Looking towards our village sometime in the summer of 1890

Standing in Holt Croft looking towrds the village circa 1890

We are on Chorlton Croft with the brook to our back and the date is around 1890.  

Directly in front is the old parish church and to the right is the Bowling Green Hotel which was demolished in 1908 for the present building.

According to the caption, “the circular opening, bottom right is the out fall of Wilbraham Egerton’s sewer since extended and covered by a bank and not the arch of the bridge which was later rebuilt.”

Now I remember the work done on this sewer sometime in the mid 1980s which involved a huge hole on Beech Road and an equally big one on the Rec in the north east corner.
I think it may have been built at the same time as Wilbraham Road in 1869 given that for some of its distance it ran alongside the road.  Now I would love to date it exactly but for that I will have to trawl the Egerton papers.

The Edgerton sewer outfall

The sewer “runs along the road to within a short distance of the railway bridge at Chorlton station, and then passes through the fields to Barlow Moor Lane, adjoining Lane Edge, crossing High Lane, Cross Road, and Beech Road, thence through various gardens, finally emptying itself into the Chorlton Brook at a point about 200 yards below the bridge which crosses the stream leading to Jackson's boat.”*

The scene is one that even given the outfall could date from any time in the 19th century.

The parish church had been rebuilt at the beginning of that century and the Bowling Green just twenty or so years earlier although I rather think there had been bits added during the following decades.

Beyond the hedge to our right had been one of the village ponds, which the landlord of the hotel rented out to “gentleman to fish” and sometime perhaps in the 1860s and certainly by 1888 was drained.

Look closely and it is possible to see the not very good repair job to one of the big stones on top of the brickwork of the bridge.


And there is much more detail that the picture yields up, like the outside flue of the Arnot stoves  which  heated the church and as the advertisement proudly claimed were cheap and efficient because by their

The church and Bowling Green Hotel

“circular and oblong bronzed corrugated  body, the heating surface becomes multiplied nearly three times and by means of the self regulating valve the admission of air to the fire is so regulated that it only needs replenishing with fuel once every 12 to 18 hours.” 

Just to the left of the church and away in the distance is one of the barns owned by the Higginbotham family and which had at the start of the 19th century served as a place of worship for the small Wesleyan congregation.

And off to the extreme left almost hidden from view was one of the old labourer’s cottages.

*Ellwood, T.L., Chapter 6, South Manchester Gazette,

Picture; donated by Mrs May Boardman to from the Lloyd collection

The pub beyond the river, a ferry and a bridge

Hardy Lane circa 1912

On a warm summer’s evening a walk across the meadows to the Mersey and the pub beyond the river is one of those pleasant things to do.

Although walking back in the dark can be an adventure and one which more than once has left at least one of us down the ditch at the side of the lane.

And I guess it was ever such because the pub has been serving beer from the beginning of the 19th century and most probably before that.

The small community which lived in Hardy and those from the village who fancied a walk out with a drink at the end of it will no doubt have known it well.

But any one drinking there before 1816 would have had to rely on the ferry across the river until Samuel Wilton built his bridge.  Now Sam Wilton was canny and maintained the toll once charged by the ferry man and to ensure he got his money he added a stout door on the southern end hard by the pub.

The old bridge in 1865,  built in 1816

Nor was this charge dropped when the new bridge was erected in 1881 so while the door became an iron gate the toll remained and did so until well in to the late 1940s.

But I suspect the sale of beer was always secondary, and the prime money spinner for the tenant landlord was the land along with the crossing charge.

So Samuel Nixon who was there in the 1840s and 50 described himself as a farmer and according to the tithe schedule of 1845 tended nine acres of orchard and meadow land.

Now nine acres put him amongst the 60% of market gardeners in the township who farmed between one and nine acres of land growing the crops the city wanted to eat.

The old bridge and toll door, 1865

Of course like a handful of others he had diversified into other occupations as well as farming.  In his case this was  the crossing toll and the sale of beer.


I don’t know when Samuel Nixon took over the pub but it may have been when the place was sold in 1832.

