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{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|static_image = [[File:St Mary's Church, Bowdon.jpg|240px]]
|static_image_caption=Bowdon Parish Church
|official_name= Bowdon, Hale
|latitude = 53.3765
|longitude = -2.3662
| population = 8,806
| population_ref = (2006 Ward Profile)<ref name="ward profile">[http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DocMan2Document.asp?document_id=A7B83889-E107-4DD9-B583-A399CB3C00EF Bowdon Ward Profile], Trafford Council Working Document, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2007.</ref>
|metropolitan_borough= [[Trafford]]
|metropolitan_county= [[Greater Manchester]]
|region= North West England
|constituency_westminster= [[Altrincham and Sale West (UK Parliament constituency)|Altrincham and Sale West]]
|post_town= ALTRINCHAM
|postcode_district=
|postcode_area=
|dial_code= 0161
|os_grid_reference=
}}
'''Bowdon''' is a village and [[Wards of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]] in [[Trafford]], in [[Greater Manchester]], England. Bowdon, along with [[Altrincham]] and [[Hale, Greater Manchester|Hale]], has some of the most expensive houses outside of London. The ward of Bowdon is mostly rural and encompasses a number of small villages including [[Dunham Massey]], which is owned by [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|The National Trust]].
==History==
Both Bowdon and [[Dunham Massey]] are mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], citing the existence of a church and a mill in Bowdon, and Dunham Massey is identified as ''Doneham: Hamo de Mascy''.<ref name="Doomsday">{{cite web|url=http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/cheshire1.html|title=The Domesday Book - Cheshire|publisher=domesdaybook.co.uk|accessdate=2008-11-02}}</ref>
The name Bowdon came from [[Anglo-Saxon language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''Boga-dūn'' = "[[bow (weapon)]]-hill" or "curved hill".
Both areas came under [[Hamo de Masci]] in Norman times. His base was a wooden castle at [[Dunham Castle|Dunham]]. [[Watch Hill Castle]] was built on the border between Bowdon and Dunham Massey between the Norman Conquest and the 13th century. The timber castle most likely belonged to [[Hamon de Massey|Hamo de Mascy]]; the castle had fallen out of use by the 13th century.<ref name="Archaeology of Trafford">Watch Hill Castle by Norman Redhead in {{cite book |author=Mike Nevell |year=1997 |title=The Archaeology of Trafford |publisher=Trafford Metropolitan Borough with [[Manchester University|University of Manchester Archaeological Unit]] |pages=34–35 |isbn=1-870695-25-9}}</ref> The last Hamo de Masci died in 1342. The Black Death came to the area in 1348. Before 1494 the ruins of the castle at Dunham were acquired by [[Booth baronets|Sir Robert Booth]]. In 1750, this and the other Booth estates passed to the Earl of Stamford by his marriage to Lady Mary Booth. The 10th and last [[Earl of Stamford]] died in 1976, who bequeathed [[Dunham Massey]] and his [[Carrington, Greater Manchester|Carrington]] estates to the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]].
The development of Bowdon as a residential area began apace in the 1840s, when the landowners of the area sold off parcels of land. The opening of [[Bowdon railway station]] in 1849 provided a commuter route to the centre of Manchester, making the clean air and tranquility of the Bowdon Downs more attractive to developers. Initially, terraces and [[Semi detached|semi-detached]] houses were built, but by the 1860s and 1870s, the 'merchant princes' had built the large houses on Green Walk which are still a defining feature of the ward.<ref name="tennis club history">[http://www.bbltc.org.uk/history.php A history of Bowdon in the 19th Century], from Bowdon Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club.</ref> By 1878 [[Kelly's Directory]] was describing Bowdon as "studded with handsome villas and mansions", and around 60% of the residents were business owners.<ref name="tennis club history" /> Mains water appeared in 1864, and [[gas lighting]] by 1865.<ref name="tennis club history" />
The Altrincham History Society Tour highlights historical facts about Bowdon:
* The listed Altrincham/Dunham boundary stone of 1840 is in the garden wall of number 1 High Downs at the bottom right. This indicates the boundary of the ancient (1290) Borough of Altrincham with Dunham Massey.
* The area from the Devisdale across to The Downs was known as Bowdon Downs until about 1750 and was used as a common. 10,000 of Prince Rupert's troops camped here and on Knutsford Heath in May 1644 on their way from Shrewsbury to Marston Moor during the Civil War. In December 1688 Lord Delamer, later the Earl of Warrington, rallied forces here from his tenants in support of the Prince of Orange, afterwards William III, who had arrived in England.
*The Altrincham Show used to be held on The Devisdale, Bowdon until 1966. Farmers came from as far afield as Scotland, Cornwall and Norfolk to show cattle.
==Governance==
===Civic history===
From 1894 to 1974, Bowdon formed an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]] local government district in the [[Administrative counties of England|administrative county]] of [[Cheshire]].
