page_title: Heywood, Greater Manchester
section_title: Notable people born in Heywood
hierarchical_section_title: Heywood, Greater Manchester / Notable people born in Heywood
caption_attribution_description: Self-portrait of Roger Fenton
context_page_description: Heywood is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it had a population of 28,205 at the 2011 Census. The town lies on the south bank of the River Roch, 2.4 miles east of Bury, 3.7 miles west-southwest of Rochdale, and 7.4 miles north of Manchester. Middleton lies to the south, whilst to the north is the Cheesden Valley, open moorland, and the Pennines. Heywood's nickname, Monkey Town, is known to date back to 1857.
  The Anglo-Saxons cleared the densely wooded area, dividing it into heys or fenced clearings. In the Middle Ages, Heywood formed a chapelry in the township, centred on Heywood Hall, a manor house owned by a family with the surname Heywood. Farming was the main industry of a sparsely populated rural area. The population supplemented their incomes by hand-loom woollen weaving in the domestic system.
  The factory system in the town can be traced to a spinning mill in the late 18th century. Following the introduction of textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution, Heywood developed into a mill town and coal mining district.
context_section_description: William Brett (1942–2012) The late Lord Brett, former head of the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialist, and the ILO, was born in Heywood, the son of Irish immigrants.
  Roger Fenton a pioneering war photographer, was born at Crimble Hall in Heywood in 1819.
  Christine Gaskell, 100 m breaststroke gold medallist at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games, was born, brought up and still lives in Heywood. The community swimming baths, Gaskell Pool, are named in her honour.
  Paul Gerrard, professional goalkeeper, born in Heywood in 1973. He played for Oldham Athletic, Sheffield United and England under-21s.
  Julie Goodyear, star of ITV's Coronation Street for many years. She played Bet Lynch.
  Peter Kane, World flyweight boxing champion, 1938–39, was born in Heywood.
  David Malin The noted astrophotographer grew up in the Ashworth Valley area of Heywood
  Nico Mirallegro, actor, who plays Finn Nelson in My Mad Fat Diary.
  Keri-Anne Payne, British olympic swimmer and silver medallist, born in Johannesburg, has lived in Heywood since the age of 13.
  Debbie Rush, who plays Anna Windass in Coronation Street is also from the town.
  Ian Simpson, architect, co-founded SimpsonHaugh and Partners in 1987.
  Lisa Stansfield, R&B and soul singer, was born and brought up in Heywood.
  Elliott and Luke Tittensor, actors, were born and brought up in Heywood.
  Ryan Tunnicliffe, footballer.
caption: Roger Fenton, one of the first war photographers
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