Moston, Manchester Moston, Manchester Moston is a district of Manchester, in North West England, approximately north-east of the city centre. Historically in Lancashire, Moston is a predominantly residential area, with a population of 14,518 at the 2011 census and an area of approximately . The name Moston may derive from the Old English words "moss" and "ton", where "moss" usually referred to a place that was mossy, marshy or peat bog, and "ton" signified a town or settlement. The area of White Moss still retains these characteristics. Historical records of Moston date back as far as 1301. The earliest historical archives are
Didsbury conservation area now known as Didsbury St James, about half a mile (1 km) to the south of what is today's village centre. The old village green is now the beer garden of The Didsbury public house. The traditional independent retailers are gradually being replaced by multi-national firms, raising fears that Didsbury may lose its individual identity and become a "clone town". However, independent traders continue to thrive, especially in West Didsbury, which celebrates its independent spirit each year with the two-day Westfest festival. The 200-year-old Peacock's Funeral Parlour, one of the few pre-Victorian buildings in the village and regarded