Since April 1, 1974, Bowdon has formed an [[Ward (politics)|electoral ward]] and component area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford. Prior to this Bowdon formed:<ref name="Genuki">[http://www.fhsc.org.uk/genuki/chs/bowdon.html Bowdon]{{dead link|date=February 2012}} Genuki - England and Ireland Genealogy - URL accessed February 19, 2007.</ref>
* Bowdon Local Board (1864–75);
* Bowdon Urban Sanitary District (1875–94);
* Bowdon Urban District (1894–1974);
The [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/regdocs.asp?LR=742 records of Bowdon Urban District Council]{{dead link|date=February 2012}} are held at the Trafford Local Studies Centre.
Bowdon has formed part of two [[Poor Law Union]]s: Altrincham (1837 to 1895); Bucklow (1895 to 1930).
===Political representation===
Bowdon was in the parliamentary constituency of Altrincham and Sale from 1945 until 1997. Bowdon has been part of the parliamentary [[constituency]] of [[Altrincham and Sale West (UK Parliament constituency)|Altrincham and Sale West]] since 1997. Since its formation the constituency has been represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative MP]], [[Graham Brady]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Altrincham and Sale West |publisher=Guardian.co.uk |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-671,00.html |accessdate=2012-02-01 |location=London |deadurl=yes}} {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> This is one of only a small number of seats in the [[North West England|North West]] held by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], and one of only two in Greater Manchester.
Bowdon is in [[Trafford|Trafford Metropolitan Borough]]; Trafford Council is responsible for the administration of local services, such as education, social services, town planning, waste collection and [[council housing]]. Bowdon is covered by the Bowdon electoral ward; this ward has 3 out of the 63 seats on the Trafford Council; as of the [[Trafford Council election, 2012|2012 local elections]] all three seats were held by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]. The councillors for the Bowdon ward are Sean Anstee, Karen Barclay, and Michael Hyman, all members of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DemServWard.asp?id=0&ward_id=9308DE56-AD2E-4F90-A584-F294247A75F9 |title=Bowdon: Councillors in this Ward |publisher=Trafford MBC |accessdate=2012-05-08}}</ref>
==Geography==
Bowdon is located at the southwest edge of [[Greater Manchester]]. It is situated on a ridge which rises above the Cheshire Plain. Bowdon is the largest ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, and comprises several small, rural villages surrounded by open countryside, including Dunham Massey Country Park and other more densely populated residential areas.
It has been described as an affluent and attractive place to live.<ref name="ward profile"/>
The majority of the ward is owned by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] as part of the Dunham Massey Estate, which serves as a significant communal asset for the residents of the local and wider areas. The estate includes Dunham Massey Hall and a deer park. Bowdon is a semi-rural ward and has a low population density.
===Divisions and suburbs===
There are four distinct neighbourhoods of Bowdon:<ref name="ward profile"/>
* [[Dunham Massey]]
* [[Warburton, Greater Manchester|Warburton]]
* Bowdon
* Bowdon Vale
==Demography==
According to a Trafford Metropolitan Council report,<ref name="ward profile"/> the population of Bowdon in 2001 was 8,806. 1730 were under 16 and 1699 were 65 and over. In 2004, the majority of residents (8,343) described themselves as [[white people|white]].
Out of 8414 [[wards of the United Kingdom]], Bowdon ranks as 8,235th in terms of deprivation indicating that only 2.2% of UK wards suffer less deprivation
In 1931, 27.6% of Bowdon's population was [[middle class]] compared with 14% in England and Wales, and by 1971, this had increased to 58.9% compared with 24% nationally. Parallel to this doubling of the middle classes in Bowdon was the decline of the [[working class]] population. In 1931, 16.1% were working class compared with 36% in England and Wales; by 1971, this had decreased to 14.7% in Bowdon and 26% nationwide. The rest of the population was made up of clerical workers and skilled manual workers or other miscellaneous.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_SOC&data_cube=N_RGSOC_G&u_id=10109632&c_id=10001043&add=Y |title=Bowdon social class |publisher=Vision of Britain}} Retrieved on 27 December 2008.</ref>
==Education==
Bowdon contains both state and independent schools.
'''State schools'''
* Bollin Primary School
* Bowdon CE Primary School
* [[Altrincham Grammar School for Girls|Altrincham Grammar School For Girls]], Cavendish Road, Bowdon<ref>http://www.aggs.trafford.sch.uk/</ref>
* [[Altrincham Grammar School For Boys]], Marlborough Road, Bowdon<ref>http://www.agsb.co.uk/</ref>
'''Independent schools'''
* Altrincham Preparatory School, Marlborough Road, Bowdon.<ref>http://www.altprep.co.uk/</ref>
* Bowdon Preparatory School, Stamford Road, Bowdon.<ref>http://www.bowdonprep.org.uk/</ref>
==Religion==
Bowdon Parish is part of the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield within the Anglican Diocese of Chester. The parish covers a number of churches in the south west part of the Greater Manchester conurbation, including: Altrincham St George, Altrincham St John, Ashley, Ashton upon Mersey St Martin, Ashton upon Mersey St Mary Magdalene, Bowdon, Broadheath, Dunham Massey St Margaret, Dunham Massey St Mark, Hale, Oughtrington, Partington and Carrington, Ringway, Sale St Anne, Sale St Paul, Timperley and Warburton. The main parish church of [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon|St Mary the Virgin]] can be seen very clearly from the [[Cheshire Plain]].
