Ashton-under-Lyne, and 6 N.E. of Stockport. It is a station on the Manchester and Sheffield railway. The village, which is situated in the midst of a thriving manufacturing district, is of large extent. A branch of the Peak Forest canal passes through the township. The manor formerly belonged to the Davenports, through which family it came by marriage to Thomas do Newton in 1302. It subsequently became the property of Sir Charles Duckinfield, who purchased it from the last of the Newtons. A portion of the inhabitants are employed in cotton-weaving, printing of calico, and in the manufacture of hats. There are iron-works for smelting the ore, also collieries and stone quarries. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Chester, value £150, in the patronage of the Vicar of Mottram. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a new stone structure, containing a marble monument to James and John Ashton, Esqs.; also one to the Rev. W. Johnson, M.A., formerly Vicar of Mottram. There is a National school for both sexes, at which a Church Sunday-school is also held. There are places of worship for the Wesleyans, New Connexion Methodists, and Roman Catholics. At Harrison Fold, in this township, is a stone house, in which lived the famous John Collier, or "Tim Bobbin," who was apprenticed as a weaver, and subsequently became schoolmaster and author at Milnrow, in Lancashire. The ancient building Newton Hall has been converted into cottages. Newton Lodge is the principal residence."
"STAYLEY, a township in the parish of Mottram in Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county Chester, 1 mile N.E. of Ashton. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the collieries and cotton mills. The Huddersfield canal passes through the township, which includes a portion of the town of Staleybridge. The living is a curacy in the diocese of Chester, and in the patronage of trustees."
"TINTWISTLE, a township in the parish of Mottram-in-Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county Chester, 10 miles N.E. from Stockport, its post town. It is a station on the Sheffield and Manchester railway, and is situated on the western bank of the river Etherow, and is divided into the hamlets of Tintwistle, Micklehurst, Arnfield, and Woodhead. The village is lighted with gas. There are cotton and woollen manufactories, and stone quarries. Here is situated the reservoir containing 400,000 cubic yards, for the supply of water to Manchester, 13 miles distant. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Chester, value £200, in the patronage of trustees. The church, dedicated to Christ, is modern. There are National and British schools for both sexes, and a Sunday-school, in which the Tintwistle mechanics' institute is held, besides several other societies. The Independents and Wesleyans have chapels."
"WOODHEAD, a chapelry in the parish of Mottram-in-Longdendale, hundred of Macclesfield, county Chester, 13 miles N.E. of Stockport. It is a station on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire railway."
