What was lost is found ……… and the race is on to save this bit of our history

 Now I fully appreciate that for some the story of convents, churches and even redundant pubs do not catch the imagination but each in their way make up our past.

The beautiful mosaic scheme 2025

One such bit is Carlton House on High Lane.

In it’s time it was a private residence, and then a convent, finishing as the Manchester Islamic High School for Girls, and is now part of a new development which spans High Lane, one side of Acres Road and a short stretch of Stockton Road.

And I have written about all its various stages, culminating in that mosaic of Our Lady on Stockton Road*.

I remember the mosaic and often wondered if it had survived underneath the big black and gold sign for the Islamic School and it has, which in itself is a rescue project, but now I understand from Bronwen O'Donoghue that “a beautiful mosaic scheme has just been uncovered. It was hidden beneath layers added in the 1980s when the Islamic school took over the site.

Our Lady, 2024

And there will be many former students of the convent who will remember them and want them preserved, to which I think there will be many who like me see those mosaics as an important story wanting to be recorded and kept.

The convent comes from that time in Chorlton’s history when there were many small and not so small schools catering for the growing middle class who were moving into Chorlton from the 1880s.

Convent of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, 1959

They included private infant and junior schools as well as  “crammers” designed to offer quick paths to business and professional qualifications.  

One such was Mr Dadley's Grammar School on High Lane which occupied the two properties making up what was and is again Denbiegh Villas.

These schools occupied what had been private residences which is where Carlton House comes in and the story of the convent.

They stand in direct line to smaller private schools running back into the early nineteenth century which coexisted with the church school on the village green.

All of which makes the project of recovering and preserving the mosaics important as part of that continuous story of how our children were taught.

For those who want to read  about the development of the site just follow the link.**

So, it is all to work for.

Pictures; The beautiful mosaic scheme, uncovered 2025, courtesy of Bronwen O'Donoghue, Our Lady, 2024 from the collection of Andrew Simpson and Convent of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, 1959, A.E. Landers, m17917, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov

*Carlton House, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Carlton%20House

**Manchester City Council Planning Portal, Manchester Planning Portal, 37994/FO/2023. Erection of 12 no. 2.5 storey dwellinghouses; a pair of three storey semi-detached dwellinghouses; a three storey building comprising 6 no. apartments; the retention and change of use of the existing mansion house together with the erection of a two storey side extension to form 2 no. dwellinghouses; creation of vehicular access points, associated landscaping, car parking and boundary treatment following the demolition of the other existing buildings and structures. https://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=S0IQG9BCMGC00

What fate for our Lady?

 I am looking at the mosaic of “Our Lady of Good Counsel” on Stockton Road.

Our Lady, 2024

It is to the left of the entrance to the former Convent school extension and now has an uncertain future.  

The main school was in Carlton House on High Lane.  

The house dates back to the 1860s and has an interesting story all of which I have written about.*

In the early 20th century it was taken over by the Sisters of the Christian Retreat , and there will be many who remember attending the school before it in turn became the Islamic High School for Girls.

But with the removal of the Islamic High School to Fielden Park the site is up for development.  There is a planning application in from Cube Homes who propose to build “22 high quality, energy efficient and sustainable new homes comprising 14 four bedroom townhouses, 6 two-bedroom apartments, and the retention and refurbishment of Carlton House, which will be converted into 2 homes”.**

Convent of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, 1959

The details of the proposed development are available on Manchester’s Planning Portal, which reveals that the school extension on Stockton Road will be demolished in favour of two “dwelling houses” along with a much larger development occupying High Lane and running down Acres Road.***

So I wonder the fate of Our Lady.  I couldn’t see any reference to it in the planning proposals, but maybe I missed them.

The Sisters of the Christian Retreat still exist, and St John’s is just round the corner.

In the face of its possible destruction some will mutter so what, but it is a little bit of our history.  Just how much of our past is unclear.  The extension post dates 1956 and looks to be 60s/70s build, that said there will be someone who remembers it being constructed and might have press cuttings of the unveiling of the mosaic.

