Road signs with a story …………… just waiting to be found

I am intrigued by this stone road sign and its story.

Andy Robertson sent the pictures over, adding 

“I spotted this on the corner of Derbyshire Road and Northenden Road in Sale. 

I don't suppose it is in its exact original location but still interesting. 

Even when It was brand new and glistening I guess the passing motorists of today would have had trouble reading it?”

And I wondered if the local resident was happy to have such a sign above his stone wall.

It is one of those silly historical stories which might just lead somewhere.

After all there will be a few people with detailed local historical knowledge who can answer Andy’s question on the sign’s original location, as well as explaining how common these road inscriptions were and perhaps offering up some more.

And finally, it does allow me to use a delightful image from Trafford Lifetimes, dating from the 1880s.

Sadly my knowledge of Derbyshire Road is scant, so I can do no more than suggest this might be the other side of the road.

But someone will correct me, and that is both the fun and the joy of sharing pictures and stories on the blog.

Location, Sale

Pictures; Derbyshire Road and Northenden Road in Sale, 2020, from the collection of Andy Robertson, and Derbyshire Road, 1880, TL3126, courtesy of Trafford Lifetimes, https://apps.trafford.gov.uk/TraffordLifetimes/

*Derbyshire Road, Sale, view from Northenden Road, terrace beyond trees on the right 12-16 cottages. Beyond was the Smithy (see 1876 OS map) and Gough's field, now a pair of semis and town houses. 1880

A little bit of romance and the continuing story of Vernon Lodge on Marsland Road ........ part 2

Now I wonder why Peter and Mariana Royle would leave Vernon Lodge in semi rural Sale and return to live in Manchester.

Vernon Lodge, 2016

They had built Vernon Lodge in 1851 and as a statement had their initials placed high up in the side wall and again in a beautiful piece of stained glass above the front door.*

Mr Royle was a surgeon who had a practice on Lever Street which was where the couple settled in 1845 soon after they had got married in London.

Their new home was close to the railway which offered a quick service into the city which allowed him to commute from home to Lever Street with ease.

The stained glass, circa 1851

So I can’t quite workout why the family would relocate to 58 Greenheys Lane which was a six roomed property close to the city centre.

I know they were there from 1878 but had moved by 1883 and later were back in Vernon Lodge.

And while I was pondering on these moves I shared the story with Peter Topping who decided he would paint the lodge as it looks today and I rather think he has made a magnificent job.

All the more so when you compare it to how it looked in the 1880s when the Royle’s moved back from Manchester  and again took up residence in the lodge.

Vernon Lodge, circa 1880

The mystery is still a puzzle given that Mr Royle had maintained his presence in Lever Street.

He pops up there in a directory of 1863 and while he is missing in 1876 is back there in 1878.

Of course for reasons I don't understand he may somehow have been missed off the lists at one point, although he does move from nu 21 where he had been for 20 years to nu 25 in the late 1870s.

And later in the week Peter and I will take up the invitation of the present owners who run the lodge as a guest house.**

Not that I will leave it there because there are still plenty of directories along with other sources to trawl through which may add to my knowledge of Mr and Mrs Royle and perhaps offer up the explanation for their brief stay in Greenheys Lane.

Painting; Vernon Lodge  © 2016 Peter Topping 

Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk

Facebook: Paintings from Pictures https://www.facebook.com/paintingsfrompictures

Pictures; Vernon Lodge, circa 1880 and stained glass window courtesy of Mr and Mrs Vernon owners of the Lodge and Greenheys Lane, 1893 from the OS map of Lancashire, 1893, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/

*On discovering Vernon Lodge on Marsland Road and a bit of romance from 1851 .... part 1, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/on-discovering-vernon-lodge-on-marsland.html

**Brooklands Lodge, http://www.brooklandslodge.co.uk/ 208 Marsland Rd, Sale, Manchester M33 3NE
0161 973 3283