STOCKPORT, Cheshire, an important manufacturing town, muni cipal and parliamentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the pariah of Stockport, is situated near the point where the rivers Theme and Goyt, by their junction, form the Mersey, in 53° 25' N. lat., 2' 8' W. long., distant 38 miles N.E. from Chester, 170 miles N.W. from London by road, and 1825 miles by the North-Western railway via Trent Valley. The population of the borough in 1851 was 58,835. The borough is governed by 14 aldermen and 42 councillors, of whom one is mayor, and returns two members to the Imperial Parliament. The living is a rectory in the archdeaconry and diocese of Cheater. Stockport Poor-Law Union contains 17 parishes and townships, with an area of 30,709 acres, and a population In 1851 of 90,174.
The town of Stockport is irregularly laid out In the centre is a large open market-place. The new market-house has a handsome front, and contains a large hall, covered by a semicircular iron roof, with lights in the crown. The town is well paved, and is lighted with gas. The market-place and the pariah church are on a tolerably extensive level on the summit of the bill on which the town is built. There are four bridges in or near the town, over the Mersey, and one over the Theme. The 'old bridge' over the Mersey, near the market-place, G of one lofty arch. Below the old bridge is a bridge of 11 arches, crossing not only the river, but its valley, at an elevation of 40 feet above the water. Vernon Bridge was built by subscription in 1829. The Manchester and Birmingham branch of the North-Western rail way is carried over the valley of the Mersey by a magnificent viaduct.
The parish church, except the chancel, which is of the decorated style, is modern, having been rebuilt early in the present century, in the perpendicular style of architecture. There are iu the borough
7 other places of worship belonging to the Establishment, 15 belong ing to five sections of Methodists, 5 to Iudependcuts, 3 to Baptists, and 1 each to Roman Catholics, Unitarians, and Mormons. Tho Grammar and Free schools, founded in 1487, are under the patronage of the Goldsmiths' Company of London ; the number of scholars in 1854 was 38 in the Free school, and 100 in the Grammar school ; the school possesses two exhibitions of 50/. each at Oxford or Cambridge, tenable for 3j years. There are also National, British, and Infant schools ; schools connected with the Wesleyan Methodists and the Roman Catholics; a mechanics institute; several news-rooms; an infirmary; and a savings bank.
Stockport is one of the principal seats of the cotton manufacture. There are about 100 firms in Stockport and Heaton Norris engaged in different branches of this manufacture ; there are also three cotton printing establishments, two bleaching establishments, and several dye-houses. Besides the cotton manufacture, which is the staple of the town, the manufacture of silk goods, thread, hats, brushes, spindles, and shuttles is carried on. Thera are extensive engine- and machine factories, several iron- and brass-foundries, and breweries in the town ; and brick-fields in the vicinity. A branch canal communicates with the Manchester and Ashton Canal. The market is on Friday, and is the most important in Cheshire for corn, oatmeal, and cheese. There are four yearly fairs, chiefly for cattle. Petty sessions and a county court are held in the town.