A tree, some fruit and Our Lady, 2024

We shall see,

Location; Stockton Road

Pictures; Our Lady, 2024 from the collection of Andrew Simpson and Convent of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, 1959, A.E. Landers, m17917, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov

*Carlton House, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search?q=Carlton+House

**Cube Homes High Lane Consultation, https://www.cubehomeshighlaneconsultation.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR0RpY4WJSNMpEm-cSD6fIFNrQfHjnh9M1Dhccez1k9WCISxdPBYZTNpfyA

***Manchester Planning Portal, 37994/FO/2023. Erection of 12 no. 2.5 storey dwellinghouses; a pair of three storey semi-detached dwellinghouses; a three storey building comprising 6 no. apartments; the retention and change of use of the existing mansion house together with the erection of a two storey side extension to form 2 no. dwellinghouses; creation of vehicular access points, associated landscaping, car parking and boundary treatment following the demolition of the other existing buildings and structures. https://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=S0IQG9BCMGC00

So goodbye to Carlton House on High Lane ……… well almost

Carlton House is that building on High Lane and Acres Road.

Carlton House, 2022

For well over a century, it has been in the business of education, starting out as a convent school and then becoming the Islamic High School for Girls.

But all that is about to change as the Islamic High School is relocating to West Didsbury and the site is about to be redeveloped.

Cube Homes propose to build “22 high quality, energy efficient and sustainable new homes comprising 14 four bedroom townhouses, 6 two-bedroom apartments, and the retention and refurbishment of Carlton House, which will be converted into 2 homes”.*

We are at the early stage where Cube Homes have bought the land, had preliminary discussions with the Planners at the City Council and have floated a “Preapplication” statement and consultation.

The Convent, 1959

All of the details are available online and make for an interesting read, particularly because the developer amended the plans in the light of conversations with the City Planning Department.

One of which was the retention of Carlton House.

It is a building I have passed countless times but never once gave it much thought.

For most of the time I have lived in Chorlton it was the Convent School before becoming the Manchester Islamic Grammar School For Girls.

But it started as the home of Thomas and Catherine Harrison who I suspect were pleased with their impressive property which consisted of 10 rooms with a garden which stretched down towards Beech Road and included stables, a greenhouse and heaps of ancient fruit trees.

I have written its story and always intended to go back.  That first story set off a heap of memories from those who attended the convent school and no doubt the second will bring forth more from its time as the Islamic High School.**

Carlton House and garden, 1894

Now the historic records offer up heaps of possible avenues of research including the cottage which  stood on the site in the 1840s and 50s, when this strip of land was owned by William Brundrett.

But also highlight just how twisty turny historical research can be, because I came across Carlton House almost by accident as I was looking for the story behind 97 Beech Road which if I have got it right dates back to 1886, and has in its time sold many different things

Carlton House dates from 1866 and may have been sold in 1898 when Mrs Harrison died.  Either way sometime between 1903 and 1909 her grand house became the Convent. The 1911  census records it was home to the Principal, six teachers, one pupil teacher and the house keeper.  

Walking the garden wall, 2020

They ranged in age from 49 down to 18 years old, all were single, and were drawn from across the country and beyond.  So, while four were from Ireland, one was from Dorset and the remaining three had been born in Woolwich, Hackney and London.

And now that link with education has come to an end.

I could at this point reflect on the proposed plans, or the bigger issue of new homes in Chorlton but I won’t, suffice to say the proposals recognises that despite real  environmental concerns provision has been made for more than one car per house hold, which in turn may prevent the squeeze on on road parking.

Added to which Acres Road is to be widened, which clearly makes sense.  The historian in me acknowledges that this will alter the historic character of what was popularly known as “Acres Crack” and originated as a small watercourse covered over sometime before the 1880s, but the trade off is the retention of Carlton House.

That said the scale of the development does seem over large for that corner of Acres Road.

So, the rest are stories yet to come.

