PROBATE VALUATIONS IN STOCKPORT
The History of Stockport
Stockport has a long and rich history of human occupation dating back around 8000 years. Archaeological discoveries trace human inhabitancy of Stockport to the Mesolithic period, Neolithic period, and the Bronze Age, with finds including stone tools and flint knives. From 1200 BC to 70 AD, when the Romans occupied the region, there is no history of Stockport.
It’s not certain whether the Romans occupied Stockport directly, but they’re known to have settled close to the area. The situation of Stockport close to the Cheadle and Manchester roads suggests that the Romans would have passed close by. Coins discovered from the Anglo-Saxon period, primarily 939 to 955, suggest there was an Anglo-Saxon settlement in Stockport; this is supported by the orgin of the name of the town as ‘Stoc-port’ in Old English.
In the 1086 Domesday Book there is no reference to Stockport, but the name ‘Stokeport’, was recorded in 1170; the lack of Stockport’s mention in the Domesday Book may be attributed to poor recording of the area. Before the grant of a borough charter in 1220, Stockport was split between Norman rulers.
During the Civil War (1642-1651), Stockport saw some action as a parliamentary town; it also saw action during the Jacobite rising in 1745 – in both cases the action was brief. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Stockport emerged as a textile town, producing hats, and later, silks. In 1732, the first silk mill in Stockport was opened.
The silk industry provided significant employment in the area, and over the following years it would suffer the ups and downs of the textile industry. In the late 18th century, Stockport thrived in the cotton processing industry, and the Aston Canal opened.
Textiles, and in particular hatting, continued to thrive in Stockport as quality work became associated with the town. The last of the Stockport hat factories closed its doors in 1997, spelling the end of the industry.