It never pays to lose sight of planning applications, but I did, and it is only today that I have picked up on the story of number 28 Edge Lane.*
Back at the beginning of May the plans to demolish number 28 and build ten houses on the site caused a stir.**
For me, apart from the loss of a fine looking building there was the historical significance of the property which dates back to 1865 and is representative of the first wave of housing development which crept up from Stretford railway station into Chorlton.
This development predated the big housing boom of the 1880s, and they were homes at the top end of the range.
But number 28 was also home to George Davison, who lived there with his parents during the early years of the 20th century.
And it was here that he wrote a series of “courting letters” to Nellie who he later married. The letters form part of a bigger collection which includes those he wrote while serving with the Royal Artillery during the Great War.
They are a fascinating insight in to life in uniform and in particular his concerns for Nellie and his young son Duncan facing the shortages and uncertainties of the war back at home.
All of which takes me back to 28 Edge Lane and the news that the planning application to build those houses and demolish George’s old home were withdrawn on May 18.
It is fitting that I should now be writing about that decision in early June given that Mr Davison was killed on the Western Front on June 17 1918.
There may be those who cavil at a link between his death and a planning application, and others who bemoan the loss of more houses in the area.
But I would disagree, my own personal feeling was that this was a development too far, and that was shared by others, along with the questions of affordability of the new properties.
All of that said, for me, it is also about the survival of a bit of our history which may be in danger again.
During the last decades of the 20th century there had been applicatin in to redevelop the site.
One was turned down, and others despite being approved came to nothing.
So there is every reason to suppose that fresh plans will bubble to the surface at some point, leaving all of us to remain vigilant.
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; Edge Lane, 2018 and the Davison family, 1916 from the collection of David Harrop
*At 28 Edge Lane, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/At%2028%20Edge%20Lane
**Planning Application, 119208/FO/2018 | Erection of 10 four-bedroom, three-storey houses with associated parking, landscaping and boundary treatment following demolition of existing house | 28 Edge Lane Chorlton Manchester M21 9JY, Manchester City Council Planning Portal, http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=P4SU9FBCK4L00&documentOrdering.orderBy=documentType&documentOrdering.orderDirection=ascending
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| 28 Edge Lane, 2018 |
For me, apart from the loss of a fine looking building there was the historical significance of the property which dates back to 1865 and is representative of the first wave of housing development which crept up from Stretford railway station into Chorlton.
This development predated the big housing boom of the 1880s, and they were homes at the top end of the range.
But number 28 was also home to George Davison, who lived there with his parents during the early years of the 20th century.
And it was here that he wrote a series of “courting letters” to Nellie who he later married. The letters form part of a bigger collection which includes those he wrote while serving with the Royal Artillery during the Great War.
They are a fascinating insight in to life in uniform and in particular his concerns for Nellie and his young son Duncan facing the shortages and uncertainties of the war back at home.
 |
| George, Nellie & Duncan Davison, 1916 |
It is fitting that I should now be writing about that decision in early June given that Mr Davison was killed on the Western Front on June 17 1918.
There may be those who cavil at a link between his death and a planning application, and others who bemoan the loss of more houses in the area.
But I would disagree, my own personal feeling was that this was a development too far, and that was shared by others, along with the questions of affordability of the new properties.
 |
| Walking up the house, 2018 |
During the last decades of the 20th century there had been applicatin in to redevelop the site.
One was turned down, and others despite being approved came to nothing.
So there is every reason to suppose that fresh plans will bubble to the surface at some point, leaving all of us to remain vigilant.
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; Edge Lane, 2018 and the Davison family, 1916 from the collection of David Harrop
*At 28 Edge Lane, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/At%2028%20Edge%20Lane
**Planning Application, 119208/FO/2018 | Erection of 10 four-bedroom, three-storey houses with associated parking, landscaping and boundary treatment following demolition of existing house | 28 Edge Lane Chorlton Manchester M21 9JY, Manchester City Council Planning Portal, http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=P4SU9FBCK4L00&documentOrdering.orderBy=documentType&documentOrdering.orderDirection=ascending
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