Heaton Norris Park: 150 Years of Legacy

Our Story

150 years on the hill

Local people clubbed together to buy this park, with a gift of land from Lord Egerton, and they've been making it their own ever since: through smoky industrial decades, tower blocks and a motorway. Here's how it happened.

  1. Before the park

    A day out up the hill

    Stockport folk were already heading uphill for fresh air at Samuel Drabble's Ash Pleasure Gardens near the Ash Inn, a little to the north. You got in with a token. The gardens are remembered on the BHS murals in Merseyway.

    Source: Modern Mooch

  2. 1873

    Work begins

    Work starts on laying out the park, on land bought by public subscription, with a gift of land from Lord Egerton. Local people paid for it, and they have looked after it ever since.

    Source: Modern Mooch

  3. 1876Year to be confirmed

    The park opens

    The Heaton Norris Recreation Ground opens its gates: a park on the hill, with Stockport laid out below.

    Source: Heaton Norris Friends of the Park

  4. 1902

    A bonfire for a king

    A bonfire is built on the recreation ground to celebrate King Edward VII's coronation, one of many bonfires the hill has seen.

    Source: Stockport Image Archive

  5. 1905

    Another royal bonfire

    A huge bonfire, topped with a Union Flag, goes up for a royal occasion, thought to be Princess Louise being named Princess Royal. Bonfire Night on the hill is still a local tradition.

    Source: Stockport Image Archive, Modern Mooch

  6. 1935

    Hard times, big occasions

    Times are hard. The park is windswept cinders and thin grass, looking down over mills and chimneys. But it is still where Stockport comes to celebrate: the guns fire a royal salute here for King George V's Silver Jubilee.

    Source: Modern Mooch, Stockport Image Archive

  7. 1938

    Digging in

    During the Munich crisis, air-raid trenches are dug across the recreation ground.

    Source: Stockport Image Archive

  8. 1953

    A coronation salute

    On coronation day, 21 guns are fired on the recreation ground for Queen Elizabeth II.

    Source: Stockport Image Archive

  9. 1960s

    Playtime, and the Towers

    An adventure playground arrives, among the terraces and works. Heaton and Norris Towers go up beside the park: two 12-storey blocks with 136 homes. For the families who move in, the park becomes their garden.

    Source: Modern Mooch, Stockport Image Archive

  10. 1970s

    The golden years

    Summer flower beds on the banks, and crazy golf by the bowling green.

    Source: Modern Mooch, Stockport Image Archive

  11. 1980s

    The motorway arrives

    The M63, now the M60, is built below the hill and takes several acres of the park. A concrete footbridge links the two sides.

    Source: Stockport Council, Stockport Image Archive

  12. 1989

    The circus comes to town

    Chipperfield's Circus pitches its big top on the recreation ground.

    Source: Stockport Image Archive

  13. Today

    Still everybody’s back garden

    Bowls, tennis, football, the play area and the musical garden. The SS Norris concrete boat. The St Martin lamp column, painted by LOVE Heaton Norris. And the best view of Stockport there is.

    Source: Stockport Council, Modern Mooch

Share a memory

Grew up round here? Got an old photo of the bonfire, the crazy golf or the flower beds? We'd love to see it and hear your story. With your permission, we'll add it to this page.

Share your memory

Or email

Where this story comes from

We've pieced this together from local records and the people who know the park best. Spotted something wrong, or know more? Please tell us.