House Surveyor

Warrington Cheshire

Approximate Population: 195,200

Warrington is a large town, borough and unitary authority area in Cheshire, England.   It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley.   The population of the borough of Warrington, including its 18 civil parishes, is around 194,000.   Its population has more than doubled since its designation as a New Town in 1968.

Historically a part of Lancashire, Warrington was founded by the Romans at an important crossing place on the River Mersey.   A new settlement was established by the Saxons and by the Middle Ages, Warrington had emerged as a market town at an important bridging point.   A local tradition of textile and tool production dates from this time.

The expansion and urbanisation of Warrington largely coincided with the Industrial Revolution, particularly after the Mersey was made navigable in the 18th century.   The West Coast Mainline runs north to south through the town, and the Liverpool to Manchester railway (the Cheshire Lines route) west to east.   The Manchester Ship Canal cuts through the south of the borough (west to east).   The M6, M56 and M62 motorways form a partial box around the town.

House Surveyor Warrington Cheshire

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House Surveyor

Plymouth Devon

Approximate Population: 250,700

The city was heavily bombed by the Germans during World War II in a series of 59 raids known as the Plymouth Blitz.  Although the dockyards were the principal targets, much of the city centre and over 3,700 houses were completely destroyed and more than 1,000 civilians lost their lives.  The redevelopment of the city was planned by Sir Patrick Abercrombie in 1943 and by 1964 over 20,000 new homes had been built.  Most of the shops had been destroyed and those that remained were cleared to enable a zoned reconstruction according to his plan.   Charles Church was hit by incendiary bombs and partially destroyed in 1941 during the Blitz, but has not been demolished, as it is now an official permanent monument to the bombing of Plymouth during World War II.  Devonport Dockyard was kept busy refitting aircraft carriers such as the Ark Royal.   By the time this work ended in the late 1970s the nuclear submarine base was operational.   The army had substantially left the city by 1971, with barracks pulled down in the 1960s, however the city has become home to the 42 Commando of the Royal Marines.

House Surveyor Plymouth Devon

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House Surveyor Exeter Devon

Approximate Population: 111,076

Exeter is a city, district and county town of Devon, England.   Exeter is located approximately 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Plymouth, and 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Bristol, on the River Exe.   The city has a population of 111,076 according to the 2001 Census.

Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain and has existed since time immemorial.   Exeter Cathedral, founded in 1050 is Anglican.

Tourism forms a vital part of the city’s economy, and in 2004 Exeter was granted Fairtrade City status.   Exeter has been identified as one of the top ten most profitable locations for a business to be based.  The city has good transport links, with Exeter St David’s railway station, Exeter Central railway station, the M5 motorway and Exeter International Airport connecting the city both nationally and internationally.  Its proximity to Cornwall, a big tourist draw in the UK, also adds to its attraction.

House Surveyor Exeter Devon

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House Surveyor

Birmingham West Midlands

Approximate Population: 1,010,200

Birmingham is the fourth most visited city by foreign visitors in the UK.   In 1998, Birmingham hosted the G8 summit at the International Convention Centre, on the site of Bingley Hall, the world’s first purpose-built exhibition hall, and remains a popular location for conventions today along with the National Exhibition Centre in nearby Solihull.

In 2007, Birmingham was ranked as the 55th most livable city in the world and the second most in the UK after London, according to the Mercer Index of worldwide standards of living.

People from Birmingham are known as ‘Brummies’, a term derived from the city’s nickname of Brum.   This comes in turn from the city’s dialect name, Brummagem, which is derived from one of the city’s earlier names, ‘Bromwicham’.   There is a distinctive Brummie dialect and accent, both of which differ from the adjacent Black Country.

House Surveyor Birmingham

West Midlands

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House Surveyor

Rochdale Greater Manchester

Approximate Population: 95,796

In Rochdale, demand for cross-Pennine trade (e.g. to support the local cotton, wool and silk industries) led to the building of George Stephenson’s Summit Railway Tunnel and the Rochdale Canal (from Manchester to Yorkshire – re-opened in 2003 after years of neglect, including its division by a motorway).   The Manchester and Leeds Railway opened a station, but the line passed about a mile south of the town centre.   The station remains open, but much reduced from its heyday.   Trains run south (to Manchester Victoria), east (to Halifax, Bradford and Leeds) and to Manchester Victoria via the Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham Line, (also known as the Oldham Loop).

Rochdale is to be served by an extension of the Manchester Metrolink tram system, which would see the Oldham Loop converted from heavy rail to light rail.   This extension was deferred in 2004 on grounds of cost. In July 2006, however, ministers approved plans for extension from Manchester Victoria as far as the planned Rochdale Rail Station stop just outside the station. Approval for extension into Rochdale town centre, extended down Drake Street and terminating opposite Rochdale bus station, as well as into Oldham town centre, is expected in 2008.

