In some cases, including Northenden, the civil functions were exercised by each township separately rather than the parish as a whole.

[4][6] The civil parishes of Northen Etchells and Northenden were both abolished in 1931, when their areas were absorbed into the county borough of Manchester.

There was no central village, but the area included a number of small farming hamlets or clusters of labourers' cottages, including Hey Head, Moss Nook, Poundswick, Sharston, Crossacres Green and Brownley green.

Stockport Etchells lay to the east, Styal to the south with Baguley and Altrincham townships to the west.

After the area's absorption into Manchester in 1931, much of the former Northen Etchells civil parish was developed as part of Wythenshawe.