AIDAN O’ROURKE Writer Photographer Coach

I produce multilingual articles & videos and teach languages

 

  • Home
  • Photography Courses
    • 121 Photo Tuition
    • The Liverpool Photo Walk
    • The Manchester Photo Walk
    • Victoria Baths Photo Workshop
  • Language Courses
    • Private tuition in German
    • Learn English as a Foreign Language
    • Learn French
  • About
    • Clients
    • Archive
      • Archived Eyewitness in Manchester website 1997-2005
  • Contact
  • AVZINE – My YouTube channel
    • AVZINE – in German

Images along Manchester’s Princess Road – not Parkway!

2016-01-29 By Aidan O'Rourke

EYEWITNESS 2015 blog by Aidan O'Rourke

Night view of the Hulme Arch and Princess Road looking north

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 Road street sign

Princess Road street sign – Princess Road runs from the Mancunian Way to the bridge over the Mersey

Princess Parkway sign

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.

Princess Road is an enigma. Manchester’s grand highway to the airport, Wythenshawe and the south was begun in the 1920s but only completed in the 70s. It’s a wide, busy dual carriageway, but designated A5103, more suggestive of a minor A road. It’s called Princess Road but which princess was it named after? People call Princess Road ‘the Parkway’ but only the section south of the Mersey is Princess Parkway. The route was to have been a motorway all the way into the city. That’s why buildings were demolished on the west side. Greenheys Lane intersection is very wide. This was to have been the junction of two motorways, but they never materialised. Offices, apartments, churches, Southern Cemetery and several educational institutions are next to it including the striking MMU Birley campus building. Another enigma is why the new Metrolink stop was named Withington, a place that to my reckoning is at least a mile away. In my humble opinion it should have been called Princess Road Metrolink stop. And so who was it named after? I believe it might have been Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood (1897-1965) but I can find no proof. Can anyone help?
Demolished Princess Road bus depot

Demolished Princess Road bus depot

 

Princess Road looking north from the Loop Line bridge

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

 

MMU Birley building on Princess Road Hulme

MMU Birley building on Princess Road Hulme

 

"Withington" Metrolink stop

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

Please share via social media.
FacebookTwitterRedditPinterestEmailLinkedIn

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: highways, Hulme, Manchester, Metrolink, Northenden, Princess Road, roads, street names, Traffic

Aidan O'RourkeCoach and Content Creator Aidan O’Rourke based in north west England and is often in Ireland and Germany. He works with individuals and groups, helping them to learn and improve. His two main subject areas are Photography and Languages. He has produced all kinds of media to help his students – infosheets, tasksheets, worksheets, e-books,  audio files and YouTube videos as well as photography, illustration and lots more.

Follow Aidan O'Rourke @Aidan4Europe on Twitter Link up with Aidan O'Rourke on Facebook Subscribe to my AVZ YouTube channel Instagram Linked In

Recent Articles + Videos

Manchester's hidden German influence
Manchester Before and After Thumbnail image
47 Beatles Locations Map and Yellow Submarine Thumbnail
Manchester in Artists' Eyes
AVZINE Architectural Disasters
Building boom in Manchester
Healthcare UK vs Germany
AVZ The Welsh Influence in Liverpool
Gander Airport - English version
Interview with CP Lee

Copyright Aidan O'Rourke © 2021 - Privacy Policy

On some pages, this website uses cookies. You can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.