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Manchester ARTICLES

Alderley Edge And It's Mythical Qualities

13th January 2009

Before the Bronze Age, Alderley Edge was wild and beautiful woodland. The woodland finally became heathland as trees were burnt for charcoal, which was then used to extract copper for ore.

Sir James and Sir Edward Stanley owned the land around Alderley Edge. Between 1745 -1745 they decided to bring the Edge back to its former glory by planting Scots Pine. The 1770s saw the introduction of Beech trees, which were mostly concentrated around Artists Lane.

However the two hundred years old Beeches are starting to die and the new saplings that have been planted cannot get a hold in the thin soil. There are now many Beech tree stumps, which are being lost at a rate of one a year.

It is stated that Alderley Edge has mythical qualities as the alder tree was viewed as sacred in Northern England. The area was also of great interest to the Romans, Saxons and Celts.

In the 1960s rumours started to circulate that witches were using the edge. A local newspaper took a photograph of people walking around a fire, dressed in white robes. The Coven from Manchester was driven out after the public became aware of their activities in the area.

During the 19th century Alderley was an agriculture hamlet and was known as Chorley. The introduction of the railway system opened the hamlet up to wealthy Manchester businessmen. They settled in the area and Alderley Edge town was officially created in 1864.

The Fitton family owned the Chorlegh estates in the 13th century, which was then passed onto the Venables at the beginning of the 14th century.

In 1403 Richard Venable drowned in the River Bollin, which led to the estates being passed down to his sisters Alice and Dulcea. At the young age of 11 years old Alice de Venables was married off to Sir Edward Trafford de Trafford, who promptly became the owner of the Chorley Township.

The Davenport family became the next owners of many of the estates during the 16th century and was the first family to actually reside at Chorley. The estates remained in the family for many generations until it was sold to Sir Thomas Stanley in 1640.