Bramhall

The manor of Bramall dates from the Anglo-Saxon period, when it was held as two separate estates by two Saxon freemen, Brun and Hacun.[9] In 1070, William the Conqueror subdued the north-west of England, and divided the land among his followers. The manor of "Bramale" was given to Hamon de Massey, who eventually became the first Baron of Dunham Massey.[10] The earliest reference to Bramall was recorded in the Domesday Book as "Bramale", a name derived from the Old English words brom meaning broom, both indigenous to the area, and halh meaning nook or secret place, probably by water. De Masci received the manor as wasteland, since it had been devastated by William the Conqueror's subdual. By the time of the Domesday survey, the land was recovering and cultivated again.[11]

In 1875, Bramhall was one of eight civil parishes of Cheshire to be included in the Stockport Rural rural sanitary district. The sanitary district became the Stockport Rural District in 1894. The parish was abolished in 1900 and its former area became part of the Hazel Grove and Bramhall civil parish and urban district. In 1974, the district was abolished, under the Local Government Act 1972, and its former area was transferred to Greater Manchester to be combined with that of other districts to form the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport.[12]

Bramhall is part of the parliamentary constituency of Cheadle. Mary Robinson, Conservative, has been the local MP since 2015.

Bramhall War Memorial

Bramall Hall, situated in 26 hectares (64 acres) of parkland, is an example of a 14th-century Cheshire building. In 2016 an extensive programme of restoration work was completed by a dedicated team. The Ladybrook flows through the park towards Cheadle and Bramall Hall.

The war memorial commemorates the deaths of 89 men killed in the two world wars.[13]

St Michael and All Angels' Church

The Church of England parish church of St Michael and All Angels[14] in Robins Lane was consecrated in 1911 when Bramhall Parish was created, although the building was not completed until 1963. It replaced an earlier mission church opened in 1890.[15]

Other churches in Bramhall include the Methodist Church near the centre of the village, the United Reformed Church located on Bramhall Lane South, the Baptist Church located on Woodford Road, the Catholic Church of St. Vincent de Paul on Handley Road and Ford's Lane Evangelical Church.

Bramhall has a cricket club and there are three lawn tennis clubs (LTC): Bramhall Queensgate LTC, to the north; Bramhall Lane LTC, close to the village; and Bramhall Park LTC, close to the park. There are also two golf clubs in Bramhall, each with 18-hole courses: Bramhall Golf Club and Bramall Park Golf Club. Stockport RUFC in Bramhall has been host to Headlander Festival. There is a recreation centre linked with Bramhall High School with indoor and outdoor facilities.

Bramhall railway station is on the main line from Manchester to London, via Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent. Local trains stop every hour Monday-Saturday on their way to/from Manchester Piccadilly and Stoke-on-Trent; there is a much reduced service on Sunday.

Buses link Bramhall to Manchester (42B), Stockport (378), Cheadle Hulme (42B,307/8), Woodford (42B), Parrs Wood (42B) and Hazel Grove (307/8).

Bramhall has a number of bars, restaurants, cafes, clothes shops, hairdressers, beauty salons, charity shops, churches and a library. Many of these are housed inside and around the village square,[16] although some shops along the main roads. There is also a recreation centre.

Bramhall's property market is dominated by detached and semi-detached properties with a small part being made up of terraced homes and flats.[17] Many of the region's footballers choose to live in the 'mansions of Alderley Edge, Prestbury, Bowdon, Bramhall and Hale'[18], highlighting Bramhall as a desirable suburban location.

Alongside numerous listed buildings,[19] the sixties and early seventies saw a growth in Bramhall's housing stock. New developments included the Parkside and New House Farm areas in the north of Bramhall and the Dairyground estate which features a co-operative, apartments and a care home. The Dairyground estate is served by Stagecoach Manchester[20] and is in close proximity to Bramhall railway station. Bramhall High School is situated in the Dairyground estate, which is part of the Bramhall North Ward.[21]

Bramhall has five primary schools: Ladybrook, Moss Hey, Nevill Road, Pownall Green and Queensgate. Bramhall High School is the local secondary school.

Notable local residents have included:

• George Best – Former Manchester United football player [22]
• Peter Schmeichel – Former Manchester United and Manchester City football player [23]
• Yvette Fielding – Actress and Blue Peter presenter
• Peter Butterworth – Comedy actor and comedian
• Dame Wendy Hiller – Actress born in Bramhall [24]
• Sacha Dhawan – Actor born in Bramhall
• Martin Fry – Lead singer of the band ABC
• Mark Hadfield – Actor born in Bramhall
• Peter Barkworth – Actor
• Steve Bruce – Football manager and former Manchester United footballer, lived off Robins Lane
• Ole Gunnar Solskjær – Former Manchester United player and their current manager, lived in Bramhall whilst a player.
• Lauren Drummond – Actress, who attended Bramhall High School
• Phil Foden – Current Manchester City football player [25]
• Kasper Schmeichel – Current Leicester City and former Manchester City football player [26]
• Uwe Rosler – Former Manchester City football player [27]
• Keith Fielding – Former England and Great Britain international rugby player [28]
• Paul Ince – Former Manchester United football player [29]

• Listed buildings in Hazel Grove and Bramhall
• Ladybrook Valley

• Bramhall United Reformed Church