  chorlton-cum-hardy is a suburban area of the city of manchester, england, known locally as chorlton. it is about four miles southwest of manchester city centre. pronunciation varies:   and   are both common. by the 9th century, there was an anglo-saxon settlement here. later in the middle ages, improved drainage methods led to population growth. in the late victorian and edwardian periods, its perceived rural character made it popular among the middle class. the loss of its railway station, the conversion of larger houses into flats or bedsitters, and significant social housing development to the south of the area changed its character again in the 1970s. historically, chorlton was a village on lancashire's southern border with cheshire, and a township within the ancient parish of manchester. it was incorporated into the city of manchester in 1904. chorlton borders stretford, sale, didsbury, withington, and whalley range. the river mersey runs past chorlton along its southern boundary. the area's eastern boundary has changed since the 19th century because of incorporation into the city of manchester and division into wards. ==history== ===toponymy=== chorlton probably means ceolfrith's farm or settlement from the old english personal name and tÅ«n, an enclosure, farmstead or village. hardy is derived from a personal name, hearda, and Äg, anglian for island or dry ground in a well-watered land. it has alternatively been suggested that hardy may mean "by the woods
Areas_of_Manchester Irish_diaspora_in_the_United_Kingdom Manchester_City_Council_Wards