Blackley

Blackley
The church of St. Peter in Blackley
Blackley
Blackley shown within Greater Manchester
Population	10,196 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD853028
• London	186 m
Metropolitan borough	Manchester
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANCHESTER
Postcode district	M9
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Blackley and Broughton
List of places UK England Greater Manchester 53°31′21″N 2°13′22″W / 53.52246°N 2.22282°W / 53.52246; -2.22282Coordinates: 53°31′21″N 2°13′22″W / 53.52246°N 2.22282°W / 53.52246; -2.22282

Blackley ⁱ/ˈbleɪkli/ is an area of the city of Manchester, England. Historically in Lancashire, it is 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Manchester city centre, by a meander of the River Irk. Further north is Middleton. It is crossed by a main arterial road from the city centre; Rochdale Road (A664), to Middleton.

The hamlet of Blackley was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Blæclēah = "dark wood" or "dark clearing". In the 13th and 14th centuries Blackley was referred to as Blakeley or Blakelegh, a spelling that is consistent with the local pronunciation.

By the Middle Ages, Blackley had become a park belonging to the lords of Manchester. Its value in 1282 was recorded as £6 13s 4d (£6.67 approx.), a sum approximately equivalent in buying power to £3,500 today.

The lords of Manchester leased the land from time to time. In 1473 John Byron held the leases on Blackley village, Blackley field and Pillingworth fields at an annual rent of £33 6s 8d (£33.33 approx.). The Byron family continued to hold the land until the beginning of the 17th century when Blackley was sold in parcels to a number of landowners.

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Wikipedia