The story of Didsbury in just twenty objects, chosen at random and delivered in a paragraph or more.
The Manchester and Wilmslow Turnpike Road opened to much celebrations on December 26th 1862, and thereafter became Palatine Road.
That said some in Didsbury may question its appearance here in the story of our township, given that it ran from Withington to Northenden, and “upwards of twenty of the road trustees, with several friends living in the neighbourhood, met at the Red Lion Inn, Withington and went thence in a procession of carriages along the road, [with] a merry peal from the village bells ringing on the occasion, and many of the inhabitants of Withington turned out to watch the proceedings”.
But Didsbury did alright by this new road. Back in the 1850s apart from Lumn Farm and a few cottages there would have been little to see save fields.
Soon after the new highway had been cut the value of land began to climb and the area to the east of Barlow Moor Road was developed as Albert Park.
To the west hidden by high walls and set back in their own grounds were a selection of grand houses with names like Woodstock, Oakdene and the Headlands.
“The road which is about two miles long, leaves Withington near the White Lion Inn, and, crossing the Mersey on an elegant girder bridge – the only bridge between Cheadle and Stretford, reaches Northern at appoint near the parish church. It is from ten to fourteen yards wide, is provided with a footpath and will prove of considerable advantage to the traffic between Manchester and Northern, and the places in the neighbourhood”.*
Location; Didsbury
Picture; finger post, minus its fingers, 2020, from the collection of Andy Robertson
*Manchester and Wilmslow Turnpike Road, The Manchester Guardian, December 27th, 1862
That said some in Didsbury may question its appearance here in the story of our township, given that it ran from Withington to Northenden, and “upwards of twenty of the road trustees, with several friends living in the neighbourhood, met at the Red Lion Inn, Withington and went thence in a procession of carriages along the road, [with] a merry peal from the village bells ringing on the occasion, and many of the inhabitants of Withington turned out to watch the proceedings”.
But Didsbury did alright by this new road. Back in the 1850s apart from Lumn Farm and a few cottages there would have been little to see save fields.
Soon after the new highway had been cut the value of land began to climb and the area to the east of Barlow Moor Road was developed as Albert Park.
To the west hidden by high walls and set back in their own grounds were a selection of grand houses with names like Woodstock, Oakdene and the Headlands.
“The road which is about two miles long, leaves Withington near the White Lion Inn, and, crossing the Mersey on an elegant girder bridge – the only bridge between Cheadle and Stretford, reaches Northern at appoint near the parish church. It is from ten to fourteen yards wide, is provided with a footpath and will prove of considerable advantage to the traffic between Manchester and Northern, and the places in the neighbourhood”.*
Location; Didsbury
Picture; finger post, minus its fingers, 2020, from the collection of Andy Robertson
*Manchester and Wilmslow Turnpike Road, The Manchester Guardian, December 27th, 1862
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