
Night view of the Hulme Arch and Princess Road looking north
First of all, let me get one thing straight: The name of Manchester’s main dual carriageway south out of Manchester city centre, the A5103, is called Princess ROAD, not Princess Parkway. This name is valid as far as the bridge over the Mersey, several miles to the south. Then for less than a mile it is Princess Parkway until Northenden Road where it becomes the M56 motorway.

Princess Parkway runs the short distance from the Mersey Bridge to the junction with Northenden Rd where the M56 begins
Unfortunately many journalists, councillors and members of the public are not aware of the correct name of this very important road, which they call ‘the Parkway’ or ‘Princess Parkway’. Princess Parkway was planned in the late 1920s as a separate section of the road. The name was approved by Shena Simon and it was intended to be an attractive, tree-lined avenue leading to the new suburb of Wythenshawe. In later years Princess Parkway was covered over by the M56 motorway and the junction to the north, with its slip roads.
I know about these things! I took a great interest from childhood onwards. Another point of uncertainty: Why is the highway named after a princess and who was she? No one seems to know!
Here’s the article that appeared in the Manchester Evening News on Monday 25 January 2016.

Demolished Princess Road bus depot

Princess Road looking north from the bridge over the former South Manchester Loop Line

MMU Birley building on Princess Road Hulme

“Withington” Metrolink stop. It should have been named Princess Road