He may even have seen the advert which led to Edmund Howarth buying the land, the buildings and of course the right to charge that toll.

It is a fascinating piece of history and well worth reproducing.

“By Mr. Nathaniel Pass, by order of the trustees named by the will of James Marsland, deceased at the house of Mr. George Brownhill, known by the name of Jackson’s Boat in Chorlton-with-Hardy, in the county of Lancaster, on Monday the 5th day of March, 1832, at five o’clock in the evening subject to conditions to be then produced.

The land around Jackson's Bridge 1841-53

The Inheritance in Fee-Simple or and in all that long established  and well accustomed Public-House, known by the name of Jackson’s Boat, aforesaid, with the outbuildings, garden, orchard, and several closes of Land thereto belongings, called the Bank, the Nearer Ford Mouth, Further Ford Mouth, and the Further Field, situto in Chorlton-with-Hardy aforesaid, but lying on the southerly or Cheshire side of the River Mersey, and containing together with the site of the said buildings, by recent admeasurement, 5a.2q. 16p of land, of the Lancashire measurement, or thereabouts.  

Together with the Ferry thereto belonging, and the right and priviledge of carrying passengers over the river Mersey, in the occupation of the said George Brownhill, as tenant.

And also all that Field or Parcel of LAND, called the Boat Field, situate in Sale in the county of Cheshire, containing 3a 0q. 14p. Of land, of the measure aforesaid, or thereabouts, in the occupation of John Marsland, and adjoining the land before mentioned.

The house and land in Chorlton-with-Hardy will be sold subject to an annuity of £26. 13s. 8d., payable during the life of a widow lady, aged 46 in April next.  The buildings are in excellent repair, and the land is of the first rate quality.

The pub circa 1881

The tenant of the public house will shew the premisises; and for further particulars apply to Mr. Marsland, or Mr. Samuel Alderley, of Sale; or to Meesrs. PASS and Shelmerdine, Althrincham.”**

Manchester Guardian February 18, 1832

At the time the pub was called Jackson’s Boat but it had during the early 19th century other names, including the Old Greyhound and the Boat House, before reverting back to the old Greyhound.  Sometime around 1832 it became Jackson’s Boat and then the Greyhound from 1834.

Just another of those wonderful ways history has of surprising you.

*The not so safe bridge over the Mersey circa 1865, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-not-so-safe-bridge-over-mersey.html


**Manchester Guardian February 18, 1832

Pictures; from the Lloyd Collection and map of the land around Jackson's Bridge, courtesy of Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.co.uk/

That mystery house on Edge Lane

The original

I have been tracking a house on Edge Lane which was demolished in 1986.  

I never knew any more about it until Laura came up with a photograph of a house on Edge Lane which could be its twin, which may have got us closer to the original.

And now Adge with skills I don’t possess has taken that old image and brought it out of the shadows.

So thank you Laura and Adge, and on to a new piece of research using the rate books and census returns.

And as enhanced by Adge

A nice bit of co-operative history research.

Pictures; from the Lloyd collection, the enhanced image by Adge, and Laura’s.

And its twin by Laura

Tracking down that mystery house with the help of Laura

"Thanks Andrew, liked the post this morning, you've got me wondering where that house on Edge Lane is....!" Laura Taylor

Now that is music to my ears, not just because it means people are reading the daily stories but that they are interested enough to want to take what they have read a bit further.

In some cases it is to tell me of a personal connection, in others to share their own research and always what comes of this is that a little bit more of our history is uncovered.

The mystery house on Edge Lane demolished in 1987

So back to Laura and her detective work to track the house I wrote about in On Edge Lane sometime before 1987.*

I was writing about an image I had come across in the collection of a house on Edge Lane and admitted "that sometimes you just have to accept defeat.  Not that it happens often, but on occasion all attempts to probe the secrets of a picture come to nothing.

And so it is with this house.  The caption just says demolished in 1987, and that is all you get.

Now it is in a section of the collection devoted to Edge Lane so we are sort of a little way forward but that is as far as it goes.

