Clayton is a suburb of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England, three miles east of the city centre on Ashton New Road. Historically in Lancashire, Clayton takes its name from the Clayton family who owned large parts of land around the area, including Clayton Vale, through which the River Medlock flows, separating Clayton from Newton Heath. Clay…Clayton is a suburb of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England, three miles east of the city centre on Ashton New Road. Historically in Lancashire, Clayton takes its name from the Clayton family who owned large parts of land around the area, including Clayton Vale, through which the River Medlock flows, separating Clayton from Newton Heath. Clayton was under the township of Droylsden until around 1890 when alterations to the Manchester boundary took place. Other towns added to Manchester around this time were Blackley, Crumpsall, Moston, Openshaw and Gorton. In 1894 Clayton became a separate civil parish, being formed from the part of the parish of Droylsden in the County Borough of Manchester, on 26 March 1896 the parish was abolished to form North Manchester.