It began with the Victorian postbox set in the wall on Wilmlsow Road, and a vague feeling that here was a bit of research that might uncover some of Didsbury’s history.
I had no expectation that I would be able to date precisely the installation of the box but reasoned that as I dug deep into the archives something would popup, and of course it did.
As ever the starting point was the big house which stood behind the brick wall.
This was Fairfax House, which dates to 1872, when it was owned by William Jabez Muckley.
The property sat in its own grounds, a little away back from both Wilmslow Road and Fog Lane, and consisted of eleven rooms with views south across the road towards Didsbury Priory.
I say it dates to 1872, and on that I am fairly confident, because it doesn’t appear listed in the rate books any earlier.
That said the post box could have been inserted at any time between 1872 and 1901, but I suspect we can narrow that a little, as ours matches a design which was in use from 1881 to the death of the old Queen.**
But I am prepared to be corrected by an expert in all things posty.
So, for now I shall climb the wall and deal with Mr. Muckley, who was still in residence at Fairfax House, until sometime just before 1891. After that, we can track him to Essex where he had retired and would live out his remaining four years.
He turns out to have been an interesting chap, having been Principle/Headmaster of the Manchester School of Design which also went under the name of the Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Art
It was located on Bond Street which is now part of Princess Street and he was there by 1879 if not earlier.
The school has gone along with Fairfax House, but the romantic in me likes the idea that he might just have popped out and used the post box.
But I suspect it is more likely he asked one of his eight children or better still the servants of which there were two.
Either way that tpost box and the brick wall is all there is left of Fairfax House.
Location; Didsbury
Picture; the post box, 2019 and Fairfax House, 1894, from the OS map of South Lancashire, 1894, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/
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| The Post Box, 2019 |
As ever the starting point was the big house which stood behind the brick wall.
This was Fairfax House, which dates to 1872, when it was owned by William Jabez Muckley.
The property sat in its own grounds, a little away back from both Wilmslow Road and Fog Lane, and consisted of eleven rooms with views south across the road towards Didsbury Priory.
I say it dates to 1872, and on that I am fairly confident, because it doesn’t appear listed in the rate books any earlier.
That said the post box could have been inserted at any time between 1872 and 1901, but I suspect we can narrow that a little, as ours matches a design which was in use from 1881 to the death of the old Queen.**
But I am prepared to be corrected by an expert in all things posty.
 |
| Fairfax House, 1894 |
He turns out to have been an interesting chap, having been Principle/Headmaster of the Manchester School of Design which also went under the name of the Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Art
It was located on Bond Street which is now part of Princess Street and he was there by 1879 if not earlier.
The school has gone along with Fairfax House, but the romantic in me likes the idea that he might just have popped out and used the post box.
But I suspect it is more likely he asked one of his eight children or better still the servants of which there were two.
Either way that tpost box and the brick wall is all there is left of Fairfax House.
Location; Didsbury
Picture; the post box, 2019 and Fairfax House, 1894, from the OS map of South Lancashire, 1894, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/
Been fascinated by that post box and what is behind the wall for many years, Thank you the information.
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