And as you do I have scanned Edge Lane for any clues to where it may have been.  There are a few spots where there is new build which might date from the late 1980s or 90s but I can’t be sure.  Nor are the OS maps much help. Both the 1907 and 1935 maps deliver up a number of candidates but that is all they are.”

Which is where Laura came in.  She did the research on the ground, located a similar house in a spot which is just right and then also supplied a photograph.

Its surviving possible  neighbour © Laura Taylor, 2013

“Architecturally", she writes, "it’s very similar to a house just as you turn on to High Lane from Edge Lane. Second in on the right hand side past the footpath to Meadow Court, could be that it was close to the flats in that part of town? I'm saying this as maybe a builder built a few in the same style on that row....?”

Looking at the two of them they do seem a match to the point where I wonder if the caption is correct about it being demolished in 1987.

But then as Laura says it is more than likely that the same builder was involved and commissioned the same architect.

After all the development of the township was done piecemeal and land sold off through chief rents to small time speculators, businessmen and even shop keepers and market gardeners.

So the stories roll on, and a big thank you to Laura.

Pictures; original from the Lloyd collection and the other from the collection of Laura Taylor, March 2013

*http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/on-edge-lane-sometime-before-1987.html

THE EASTER EGG HISTORY HUNT .... a first for Chorlton

Now here is a way of learning a bit more about the history of Chorlton with a family day out. 

The Easter Egg History Hunt starts and finishes at The Post Box Cafe Chorlton and takes in the GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON History Trail with stories of the past by historian Andrew Simpson and paintings of the present by local artist Peter Topping.

So the challenge is to visit each of the eight sites listed below, answer a question about each venue and get back with the answers to the Post Box Cafe Chorlton.

You can do it in one day or over the whole of Easter. And you don’t have to do it in any order.

But as a historian I rather think you should start on the green with the Horse & Jockey in the 16th century and make your way via Beech Road in the 1830s, and finish in the Chorlton of the 20th century.

Now that of course is how I would do it, Peter I rather think fancies the scenic route and Chris at the cafe will just be there at the Post Box to judge the results.

EASTER EGG HISTORY HUNT, March 29th to April 1st,, A GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON EVENT Sponsored by The Post Box Cafe

Some venues may not be open all of Easter

Stories by Andrew, graphics by Peter and food by Chris

Walking the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD

The Forum looking towards the Temple of  Jupiter © Kim Traynor

I have never lost my fascination of all things Roman.  

Now I know there are some pretty iffy bits to the Romans ranging from slavery to military conquest and a fairly ruthless system of government under the Empire.

But much the same can be said of many societies in the past including our own.

So with that out of the way It’s time to indulge my love of almost all things Roman and give a plug to the new exhibition opening on Life and death Pompeii and Herculaneum at the British Museum March 28-September 29th http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/pompeii_and_herculaneum.aspx

“AD 79. In just 24 hours, two cities in the Bay of Naples in southern Italy were buried by a catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

A street in Pompeii, © Paul Vlaar

Preserved under ash, the cities lay buried for just over 1,600 years, their rediscovery providing an unparalleled glimpse into the daily life of the Roman Empire.

From the bustling street to the intimate spaces of a Roman home, this major exhibition will take you to the heart of people’s lives in Pompeii and Herculaneum.”

And if like me you don’t fancy the trip to London, then the film of the opening will be shown in cinemas across the country on June 13th introduced live by British Museum Director Neil MacGregor and featuring Mary Beard, Rachel de Thame, Giorgio Locatelli and Exhibition Curator Paul Roberts who bring extraordinary objects to life in this unique event.

“The exhibition will give visitors a taste of the daily life of the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum, from the bustling street to the family home. The domestic space is the essential context for people’s lives, and allows us to get closer to the Romans themselves. 

This exhibition will explore the lives of individuals in Roman society, not the classic figures of films and television, such as emperors, gladiators and legionaries, but businessmen, powerful women, freed slaves and children. 

The baker Terentius Neo with his wife 

One stunning example of this material is a beautiful wall painting from Pompeii showing the baker Terentius Neo and his wife, holding writing materials showing they are literate and cultured. Importantly their pose and presentation suggests they are equal partners, in business and in life.

