Now it’s hard to place this picture and it will be a surprise to many that this was the scene from the back of Sedge Lynn in 1880.
Back then the stretch of land just beyond Manchester Road and up as far as Longford Park was an expanse of fields, intersected by small streams which fed ponds and was known simply as the Isles.
Most of the ponds were the result of farmers digging out marl and clay for manure which had been going on since at least the 17th century and in all probability went back into the Middle Ages and beyond.
All of which explains why the area around Longford Road was developed into a brick works at the beginning of the last century.
So this makes our photograph very remarkable.
It was one of a series of pictures taken by Mr Aaron Booth who lived with his family in Sedge Lynn which was a grand looking property which stood on the site of the present Co-op Undertakers on Manchester Road.
Together they capture the moment just before the area around the Three Banks was lost during a flurry of building.
So complete was that development that the fields and lanes around here were lost within two generations, including the name which was Martledge but which was forgotten as people referred to the area as New Chorlton, or the New Village, to distinguish it from the old centre which was around the village green.
And that seems a perfect lead into the history walk on Sunday November 18th ........ when we will walk Chorlton’s past and discover dark deeds, silly stories and just what Martledge was like.
The walk which is part of Chorlton Book Festival, will recreate that lost place, and along the way we will encounter some Chorlton individuals from the past, uncover an awful murder and learn about the first Sedge Lynn, the place called the Isles, and our own Ice Rink.*
The walk will start from the the Library on Sunday November 18 at 2 pm and take about an hour, after which we will relax in The Edge Theatre, Manchester Road.
Beverley from the library service informs me that “tickets are £7.50 including soup and a roll at the Dressing Room café, The Edge Theatre, Manchester Road, M21 9JG after the walk.
Booking is essential for this popular event.
Please visit Chorlton Library or call 0161227 3700.
Walking Chorlton's Past, Sunday 18 November 2 - 4pm “
Location; Chorlton
Picture: looking across to the Isles, circa 1880, courtesy of Miss Booth, and in the Lloyd Collection
*Chorlton Book Festival, November 16-24, https://www.chorltonbookfestival.co.uk/
Most of the ponds were the result of farmers digging out marl and clay for manure which had been going on since at least the 17th century and in all probability went back into the Middle Ages and beyond.
All of which explains why the area around Longford Road was developed into a brick works at the beginning of the last century.
So this makes our photograph very remarkable.
It was one of a series of pictures taken by Mr Aaron Booth who lived with his family in Sedge Lynn which was a grand looking property which stood on the site of the present Co-op Undertakers on Manchester Road.
Together they capture the moment just before the area around the Three Banks was lost during a flurry of building.
And that seems a perfect lead into the history walk on Sunday November 18th ........ when we will walk Chorlton’s past and discover dark deeds, silly stories and just what Martledge was like.
The walk which is part of Chorlton Book Festival, will recreate that lost place, and along the way we will encounter some Chorlton individuals from the past, uncover an awful murder and learn about the first Sedge Lynn, the place called the Isles, and our own Ice Rink.*
The walk will start from the the Library on Sunday November 18 at 2 pm and take about an hour, after which we will relax in The Edge Theatre, Manchester Road.
Booking is essential for this popular event.
Please visit Chorlton Library or call 0161227 3700.
Walking Chorlton's Past, Sunday 18 November 2 - 4pm “
Location; Chorlton
Picture: looking across to the Isles, circa 1880, courtesy of Miss Booth, and in the Lloyd Collection
*Chorlton Book Festival, November 16-24, https://www.chorltonbookfestival.co.uk/
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