In the course of the last few days I have got to know a lot about Mr. Bryce Smith, who lived at Rye Bank in Chorlton, described himself as a “calico printer”, owned a prestigious warehouse on Nicholas Street in Manchester, and a factory in Whalley near Blackburn.
I doubt I would ever have gone looking for him if I hadn’t been shown an inventory of the contents of his home which was made shortly after his death in 1892.
The inventory is now in the possession of Chris Griffiths who thought I would be interested, which of course I am.
Because, here spread over 57 foolscap pages and bound in leather is an insight in to just what a wealthy family accumulated in their home.
Looking through the inventory I noted that the list of Mr. Smith’s library was covered 21 pages, his collection of oil paintings, water colour drawings and engravings over another two pages and his silver and plated articles across two more pages.
And that is just what caught my eye, leaving me to explore the full nineteen rooms along with the lists of linen, glass, and china.
All of which will reveal much about the life of one well off Victorian family, here in Chorlton in the late 19th century.
Now, I knew of the existence of Rye Bank which stood in extensive grounds, facing Edge Lane and extending along the side of Ryebank Road, but I knew little of the people who occupied it or just when the house was demolished.
Just when the family moved into the property is a little unclear. They were there by 1871, but may have been elsewhere on Edge Lane before that.
Either way in 1871 the Rate Books reveal that Mr. Smith was occupying Rye Bank which he owned, and he stayed for two decades. The house had an annual estimated a rateable value of £229, which marked it off as the largest property on this bit of Edge Lane.
But then Bryce Smith was a wealthy man. He left £162,622 on his death and his warehouse and offices on Nicholas Street, which are still there, bear witness to his financial standing.
There is a lot more. His papers are deposited the Lancashire County Archive, and contain amongst other things the “Bill of Quantities for the erection of a warehouse in Nicholas Street. Manchester for Bryce Smith Esq” in the August of 1873.
So watch this space.
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; pages from the Inventory Rye Bank Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 1892, courtesy of Chris Griffiths, and the Nicholas Street, showing the Smith warehouse, 1883, from Goads Fire Insurance maps, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/
*Bryce Smith Papers, DDX 2/37Lancashire County Archives,
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| Inventory, 1891 |
The inventory is now in the possession of Chris Griffiths who thought I would be interested, which of course I am.
Because, here spread over 57 foolscap pages and bound in leather is an insight in to just what a wealthy family accumulated in their home.
Looking through the inventory I noted that the list of Mr. Smith’s library was covered 21 pages, his collection of oil paintings, water colour drawings and engravings over another two pages and his silver and plated articles across two more pages.
And that is just what caught my eye, leaving me to explore the full nineteen rooms along with the lists of linen, glass, and china.
 |
| Index to the Inventory, 1892 |
All of which will reveal much about the life of one well off Victorian family, here in Chorlton in the late 19th century.
 |
| The warehouse on Nicholas Street, 1883 |
Just when the family moved into the property is a little unclear. They were there by 1871, but may have been elsewhere on Edge Lane before that.
Either way in 1871 the Rate Books reveal that Mr. Smith was occupying Rye Bank which he owned, and he stayed for two decades. The house had an annual estimated a rateable value of £229, which marked it off as the largest property on this bit of Edge Lane.
There is a lot more. His papers are deposited the Lancashire County Archive, and contain amongst other things the “Bill of Quantities for the erection of a warehouse in Nicholas Street. Manchester for Bryce Smith Esq” in the August of 1873.
So watch this space.
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; pages from the Inventory Rye Bank Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 1892, courtesy of Chris Griffiths, and the Nicholas Street, showing the Smith warehouse, 1883, from Goads Fire Insurance maps, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/
*Bryce Smith Papers, DDX 2/37Lancashire County Archives,
The spelling of Rye Bank as two separate words is interesting. The road in Chorlton is now spelt Ryebank ie all one word, yet the other Rye Bank Road in Firswood is also spelt as two separate words
ReplyDeleteThat's fascinating a clerical or signwriter's error or some need to differentiate the the Manchester and Trafford ends?
ReplyDeleteI wonder has anyone ever lived at both ends and has mail showing two different forms?
I grew up in number 1 Rye Bank and the family had the house for nearly 40 years. It was always written as 2 words.
DeleteI have just stumbled upon this site. I am related to Bryce Smith. He was my maternal grandmother's great uncle. My research isn't fool proof - it was from 15 years ago when I was in uni. Can you confirm any further information about the man himself? (I appreciate you research is on the property)
ReplyDeleteAt present that is all I have.
DeleteBryce smith was my maternal great grandad. He married twice and with his 2 nd wife Janet Ferguson sired my grandmother Gertrude and also Beatrice who married 2 nd lord Leverhulme
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