Location; High Lane

Pictures; Carlton House, and the line of what was once the garden, 2022,  from the collection of Andrew Simpson, Carlton and house and grounds 1894, from the OS map of South Lancashire, 1894, courtesy of Digital Archives, https://digitalarchives.co.uk/  and Convent of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, 1959, A.E. Landers, m17917, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

*Cube Homes High Lane Consultation, https://www.cubehomeshighlaneconsultation.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR0RpY4WJSNMpEm-cSD6fIFNrQfHjnh9M1Dhccez1k9WCISxdPBYZTNpfyA

**Carlton House …… the convent on High Lane and …….. the trail that led back to a Beech Road bar

https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2022/10/carlton-house-convent-on-high-lane-and.html

Carlton House …… the convent on High Lane and …….. the trail that led back to a Beech Road bar

This was Carlton House on High Lane which was the home of one family from 1866 to the early years of the 20th century.

Carlton House, 2022

And it is a building I have passed countless times but never once gave it much thought.

For most of the time I have lived in Chorlton it was the Convent School before becoming the Manchester Islamic Grammar School For Girls.

But it started as the home of Thomas and Catherine Harrison who I suspect were pleased with their impressive property which consisted of 10 rooms with a garden which stretched down towards Beech Road and included stables, a greenhouse and heaps of ancient fruit trees.

Just how long that garden was can be gauged by walking down Acres Road from High Lane and following the brick wall of the present school.

Carlton House, 1894

I have yet to find out when Thomas died but I know it will have been before 1871 when Catherine was recorded as a “Widow” at the age of 44.  

She died in 1898 leaving £29,511, and sometime between 1903 and 1909 Carlton House  became the Convent.

Walking the garden, Acres Road, 2022

Two years later the census records it was home to the Principal, six teachers, one pupil teacher and the house keeper.  

They ranged in age from 49 down to 18 years old, all were single, and were drawn from across the country and beyond.  So, while four were from Ireland, one was from Dorset and the remaining three had been born in Woolwich, Hackney and London.

Now the historic records offer up heaps of possible avenues of research including the cottage which  stood on the site in the 1840s and 50s, when this strip of land was owned by William Brundrett.

But also highlight just how twisty turny historical research can be, because I came across Carlton House almost by accident as I was looking for the story behind 97 Beech Road which if I have got it right dates back to 1886, and has in its time sold many different things

Some will remember it as Marcelle’s Fabric shop, and later briefly when it sold “interesting things” before settling on a succession of bars and cafes.

 Convent of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, 1959

And here is the connection with Carlton House, because 97 Beech Road had been built and owned by William Henry Acton who was the son in law of Thomas and Catherine Harrison. 

In 1871 he was living at Carlton House along with his granddaughter and at 28 was already a widower. 

So, the project turns on where next?  

I know that Mr. Acton was still on High Lane in 1901 but along with other members of the family had retreated to the delights of a large hotel or guesthouse in Bournemouth, having described himself as a “Wood carver” in 1871, forty years later was styling himself “retired builder”.

Or equally fascinating might be a study of the Convent which I am sure will elicit plenty of memories, or the cottage on High Lane before Carlton House.

Beech Road Tap House, 97 Beech Road, 2020

We shall see.

97 Beech Road, 2023

And an anonymous contributor reminded me that "No 97, I remember after Marcelle's was 'Jean Genie', a card / gift shop, and also that 'interesting things' shop you mention, before becoming 'the Library', the 'Tap House' and latterly the short-lived 'Seb's Bar'".

Which reminded me that I had passed the latest "happy" venue to occupy 97 Beech Road, which is appropriately named 97.

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; Carlton House, and the line of what was once the garden, 2022, Beech Road Tap House, 2020,and (7 Beech Road, 2023,  from the collection of Andrew Simpson, Carlton and house and grounds 1894, from the OS map of South Lancashire, 1894, courtesy of Digital Archives, https://digitalarchives.co.uk/  and Convent of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, 1959, A.E. Landers, m17917, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass