Today at Hough End Hall .......... the walk covering all you wanted to know about the Hall and Chorlton in 1849 ...... now that's a zippy title

Hough End Hall. 1849

Now here is an opportunity to step back just under 170 years and test your skills of observation.

Here is Hough End Hall as it appeared in 1849 and all you have to do is turn up today at the Hall on Nell Lane at 1 pm and compare this fine engraving with what you can see.

And when you have ticked off all the differences you can listen to the talk on the Hall’s 400 years of history and then walk to the Lloyds on a trip back in time.

This is the second of the talks and walks during Chorlton Arts Festival focusing on Hough End Hall and its place in the local community.

Walking down the Row to the Horse & Jockey, 1845

Once Hough End’s past has been done we will set off west across Chorlton to recreate the township as it might have been in 1849, a mix of what you could have seen and more importantly who you would have to be polite to.

And given that we were a small rural community made up of agricultural labourers, some farmers and a few tradesmen some of us at least would have been doffing our hats to Mr Cunliffe Brooks wealthy resident of Barlow Hall and generous benefactor, along with Mr Holt of Beech House, and of course the local clergy.

Sutton's Cottage, 1892

Now I have never had any illusions of my place in the pecking order of 1849 and considering I come from a long line of agricultural labourers I reckon I would have been nodding to them and to the local farmers who held the prospect of regular employment.

Once that was done I rather think I might have sat outside my wattle and daub cottage just like Mrs Sutton’s which stood on the corner of Beech and Wilton Road from the late 18th century till 1894.

But I get ahead of myself.  The walk will pass her house, take in much more and finish at the Lloyds with the exhibition showing off the story of the Hall.

So this Sunday, at 1 pm outside Hough End Hall you can have your free trip back into the past and of course buy a copy of the book Hough End Hall The Story with all profits going to the campaign to buy the hall and turn it into a community asset.*

And you can download the walk guide at http://www.gladtobe.in/walk/


Pictures;  Hough End Hall in 1849, from The Family Memoirs, Sir Oswald Mosley, 1849, the map of the township in 1845 from the OS of Lancashire 1845, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://www.digitalarchives.co.uk/ and Mrs Sutton’s cottage, circa 1892 reproduced from a photograph by Barri Sparshot 2011

*Hough End Hall The Story, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/hough-end-hall-book-on-sale.html