It has been a long time since Andy Roberstson was down on Ayres Road.
Last time he just managed to capture what was left of the Congregational Church on the corner of Ayres Road and South Croston Street in the summer of 2013.*
It was built in 1861 and just over a hundred years later it joined with the English Presbyterian church to become the United Reform Church.
Back at the end of the 19th century it also had a large Sunday School hall on the other side of South Croston Street.
But changing population did for the church and after a long time lingering on as a shell it has gone.
All of which just leaves me to post Andy’s pictures with a promise that as the site is redeveloped he will be there to record the next chapter.
Location, Ayres Road Old Trafford
Pictures; Ayres Road and the Congregational Church 2013-2016 from the collection of Andy Robertson
*Lost Churches, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Lost%20Churches
It was built in 1861 and just over a hundred years later it joined with the English Presbyterian church to become the United Reform Church.
Back at the end of the 19th century it also had a large Sunday School hall on the other side of South Croston Street.
But changing population did for the church and after a long time lingering on as a shell it has gone.
Location, Ayres Road Old Trafford
Pictures; Ayres Road and the Congregational Church 2013-2016 from the collection of Andy Robertson
*Lost Churches, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Lost%20Churches
If this church was at #1 Ayres Road then sometime in the early to mid 1950's my grandfather leased the church and ran a Butcher's outfitters business from there. Rusks for sausages, wooden chopping blocks, seasonings etc. was called "Gill, Roberts & Co Ltd" and they were there probably until the mid 1960's. I remember going there once or twice as a child but had the impression it had not been used as a church for some considerable time. Was great fun exploring it!
ReplyDeleteAlso, a better picture here I think.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.churches-uk-ireland.org/images/manc/old%20trafford/urc.jpg