Irene Preston's Historical Writing
ACRES FIELD
AND DEANSGATE
In 1227 Henry III granted Robert Greslet, the 5th baron of Manchester,
the right to hold a fair. It was to be held for three days in September
commencing on the eve of St. Michael. This date was also after the
harvest and would ensure the villagers had plenty of money to spend. At
first the inhabitants were not happy about the fair being held on their
common land. They began a symbolic custom of protest against the Lord's
intrusion against their grazing rights. They would all assemble before
daybreak on the first day of the fair armed with acorns and whips. As
the first animal entered they cracked their whips and pelted it with
acorns.
Acres Field was common plough land and pasture bounded on all sides by a
closed hedge and a ditch filled with water from rills flowing
down from the higher ground. This provided a place for the animals to
drink during the long days of the fair. It consisted of 4 large acres
and was surrounded on the Deansgate side (dene or valley) of Aldport by
30 acres of moor and heather, a wood one mile in circuit with oaks and
other trees, 20 acres of pasture and 2 acres of meadow. On the other
side of Deansgate from the present Back King Street to Aldport were the
arable fields where the villagers farmed using the old open-field
system. The only entrance to Acres Field was by a narrow lane off
Deansgate. When the fair was opened a toll was made so the lane became
known as Toll Lane. The fences around Acres Field were removed for the
fair and left until February so that it could be used as common ground.
Sir Edward Mosley lived at Aldport Lodge in the wooded parkland on the
edge of town known as Aldport Park. In 1642 he entertained Lord Strange,
the Earl of Derby's son, during the Civil War. Corn was grown on Acres
Field until Lady Ann Bland, the daughter of Sir Edward, enclosed it in
1712 to build a church. She named it St. Ann's after Queen Ann and Acres
Field was renamed St. Ann's Square. Permission to enclose Acres Field
was granted providing that a space measuring 30 yards wide was left at
the front to accommodate the Fair. Only traders were allowed to sell
their wares in front of the church. The animals were moved to Aldport
Park near Castlefield. The area became very residential and the
residents had to put up with the yearly fair until it was moved to the
market at Shudehill.
Toll Lane was widened and extended in 1832 and called Queen Street and
later St. Ann's Street. The fair was later moved to Campfield until it
was finally abolished in 1876.