House Surveyor

Rochdale Greater Manchester

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House Surveyor

Coventry West Midlands

Approximate Population: 306,000

Coventry is near the M6, M69, M45 and M40 motorways.   It is also served by the A45 and A46 dual carriageways. Coventry has a much used inner ring road opened in the 1960s (approx.).   Phoenix Way, a dual carriageway running north – south opened 1998 (approx.), has improved traffic flows through the city.

For rail, Coventry railway station is served by the West Coast Main Line, and has regular rail services between London and Birmingham (and stations beyond). It is also served by railway lines to Nuneaton via Bedworth. There is a line linking it to Leamington Spa and onwards to the south coast. Coventry also has two Suburban Rail stations in Canley and in Tile Hill.

Bus service operators in Coventry include National Express Coventry, Travel De Courcey and Stagecoach in Warwickshire. Pool Meadow Bus Station is the main bus and coach interchange in the city centre.  The nearest major airports are Birmingham International Airport, some 17 km (11 miles) to the west of the city and Coventry Airport in Baginton, located 8 km (5 miles) south of the city centre.  The Coventry Canal terminates near the city centre at Coventry Canal Basin and is navigable for 61 km (38 miles) to Fradley Junction in Staffordshire.

House Surveyor Coventry West Midlands

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House Surveyor Bangor Wales

Approximate Population: 13,725

Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. The origins of the city date back to the founding of a monastic establishment on the site of Bangor Cathedral by the Celtic saint Deiniol in the early 6th century AD.   The name ‘Bangor’ itself is an old Welsh word for a type of fenced-in enclosure, such as was originally on the site of the cathedral.   The present cathedral is a somewhat more recent building and has been extensively modified throughout the centuries.
Bangor in 1610.

While the building itself is not the oldest, and certainly not the biggest, the bishopric of Bangor is one of the oldest in Britain.   Another claim to fame is that Bangor allegedly has the longest High Street in Wales.   Friars School was founded as a free grammar school in 1557, and Bangor University was founded in 1884.

House Surveyor Bangor Wales

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House Surveyor

Lisburn Northern Ireland

Approximate Population: 71,465

* Lisburn railway station was opened on 12 August 1839.  The railway remains a popular means of transport between Lisburn and Belfast, with the express trains taking 8-10 minutes to reach Belfast’s Great Victoria Street. The train also links the city directly with Portadown, Lurgan, Moira and Bangor. Connections to Dublin require a change at either Portadown or Belfast Central.

* The city is served by a variety of bus routes to Belfast city centre via the Lisburn Road (523/4/5) and also the Falls Road (530/1/2). There are also routes passing through the city heading for Banbridge or Newry (service 38) and Craigavon (service 51). There are few buses that access Belfast using the M1 motorway, adding to the popularity of the train.

* The city has a vast network of local buses, serving the local housing developments and amenities.

* A new ‘Bus Centre’ opened on 30 June 2008 at the corner of Smithfield Street and the Hillsborough Road. The new structure replaces the simple shelters at Smithfield Square, 200 yards to the east.

House Surveyor Lisburn Northern Ireland

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House Surveyor

Lambeth Greater London

Approximate Population: 267,785

Lambeth appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Lanchei. It was held partly by Lambeth Church and partly by Count Robert of Mortain. Its domesday assets were: 2½ hides; 1 church, 10 ploughs, 22 acres (89,000 m2) of meadow, woodland worth 3 hogs, 19 burgesses in London paid £1 16s 0d. It rendered £15.

The ancient settlement of Lambeth Marsh was immediately opposite the Palace of Westminster.   The Archbishop of Canterbury has had his official residence at Lambeth Palace since the 15th century.   The village was home to boatmen serving the City of London and Westminster.

The riverside village had an extensive parish, which stretched for six miles (10 km) south, including the manors of Kennington and Vauxhall. It formed part of Surrey until the creation of the County of London in 1889.  The parish, and the subsequent Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth (1900–1965), included the later settlements at Brixton and Norwood.

House Surveyor Lambeth Greater London

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House Surveyor

Bradford West Yorkshire

Approximate Population: 293,717

To support the textile mills, a large manufacturing base grew up in the city, providing textile machinery, and this led to diversification with different industries thriving side by side.   Bradford’s manufacturing history includes the Jowett Motor Company, which had many great achievements during its 50 years of existence.

The textile industry started to decline in the 1920s, and Bradford has been cited as an example of deindustrialisation.   However, today a spirit of rebirth has taken hold and Bradford is one of the north’s important cities, with modern technology, chemicals, engineering, academic and financial sectors replacing the “dark satanic mills” image of the Industrial Revolution.

The grandest of the mills (no longer used for textile production) is Lister Mills, the chimney of which can be seen from most places in Bradford.   It has recently become a beacon of regeneration in the city after a £100 million conversion to apartment blocks by property developers Urban Splash.

Salts Mill is another large mill that has an exciting new life in the modern era. The mill is occupied by high-technology companies, contemporary design shops and gallery spaces. It is the hub of the world heritage site of Saltaire, three miles (4.8 km) north of Bradford city centre.   The Bradford district also contains the villages of Thornton and Haworth, the birthplace and home of the world famous Brontë sisters.

House Surveyor Bradford West Yorkshire

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