Looking out from Cross Lane ....... across the fields of Chorlton-cum-Hardy with Mr Samuel Walton

In the spring of 1877, Mr Samuel Walton would have had a fine view from his house on Cross Road out on to the fields which stretched down Beech Road.

Cross Road, 2018

He had moved in earlier that year and was the first occupant of the house built by a John Rhodes.

During that first year the annual rent for the property was £25 per year, which rose later in the next decade by three pounds.

By then Mr Walton had bought the house and moved out renting it to a succession of tenants.

I had always assumed that the houses on Cross Road dated from the early 1870s, but on being asked to do some research on one of them I discovered that they had been built in two phases.

The lower numbers were there by 1871 but the rest came along a little later.

They were some of the first new “posh” build in what was still a rural area.

Row Acre directly beside Cross Road, 1894

To the east of the long gardens of the houses on Cross Road was the large walled garden of Beech House which belonged to the Holt family along with a set of cottages which jutted out onto what we now called Beech Road.

The name Beech Road is relatively recent, before that and no doubt running back centuries it was called Chorlton Row, and by the 1840s, consisted of a few wattle and daub houses dating into the 18th century, two fine houses built in the early 1800s, a couple of farmhouses, a beer shop, the Wesleyan Chapel and the village smithy.

The Rate Books also show that Cross Road underwent a number of name changes, beginning with Cross Lane, then Cross Street and finally Cross Road.

Looking out from Cross Road, 1894, on all that was left of Row Acre

And for all those who never tire of telling the assembled crowd that Chorlton has no streets but only roads, this might seem a revelation, and one that I shall follow up with the fact that Acres Road was once Acres Street and the small stretch of road from the Chorlton Green past the Beech Inn to where there is a twist in the direction of the road was Lloyd Street.

And so back to Mr Walton and that house whose views out on Row Acre were changing.

By the late 19th century Row Acre was getting nibbled away till all that was left was a 2 acre patch bounded by Beech Road, High Lane, Cross Road and Wilton Road.

It was last ploughed in 1895 and was gifted to the people of Chorlton-cum-Hardy by the Egerton’s as a Recreational Ground.

And that is it.

Location; Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Pictures; Cross Road, 2018, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, ploughing Row Acre, courtesy of Mr Higginbotham from the Lloyd Collection, and Row Acre, 1894 from the OS map of South Lancashire, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/

Sources; Census Return , Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 1871-91, Rate Books, 1877-1900

“great enterprises a foot and new roads are being monthly added to the local directory.”*

It’s a familiar refrain and could well describe the present building boom across Chorlton, but comes from the Manchester Evening News published in 1901.

Back then this new development was aimed at the clerical and artisan end of the market.  

As the same Evening News article said, “The clerk no less than the merchant must be catered for.”  

Joe Scott built many of these smaller terraced houses around Beech Road and off Oswald Road  in the first two decades of the last century, before building some of the semis on Beaumont in the 1930s.

The Evening News also reported on the “Sandy Lane colony”, the three long new roads of Nicholas, Beresford and Newport and the “six shilling a week homes” on Hawthorne Road.  

All were modest four roomed houses, with a small front garden and back yard. 

 In that respect the township remained a very down to earth place.  There may well have been the grand houses which sat well back on Edge and High Lane but they were matched by those rows of small terraces. 

And one hundred and twenty three years later the surge to build continues.

Location; Cross Road

Picture, waiting for something to happen, former car park of the Irish Club, 2024, lamps post and trees, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* Chorlton-cum-Hardy, from a series of articles History of the Suburbs of Manchester, Manchester Evening News, September 20th 1901

Cross Road waits with mounting expectation

The paraphernalia of road works arrived this morning and all the street waits to see what will happen.

Brought to you by that series “A Week in the History of Beech Road”.*

And yes, the road signs were delivered to Cross Road, which is next to Beech Road, and who knows just where the pavement will be dug up.

Leaving me just to add for those wanting to know some history. 

Cross Road dates from the 1870s, was known as Cross Street and Cross Lane which is one in the eye for all those “there are no streets in Chorlton”.

Location; Cross Road

Picture; Waiting in expectation, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*A week in the history of Beech Road, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20week%20in%20the%20history%20of%20Beech%20Road

Looking for gold …….

So not the most original title, and one that may not be entirely accurate.

But if like me you are drawn to autumn, then the golden brownie colours as they turn from green to those gentle hues before falling, are quite magic.

And they are accompanied by temperatures which remain warm and come with that tired but mellow sunshine.

So, picking my time carefully and dodging the rain I wandered around the Rec and captured a few more images.

Although strictly speaking all I did was to cross the road from our house and snap away.

That said, the collection now encompasses the Rec across all four seasons.

Which may mean the Autumnal Friends of Chorlton will celebrate this most gentle bits of the year with a collection of poems from Eric Thistleweight, their resident poet.

Back in 2001 he was due to read his poem "Reflections on counting the falling leaves", which has those  memorable lines, 

"Come you golden tawny leaves,

And fall upon the grass

Carpeting yesterday's bright green

And hiding the precious harvest of conkers,

But fear not because Thistleweight and Son are at the ready

To sweep away the detritus of summer,

Uncovering autumns treasures.

Our rates can't be beaten

So come you golden leaves

Fall and fall and fall".

Alas the Council pointed out that their staff were already on the job, leaving Eric to recite his poem to an empty hall.

Location; Beech Road

Pictures; Autumn gold, 2022, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

A sunny day on Cross Road

It was one of those cold bright days with plenty of sun.

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; Cross Road, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson