History of Rusholme 1914 Ed

3 HISTORY OF RUSHOLME
W I T H A GOSSIPY T A L K OF
MEN A N D THINGS
FROM A SURVEY M A D E IN T H E YEAR 1 8 1 8 BY W I L L I A M JOHNSON, ESQ.
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" A N D STRANGE ENCHANTMENTS OF T H E PAST,
A N D MEMORIES OF T H E DAYS OF O L D . "
History of j\usholme
W I T H A GOSSIPY T A L K OF
M E N A N D THINGS
BY
WILLIAM ROYLE
MANCHESTER
PRINTED A T THE WILLIAM MORRIS PRESS LTD, 14 ALBERT STREET
1914
2-o
MY WIFE
CONTENTS
PAGE
Preface ... 9
Evolution of Name ... II
Piatt Hall and the Worsleys 12
Major-General Worsley 14
Birch Hall and the Birches 17
Birch Chapel ... 20
Birch Hall Houses 24
The Oldest House in Rusholme 25
Piatt Chapel... 25
Archdeacon Anson 28
Dr. Finlayson 29
Miscellany 3°
Personal Reminiscences 39
A Walk round Rusholme a Hundred Years Ago... 43
Rusholme Green 45
Mickle Ditch 47
Gore Brook ... 48
Population 48
Street Names 49
Rusholme Wakes and Rush Cart Day S2
Rusholme Public Hall 54
Public Buildings... 58
Rusholme Notabilities 61
Omnibuses 63
Birch Fields ... 65
Piatt Fields 66
Epilogue 70
Appendix... 71
ILLUSTRATIONS
Map of Rusholme ... i.
Major-General Worsley ii.
The Old Horse Block, Piatt Cottage—Birch Hall ... iii.
Birch Chapel—Old Wesleyan Chapel, Dickenson Road ... iv.
Piatt Hall—Birch Hall Houses v.
Birch Fold Cottage—Ruggles's Cottage in Monmouth Street ... vi.
The Archdeacon vii.
8 CONTENTS
PAGE
Rev. T . C. Finlayson, D.D. ... viii.

Brighton Grove Scheme of 1834 lx.
" T h e Little Window where the Sun came peeping in at Morn"—
Old Coins found near Gore Brook x.
Piatt Fields: The "Unemployed" at W o r k Making the L a k e -
Opening of Lake xi.
A Rusholme Group of Fifty Years A g o xii.
A Peaceful Scene—Old School House, Piatt Lane ... xiii.
Dr. Melland—Rev. W . H. and Mrs. Finney xiv.
Gilbody's Cottage, Wilmslow Road—Ancient Communion Chalices xv.
Ancient Mickle Ditch—Old Piatt Chapel ... xvi.
Saved for the Children—May Day in Moor Street xvii.
Public Hall School, 1864 ... xviii.
Toll-Bar, formerly corner of Mauldeth Road, Fallowfield—Archie
Wilson's Cottage, Carter's Lache xix.
Thos. Lowe—R. D. Darbishire xx.
The Three-Horse Omnibus, 1856—Last Journey of the Cheadle Bus xxi.
Edward Morris—Archie Wilson ... xxii.
Cheadle, Didsbury and Manchester Coach ... ... xxiii.
Herbert H. Asquith—Helen Melland—The Author xxiv.
PREFACE.
THE sketch of Rusholme, as it has been, has arisen from a

lecture which I in the first instance gave in the Rusholme
Public Hall (my good friend, Rev. W. H. FINNEY, then
Rector of Piatt, in the chair). My chief object has been
to aflord some passing glimpses into the village life, as it is
partly remembered yet by some of the older generation, and to
collect all stray bits of information still floating in their
memory from the early days of childhood.
No pretensions are made, and no finality has been

attempted. Unfortunately, we possess no illustrations of the
old Piatt Hall, and of the old village, as it appeared in its
more ancient garb. The tenants were mostly given to the
pursuit of agriculture, and led a very simple mode of life;
their amusements were but few. The cottages were timber-
built, thatched, with a bit of garden in front, and its adjacent
stack of peat. They used to gather on the Green to
commemorate their sports and celebrate all public events.
In the 16th and 17th centuries large tracts of turfy moss

characterized the locality, further accentuated by some exten-
sive pools, or laches, thickly grown with reeds and aquatic
10 PREFACE
plants. Bird-life was then more intense and varied. Except

the few rows of cottages scattered along the high road, and
the few farms to be seen here and there, the place was lost
in comparative isolation.
The women carried their market produce—such as butter,
eggs, fowl, geese, pigs, vegetables—to the weekly Manchester
market, and sometimes suffered fine for breaking the assize.
We have no tradition left of boggart, ghost, or fairy, but no
doubt superstition was here as rife as elsewhere.
Their great day for decking themselves out was Sunday,

when they went to chapel to see the lord of the manor and
listen to the solemn sermon.
The families were few in number. Some of the tenants
held their leases under the Collegiate Church.
For those who cherish the past, a few items have been
appended, illustrating some aspects of its former history.
Finally, I ask the reader to recollect that the lecture was
a gossipy talk to my friends and neighbours in Rusholme,
hence so much evidence of the personal element. There is
much which I have been compelled to omit. In taking leave,
I wish all success and prosperity to our beloved Rusholme
and its people, and thank again all the many friends who liave
assisted me with advice and information.
WILLIAM ROYLE.
ELMWOOD, BIRCH POLYGON,

RUSHOLME, July, 1914.
HISTORY OF RUSHOLME
WITH A GOSSIPY TALK OF MEN
AND THINGS
EVOLUTION OF NAME.
E may appropriately begin by considering the
name "Rushokne." In all probability, the first
part of the word is derived from rush, a reed.*
The second part of it is the Anglo-Saxon word
"holme," and signifies a piece of flat, low-lying
ground by a river or stream, submerged or surrounded in the
time of flood.
There are at least seven spellings of the name, and these,
with the dates, are as follows: —
1235 Russum
1400 Risshulm
1473 Ryssum
1563 Rysshome
1568 Riseholme
1586 Ryssheholm
1649 Rushulme
Little less than a century ago the name was spelt "Rush-
Holme." Many present will remember the house at the
corner of Rusholme Place, opposite Moss Lane, and the
* Compare also such place names as Rush-brook, -ford (also Rushyford), -lake,-mere,
-wick, etc. The dialect form for rush is: rush, rash, rish, rus, msk. (See Wright's
English Dialect Dictionary.)
stone slab that had on it "Rushulme Place." This house was

built about the year 1830, but we know that at that time the
name was also spelt as at present, and this may therefore
have been the transition period. In 1837, when the Chorlton
Poor-Law Union was formed, the name was officially spelt
Rushulme.
The ancient history of Rusholme centres very much round
three spots:
(1) Piatt Hall and the Worsleys,
(2) Birch Hall and the Birches,
(3) Birch Church.
PLATT HALL AND THE WORSLEYS.

The first mention of the Piatt Estate, and therefore the
first reference to Rusholme, is in the twelfth century. We are
informed that in the year 1190 a certain Mathew, son of
William, conveyed the lands of Piatt to the Knights of St.
John, that celebrated military religious Order, established at
the commencement of the Crusades to the Holy Land. The
pilgrims or crusaders who went to Jerusalem were received
with such kindness and hospitality by the Order of St. John
that on their return much religious fervour was excited, and
numerous lands in various parts of the country were be-
queathed to the Order, which rapidly increased in wealth.
Amongst the lands so bestowed was the estate of Piatt,
and its income went to the support of the Order. The
boundaries of this gift are only of interest to us, as they refer
for the first time to "Gore Brook," an "institution" which
looms largely in the history of Rusholme to-day, and also in
the olfactory organs of its inhabitants. It may interest some
to read the boundaries of this gift. "Beginning at the
Great Ditch and following that ditch to its lower extremity
as far as the cross which is cut in the tree, thence from the
said ditch as far as Goselache, and by Goselache up the
road which passes between Piatt and Rusholme; thence along
this road as far as the Gore Brook; and alongside the Gore
Brook to the marsh of William de Honford, and so onwards
to the Great Ditch." It is of course impossible to locate
these boundaries to-day, but it is likely that the most ancient
part of Rusholme is that between Gore Brook at Piatt and
Moss Lane East. In endeavouring to trace ancient boundaries,
I have often found help from the names of fields or tracts
of land. When speaking one day to the tenant of Heald
Farm (better known as Brunt's Farm), I found that a large
meadow with a pond was called Gooseacre (Goselache).
WITH A GOSSIPY TALK OF MEN AND THINGS 13-
Shortly afterwards the Knights of St. John transferred the

estate to a Richard de la More. The granddaughter of this
man and her husband took to themselves the name of Piatt
from the estate of which they owned a moiety. The other
moiety was granted to Richard, son of Adam de Farnworth,
whose descendants were also called Piatt, and for four hundred
years continued to live on the Piatt estate. There are only one
or two references in history to any member of the Piatt family,
and these are of little importance, for the family does not
appear to have distinguished itself in civil, military or
religious life. It was in the year 1625 that the Piatt family,
after occupying the hall for four centuries, finally severed
their connection with it.
Edmund Piatt was the last of that name to occupy the
estate, and in the year 1625 he sold the land to Ralph
Worsley, a friend of Humphrey Chetham, for £550, which
family and its legatees have been connected with the estate
until the present day. At the date of transfer, portions of the es-
tate were under lease to George Travis and Thomas Shelmer-
dine. The Worsley family claimed a pedigree dating back to the
days of William the Conqueror. Dr. Halley, in his "Lancashire,
its Puritanism and Nonconformity," has a deeply interesting
chapter dealing with the Worsley family. I will briefly
summarize its salient points. The Worsleys claim their
descent from Elias, Lord of Worsley, an adherent of Robert,
Duke of Normandy, the son of William the Conqueror. Of
this ancient and honourable house, proud of its knights and
crusaders, one member "soiled the escutcheon, but greatly
augmented the wealth by engaging in trade, and malting
money from the handloom weavers of Rusholme, Withington,
Fallowfield and the neighbourhood." From the description
of certain rooms in the old Piatt Hall it is certain he was in
the habit of storing cloth there. This man was Charles
Worsley, who by trade became much richer than his relatives
and bought, in 1614, certain lands in Rusholme from Rowland
Mosley, Hough End, Withington, and on his death he left
his property to his son, Ralph. Ralph Worsley continued
in this lucrative business until he was able to purchase the
land of Piatt from the aforementioned Edmund Piatt. This
man, the first of the Worsleys of Piatt, was of high principle
and integrity and greatly respected by his neighbours. Some
years ago, I spoke with an inhabitant who well remembered
handloom weavers in Rusholme and hearing the click of the
shuttle as he passed the cottage doors; and it is, I should
say, very probable that the industry was first introduced into
the village by this Ralph Worsley, who, we know, dealt
largely in yarn and cloth. He bought the yarn and gave it out
among his weavers for the purpose of having it made into
cloth and then sold it from his store-rooms in Manchester,
which were in Market Sted Lane. He was a man of decided
Puritan sympathies and a warm supporter of Cromwell and
the Parliamentary cause. He did not himself, like his son, go
to fight for Cromwell, but he sent a substitute, for it is on
record that he agreed with John Burdsell, of the Millgate,
Manchester, to "carry my arms during the service, and for
his pain I have given him in hand thirty shillings, one green
coat, and am to pay him daily one shilling. When he, with
the rest of his company, is trained, and when he is to go
forth of the country upon service, I am to pay him thirty
shillings more." Arid now to
MAJOR-GENERAL WORSLEY.
It is, however, of Charles Worsley, son of this Ralph
Worsley, that I wish more especially to speak. He was the
most famous of this celebrated family, and a man of whom'
every Rusholmite may well be proud. Like his father, he
was a keen Parliamentarian, and very early in life entered the
army. We notice that in the year 1646, there came as
minister to Birch Chapel, a certain Rev. John Wigan, who
began to preach Independency with much zeal, as will be
well understood when I say that he himself joined Cromwell's
army and fought for his creed with sword as well as
tongue. No doubt young Worsley was stirred by the
ministration of this stalwart preacher. He was then married
and living at Piatt, and threw himself on the side of Cromwell
and the Parliamentary forces. There were in Manchester
strong forces on the Royalist side, but the Parliament had
also many friends, and none was more active than Charles
Worsley. His bravery and conscientiousness secured the
young soldier's rapid advancement. By the year 1650, when
only twenty-eight years of age, he had already attained to
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Cromwell was then on his
northern march to Scotland, and Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley
raised a regiment of soldiers in this neighbourhood, the
first muster of these being in Cheetham Hill. On August
19th, 1650, Worsley marched at the head of his men through
Skipton, Durham, Newcastle, Berwick, and Edinburgh, but
to his great regret, and especially to his father's regret, was
too late to take part in the battle of Dunbar. We hear little
of Worsley for a period of three years, but then we meet
him on a historic occasion. He was a great favourite with
Cromwell, who gave him command of his own regiment
ii.
MAJOR-GENERAL WORSLEY
Born 1622 : D i e d 1656
of foot. It was in this capacity that he accompanied Crom-

well, when, on April 20, 1653, the Long Parliament was
forcibly dissolved. We are told that, commanded to meet
Cromwell, Worsley "with his wife did set off to ride from
Piatt to London." On the day when Cromwell dissolved
the Long Parliament, Worsley was desired to wait outside
the house with a band of three hundred soldiers until he
should be ordered to enter the house. Presendy Cromwell
stamped his foot, which was the appointed sign, and Worsley
and his men entered. They first displaced the Speaker,
next struggled with the refractory members, and then Crom-
well went to the table where the mace lay, and pointing to
it, he cried in the now historic phrase, "Take away that
bauble." From the fact that Worsley was the captain of the
force, and that the "bauble" was kept in Worsley's custody
and brought from his house when wanted in the next Parlia-
ment, it is fair to conclude that he himself carried it away.
Therefore, says the historian of this period, "the immediate
instrument of Oliver Cromwell's famous deed turns out to
have been a Manchester man"—pardon me, a Rusholme
man. Shortly after this he was appointed Colonel, and
nominated by Cromwell, in 1654, as the first M.P. for
Manchester. Oliver Cromwell dismissed the first Protectorate
Parliament soon after it was formed, and for one year and
nine months there was no Parliamentary Government. Crom-
well divided the country into ten districts, over each of which
he placed a Vice-Gerent or Viceroy. Worsley was made one
of the ten and his district was Lancashire, Cheshire, and
Staffordshire. It is quite certain that Colonel Worsley was
a hard working public man. His correspondence is preserved
in the archives of the Public Record Office, and a portion of
it has been published by the Chetham Society. In fulfilling
the duties of his office he met Commissioners, set a day for
ejecting scandalous ministers and schoolmasters, sequestered
estates, disarmed Papists and evil-affected persons, put into
execution all laws against drunkenness, swearing, profaning the
Lord's Day, and other wickedness. For months this kind of
work went on, entailing on him great strain and anxiety and
much correspondence. In a letter addressed to the Govern-
ment, in 1656, he says, "I have one thing to remind you about
which I once spoke to you, and that is about the postage of
my letters. There is such a multitude comes upon me out of
all parts that it puts me to a very great charge, and not one
of them but what is about public business."
Colonel Worsley was the first of a long line of temperance
workers in Rusholme, for in connection with his work we find
him writing in January, 1656:—"That he finds it a difficult

business to observe instructions about alehouses and not to
weaken the revenue, though it is visible they are the bane of
the country. We have ordered 200 alehouses to be thrown
down at Blackburn, and we are catching up all loose and
vile persons."
Never, apparently, a very strong man, Worsley felt much
the strain of his arduous work. On the 10th of May, 1656,
he received a command from Cromwell to proceed to London.
He wrote, however, complaining of feeling ill, but promised
to come with all possible speed. Soon after his arrival at
St. James's Palace, which had been assigned to himself and
his wife and child as a residence, he died at the early age of
thirty-five. He was honoured with burial in Henry VII.'s
Chapel, Westminster Abbey, and his military funeral was such
as befitted his rank. Thus Worsley sleeps among the Kings
and Queens of England, and many of the illustrious dead
of past ages.
In the book to which I have already referred, Dr. Halley
pays a fine tribute to this good man: "His premature death
was an irreparable loss to the Commonwealth. Of all the
great officers of Cromwell, he had more than any other the
unerring foresight, the calm judgment, the wise decision, the
dauntless courage, the quick movement, the unwearied energy
and the unswerving perseverance of the great Commander, and
he had what his great Commander had not—a most gentle,
insinuating, gracious and conciliatory manner. He firmly
trusted in God. Of the military circles round the Protector's
chair no one appeared so fit to succeed to the Protectorate
as Major-General Worsley."
From the Public Intelligencer for June 19th, 1656, we
extract the following account of the funeral:—"Westminster,
June 13th, in the evening was solemnized the funerals of
Major-General Worsley, which was performed with much
honour according to his merit, his hearse being attended by
the rest of the Major-Generals and divers other persons of
honour, and many coaches. Before him marched four regi-
ments of foot, ten troops of horse, and the Life Guards of
his Highness, drums being covered with mourning, pikes
trailed on the ground, trumpets mourning, sounding after the
military manner used in such solemnities, who conducted his
body to Westminster Abbey where it was interred near Sir
William Constable, in the Chapel of Henry VET., three grand
volleys being discharged at the interment." It is interesting
to note that some years ago, when Dean Stanley was Dean
of Westminster, and search was being made for the body of
James I., what was considered by Dean Stanley to be the

body of Worsley was found. Thus ends our story of Major-
General Worsley. We make no apology for our lengthy
reference to this man, of whom, as I said before, every
Rusholme man may well be proud. A portrait of him is in
possession of the Worsley family, an engraving of which is
in the reading-room of the Rusholme Public Library.
Major-General Worsley was twice married, first to Mary
Booth, the daughter of his stepmother; and secondly, to
Dorothy, daughter of Roger'Kenyon, of Park Head, Whalley.
A letter from a Mr. Thomas Hartley to the father of General
Worsley, written on behalf of his widow and still preserved,
tells of Cromwell granting £200 to her and £100 a year for
ever to her children. Worsley's sword is still preserved.
The blade is long and straight, inlaid with gold and inscribed
with various devices and mottoes and with the date "1651."
The present Piatt Hall was built in the year 1764 at a cost
of £10,000. The bricks were soaked in oil before being
used, hence their brightness to-day, which is often a subject
of remark by visitors to Piatt Fields. The old Hall, which
must have existed for several centuries, was a black and
white Elizabethan building and stood at right angles to
Wilmslow Road.
BIRCH HALL AND THE BIRCHES.
T H E R E are few if any prettier spots in the vicinity of Man-
chester than Birch Hall and its immediate surroundings. The
stately trees, the Elizabethan Hall, the church and rectory,
the ancient Nico Ditch and other features all combine to make
it, especially in summer time, a most delightful spot. Indeed so
rural and secluded is the neighbourhood that the passer-by
may often see rabbits over-running the adjacent fields and
garden. There is much of interest in the history of Birch
Hall and the Birch family. The name of the estate was
originally Hindley Birches, and the earliest mention of it we
can find is about the year 1190. It was at that time that the
property passed into the hands of the Birch family, the first of
the name being Matthew de Birches. A copy of the deed
shows that part of the estate consisted of woods, in which,
swine were allowed to feed, and a large mill for the grinding
of corn. During several centuries that followed, history only
gives scattered references to members of the family, for they
took little part in the political or military history of their
country. Two exceptions must, however, be made of men
who, though of the same family, were very different in
temperament and mode of life. William Birch, who was born
B
about the year 1522, was evidently a man of delightful charac-

ter. He was ordained by Ridley, the martyr Bishop of
London, one of the four Royal Preachers, licensed in 1552 by
Edward VI., whose function it was to promote the reformed
religion, and upon the accession of Elizabeth he succeeded
the Catholic warden of Manchester Collegiate Church, who
had refused to take the oath of supremacy; but later Birch
resigned his office, in the hope that his successor would be
better able to protect the collegiate estates from the depreda-
tions of the unscrupulous and rapacious favourites of the Queen.
Later he was made rector of Stanhope in Weardale, Durham.
He died in the year 1575, and his will is an excellent index
to his personality. He left money to
The poor of Gateshead,
The poorest prisoners in Newcastle Gaol, and also in
Durham Gaol,
The poor in Stanhope parish,
and, bringing his sympathies nearer home, to
Twenty poor widows of Manchester,
Twenty poor maidens of Manchester on their marriage,
To build needful bridges within three miles of "my
brother's house."
The poorest in Risshum, Withington, and Didsbury.
Thus, it will be seen, we had poor in the village even in those
days. After these and other generous gifts, he concludes:
"If dowtes in thes legaces, I geve to my executors aucthorite
to do as by godlie discretion they shall think good, and dare
answer before that Judge that seith our mynde, before which
Jesus Christ all must appeare and thoughe over the funeralls,
debts and legaces paid, all goods be the executors, yet my will
I do declaire to be, that yf the 2 part remayning be greit,
they shall of the remayning parte help poore neighbours,
paitlye by guifts and partlye by lending freelye to the needye,
especialye the godlye, for they are but stuerds, under God, the
true Owner, and I was and am." Mrs. Williamson, in her
History of Fallowfield, very truly states: "One would
almost think Ridley had spread his own mantle over this
favourite disciple, and that this mantle, with even more large-
hearted, more tender benevolence, has descended upon the
much loved Archdeacon Anson."
The most celebrated man, however, of this family was
Thomas Birch, born in 1608. At the commencement of the
Civil War, he oflered his services to the Parliament, and was
the means of raising a regiment of soldiers in support of
Cromwell, in 1642, as did his neighbour General Worsley. On
iii.
T H E O L D HORSE BLOCK, P L A T T C O T T A G E
BIRCH HALL
January 15, 1643, a circumstance occurred which brought him

into collision with Lord Strange, afterwards Earl of Derby,
leader of the Royalists in Lancashire, and laid the founda-
tion (so says Seacombe, the historian of the house of Stanley)
of a personal hostility which was never extinguished and
which appears to have resulted in the execution of the Earl of
Derby at Bolton. On the occasion of a banquet given to the
Earl of Derby at Manchester, a number of prominent Royal-
ists accompanied him thither. They were met by an armed
band, headed by Captain Birch, who disputed their passage
and gave orders to his men to fire on them. They werd
unable to do so, owing to the rain which was falling heavily
at the time, and the Royalists, taking courage, repelled the
attack, and Birch and his men fled. After the disastrous
battle of Worcester the Earl, retracing his steps towards
Lancashire, on his way encountered a troop of Cromwell's
horse, by whom he was taken prisoner. The terms on which
he surrendered were that he should have quarter given for his
life and condition of honourable usage. But being now in
the enemy's hands, Bradshaw, Rigby and Birch designed him
to be a victim of their envy. These three represented to
Cromwell how unsafe it would be to the whole nation to allow
him to live, got a commission to try him by court-martial, and
the result was that the Earl was beheaded at Bolton on
October 15, 1651. History tells us that Colonel Birch
passed through the crowd rubbing his hands with a satisfied
smile.
The succeeding years in Colonel Birch's life were full of
activity, but space forbids us to dwell upon the distinction
he gained in Cromwell's army. He attacked Preston and
carried it hy storm, and Lancaster surrendered to his troops.
He was appointed Governor of Liverpool, for which place he
was afterwards Member of Parliament. He was a man of
vigorous personality, and had a sharp tussle with Humphrey
Chetham, who was then founding the charity which exists to-
day, which dispute nearly cost this city the benefit of this
splendid foundation. He retired from active life at the Res-
toration, and about the year 1674 came to live at Birch Hall,
where he died in 1678, in the seventy-first year of his age.
In later years there is little to note in the history of the
Birch family, and we find that in the year' 1743, in considera-
tion of the payment of the sum of £6,000, Birch Hall with'
one hundred and sixty-eight acres of land was sold to George
Croxton, of Manchester. Two years later John Dickinson,
a Manchester merchant, whose mother was a daughter of the
Rev. Robert Birch, minister of Birch', one of the 2000
ministers ejected in 1662, became the purchaser, whose name

is still with us in Dickinson Road. His town residence was
in Market Street Lane. Here Mr. Dickinson lodged and
entertained Prince Charlie, the Pretender, when he visited
Manchester in 1745. The house from this circumstance took
the name of "The Palace," later the Palace Inn, and some
years ago was re-built and is now the well-known Palace
Buildings in Market Street. The bed on which the Pretender
lay was transferred to Birch Hall. It is interesting to remem-
ber that Archdeacon Anson, about whom we shall have some-
thing to say later, was a descendant of this John Dickinson.
John Dickinson died in 1779 at the age of 90, having lived at
Birch for 65 years.
Birch Hall, as it now stands, is, if not altogether modern,
so much altered as to present no special feature of interest
to the antiquarian. The house in its original condition was a
timber and plaster building of some considerable extent,
judging from an inventory of the rooms taken in 1678, but
the only portion of the old Hall at present remaining is at
the back of the present structure, and shows that the old
building was a black and white half-timbered house, so common
in those days. There are the remains of an old moat still to be
seen and we are told that a century ago when this was cleaned
out, old daggers and coins were found.
BIRCH CHAPEL.
THE history of Rusholme centres very much round what is
termed the "Ancient Chapel of Birch," the oldest and for
considerably more than a century the Only place of worship in
the village. Birch Chapel, as the original structure was called,
was dedicated to Saint James, and built during the reign of
Queen Elizabeth. Many speculations have been made re-
garding the exact date, which was between the years 1579 and
1598. I have had many a chat with Archdeacon Anson on
this point, and he always said that in his opinion it was in the
year 1596, because in the Visitation Returns of 1598 the
reference to Birch Chapel is as follows:—
"Birche Chapel, in Rusholme, latelie erected and now void of a
Curate."
Hence the three hundredth anniversary was celebrated in
1896. At the same time, I have always thought that the
building of a house of prayer was an undertaking that would
be very congenial to a man of devout mind like William
Birch, who died, however, in 1575. Like other chapels in
the parish of Manchester, its early use was limited to the
family on whose estate it was built, and their immediate
BIRCH C H A P E L
E r e c t e d 1596 : D e m o l i s h e d 1846
O L D W E S L E Y AN C H A P E L , DICKENSON ROAD
E r e c t e d 1829 : D e m o l i s h e d 1863
dependents. Birch Chapel, which many people living to-

day well remember, was built of brick, covered with grey
slates. It was filled with oaken pews and had accommodation
for 350 worshippers. The chapel was built partly on the
site of the present church and extended quite close to the
brook. My friend Mr. J. S. Buckley, in his interesting book,
The History of Birch-in-Rusholme, writes: "There is no
picture to show what was the appearance of the original
uuilding before the enlargement. Old scholars tell me that
there was just room to get between the corner of the chapel
and the brook." The chapel at first was unendowed and
for nearly a century was not fully used, and though there is
no record of the godly deed of providing funds for the
erection of the. building, there were many willing contribu-
tors to the support of the ministry. As showing the large
area over which the parish extended in 1636, we find that in
the list of families that gave contribution the following
districts were included: Bircti and Birch Hall House, Slade
and Rushford, Grinlow and Chorlton, Levenshulme, Rus-
holme, Fallowfield and Lady Barn, Withington and Housend.
In 1636 the income from what was termed the "Chapel
Wage" was £17 2s. 7d. In 1640 an endowment fund was
started, the number of contributors being sixty-seven and the
amount raised being £40 8s. 4d., among the subscribers
being: "Old Mrs-Birch, £5; Ralph Worsley, £4; Thomas
Shelinerdine, £2 (we wonder whether the Shelmerdine family
in Rusholme to-day are descendants of this Thomas Shelmer-
dine); Mr. Syddall of Slade, £1 6s. 8d." It is interesting
to go through the list of those who, in these by-gone
centuries, contributed towards the work of God in Rusholme.
We read of the village blacksmith contributing 2s. and of
several who contributed Is. each.
The money raised by this endowment fund was expended in
purchasing two acres of ground in Longsight, and Colonel
Birch added one acre from his own estate in Gorton; which
three acres were ultimately vested in trustees, the income
being used for the maintenance of the fabric of Birch Chapel,
and the payment of 10s. per Sunday to the appointed
minister. In 1679, after the Rev. Henry Finch had received
his stipend, there remained a sum of £1 5s. 2d., out of which
he received a further sum of 10s. "because he had been
sick," a sum of 7s. 6d. was spent in the repair of the
chapel, and 8s. 6d. was lost in bad and broken money,
surely a reflection on the church-goers of that day. I think I
am correct in saying that this estate, which was founded in
1640, remained intact in possession of Birch Chapel until
B2
the year 1850, when a portion was sold and from the pro-
ceeds the present rectory was built. The remainder of this
old estate at present produces £75 per annum. There is a
plan of Birch Chapel in existence dated 1640, and a list of
families attending, which comprises in all seventy persons
(see appendix). In the chapel book of Birch Chapel of the
same time there is the amount given by each family for the
support of the ministrations in Birch Chapel. In the twenty-
three families representing Rusholme are the names of Shel-
'merdine, Travis, Wilkinson, Hartley, Parkinson, Baguley and
Bowker, etc., and it would be interesting to know whether
they were the ancestors of those now living in Rusholme
bearing the same name. In 1646 the Rev. John Wigan, leaving
Gorton, came to Birch Chapel, where he "set up Congrega-
tionalism," this being about the time when the Independents
or Congregationalists first prominently opposed the Presby-
terian form of church government. As previously mentioned
he gave up the church for the army. He was followed in
1659 by Robert Birch, who was a member of the family pos-
sessing the patronage of the living. He appears to have
united in himself the two offices of pastor and teacher of the
church. Refusing to conform he was silenced on the passing
of the Act of Uniformity in 1662. For several years after
1662 Birch Chapel was only used occasionally and then, so
far as we know, by nonconformist ministers only.
When you enter Birch Church graveyard by the Lych Gate
you notice the old gravestones on your right. This was the
site of the inside of the chapel. Here we read on the stone
in the old-fashioned language "Deborah, the affectionate,
prudent, and pious wife of Ralph Worsley, of Piatt, gentie-
man, who was deceased May 8th, 1681." This Ralph
Worsley mentioned was the son of General Worsley. We
have no space to trace during succeeding centuries the history
of Birch Chapel. It is profoundly interesting to those who
care for such things and who have a love for the Church.
We can only say, however, that on May 13, 1845, the
foundation of the new church was laid a few yards to the
east of the ancient chapel, and the building was finished
just a year later. Shortly afterwards the old building, so
rich in historical associations, was taken down. The present
church was built to accommodate 700 people and the total
cost was £4,300, towards which the Archdeacon contributed
£2,000. It was dedicated July 1st, 1846, and in the same
year on June 26th St. John's, Longsight, and Holy Trinity,
Piatt, were consecrated.
The Act of Uniformity was passed August 2nd, 1662, and
by this enactment two thousand ministers were deprived of

their livings. Manchester and its neighbourhood was tinged
with a numerous Nonconformist population, and consequently
the Act came as a heavy visitation on men of the stamp of
Henry Newcome. The Mosley MS. (now in possession of
the Reference Library), throw an unexpected ray of light on
the struggle which was fought out both in Manchester and
Birch Chapel in which some of the best local families were
involved. It forms a stirring episode in the contention for
spiritual liberty, and no doubt the annexed list of the champions
who rose in defiance of " the powers that are," will be read
with uncommon interest. The authorities in Manchester set
a simultaneous watch on the persons attending Birch Chapel,
and those who abstained repairing to the Collegiate Church.
A James Clough acted as informer against the people who
entered Birch Chapel, amongst whom many were from the
town and various townships; and a R. L. of G. (who
diplomatically preserved an incognito) undertook similar duties
at the Collegiate Church, beginning their work on December
7th, 1662. The offenders were eventually summoned by the
Constables of Withington and Manchester to appear before
the court to show cause of their absence from Church, and to
take the oath of obedience, or in default, to take the con-
sequence, and undergo either distrain or pay a levy of fine of
" twelve pence a Sunday" for absence from their parish
church, or other usual place appointed for common prayer,
according to the statute.
The fight was continued to May 27th, 1663. A careful
examination of the list will show the degree of weakness or
strength displayed by the sundry actors during the strife.
In some, apparently, the flesh was very weak, and James
Bowker, a minister, of Blackley, lost heart at the very be-
ginning of the contest. A list of those inhabitants of Rus-
holme and neighbourhood who were brought before the
magistrates is given in the appendix.
The Rev. Robert Birch, who was the minister of Birch
Chapel from 1659 to 1662, after his ejection went to live on
his own land at Grindlow, now called Chorlton-on-Medlock.
He practised as a doctor and he and his wife were buried in
the garden of their house, which was later known as Longsight
Hall and which, much altered, stands to-day at the end of
Grindlow Street, in Stockport Road.
In the year 1907 the Anson Chapel was added to the
church, the gift of the late Sir Wm. Anson. As Mr. Buckley
truly says it is a splendid piece of design and workman-
ship.
BIRCH BELLS.
" Those Rusholme Bells, those Rusholme Bells,
Merrily peal those Rusholme Bells;
T h e y bid us with their cheerful voice
Rejoice with them that do rejoice;
A n d as their cadence soft doth sweep,
They bid us weep with them that weep."
—SIR A . E . H . A N S O N .
INSCRIPTIONS ON THE BELLS.

Tenor— From bequest of Alice Fletcher;
" Holiness unto the Lord."
Seventh— A. F.
" Awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead."
Sixth— A. F.
" Watch y e ; stand fast in the faith."
Fifth— Given by the R e c t o r ;
" Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with
them that weep."
Fourth— Given by the Congregation;
*' Watch and pray."
Third—
Given by the Congregation and Parishioners;
" Pray for one another."
Second— Given by the Parishioners;
" Praise the Lord of Heaven
Praise Him in the height."
First— Given by the Congregation;
" Praise Him, all ye angels of His:
Praise Him, all His host.V
The first peal was rung on St. James's Day, July 25th, 1868,
commencing at 4 p.m., before evening service. The weight
of the tenor bell is 13 cwt. 3 qrs.—From The History of
Birch-in-Rusholme, by J. S. Buckley.
BIRCH HALL HOUSES.

WE must not omit to mention that old-fashioned building in
Old Hall Lane, standing back from the road. Part of the
house is very old, having been built over three hundred years,
but in more recent years has received additions. It was
formerly called Birch Hall Houses, and was the residence
of a family named Edge, who, like most of their neighbours,
were supporters of Cromwell. There is an incident worthy
of record in connection with the capture of Lord Derby,
previously mentioned, which speaks well for Captain Oliver
Edge, son of Oliver Edge, of Birch Hall Houses. Of the
capture the Earl gives the following account: " I escaped"
he wrote afterwards to the Countess, "one great danger at
Wigan, and I met with a greater at Worcester. I was not
V.
PLATT HALL
BIRCH H A L L HOUSES
so fortunate as to meet with anybody that would kill me,

for the Lord Lauderdale and I, having tired horses, we
were not thought worthy of killing, for we had quarter
given by one Captain Edge, a Lancashire man, and one that
was so civil to me that I and all that love me are beholden
to him." When Rev. Henry Finch retired from Birch
Chapel, as mentioned in a later page, he began to preach
in private houses. One of the houses, in addition to Piatt
Hall, so licensed, was this present house, and it is on record
that on the 14th day of October, 1697, the house was used
as a "meeting place for an assembly of Protestants dis-
senting from the Church of England." The Edges appear
to have left the house early in die eighteenth century.
THE OLDEST HOUSE IN RUSHOLME.
No mention of old Rusholme would be complete without
reference to Birch Fold Cottage, a black and white building
which stood in Old Hall Lane at the bend, and which was
demolished, sad to say, in the year 1912. It was a fine relic
of olden days and was the delight of artists, it having been
sketched and photographed probably more than any other
house in the neighbourhood. Its age was uncertain, but it
had stood there several centuries. There are some of us left
who remember distinct traces of it having been surrounded by
a moat. I remember in my young days that this house was
pointed to as the one "where Oliver Cromwell once slept."
I have often been told of the underground passage from this
cottage under the Nico Ditch to Birch Hall. As I think of
this house, memory goes back to many a pleasant afternoon
spent there with my old friend, Miss Cottrill, who lived in
the cottage for fifty years. Her old-world courtesy is a
fragrant memory to me. While speaking of this cottage I
must not forget to mention an old Quaker gentleman, Mr.
Gravely Woolston, who lived there for many years. He was
a cheery soul, had a pleasant word for everyone he met, and
was a striking figure in his broad-brimmed hat as he passed
through the village. All the children knew him and ran by
his side, taking hold of his hand or clinging to his coat.
He was accustomed to go on Sunday mornings to the
Friends' Meeting House in Mount Street, and I recollect
him returning one Sunday morning and saying in his breezy
way, "We have had a glorious meeting this morning. Not
one spoke."
PLATT CHAPEL.
IT is not generally known that a very interesting history is
attached to Piatt Chapel, on Wilmslow Road. As this is
somewhat mixed up with the history of Birch Chapel, I

had better begin by saying that in the year 1672 the Rev.
Henry Finch was appointed as minister to Birch Chapel.
The entry concerning his appointment states:
"Henry Finch, of Manchester, General Presbyterian Mini-
ster, a private oratory belonging to Thomas Birch, of Birch
Hall, licence for a Congregational meeting place."
This appears to prove that Thomas Birch, who was a
Nonconformist, had service for a time conducted in some out-
building of Birch Hall, or this may refer to Birch Chapel
itself. The Conventicle Act* was pressed with the utmost
rigour against Nonconformity, and these services in Birch
Hall buildings were held by stealth. The following incident
is worth recording: On Sunday, November 18th, 1666,
Colonel Birch, in contravention of this Act, permitted two
wandering ministers from Germany to preach at Birch Hall.
Booker says they were preaching and singing from nine
o'clock to three o'clock, denouncing all manner of woe to
England and exhorting the people to fly and take refuge
in Germany. They sang two German hymns with well-
tuned voices, the purport of one—being sung in the house
of an old Commonwealth officer, and beginning " Hark,
how the trumpet sounds"—being well calculated to excite
alarm in the minds of the neighbouring Royalists. They
supposed this to be a military hymn, and thought a conspi-
racy was being fomented. The Conventicle Act was put in
force against Colonel Birch and some of those present at the
meeting. They were brought before the magistrates and
among those fined was the wife of Ralph Worsley, of Piatt,
whose grandchild " Deborah, the affectionate and prudent
wife of Ralph Worsley, of Piatt" lies buried in Birch Church-
yard. I went one Sunday morning to Birch Church to get
a few dates from the churchyard. I stood by the grave of
this good woman and I heard the voice of the Rector
and the congregation worshipping in the Church. My mind
went back through the centuries, and I thought of that
Sunday when our ancestors in the village valued so much their
own faith that they were willing to risk fine and imprisonment
for it. Though avowedly dissenting from the Established
Church, the Rev. Henry Finch was appointed by Colonel
Thomas Birch to the charge of Birch Chapel, and continued
with more or less interruption to officiate there until the death
of Colonel Birch, in the year 1697. The next heir, having
T h e Conventicle Act adjudged that " every person above 16 years ot age present at any
meeting under pretence of any exercise of religion in other manner than as the preacher
of the Church of England, where there are five persons more than the household, shall for
the first offence be sent to gaol for three months, or pay £5; for the second offence double ;
and for the third, transportation for seven rears or a fine of £100."
vi.
BIRCH F O L D C O T T A G E
T h e oldest house in R u s h o l m e — D e m o l i s h e d in 1912
R U G G L E S ' S C O T T A G E IN MONMOUTH S T R E E T
WITH A GOSSIPY TALK OF MEN AND THINGS 27
no sympathy with Mr. Finch's Nonconformist views, secured

his dismissal. The Rev. Henry Finch preached in private
houses licensed for dissenting worship until in 1699 Mr. Ralph
Worsley gave a plot of land, on which Piatt Chapel now stands,
" a site, the south-east corner of a close called Blake Flatt, in
extent about twenty roods." The cost of the building was
£95, and among the items of expenditure were: For pulpit
cushion, £1 3s. 3d.; meat, drink, ale, pipes, and tobacco, 19s.
Mr. Grimshaw,. who preached at the opening service, received
the large sum of 5s. In 1718 an open belfry was added,
the bell being supplied by Abraham Rudhall, the famous
bell-founder of Gloucester. On the bell inserted in capitals is:
A. R.
COME A W A Y M A K E NO D E L A Y .
This bell is still in use, calling passers-by to the worship

of God. This chapel was taken down in 1790 and in the same
year the present chapel (since altered) was built, being therefore
one hundred and twenty years old. The Rev. Henry Finch, the
first minister of Piatt Chapel, died in the year 1704. Calamy,
the eminent Nonconformist divine, says, "he was a great
blessing and help to the younger ministers, who loved and
honoured him as a father, and his behaviour to them was
full of condescension and tenderness. He greatly resented
anything that broke in upon order or tended to the reproach
of the ministry . . . his preaching was clear and methodical
and was adapted to convince the mind and to move the
passions. He lived according to his profession a peaceable
life in all godliness and honesty."
I am happy in bringing to light these particulars concerning
one who was the founder of organised Nonconformity in
Rusholme. The pretty Piatt Chapel, half-hidden among the
trees, has had a succession of good men as ministers during
the intervening two hundred years, three of them, Rev. Wm.
Whitelegge, Rev. S. A. Steinthal, Rev. C. T. Poynting,
B.A., themselves accounting for a ministry of a hundred
years. Rev. S. A. Steinthal took a prominent position in
the educational and philanthropic work of the city of Man-
chester and was a keen politician. From the first there have
been no religious tests. The ancient communion chalices,
dated 1640-41 and 1661-62, transferred from Birch Chapel,
and sold in 1874, were in 1895 restored to the trustees and
are still in use at Piatt Chapel. On the western side of the
chapel is the Worsley Chapel, in which is the Hatchment of
the old Worsley family, an ancient relic of the past.
ARCHDEACON ANSON.
No history of Rusholme would be complete without full
mention of one who, more than all others, was associated
with the village, namely, Archdeacon Anson. I have already
pointed out how he was historically connected with Rusholme
through being related to John Dickenson of Birch Hall.
George Henry Greville Anson was the son of General Sir
William Anson. He was for some years Curate of the
Parish Church of Leeds, under Dr. Hook, but in June,
1846, on the resignation of Rev. George Dugard, he was
presented by his brother to the living of Birch. For
fifty-three years he was Rector, and from the very first
took the greatest interest in all that concerned the people of
Rusholme. Soon after his arrival he helped to originate
the Local Board of Health, and he was one of the founders
of the Rusholme Public Hall. He was the first to assist in
all local celebrations of national events. The Archdeacon
was said to have Liberal sympathies in politics, but I always
found him difficult to fathom. When canvassed for his vote
he used to say to me, "My father was a' Whig and my
grandfather a Tory, and I follow the politics of my ances-
tors," so we came away no wiser than we went. He founded,
and attended regularly, the Philharmonic Society, held in Birch
Infant School twenty-three years ago.
He was a strong Churchman, but he was willing on
occasions to co-operate with other Christian workers. He.
was Archdeacon of Manchester from 1870 to 1890, being
appointed by Mr. Gladstone.
No doubt, many will remember the alarm excited in the
mind of the juvenile portion of the inhabitants of the vil-
lage, over a quarter of a century ago, by the appearance on
the walls of huge placards announcing a "Siege of Rus-
holme," to take place on a certain Saturday afternoon. When
the appointed time arrived it was found to be nothing more
serious than the advent of the Salvation Army, taking its
place among the religious organisations of the village. It
was some time after this that the Archdeacon, desirous of
showing his sympathy with all who were working for the
common good, invited the Army to a service in his mission
room "down the Green," in Basil Street. When I say that
William Day was leader of the Army at that time, it will easily be
believed that there was plenty of life and noise in the service.
The concertinas and tambourines did their best and helped in
making a meeting to which the Archdeacon's habit of mind
and mode of worship were hardly accustomed. I remember
when the time came for him to give the sermon, he
vii.
T H E ARCHDEACON
announced the text in the tone of voice to which those of

us who knew him were so accustomed, as from I. Kings,
Chapter xix., verse 12:
" And after the earthquake a still small voice "—
It was a' little time before the humour of the text was
appreciated by my friends in the Army.
Poor people knew the way to the rectory, and none ever
appealed to the Archdeacon in vain. He was a true friend
to all in distress. He rejoiced with those who rejoiced, and
wept with those who wept. I know no man who so fully
exemplified Goldsmith's "Village Preacher":
His house was known to all the vagrant train;
He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain;
A t church with meek and unaffected grace
His looks adorned the venerable place;
The service past, around the pious man
With ready zeal each honest rustic ran,
Even children following with endearing wile,
And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile;
T o them his heart, his love, his griefs were given,
But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven.
A s some tall cliff that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm,
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head.
How well we remember as children watching the Arch-
deacon conducting the solemn funerals in the churchyard, on
the coldest day with bare head and wind-swept hair.
The Archdeacon died in February, 1898, and was buried
just outside the east window of the church, in the spot he
himself appointed.
DR. FINLAYSON.
THE Rev. Thomas Campbell Finlayson, D.D., (Glas.), was
for twenty-seven years (1865-1893) minister of the Rusholme
Congregational Church (built in 1864). Previously he had
been the pastor of the church at Cambridge.
His name is held in pleasant remembrance, for here in our
midst he maintained a powerful and eSective ministry. He
was a man of wide scholarship and deep sympathies, and held
with a tenacious grip his religious and political principles.
He had a quiet power of attraction, a charming personality,
and was loved by all who knew him.
Through his writings he addressed a much wider circle than
that which assembled in the Rusholme Church. His best
known work is, Biological Religion, a criticism of Professor
Henry Drummond's Natural Law in the Spiritual World.
That distinguished critic, Dr. Henry Dunckley, wrote in the
Manchester Examiner of Dr. Finlayson's book: "We have
never seen a finer piece of critical writing." Perhaps his

most characteristic work is Koheletk, a practical exposition
of the book of Ecclesiastes. The volume of sermons en-
titled, The Divine Gentleness, shows what Dr. Finlavson
was as a preacher; and a posthumous volume, Essays,
Addresses and- Lyrical Translations (Macmillan and Co.),
with a delightful biographical sketch, sets forth the man.
The Manchester Guardian, reviewing this volume, said:
"Even the casual reader is led to feel thankful that such a
man had been known and such a life lived." The sketch
was written by Dr. A. S. Wilkins, a distinguished pro-
fessor in our University, and himself a well-known Rusholme
resident.
The late Dr. A. Mackennal, in writing of Dr. Finlavson
after his death, said "There was no distinction his brethren
had to bestow which they would not have given him, and that
for two reasons—because they knew him worthy and because
of the love in which they held him."
To-day, twenty-one years after he has passed away, his
name is revered not only in Rusholme and in our city, but
elsewhere; and there are those who still come to Rusholme
to see the place where Dr. Finlayson lived and preached.
He died in 1893, one might almost say in his prime,
at the age of fifty-seven. His remains were laid in the
Necropolis at Glasgow, his native city, the city also of his
Alma Mater, which a year or two previously had shown
her appreciation of his ministerial and literary work by
conferring upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
MISCELLANY.
UNDER this heading I mention various matters of general
interest concerning Rusholme.
In the year 1834 a private company was formed to build

some substantial houses and pleasure gardens on three sides
of a quadrangle where Brighton Grove now stands. There
was a lodge for entrance and another for exit and these
stand there to-day. I show my readers a photograph of the
proposed palatial residences, showing Birch Brook as a clear
stream of water running through the grounds in front of
the houses, there being terraces and rustic bridges. It was an
ambitious scheme to beautify Rusholme and I say all honour
to the men who had this in their minds. But alas, after the
four houses now standing on the left-hand side had been
built, the company came to grief and the scheme was aban-
doned.
viii.
R E V . T . C. FINLAYSON, D . D .
The following is a bit of weird history: As mentioned

later, the Wesleyan Sunday School was started in 1826
in Granny Lane, by Charles Beswick, a working man, living
in Ardwick, who passed through Rusholme every Sunday
on his way to Fallowfield and Ladybarn, where he did
some lay preaching. A few years later, about 1830, a school
for children was opened at Piatt Chapel. In the records of
the Wesleyan Sunday School we find in the year 1833 about
thirty new scholars came one Sunday. On asking Mr.
Beswick the reason for this, he told me it was owing to body
snatching taking place in Piatt Chapel graveyard, and the chil-
dren were afraid to attend school. I got no further informa-
tion on this matter until recently, when, speaking with one of
the oldest residents in Rusholme, he gave me the following
particulars. He said his father was the village night watch-
man and had a wooden hut for shelter at the comer of Piatt
Lane. His duty was to go round the village and call out the
time and the weather—"Four o'clock and a fine morning,"
and so on, though I fear he would generally have to record
wet mornings. One morning early, going along Wilmslow
Road, he saw a light in Piatt Chapel yard and some body
snatchers at work, and they had actually got a recently
interred body out of the grave. He gave chase and the men
bolted, leaving the body on the grass. It was reverently
re-interred. It was said that men engaged in this gruesome
work, as they could command good prices for dead bodies to
sell to medical students. As a conclusion to this story, I may
say that not long ago I saw the grandson of the corpse and
the grandson of the watchman walking arm-in-arm through
Rusholme.
One day, about the middle of the year 1863, a great

crowd might have been seen in Wilmslow Road, near the
corner of Dickenson Road. In those days prize-fighting
was popular and Tom Sayers had just fought Heenan, the
American. Sayers came to Rusholme to see some relatives
and was persuaded to lay a brick in the new porch of the
Birch Villa Hotel. We five in better days when such brutal
sport is not publicly encouraged.
Rusholme has been favoured with the visit of Royalty

on two occasions. The first was in the year 1857, when
Prince Albert came through on his way to Abney Hall,
Cheadle, the residence of Sir James Watts, with whom the
Prince was staying. It was on this occasion that a man, in
the abundance of his loyalty, flung handfuls of silver coins
among the crowd as he walked along Wilmslow Road. This

made a vivid impression on the young people • of that day.
But the great day for all, and one that will for ever be written
in red letters in the history of Rusholme, was Monday,
July 14, 1913. On this occasion we were favoured with the
visit of His Majesty King George V. and Queen Mary, who
were paying a state visit to the city. They approached
Rusholme from Longsight and entered Birch Park, in which
twenty-five thousand school children were assembled. Their
Majesties stopped whilst the children sang the National
Anthem, but I was told the children sang it much more
effectively at the rehearsal an hour previously. They entered
the ancient Brighton Grove with its overhanging trees, and
here they were nearer to their subjects than at any other point
in their long journey. Through Piatt Fields they went, where a
further twenty-five thousand children were assembled, and
here they reviewed the Reservists, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
and other such organisations, and then journeyed along Wilm-
slow Road, to the city. The whole village was gay with
bunting and in no place did their Majesties receive a heartier
welcome than at Rusholme. The old people of Rusholme
were not forgotten and were seated on a stand at the corner
of Dickenson Road, where at twelve o'clock, just before
the Royal party, arrived, they sang the National Anthem.
Altogether that great day will never be forgotten by all
Rusholmites.
March 10, 1863, was also a great day for Rusholmc.

King Edward and Queen Alexandra, as they were afterwards
called, were married on that date. About eight hundred
Rusholme inhabitants were invited to a feast in the Rusholme
Public Hall and old Piatt Schools and other places. The food
was cooked at different houses and I well remember we were
busy at our own home in that way. After the banquet,
Mr. Lawson, an elocutionist then living in Rusholme, gave
an entertainment, and there was music and singing and in
fact everything that could make the day unique in our experi-
ence.
On the large field behind Birch Schools, where the Exhibi-

tion buildings stood until recentiy burned down, there was
over sixty years ago a large brick-croft. In the' middle of
the croft was a house in which lived the owner named
Farr. Because he would not join the Union, groups of
men came from Gorton way and trampled on the bricks.
Farr kept several dogs and a cannon for protection. One of
BRIGHTON GROVE SCHEME OF 1834
ix.
W I T H A GOSSIPY TALK OF MEN AND THINGS 33
the raiders was shot dead and his body brought to the Birch
Villa Hotel for the inquest.
A very conspicuous object years ago in Whitworth Lane

was the long building called the shooting gallery. It was
the property of the then Mr. Joseph Whitworth and was
used for experimental purposes of testing rifles. It was
about half a mile long.
The first real ice skating-rink in England was erected at

the comer of Wilmslow Road and Moor Street. There was
great trouble at first in getting a good quality of ice and the
venture was not a success. Like so many buildings nowa-
days, it is turned into a picture palace.
I give in this volume a photograph of a very old house

that stood on the. spot in Claremont Road (then called
Granny Lane) where now the Abattoirs are, and at the comer
of what is now John Street (formerly Holford's Row). It
was a quaint old cottage occupied by a man named Ruggles,
and reminded one of a hut in the backwoods of Canada.
The cottage was taken down in the year 1884.
Gas was introduced into Rusholme in the year 1847,

and our venerable friend Mr. Thomas Lloyd was the first
lamplighter. There were then fourteen lamps in Rusholme.
Mr. Lloyd was also interested in clocks and for twenty years
had charge of the clock in the tower of the Congregational
Church. In 1847 there was no public supply of water in
the village, only wells and ditches. The village had one
policeman and four private watchmen.
I remember in the year 1862 much excitement was caused

by the statement that a nightingale had been heard at the
Houeh, near Wilmslow. Now it is generally held that the
nightingale is never heard north of the Trent, but my friend
Alderman Fletcher Moss says he has heard one in Dids-
bury, so this statement cannot be correct. Rusholme like
other places was greatly excited and scores of persons
went at nights and stood in the lanes to listen. Parties were
made up and went in spring carts at a shilling a head.
Everybody came back with a different tale and we could never
tell whether they had heard the nightingale or not. However,
some of the parties that went in carts got tipsy and began
C
quarrelling and did not return to Rusholme until the small

hours of the morning. So that was the end of the nightin-
gale.
The. shop which is now the Coffee Tavern at the comer
of Moor Street and Wilmslow Road has an interesting past.
In the year 1850 it was used as a Public Library and Read-
ing Room and was the resort of all the villagers with an:
intellectual turn of mind. Later it was the home of the
Rusholme Working Men's Club which was started within
its walls. Friendly societies, temperance organisations, a tonic
sol-fa class, and spiritualists in turn have used the rooms, and
lastly little children under the Necessitous School Children's
Act go there day by day. This is a grand Act; for how
can you expect children to leam their lessons when they do
not get sufficient food?
Although Dr. Maclaren never lived in Rusholme, he was

associated with it through his Presidency of the People's
Institute, Nelson Street. I give an extract from the diary of
Mr.. Wm. Roberts, photographer, referred to elsewhere.
Some public lectures had been arranged for the .village and
here is the record of one.
"March 22nd, 1859. Rev. Alexander Maclaren lectured
in the Birch Infant School on 'Country, Climate and
Character.' He is a most remarkable man, singular in
appearance, style and accent (Scotch), full of poetry and
deep thoughts, and I should think he is destined to be a
leading man and preacher in Manchester."
My old friend was not only a diarist but a prophet.
I was informed the other day that Mr. Julius Knoop, who
lived in Regent House, Wilmslow Road, had such pleasant
recollections of Rusholme that he gave that name to a new
district when he went to live at Baden-Baden, in Germany;
thus paying a great compliment to our village.
Some time ago there was a find of coins in Gore Brook,

near the Anson Golf Ground. Any schoolboy will know that
the Romans landed in England 55 years B.C. and ruled the
land for centuries. They established a camp at Campfield
about A.D. 273. The Emperor Gallienus was busy in the
East trying to subdue Persia, but other men set up as
emperors in France, England and Spain. These eight coins
show three of these pretenders.
OLD COINS FOUND NEAR GORE BROOK
" THK LITTLE WINDOW W H E R E THE SUN CAME

PEEPING IN AT MORN "
x.
Victorinus
Tetricus I.
Tetricus II.
I suppose some poor man wandering along Gore Brook with
the coins in his possession fears robbery and hides them for
safety. He may have been killed, but he never comes for
them again, and for sixteen hundred years they lie in this
ground only dug out on October 15th, 1896. Meanwhile
Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror, King John, Henry
V m . , and Elizabeth have all reigned and passed away, and
it is very interesting to look upon a photograph of this kind.
The last quarter of a century has seen a great trans-

formation in South Manchester and in no part has the change
been greater than in Rusholme. What a pleasant walk it
was to turn down Piatt Lane and when we got to the church
to admire the long line of stately oak trees which stood on
the right, and as we approached the Rusholme cricket ground
many distant objects caught the eye—the towers of the
Lancashire Independent College, the spires of the chapels
at the Southern Cemetery—and often have I stood on the
cricket ground and, looking across Mee's farm, seen the
distant spire of Bowdon Church. Talking of the Rusholme
Cricket Club reminds me of many pleasant Saturday after-
noons spent in watching matches here when the Club was
one of the first in Manchester. Memory goes back to the
"seventies," and I think of Tom Fothergill, a real round
arm bowler; Alec Watson, who became the famous Lan-
cashire player; Flowers, who afterwards did great things
for Nottingham, the place of his birth; Footitt, one of the
fastest of bowlers; Ernest and "Willie" Wadsworth; the
former a fine all-round player and the latter a famous
"slogger," who caused great excitement amongst the young-
sters when he went in to bat. With him it was " get on " or
"get out" and we enjoyed ourselves. The climax, however, was
reached when the retiring batsman, having made his half
century or more, amidst the applause of the crowd and the
smiles of the ladies was presented by old Mr. Anderson, the
President, with a bat on reaching the pavilion steps. Standing
there watching I often wondered whether by a stroke of luck
I should ever attain such an honour in after life. But it never
came ofi. Memory would linger over those happy days
when in youth we spent our afternoons watching the playing
of the grandest of open air games.
On the night of the coronation of George V.—whom

God long preserve—from the top windows of my house I

saw twelve bonfires lighted to celebrate the event. These
stretched from Wilmsiow in the west along by Alderley
Edge, Kinder Scout, Disley, Werneth Low on to Greenfield
in trie east.
In the early " sixties," at the time of the American War and
the Cotton Famine in this country, bands of operatives from
the manufacturing centres came asking for help. I recollect
standing one day on the kerbstone in Moor Street, opposite
our house, whilst six women operatives walked abreast along
the street. They wore polished clogs and white aprons, and had
homely shawls on their heads, tied under their chins. As
tney walked slowly along they sang
Let us pause in life's pleasures
And count its many tears.
Whilst we all sup sorrow with the poor.
'Tis the song and the sigh of the weary,
Hard times—hard times come again no more.
These are some of the words, so far as I can remember them.
Others sang a hymn
Come, ye that love the Lord,
And let your joys be known,
and carried large baskets with them in which they thankfully
received gifts of bread. The pale, pinched faces of the
women bore traces of patiently endured and honest poverty,
and though long years have passed since that incident took
place it has burned itself in my memory. However, there is
a sense in which even such national sorrows or calamities have
a good end, for they release in a nation springs of sympathy
and generosity which are never again dried up.
I have been writing about Rusholme above the level of

the ground, but I have also wondered many a time what
Rusholme below the surface is like. I asked a friend of
mine who has an extensive knowledge of Geology, and he
answered my question, but in such language as is never heard
in Parliamentary circles or on the boards of the Royal
Exchange, so I was forced to try in another quarter and was
told that the subsoil was clay. This I could understand and
confirm, because in my very early married days, when I brought
my bride to our humble home in Duke Street, I had a few
yards of garden which I honestiy tried to cultivate and make
to blossom as the rose, but found nothing more promising
than clay. However, no one must be led away with the idea
that Rusholme is an unhealthy spot, for it is nothing of the
P L A T T FIELDS. xi.
T H E " U N E M P L O Y E D " A T W O R K MAKING T H E L A K E
OPENING OF L A K E
sort. Look at the number of old folk who attend the Old
Folks' Tea Party every year and you will believe that,
despite the clay soil and any other climatic disadvantages, we
live in a healthy spot. Just recently on the Corporation Allot-
ments in Yew Tree Road, Rusholme, an interesting discovery
was made. Two policemen on adjoining plots arranged to dig
for water. They dug through nine feet of clay and then came
upon a layer of sand in which they found a number of hazel
nuts and substantial pieces of old wood. These were submit-
ted to Professor Boyd Dawkins, our greatest authority on such
matters, who said they were probably swept to their present
resting place by flood in former ages. An old forest covered
the whole of Lancashire and Cheshire and the forest has in some
places been traced to a depth of sixty feet below present sea
level. The a?e of this forest is pre-historic. It was inhabited by
man in the Neolithic Age—the age of polished stone. How
far back that is as measured in terms of years it is impossible
to guess. Some of the nuts had plainly been gathered by
squirrels.—This is indeed a chapter in old Rusholme.
The date August 5th, 1856, was the day of the great
flood in Rusholme. Birch Brook overflowed its banks in
Birch fields: the weir could not be seen nor the culvert
near the lych gate, whilst the wooden bridge lower down was
washed away. Brighton Grove and Norman Road were like
rivers and the water ran into Piatt and flooded the fields in
front of the Hall. People were ferried across Wilmslow
Road in a handcart. This flood was caused by a cloud-burst
in the Gorton district.
It is not generally known that in the reading room of the

Public Library there is a modest local museum. Here mav be
seen photograph drawings of Brighton Grove in 1832, Archie
Wilson's cottage, the last Rushcart in 1882, etc., etc. ; also
portraits of General Worsley, Dr. Melland, Alderman Gold-
schmidt, W. R. Callender, J. S. Mayson and others.
When Piatt Fields was acquired for public use there was
no intention of making a lake. But in the autumn of 1908
acute distress prevailed in the city and in order to find work
for the unemployed it was decided to construct a lake. The
Local Government Board lent money for the purpose and also
made a substantial grant towards the cost. Over 700 of the
unemployed were found work and they came every day
throughout that dreary winter. I have rarely seen a more
c2
pathetic sight. T h e elderly men came, those w h o obviously

had seen better d a y s ; y o u n g m e n in the vigour of life, and
indeed all classes came and did their best to earn a living.
T h e y often s h o w e d m e their hands c o v e r e d with blisters, f o r
many h a d never handled a SDade b e f o r e . T h e r e is a vacant
niche in the temple of f a m e f o r the statesman w h o will solve
the p r o b l e m o f the u n e m p l o y e d . T h e area of the lake, in-
cluding the island is 6 i acres. T h e walk round the lake is
7 6 0 yards long. A small b a y and sanctuary f o r wild f o w l has
been f o r m e d o n the south side o f the island.
Many people have wondered what connection "Rusholme

Road," the thoroughfare from Oxford Road to Ardwick
Green has with Rusholme. The explanation is that a hundred
and twenty-five years ago anyone going from Manchester to
Rusholme would travel via London Road, and the thorough-
fare in question to Rusholme; hence the name. Oxford
Road, from St. Peter's Church, was only opened on July
12th, 1790. This was done with great ceremony. The
Boroughreeve, Constables and a "number of respectable
gentlemen," accompanied by the Beadles, walked in pro-
cession along Oxford Road to Rusholme, thus opening the
road.
I have dealt with omnibuses on another page, but show a

photo of the famous Cheadle stage-coach. This, of course,
from its dignity and the character of its riders is on a platform
by itself. It ran every moming and evening during the
summers of 1876-7-8-9 between the "White Hart," Cheadle
and the "Spread Eagle," Corporation St. The coachman is
Dick Wood, of bus fame, and on the box-seat is the rector, of
Cheadle, Rev. J. C. Macdona, who left the Gospel for politics
and entered Parliament. Behind is Alderman Fletcher Moss, of
antiquarian renown; Mr. James Watts, Lord of the Manor;
also Messrs. J. D. and Sydney Milne and Mr. J. H. Milne.
These were the "nuts" of those days and the coach went
through Rusholme at a fine speed.
I give in this volume a photograph of Edward Morris which

I am sure wQl be welcome by all old Rusholmites. Edward
has stood in Wilmslow Road for 54 years. He has been
blind from childhood but can describe the houses on the road
and remembers Moss House Cottage and Wm. Entwistle, M.P.
livine at Rusholme House; also he has a vivid recollection of
the Rush Cart and Morris Dancers, and the Cheadle busses
as they raced along
A RUSHOLME GROUP OF FIFTY YEARS AGO
xii.
Messre. ALTON, STRINGER, MAPLESTON, ULPH, CLARK

Rusholme was incorporated with the city of Manchester

in the year 1885. There was strong opposition to this; public
meetings were held and much feeling was excited. Many of
those who took part in the agitation are dead, but if they
could come back and see the Rusholme of to-day they would be
compelled to admit that incorporation has brought immense
benefits to the village. Well kept and lighted roads, public
parks and free libraries, are only a few of the advantages
which have resulted, and in addition we are citizens of no
mean city. Manchester is one of the best-governed cities in
the country and I venture to say there is no place where there
are greater activities working for the good of the people. We
have a .wealth of men and women who in the City Council and
elsewhere are giving their time and strength to public work
and doing much by their example to sweeten public life. One
generation of these good men and women passes away but
another takes its place, and so the grand work is going on
continually. I am proud to think that in this work the men
and women of Rusholme, in the days that are past as well
as to-day, have taken their full share.
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
IT has been my pleasure and privilege to know most of the
men who during the last forty years have been engaged in
religious and other work in this village. Rev J. J. Twist,
for many years curate of Birch and the first Rector of
Fallowfield, was one whose name is not forgotten. He was
assiduous in his visitation of the sick and it mattered not
whether they were Churchmen or Dissenters, if he knew there
was trouble or mourning in the house there he went.
Thomas Lowe, one of my best friends, was known to most
people in Rusholme. He came to the village in 1836 and took
part in most of the public affairs of the village. He was one of
the founders of the Rusholme Public Hall in 1850 and also
of the Working Men's Club in Nelson Street. He was the
pioneer of temperance work and established the first teetotal
society in the village in 1845 which held its meetings in the
Chapel in Moor Street. He was an unflinching advocate
of total abstinence, and some who to-day hold aloft the banner
of temperance in Rusholme owe- their inspiration to him.
His public work in connection with the village was justiy
recognised when he was unanimously invited to occupy the
chair at the Jubilee celebration in the Public Hall in 1887 and
presided over a splendid meeting. A well read and cultured
man he was never tired of talking about his favourite science
astronomy. As is well known he was the father of Wesleyan
Methodism in Rusholme and passed away in 1892 at the ripe

age of seventy-eight, having lived in Rusholme fifty-six
years.
James Hounsfield was known to a smaller circle of friends.
The distinctive feature of his character was that he was a man
of method and also a bachelor. For twenty-three years he
never, for any cause whatever, failed to attend the Wesleyan
Church and Sunday School close by, four times each Sunday.
He was the founder of the Penny Bank in the Public Hall
and for nearly thirty years attended to receive from children
and others the money every Monday night. He was from
the beginning on the directorate of the Public Hall. In the
best sense of the word he was a "good man."
Alderman Philip Goldschmidt, a leading Manchester mer-
chant, was for many years President of the Rusholme Public
Hall and Chairman of the old Local Board. He was also
the honoured Mayor of this city in the year 1882-3. At
the 1887 Jubilee he defrayed the cost of the celebration
treat to the old and young people of Rusholme and we all
marched round Oldenburg House and sang "God save the
the Queen" for him. It was my pleasure to know Mr.
Goldschmidt very well for he was President of the Rusholme
Gymnastic Society of which I was secretary. The Rusholme
Working Men's Club in Nelson Street was built at the expense
of Mrs. Langworthy and Mr. Goldschmidt. He was ever
ready to help the poor of the village, and gave cheerfully,
begging you to come again if necessary. He gave much
of his time to municipal and philanthropic work in this city.
One of the most lifelike paintings in the City Art Gallery is
that of Alderman Goldschmidt. It was presented by his
fellow citizens.
Mrs. Langworthy bore a revered name in Rusholme and in
her lifetime gave freely of her wealth to the poor and also to
the public institutions of the village. She paid for and
established the first Boys' Club in Manchester, namely that
at the People's Institute, Rusholme.
Another Rusholme name that must not be forgotten is that
of William James. In the early days of the Rusholme Public
Hall he fought hard to "democratize" that institution, and there
were lively times on the directorate. He was a regular fire-
brand, an enemy of extravagance, against everybody in
office and did not believe in aldermen. He was captain of the
Rusholme Volunteer Fire Brigade and in his own way worked
for the good of the people. But this country was not
sufficiently large and free for him and he went to Queens-
land thirty years ago and joined the Labour Party there.
xiii.
A PEACEFUL SCENE
O L D S C H O O L HOUSE, P L A T T L A N E
Fate was unkind to him and for long years he wandered

solitary over that vast country ever working hard. One
evening years ago he arrived at a place where were a few
houses and died there quite suddenly. Not a soul knew him
but a kindly postmistress gave him Christian burial. In his
pocket was a paper on which was my own name and it was
thus that I became aware of the death of my old and valued
friend.
Amongst those who looked upon Rusholme as their home
one of the most distinguished was Dr. Frederick Melland.
He was a native of Derbyshire but lived in Rusholme over
seventy years. The year of his birth was only two years after
the battle of Waterloo and nearly two years before the birth
of Queen Victoria. He was the subject of six British sovereigns,
closing his days as he began them under a George. "His
widest circle of friends is to be found among his old patients
in Rusholme. He was a young man when he first went there
and he was still at work after he had reached seventy. His
neighbours found him to be a public minded man in many ways.
He was a keen politician though not a public speaker; he
served the Volunteer movement as the surgeon of the corps
and he worked hard to establish the Public Library in Rus-
holme." He had a warm friendship for Dr. Finlayson and
"took a large part in building the Congregational Church at
Rusholme and a very full part in its services, taking among
other things a place in the choir." He was a very striking
figure in the village, tall and erect, wearing a shepherd's
piaid across his shoulders and with a cheery smile for all his
friends, among whom I was proud to count myself. We
called him the "grand old man of Rusholme" and so he was.
His funeral took place at the Manchester Crematorium on
January 21, 1911, and amongst the relatives and friends
present was the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith.
I well remember that on one of the occasions when I gave
my lecture on "Old Rusholme" I was honoured by the
presence of Dr. Melland and Mr. R. D. Darbishire, free-
man of the city of Manchester. The following morning I
received a letter from Dr. Melland saying that on the previous
evening someone had walked off with his hat, and he added
that if I did nor recover his hat he would vote Tory at the
next election. This was indeed alarming and I spent most
of the day searching, but in vain. The next morning a letter
came from Mr. Darbishire saying that at the lecture his hat
had also mysteriously disappeared. This was a tragic situation.
I suggested as a solution that these distinguished citizens
should meet each other to effect an exchange. So the Doctor
walked over to Upper Park Road but his interview was fruit-
less. There was evidently an epidemic of hat "swopping"
just then. It would take a distinguished man to wear either
hat.
Talking of my good friend Mr. R. D. Darbishire I well
remember a kindly action he once performed for a poor
family. The breadwinner had died and there were six young
children left. The summer was coming and the widow
thought that with the help of an ice-cream cart she could
make a living. This would costfifty-shillingsand I got together
for her about thirty-eight. I knew a rich man in the neigh-
bourhood and thought he might make up the difference. It
was one of the largest houses in Rusholme and I was shown
into the drawing-room by a stately footman. The owner was
much touched by my tale of sorrow and gave me half-a-crown.
Much discouraged I took my way to Mr. Darbishire's house
and put the case before him. He gave me a generous dona-
tion but said he would help this poor woman in another way.
He was the acting legatee of the Whitworth Trust which had
just bought Potter's Park (now Whitworth Park) and it was
to be thrown open to the public on the following Monday.
This woman was given, by Mr. Darbishire, the exclusive right
to sell ice cream in the Park. Without Sunday work an
enormous amount of ice cream was made and every ounce
sold, for it was a day of tremendous heat, and the clear profit
was forty-two shillings. So we bought the cart. What a
stately appearance and old world courtesy there was about
Mr. Darbishire! He wisely distributed nearly two million
pounds of the estate of Sir Joseph Whitworth to the immense
good of the city of Manchester and district and with the
money that he might properly have claimed for himself he
built the beautiful Whitworth Art Gallery in the park of that
name. Mr. Darbishire had a great love for birds and at his
house in Upper Park Road he altered all his chimney pots to
fantastic shapes to encourage the birds to build in them and
the birds came in great numbers. My first connection with
pohtics in Rusholme was in the year 1866. Gladstone had
been rejected by Oxford University, and, being invited to
stand for South Lancashire, came down to Manchester, and in
the Free Trade Hall made his famous speech beginning "I am
come among you unmuzzled." Rusholme was then part of
South Lancashire and was greatly excited over the election.
The Conservatives had their headquarters at the "Birch Villa"
and the Liberals in the Public Hall. I remember attending
the Liberal meeting in the Hall addressed by some of the
candidates, but I am not sure whether Mr. Gladstone was one
DK. MELLAND REV. W. H. AND MRS. FINNEY
IN NORMAN DOORWAY OF BIRKIN CHURCH
xiv.
who spoke there. The leaders of the Liberal party in

Rusholme in those days were Mr. Wood, of Princess Street,
and Mr. Fumiss, of Kingthorpe Grove. Mr. Wood was
remarkable for being very like John Bright in personal
appearance. The polling resulted in the return of Egerton
and Turner, Conservatives, and Gladstone as the only Liberal.
He represented Rusholme in Parliament for two years until
the village became part of South East Lancashire.
In giving my reminiscences of the immediate past I have not
mentioned those who are still with us for obvious reasons, but
I cannot refrain from referring to my valued friend Rev. W.
H. Finney. For twenty-five years he was the Rector of Piatt
and his ministry amongst us was powerful for good. We
called him the Rector of all denominations and in every effort
for the good of the people of Rusholme he cheerfully
associated with all the churches. The poor in Rusholme still
cherish his memory, for with his devoted wife he knew them
all in their homes. Some years ago they retired to the village
of Birkin, in Yorkshire, and all their friends desire them a
peaceful eventide.
A WALK ROUND RUSHOLME A HUNDRED
YEARS AGO.
I PROPOSE that we now take an imaginary walk through
Rusholme, along Wilmslow Road, in the early part of last
century. I have conversed with several persons who were
familiar with Rusholme a century ago. We will start at the
west side of Wilmslow Road, near High Street. The land
here belonged to the Traffords and Lloyds, and in 1810
Rusholme House was built and tenanted by Richard Entwistle,
and remained in the family until 1872. In that year it was
sold to Mr. Crompton Potter, who in 1888 disposed of it to
the Whitworth Legatees. Later it was pulled down and the
land added to the Whitworth Institute and in 1904 presented
to the Corporation of Manchester. This was part of the
grand work done by the Whitworth Legatees for the benefit
of Manchester, the leading spirit of the legatees being that
good citizen and freeman of the city, the late Mr. R. D.
Darbishire. Whitworth Park, with its splendid Picture
Gallery, is a great acquisition to the city.
At the corner of Clock House Lane, now called Moss Lane
East, stood a low thatched cottage called Moss Cottage, on
which there was a clock. This was pulled down in 1880.
A little further on, where Carter's repository now stands,
there was a toll-bar, the toll being 9d. for a four-wheel
vehicle. I am just old enough to remember this toll-har and
the family of the name of Hargreaves that kept it. When the
Withington bar at the comer of Mauldeth Road was put up,the
toll at Rusholme was reduced to 4|d. Continuing our walk,
a row of thatched cottages occupied the site now held by
the Carriage Company's premises. Two of those cottages
were used as almshouses for the poor of Rusholme under
Overseers, who had such powers as Poor Law Unions now
possess. Passing these almhouses, we have nothing but open
fields and we can see right into the country, to Chorlton and
to the uplands of Bowdon, until we come to Poplar House
and cottages standing right opposite what is now Thurlow
Street. They were quaint and old-fashioned cottages stand-
ing low down, and one of them, with a plastered front and
a delightful old-fashioned inside, is standing there to-day.
Outside these cottages, in the days of which we are speaking,
as a relic of other times and modes of conveyance, used to
stand an old-fashioned horse-block. This was removed some
years ago and placed in front of Piatt Cottage, Wilmslow
Road, where it can still be seen from the high road opposite
Piatt Fields. Poplar House was built in 1788 and was said
to have been the country house of the Behrens family. Pro-
ceeding on our walk, we come to more open fields, as Regent
House, better known as " Knoop's House," was not then
built, and then to a narrow winding lane called "Granny
Lane," later Monmouth Street, and now fashionably styled
"Claremont Road." I am told that higher rents can be gained
from houses in a "road" than in a "street," and that this
is the reason for the change. I suppose we may expect
Plantagenet Avenue next and more rent. At the top of
"Granny Lane" was a cluster of cottages, in one of which
Charles Beswick started, for the Wesleyans, the first Sunday
School in Rusholme, in 1826.
We continue our walk, passing Moor Street, and notice
four thatched cottages at the comer of Pill Row, on the land
now occupied by the Congregational Church. Later, these
houses were occupied by Messrs. Upton, Dyson, Solomon
Turner, and Edward Mottram. Just beyond this was Gilbodv's
thatched cottage, adjoining the two low houses recently
demolished. There was a field at the comer of Piatt Lane,
as Melbourne House and those adjoining were not then built.
We cross Wilmslow Road. Norman Road in those days
was a narrow winding lane which terminated in a footpath
about one hundred and fifty yards from the turnpike road.
Funerals to Birch Chapel came this way, but the coffin
required to be carried from the point mentioned. I remember
my father telling me that on the day of the Peterloo massacre,
xv.
GILBODY'S COTTAGE, WILMSLOW ROAD
A N C I E N T COMMUNION CHALICES
I. 1640—1641 : II. 1661-1662
in 1819, he was standing at the comer of Norman Road

and saw crowds of people coming from Manchester, many
with marks of blood upon them received in that murderous
ailray. Where the Birch Villa Hotel now stands was an old
thatched cottage where lived a woman who sold cakes.
Dickenson Road was then railed Sharp's Lane, and after-
wards Lomas's Lane. Near where the Wesleyan Chapel
stands was a farm house, and the road diverged sharply to
the right (see map). The gable ends of the tirst houses on
both sides of Moon Grove came right on to Dickenson Road
in those days. Many remember Rudd's Farm and shippon,
which stood next to the Wesleyan Chapel. Dickenson Road
terminated where Conyngham Road now is, and thence there
was a footpath to Birch Lane. At the corner of Birch Lane
was a schoolhouse known as Chadwick's School, kept by
an old man of that name. It was a day as well as Sunday
school. I remember my old friend, Mr. Lowe, telling me
that he often saw, over seventy years ago, the children walking
down Birch Lane from this school to Sunday service at the
old Birch Chapel. This was in the days when the Rev. G.
Dugard was Rector. There was a path from Lomas's Lane
to Victoria Park called Strawberry Lane, on account of the
strawberries that grew on the hedge banks.
RUSHOLME GREEN.
We must now notice what was one of the chief charac-
teristics of the village in the days we are considering. Some
may have heard the expression from an old inhabitant, "down
the green." This implies that the person in question is going
down the village towards the city. The village green was a
plot of land extending from Dickenson Road to Lloyd Street,
and at its broadest it was thirty yards wide. In the chronicles
of the village Rusholme green is mentioned as early as the
year 1548. This green, well-covered with grass, was a
splendid playing-ground for children, and the housewives
of that day used it for drying clothes. Across the green,
a few yards south of Thurlow Street, ran a silvery stream
called Rush Brook, and this was crossed by a bridge which
was the great resort for the weavers, both men and women,
and other village workers for gossip at the end of the day's
work. It may be mentioned in passing that this brook,
called Rush Brook or Little Ditch, which ran down Walmer
Street, and on to Moss Side, was turned into the sewer in the
year 1884, and this was the end of the ancient brook, rather
an ignominious end to a stream that had been on the map for
a few centuries. A lumbering omnibus started from this
bridge, when it felt so inclined, to go to Manchester, the fare

being sixpence. One of the great excitements of the day,
especially to the juvenile portion of the community, was the
passing of the London coach several times a week, with its
echoing horn. What a vast change between those days of
long ago, with their easy going life, and the busde in the
village to-day with the crowds of people and the rapid electric
cars. No doubt many will remember that there used to
stand back from the green, near Thurlow Street, three old
black and white thatched cottages. One of the cottages was
occupied by Archie Wilson, a well-known Rusholme charac-
ter. I daresay there are those who remember Archie. He
belonged to a race of Lancashire cobblers now almost
extinct. He was fond of a glass and in his way a bit of a
philosopher. He was always seen in a top hat. Wet of
dry, sunshine or shower, ebriate or inebriate, Archie always
wore his "topper." As a lad I used to think it would make
a good concertina. Every Sunday he took home the shoes
he had been cobbling during the week, slung by their laces
over his shoulders. He had a raven with which he was
always quarrelling, when the language on both sides was not
of the choicest. He had a brother called Red Rover, well
known to all the children of that day by his red hair and by
his stopping in the street, when carrying clothes, and deliver-
ing to them speeches of the Pecksniffian order. These
cottages where the Wilsons lived and where all the
five brothers were born were called "Carter's Lache," or
lake. There is a reference to this plot of land in the
Manchester Mercury. April 21st, 1752:—
T o be sold—A freehold estate, lying in Rusholme, c o m -
monly called Carter's Lake, belonging to George Booth,
n o w in occupation of Samuel Burrough, consisting of thirty-
seven acres of land and upwards, with housing and out-
housing convenient for the same, and let at forty-three pounds
per annum, with a quantity of ready growing timber. E n -
quire for George Booth, at Thomas Booth's, the lower end
of King Street, Manchester.
There is a good drawing of Archie's cottage hung in the
Public Library.
Just below Carter's Lache there were three low shops
extending to Lloyd Street, one of which was occupied by an
old dame, Mother Chadwick, and where we used to buy
"bulls' eyes" and marbles. The village green was sold
and enclosed in the year 1832, the purchase money being
vested in three trustees. I cannot ascertain what became of
the money except that £139 18s. 8d. was handed over by
the last surviving trustee, Mr. Carill Worsley, to the building
xvi.
ANCIENT MICKLE DITCH

M e n t i o n e d in A u d e n s h a w D e e d s in A.D. 1200
O L D PLATT CHAPEL
fund of the Rusholme Public Hall. Passing down the village

we come to the Horse and Jockey Inn, now the Clarence. It
stood many yards back with a swinging sign and a horse-block
in front of it. Just beyond was the large house occupied by
Mr. Denison and later by Mr. Turner.
So ends our walk which we trust has enabled us to
understand a little what our village was like a century ago.
MICKLE DITCH.
PROBABLY the most ancient feature in Rusholme is the
"Mickle Ditch," or, as it is sometimes called, "Nico" or
"Nicker." My friend Mr. H. T. Crofton, in his Agri-
mensorial Remains round Manchester, gives a full descrip-
tion of this ancient ditch. It is described as the most remark-
able of all the artificial boundaries round Manchester, and is
mentioned in an Audenshaw deed as early as 1200. In a
1317 Rusholme deed, "Mekel Dyche" is the name given,
and in 1484 another Rusholme deed terms it "Miche Wall
deche." Its extremities were Ashton Moss on the east and
the great Hough Moss, of which the estate of Piatt forms a
part, on the west. It extends through Droylsden, crosses
Ashton Old Road to Debdale Clough, then winds through
Fairfield and part of Openshaw to Levenshulme and Rus-
holme. It is pointed out as a remarkable fact that from
its source the ditch is the boundary of ancient townships. Dim
tradition has it that the raising of the embankment was the
work of the Saxons, to protect themselves against the inva-
sions of the Danes. It is also said that it was made in one
night, each man digging a length equal to his own height.
"The ditch was not made for drainage purposes, because it
runs up and down hill and crosses the deepsunk Debdale
clough towards its eastern end." The extreme length of
Mickle Ditch is five miles one hundred and eighty-three
yards. The only remaining portion, so far as I know, of
this: ancient ditch is that lying between Piatt Chapel and
Grangethorpe and Ashfield houses. A memorial board with
an inscription is placed at each end, that is, in Piatt Fields and
Piatt Chapel yard, on each of which is inscribed the following:
Part of the V e r y Ancient
Mickle or Great Ditch
Sometimes called N i c o Ditch,
Well k n o w n A.D. 1200, Extending over
Five miles f r o m here to Ashton Moss
and bounding several townships
described fully in Vol. XXIII. of
Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society
It is said some battles took place about the years 870 to
900. and one of the fiercest raged in the vicinity of the

Mickle Ditch and Gore Brook. In our own neighbourhood
there is a connection with this legend in the names of Danes
Road and Norman Road. Talking of battles and the dead,
we naturally follow with a reference to the Dead Entry, that
narrow passage with high walls leading into Norman Road.
In our childhood we were told that there were "hundreds of
dead bodies lying beneath that noted passage, slain in the fight
between the Normans and the Danes." How we used to
run down that dark entry at night frightened by the echo of
our feet! Later, we took our sweethearts down and gave up
going there at all after the Corporation put a light there.
Many persons confuse the stream that runs behind Birch
Hall and Schools, and which is called "Nico Ditch," with
the ancient Mickle Ditch dealt with elsewhere. This "Mickle
Ditch" had little value as a defence or for drainage, but as
"Ditches" hold water it was necessary to give the water some
outlet and the one passing Birch Rectorv and school followed
a natural dip in the land from the ditch to Gorebrook.
GORE BROOK.
THERE is another interesting and ancient feature of the Platt
Estate, and that is the renowned Gore Brook. The Gore
Brook is formed bv three other brooks, Moss Brook, which
rises in the Droylsden district, and Dick Lane Brook rising in
the Ashton side, and another which rises in the Denton
district. The stream meanders through Gorton and Longsight,
and in some of the more thickly pooulated parts of Longsight
it is culverted. It used to be a very much wider stream than
it is now in the Platt Estate, and I well remember when it was
20 or 30 yards wide in parts and was a fine place for skat-
ing. I have bathed in it scores of times.
POPULATION.
As regards the population of Rusholme in the vears we have
been considering. very litde reliable information has been
obtained. In 1655 Rusholme had only fourteen ratepayers,
but no separate return is made of the amount of the rate!
collected, it being included in the return for Withington.
Amongst the names of the Rusholme ratepayers at this period
are Mr. Worsley, Mr. Worsley of Heild House, Lieutenant
WorsW, and George Worsley. In Birch Hall Houses we
have Thomas B'"rch. Esq., Mr. Siddall of Slade, and Captain
Edge. In 1692 the annual value of real property in Rus-
holme was assessed to the' land tax at £146 13s. 4d. The'
earliest return of the population is in the year 1714, at which
xvii.
S A V E D FOR T H E C H I L D R E N .
M A Y D A Y IN M O O R S T R E E T
time it contained but forty families, representing probably

200 persons. Of these, five families were dissenters. In
1744 there were sixty-seven families, representing 351
persons, and there were sixty-three houses. In 1801 the
population was 726; in 1811, 796; in 1821, 913; in 1831,
1.708; in 1841, 1,868; in 1851, 3,679; and in 1861,
4945, whilst to-day for the same area as represented by these
figures we have about 20,000 of a population. There is no doubt
that hand-loom weaving was a popular industry and the music
of the shuttle would often be heard through the open door of
the cottages. The books of Birch Chapel show that so late
as 1835 there were weavers working in Rusholme.
STREET NAMES.
THE names of streets and places in a locality often afford
some clue to its history. National events and prominent
statesmen are often commemorated by the bestowal of a name.
Thus, Melbourne Cottage, recently demolished, which stood
at the comer of Piatt Lane, was called after the great states-
man. Nearly a century ago an old soldier lived at the
bottom of Moor Street, who owned a good deal of land down
there. This was the time when Lord Nelson's triumphs
were stirring the country from end to end. This old
soldier, like Nelson himself, had only one arm, and to show
his admiration for the great naval hero he called the streets
after him, hence Nelson Street, and Nelson Place. What
memories are called up by the recital of these two names.
Nelson Square by the irreverent was called "Hell Square."
In past years I have taken part in all sort of functions with
my friends down in that classic spot. We have sung, prayed
and preached, we have separated brawlers and preserved the
peace. Things, however, are now quite changed. I well
remember one night being sent for to see a man who for
some days had been drinking heavily. I talked to him for
a long time and told him of the great gain there would be
to himself and his family if he would only sign the pledge.
The poor fellow was evidently impressed with what I said and
turning to me said, "Mr. Royle I believe every word you
say and I have determined to turn over a new leaf and sign
the pledge, but I want you to do me a favour." "What
is it?" said I. " O " said my friend, "Let me have another
quart now and I will start to be teetotal immediately after."
Victoria Park was laid out about the time of Queen Vic-
toria's accession, and Victoria, Queen, Albert, and Brunswick
Streets were built about the same time as the Queen's marriage
to Prince Albert. Princes Street was built later, about the
D
time when King Edward was born. Dickenson Road, a hun-

dred and twenty years ago, was called Lomas's Lane, but
twenty-five years later was called Sharpe's Lane, after a man
who lived in a house where St. Mary's Home now stands.
Lloyd Street was called after a man who built the houses at
the bottom and who lived in one of them. Denison Street and
Denison Place are called after John Denison, who lived in the
large house opposite the Carriage Company's stables, later occu-
pied by Mrs. Turner for so many years. John Street was called
after John Holford, who built the property and afterwards
resided at Rusholme Hall. Wiggin Street was called after a
tenant of Piatt Hall, who built the houses therein in the year
1846. Moor Street obtaiflted its name from the fact that at
the corner was a nursery kept by a man named Moor. This
nursery extended half way down the street on the left. I well
remember the cottages in Moor Street having lovely gardens
in front of them, filled with choice flowers. In later years
this street has become the place where rival political parties
hold their open-air meetings and smash each other's political
heads. But it is more pleasant to think of it as the place
where all the churches in the village join on Sundays, in open-
air services, preaching the Gospel which is common and dear to
each of them. Taylor Street was called after Mr. Taylor,
who was steward for the Piatt Estate, and built some of the
property. Pill Row, that narrow passage by the Congrega-
tional Church, has a little amusing history of its own attached to
it. Many years ago there lived at one of the two houses
forming the Avenue in Piatt Lane, a doctor, named Stein.
He was famed for the making and prescribing of certain pills
with supposed or real wonderful powers, and he made such a
substantial profit that he was able to build the row of houses
at the bottom of the road. The road then ran through to
the houses forming the Avenue. Seeing the property was
built out of pills, the people naturally called it Pill Row.
This, however, touched the dignity of some of the residents
in the houses and they insisted upon another and more
dignified name, so to please them it was called Stein Place,
after the prosperous doctor, and so it remains until to-day.
Quaint names were given to some of the streets in Rusholme
years ago, and "Axon's Fowt," "Own Neds" and "Slutchy
Alley" are unknown to the present generation. It may interest
some to know that the two houses standing opposite the
Public Hall were the bottom houses in "Axon's Fowt."
Joseph Axon, who lived at the comer, was famous for selling
rosy-cheeked apples.
When walking in the Dickenson Road quarter you may
xviii.
PUBLIC HALL SCHOOL, 1864

have seen "Piraki Road," on which name hangs a tale.

When the road was made the noble owner submitted several
names to the Corporation, but they proved to be already in
use. He then went to New Zealand, where he had estates,
for a name, and brought over the old Maori name of
"Piraki." I doubt if there is another Maori name in Man-
chester and anyone who lived in such a road was distin-
guished. But the inhabitants thereof were so often "chaffed"
about it, and had so frequently to spell it for tradespeople,
that they got it altered to the fashionable designation of
"Birchfields Avenue," and thus dropped into the common
crowd.
Brighton Grove was so called in compliment to the Prince
Regent, who did so much to establish Brighton's fashions
and at whose court the grandfather of the present Mrs.
Worsley spent many of his early years. This "grandfather"
married Miss Elizabeth Norman, of Winster, Derbyshire,
and in her honour called the next road "Norman Road."
The name was given to the road in 1794. A century ago
there was the Didshmy-Hunt .which covered the surrounding
'districts. Hence the name "Dog Kennel Lane," as the_kennels
of the houricts'were situated at the Withington end of the fane
near the Hallr "It is a pity this expressive name has been
altered to Maine Road, which explains nothing.
The Rusholme people who live in Heald Grove, Heald
Place and Heald Avenue may not be aware that the name
these thoroughfares bear is connected with one of the most
ancient bits of history in the district. It was about the year
1224 that the Grelles, Lords of Manchester, granted to the
Hathersage family a plot of land, the boundaries of which to-
day are Moss Lane East and Claremont Road. On this plot
we read that there were "Yielde Houses," which name is a
corruption of "Guild Houses," possibly the home of some
guild the records of which are quite lost. We know that on
this plot the tenants had the right to "dig turves," thus show-
ing the existence of a large moss, hence "Moss Lane." The
transition of the name is shown by the following variations
in successive centuries: "Yhildhouse, Yieldhouse, Gylde-
housys, Healdhouse." Until recent years there was a Heald
House on the estate, but it was quite modern. The estate is
now held by the Dean and Canons.
Moor Street and its offshoots has always been the most
thickly populated part of Rusholme. As I spent the first ten
years of my life in this street I naturally have taken much
interest in its fortunes. Always plenty of children here. I give
a photo of the happy youngsters of our own day. Long
years ago harvesters came from Ireland to work for the

farmers round Rusholme and they mosdy lodged in this
street. One night, wanting one of these men, I was invited to
his room and found six of these men together in one bed
which was the shape of a cartwheel, all legs in the centre.
"The Staff of Life" and "The Cottage of Content" were
uncommon names given to two of the beerhouses in this street
and more than once were the peg on which appeals were
hung by outdoor speakers. At one time there were two
hundred "back to back" houses in Rusholme but they have
all long ago disappeared. It is possible this book may reach
some who only know the Rusholme of long ago. Under the
shadow of Platt Church were cornfields and here the sound
of the corncrake was heard. I well remember a farm labourer
in the autumn calling my attention to the music which he
heard caused by the play of the wind among the waving ears
of corn, then quite ready for the sickle of the reaper—beautiful
poetry in a humble soul. All this is changed and there is not
now a green field in Rusholme. Instead we have crowds of
people, mosdy prosperous and happy, and the district known
as Platt Lane and Heald Grove is covered with houses which
reach all the way to Moss Side.
RUSHOLME WAKES AND RUSH CART DAY.