The registers of baptisms 1628–1964, marriages 1628–1964 and burials 1628–1973 have been deposited at the [[Cheshire Record Office]].<ref name="Genuki"/>
==Leisure and recreation==
* [[Dunham Massey]] - formerly the home of the last [[Earl of Stamford]], it was acquired by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] in 1976. It was built on the site of the original Tudor house. The current property is described as "a Country estate including mansion with important collections and 'below stairs' areas, impressive garden and deer park";
* Bowdon Cricket Club, Hockey and Squash Club
* Bowdon Vale Cricket Club - founded in the early 1870s and is a member of the Cheshire Cricket League
* Bowdon Rugby Union Football Club - HQ is actually in Timperley
* Bowdon Lawn Tennis Club - founded 1877
* Bowdon Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club - founded in 1873
* Bowdon Croquet Club - founded in 1873
* Bowdon Golf Club, Dunham Massey (now defunct) was founded in 1890. The club continued until the early 1950s.<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=488 “Bowdon Golf Club”], “Golf’s Missing Links”.</ref>
==Notable people==
Notable local residents have included:
*[[Johnny Marr]] - former guitarist and co-songwriter of British alternative rock band [[The Smiths]], notably wrote songs from the album ''[[The Queen Is Dead]]'' in his Bowdon home with bandmate [[Morrissey]].
*[[Michael Bishop, Baron Glendonbrook]] - chairman of [[BMI (airline)|British Midland Airways Ltd]] and Conservative member of the [[House of Lords]] was born in Bowdon<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/160/160592_15_sir_michael_bishop_185m_185m.html |title=15. Sir Michael Bishop: £185m (£185m) |publisher=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=30 May 2005 |accessdate=22 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000726/ai_n14336239/pg_2?tag=artBody;col1 |title=Twenty Questions: Sir Michael Bishop, owner and chairman of British |date=26 July 2000 |publisher=[[The Independent]] |author=Fiona Lafferty |accessdate=22 December 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
*[[Thomas Coward]] - [[ornithology|ornithologist]] was born at 6 Higher Downs in 1861. He wrote ''The Birds of Cheshire'' in 1900.<ref name="Altrincham history society">{{Cite journal |url=http://althistsoc.users.btopenworld.com/biogs.html |title=Biographies of local people |publisher=Altrincham History Society}} Retrieved on 22 December 2008.</ref>
*[[Stirling Gallacher]] - actress born in Bowdon
*[[John Ireland (composer)|John Ireland]] - composer
*[[Paul Spicer (musician)|Paul Spicer]] - composer
*[[John F. Leeming]] - founder of the [[Lancashire Aero Club]] lived in Bowdon for many years and built their first aircraft in his garage during 1922/23<ref name="Altrincham history society"/>
*[[Alexander Paterson (penologist)|Sir Alexander Paterson]] - the reforming penologist, was born in Bowdon in 1884
*[[Richard Sykes (Rugby player)|Richard Sykes]] - local businessman and a pioneer of [[Rugby Football]], lived in Bowdon and owned land in [[North Dakota]], USA. He founded the town of [[Bowdon, North Dakota]] in 1899 which he named in tribute to his residence here.<ref>[http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2006/09/10/news/local/120567.txt ''Bismarck Tribune'' ''One small town produced two great athletes'' 10 September 2006]</ref>
*[[Alison Uttley]] - moved to Bowdon in 1924 and wrote the ''Little Grey Rabbit'' books while living in Bowdon. There is a [[Blue Plaque]] at Downs House, 13 Higher Downs, Bowdon, where she lived from 1924 to 1938.<ref name="Altrincham history society"/>
* [[Christopher Webber]] - actor, writer and music critic, an authority on Spanish [[zarzuela]].
*Bowdon is known to have a number of [[Coronation Street]] stars, past and present, living there.
==See also==
*[[List of people from Trafford]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Bowdon, Greater Manchester}}
* [http://althistsoc.users.btopenworld.com/tourp13.html Altrincham History Society Tour]
* [http://www.friendsofdenzellanddevisdale.com/history.htm From the 18th century, the 'Bowdon Wakes' were held on The Devisdale.]
* [http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DocMan2Document.asp?document_id=A7B83889-E107-4DD9-B583-A399CB3C00EF Bowdon ward profile]
{{Greater Manchester}}
[[Category:Areas of Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Geography of Trafford]]
[[Category:Villages in Greater Manchester]]
{{usedwp|Bowdon, Greater Manchester}}