The emphasis on a domestic context also helps transform museum artefacts into everyday possessions. Six pieces of wooden furniture will be lent from Herculaneum in an unprecedented loan by the Archaeological Superintendency of Napels and Pompeii. 

These items were carbonized by the high temperatures of the ash that engulfed the city and are extremely rare finds that would not have survived at Pompeii – showing the importance of combining evidence from the two cities. The furniture includes a linen chest, an inlaid stool and even a garden bench. Perhaps the most astonishing and moving piece is a baby’s crib that still rocks on its curved runners.

Detail from a wall in the Hall of the Mysteries © Lord Pheasant

The exhibition will include casts from in and around Pompeii of some of the victims of the eruption. A family of two adults and their two children are huddled together, just as in their last moments under the stairs of their villa. The most famous of the casts on display is of a dog, fixed forever at the moment of its death as the volcano submerged the cities.

Sponsored by Goldman Sachs”**



**http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/news_and_press/press_releases/2012/pompeii_and_herculaneum.aspx

Pictures; the Forum looking towards the Temple of Jupiter, by Kim Traynor, July 2012, A street in Pompeii, by Paul Vlaar, June 2003, the baker Terentius Neo with his wife. Italian National Archaeological Museum of Naples (cat. no. 9058 ) & detail from a wall in the Hall of the Mysteries by Lord Pheasant November2006

Thomas Mellodew, and an Oldham cotton business part two

The Mellodews were textile magnates who ran a successful business from mills in Moorside near Oldham for more than a century.

And I don’t suppose I would ever have heard of them if I hadn’t been asked to write a review of the book about them.*

This is a new venture for me and one that I am still getting to grips with.  First there is the task of reading it, and then the more difficult exercise of writing about it in the space of just 300 words.

Now the received knowledge is that you read it all the way through first and then start writing the comments, in just the same way that I was told in making notes from a book, you read it all, form an overall judgement and then make the notes, which usually means you write less because you have a sense of what is coming.

But this is the blog and part two of Thomas Mellodew, an Oldham cotton business which I first posted on March 21st.**

And the task I set myself is to write a series of regular updates on writing a review and in the process share a little of what the book is about, but dear reader not enough to be a substitute for parting with £14 and reading the story yourself.

Moorside in 1853

Thomas Mellodew set up his 30 looms on Sholver Moorside above Oldham in 1850 specialising in cotton velvet and prospered.

In time as the two maps show the business grew from just the one mill to two large cotton factories with interests in collieries, a brick works three pubs, workers cottages, and farmland.

The first half of the book is a fascinating insight into how a family from humble beginnings made good and along the way offers a good description of how cotton was worked.

And for me what marks the book out as different is that it is a departure from the story of those who worked the looms and fed the boilers to those who managed the capital and did the deals.  So there is little about factory conditions, or the quality of the life of the men, women and children who laboured in the mills.

Moorside in 1894

But then this is an account “primarily about a cotton firm and its owning family” and that does make it an area I know little about.

So here are descriptions of how a textile business got started, the means by which it was financed and the way the owners developed the enterprise and planned for the future.

So it’s strength is that we are dealing not in generalities but of one firm in an identifiable part of Lancashire.

This breaks new ground for me and does a little to redress my usual bottom up approach to history.

What is more I have now reached the point in the book dealing with the 20th century which is when textile manufacture seems to be running all downhill.

The optimism and sheer dynamism of the early firm has slowed down and faces the new competition from the USA and Japan and the slow demise of the whole industry to the point in the 1980s when the company put the two mills up for sale, and had to  withdraw them because they failed to get a buyer.

But that is for part three.

Pictures, front cover of An Oldham Velvet Dynasty, and Moorside from the OS map of Lancashire, 1841-53, and the oS for South Lancashire, 188-1893, courtesy of Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.co.uk/

*An Oldham Velvet Dynasty, The Mellowodews of Moorside, by William M. Hartley, Palatine Books, 2009, £14

**http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/thomas-mellodew-oldham-cotton-business.html