" W A K E S S U N D A Y " in Rusholme was always the last Sunday
in July and things were fairly lively during the following
week. Moor Street was the centre of attraction, for here
were gathered roundabouts, gingerbread stalls, marionettes,
fat women, boxers, Aunt Sallies and such things. I am told
there was often much gambling. In Tom Shelmerdine's
yard attached to the Brunswick Inn was erected the high
greasy pole, covered over with soft soap and crowned with
a leg of mutton. With a bag of soot tied round him the
climber slowly ascended covering the soap with soot as he
progressed. Just as he reached out his hand to grasp the
leg of mutton down he would come, bringing the soot and the
soap, and when he reached the ground it was difficult to tell
which was the soot and which was the man. This was fine
excitement and caused much innocent enjoyment; I think
we take our pleasures very sadly nowadays.
I remember when our village was known as the great place
for pigeon fliers and washerwomen, the latter one of the
noblest of occupations, but alas! sadly diminishing owing to
the coming of the steam laundry. One day a candidate
for a public position in Rusholme spoke disrespectfully of
these ladies, with the result that when the election day came
xix.
T O L L B A R , FORMERLY CORNER O F M A U L D E T H R O A D ,
FALLOWFIELD
ARCHIE WILSON'S COTTAGE, CARTER'S L A C H E

he was at the bottom of the poll. Rusholme people have

always been noted for their love of sport. William H.
Iddison, the brother of Roger Iddison, the famous Yorkshire
cricketer; William Flowers, the Notts Dlayer; Alec Wat-
son, the great Lancashire cricketer; and other county men
lived in the village. Then we also had Jack Shanks, the
pedestrian and Charlie Jones the boxer.
The first of May was always a great day with the young-
sters of Rusholme. We were up early in the morning to see
the milkmen and maids dressed up in all their bows and
ribbons. In those days there was a crowd of milk carts
from Northern Etchells, Gatley, Styal and Wilmslow, which
came along every day to supply the great city with its milk.
The carts and horses were covered with ribbons, and how
dazzling the wheels looked as they spun round, their snokes
covered with coloured paper! There were some few milkmen
who defied this custom and "Dicky Broome" was one of them
He had a stormy reception, for we used to sod him. Dicky
was full of wrath and one day jumped out of his cart and
chased us down Piatt Lane. It was of no use, however,
for in those days we could run like hares. When he returned
disappointed to the end of the lane, he found someone had
walked of with his horse and cart and milk and hidden it in
Pill Row. After Dicky left the road, he carried round his
milk in panniers and lived for many years crying "mik, mik,"
in corruption of "milk, milk." I was with him at the end
and know that he died at peace with everybody.
But of all the days in the year for true enjoyment and real
happiness for the youngsters, Rush Cart Day easily surpassed
them all. A kind providence centuries ago arranged for this
to be on Saint Oswald's Day, the 5th day of August, which
was when school holidays were on. When we were young
we never knew the enchanted spot where the Rush Cart came
from, for it appeared first to us in Fallowfield, where we
sallied forth to meet it. Later we knew it was made at With-
ington. as we might expect, for there would be found plenty of
"withs" or "rushes."' The Rush Cart has a great pedigree
and an interesting connection, centuries old, with churches,
but we children of course knew nothing of these things. It
was a grand sight to see the waggon laden high with rushes
in orderly arrangement, surmounted by flowers of every hue
and with pewter flagons and cups slung over the top. The
horses in their ribbons were "as proud as Punch." Then
came the farm labourers carrying the garlands, honoured men
they were, and I used to think that I would rather carry a
garland than be king of England. Then the morris dancers,
P2
all decorated from head to foot with ribbons and flowers

and with flowing streamers in their hands. The band struck
up and they danced to the tune as they went along the high
road, round and round the rush cart, with healthy, ruddy
faces and heavy hob-nailed boots, singing as they danced,
Every lad shall have a lass
But I'll have four-and-twenty.'
All the village turned out to see them and we had a feast of
joy. The morris dancers went up to Platt Hall dancing,
whilst Squire Worsley and Mrs. Worsley, with their little
daughter, came out to greet and refresh them. They passed
through the village on their way home in the afternoon and I
fear their steps were not as steady as in the morning. It was
altogether a glorious time. The tramcars came in 1880 and
there was something incongruous between tramcars and Rush
Cart—the new and the old—so 1882 saw the last Rush Cart
come down from Withington. I feel sorry "for the children
of the present day, for though they have many privileges we
knew nothing of, they have no Rush Cart, with its attendant
joys.
RUSHOLME PUBLIC HALL.
THE modest-looking building standing near the comer of Dick-
enson Road and Wilmslow Road, and called the Rusholme
Public Library, has been the centre of interest in the village
during the last sixty years. It was originally called the
Rusholme Public Hall and Reading Room, and was started in
some hired rooms over what is now the Coffee Tavern,
Wilmslow Road. A few years later, larger premises being
required, a public meeting was held in the Independent
Chapel, Moor Street, to advocate the building of a hall. Mr.
W. Entwistle was in the chair and the speakers included Mr.
Thos. Brittain, Rev. G. H. G. Anson and Mr. Thos. Lowe.
The foundation stone was laid on March 18th, 1859, by Wm.
Entwistle, Esq., in the stead of Sir John Anson, whose
wife was ill. Ultimately the present building was erected,
at a cost of nearly £3,000, being opened on January 14,
1860. At this ceremony the Rusholme Volunteer Rifle
Brigade appeared for the first time in their new uniform.
The object was the moral and intellectual improvement of the
people of Rusholme, and the subscription was 2/- per
quarter, which included the Reading Room and use of
library. The building in those days and in after years was
the common meeting ground of men of all parties and
creeds, and so we were enabled to understand each other
better and unite for the common good. I owe much to this
Institution, having been associated with it almost from the
beginning. I was intimate with the hall keepers and libra-

rians who invited me to use the reading room, and here I got
my first love for books.
In the early days of this Institution, lectures were
given by the first scientific and literary men of that day. On.
December 6, 1864, John Ruskin gave a lecture in the hall.
I stood outside and well remember the long line of carriages
in front of the building. The first lecture was on "Kings'
Treasuries," and the second, delivered shordy afterwards,
was on " Queens' Gardens." I remember Archdeacon Anson
telling me that when he requested Ruskin to lecture he asked
what he was to lecture about and, in reply to a suggestion!
from the Archdeacon, said he would talk about books and
the value of libraries. Afterwards Ruskin sent his own titles
and they were as mentioned above, two of the most delightful
productions of this great writer, and now incorporated in
Sesame and Lilies.
Professor Bowman, the astronomer, who lived in Victoria
Park, gave several lectures here, one especially on the great
comet of 1858. I well remember being carried out of doors
to see this wonderful sight in the heavens. In addition to
the lectures I have just mentioned for the more educated
and cultured portion of the community, an attempt was
made in the "sixties" to cater for the working classes. This
took the form of entertainments made up of songs, readings,
and recitations, etc. They went under the name of "Penny
Readings," and soon every village and town had them.
The history of this movement to cater for the working
classes is worthy of a more permanent record than this can
presume to be. They were held in every part of Man-
chester. I have in my possession many of the programmes.
Some of the songs and recitations then given would not be
listened to to-day. Edwin Waugh's "Come whoam to thi
childer an' me " and " Besom Ben " were great favourites.
Such now are never heard at popular entertainments.
People want lighter and more nonsensical programmes. One
feature we had at these "Penny Readings" which is unknown
nowadays, and that was all the audience joining in the chorus.
Many a concert of to-day would be redeemed from dulness if
the audience were led in a popular chorus. With what gusto
did we chorus that old English song "The Farmer's Boy:"
T o plough and sow, to reap and to mow
And be a farmer's boy.
We are dreadfully respectable and "proper" in these days.
These "Penny Readings" were organised by Mr. Edward
Wilde, then Hon. Secretary of the Institution. He worked
unceasingly to make them a success and in many other ways

did much to improve the moral and intellectual condition of
the people of Rusholme. These readings of fifty years ago
have had their day. For some years they flourished and I
have seen the large hall crowded; they were stopped partly
by the unruly conduct of a portion of the audience, and several
times the police had to be called in to eject the noisy ones.
It was shortly after this time that a new form of entertain-
ment, imported from America, sprang into popularity —
" Christy's Minstrels" of the burnt-cork variety, and they
were seen everywhere. One of these troupes, the O. I. C. M.,
came to the Public Hall here and advertised a two nights'
entertainment, allowing a reduction in price if tickets for the
two nights were bought beforehand. When the first night
came the troupe in full dress appeared with the usual corner
"bones and tambourine." After the overture they left the stage
and on came an artist with a banjo and sang a solo, " They
are going to bury me in the cold, cold ground." I well re-
member how slowly he sang, turning up the whites of his
eyes, until he made us weep. If the little game he was up
to had been known to the audience I venture to say a few
would have given a willing hand to assist at a premature
interment! Then he in turn left the stage and we waited
and waited for the next item. Finally, an old gendeman,
bolder than the rest, with his spectacles at the end of his nose,
got up and went behind the scenes, returning to say " They
have all gone." Sure enough we had all been " taken in,"
for during the singing of the solo all the troupe had gone by
Institution Place to Rusholme Grove and fled, taking the
money for both nights, and never paying for the printing or
the Hall. Ever after, it was ruled that the Hall must be paid
for in advance, and that rule continues to the present day.
The Local Board of Health had its habitation in the Public
Hall. It was formed in the year 1849. The meetings to
arrange its establishment were held in Dr. Melland's house,
in Wilmslow Road, at the corner of Moor Street. They were
attended by Mr. Thos. Lowe, Mr. E. R. Langworthy, Rev.
G. H. G. Anson, Dr. Melland and one or two others. All
honour to these men, the pioneers of public work in Rusholme.
Prior to this time many of the streets of the village were un-
drained and unpaved and the sides of them were almost
open sewers. Monmouth Street and Walmer Street were then
in wet weather ankle-deep in mud, but the Board eflected
many improvements. It was in 1853 that for the first time
Corporation water was introduced. Streets were paved and
sewered and the foundations were then laid for the excellent
R. D. DABBISHIRE
Freeman of the City of Manchester
XX.
THOS. LOWE
system of drainage which we now enjoy, and I venture to

affirm that Rusholme is one of the healthiest spots in Man-
chester. The members of the old Local Board of Health
should not be forgotten. Frederick Appleby (Civil Engineer,
who gave freely of his ability for the public good), Thomas
Bridge, Charles Jones, Henry Wren, Thos. W. Ulph, Henry
Salomonson, James Ramsay, and Samuel Royle, who after-
wards represented Rusholme Ward in the City Council. All
these men did their best for the people of Rusholme long
years ago. In this Public Hall the Rusholme Gymnastic Club
had its habitation and turned out many noted athletes. Ben
Greg, Lionel Adams, Tom Noble, Tom Hamnett, Fred Bon-
sall, George Boswell, and Dick Watson were some of our
leading athletes, and all had more than a local reputation,
winning scores of prizes at athletic festivals. George Boswell,
the son of omnibus owners, was in his day one of the best
men in the north of England for long distance running; and
Dick Watson was famous everywhere for steeplechase
running—he could run like a hare. The annual " Assault-at-
Arms " in the large room was a great event in the village
every year, and I reflect with great pleasure on the many
happy hours spent in the Gymnasium below. Our comrades
of those days—where are they? Some are not, and others
have scattered over remote corners of the world.
In the basement of the Rusholme Public Hall there was,
forty years ago, an American skittle alley, which was very
popular. It was frequented by a number of old cronies who
enjoyed the game and a pipe. They were indeed a cheery lot.
There was James. Tunnicliffe, who always smoked with his pipe
upside down, and one of the great mysteries of my youthful
days was how " old Tunniclifie," as he was called, managed
to keep the tobacco in his pipe. Then we had old Clarke,
with his Pomeranian dog, and my valued friend, Robert Atkin-
son, and many others who make a pleasant memory for me in
these later years. The Rusholme Choral Union met in the
Public Hall, with Edward Marsland as conductor. Who does
not remember Alfred Bates, who taught us all tonic sol-fa?
Another name closely connected with this Hall was William
Roberts, the village photographer, who was a genial soul and
a general favourite. He was the local historian and collected
all the facts and traditions concerning the ancient history of
Rusholme. Almost every person in the village was known to
him and some of the pleasantest hours of my youth were spent
in his company. Every village should have its local historian
to gather together interesting historical facts and so keep alive
local patriotism.
The Rusholme Public Hall, now the Public Free Library,

was erected by public subscription, assisted by two bazaars,
held in 1860 and 1864. The chief subscribers were C> Carill
Worsley, E. R. Langworthy and Sir William Anson, Bart.,
each giving £100; and others were W. Entwistle, Robert
Barnes, Robert Barbour, Ivie Mackie, Samuel Royle, W. R.
Callender, etc. Mr. Joseph Whitworth (afterwards Sir
Joseph) also gave the stone from Darley Dale quarries. A
very interesting fact is that among the contributions was
" Balance of Rusholme Green Fund," per C. C. Worsley,
Esq., £139 18s. 8d. This was part of the proceeds of the sale of
Rusholme Green, about which I have written on another
page, but I have searched in vain to find what became of the
balance of the money obtained by the sale of this ancient
piece of land. The total cost of the Public Hall was £3,000.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
I SHOULD like to say a word about some religious and other
institutions in Rusholme. Piatt Church was opened in 1846
and was the work of Mr. Edmund Sharpe, the distinguished
architect. It was one of the first experiments in building
with terra cotta, and with its very graceful spire can be seen
for miles round. I can recall the second Rector, the Rev.
Aubrey C. Price, who often came into Moor Street in his
surplice to conduct open-air services; and also the Rev. H. T.
Veness, of rough exterior but tender heart, who was his
successor.
Piatt Day Schools were started in the old bam-like structure
in Piatt Lane in the early " fifties." These buildings had a
striking appearance, as they formed three sides of a square.
At one time they were used to accommodate the overflow from
Piatt Hall, but later, as I have just mentioned, the east end
was turned into a day school. I went into the old school not
long before it was demolished and there I saw the desks at
which the boys used to sit, and the stool from which
" Cocky " Tumbull surveyed the scholars and to which we
were summoned for a thrashing, which I have no doubt we
richly deserved. All these remained, as did the room itself,
pretty much as it was fifty years ago when it was last used.
But the scholars—where were they?
I have had playmates, I have had companions
In my days of childhood, in my joyful schooldays,
All, i l l are g o n e , the o l d familiar faces.
The present Piatt Schools, in Grove Street, were erected
and opened in 1861, and I was one of the first scholars
attending on the opening day. The first masters were Messrs.
Turnbull, Foden, Watling and Parkinson. It should be men-

tioned that the very first day-school in Rusholme was begun in
the house in Nelson Street, still standing, at right angles to
the street and near the Working Men's Club. Miss Rawlinson
taught there in the early forties, prior to the building of
Birch Infant School, which took place in 1846.
The Congregational Church was first established in King-
thorpe Grove, at the bottom of Moor Street, in May, 1839.
It began as a Sunday School and soon after was removed to
Holford's Row, now John Street. Later, in 1853, the chapel
in Moor Street was taken, and here George Macdonald,
subsequently the well-known novelist, was for a time supplying
the pulpit, and later the Rev. Dr. D. W. Simon was minister of
the Church. On October 23, 1864, the present Church was
opened.
It was on the 23rd of August, 1877, that an event took
place in this Church which makes the day notable in the
history of Rusholme. On that August day the marriage
took place of Miss Helen Melland, the eldest daughter
of Dr. Frederick Melland, and Mr. Herbert H. Asquith,
then a rising young barrister. The simple but impressive
service was conducted by Dr. Campbell Finlayson, who was
not only the Minister of the Church but also an esteemed
personal friend. As the people gathered around the entrance
of the Church to see the bridal procession they little thought
that in the young bridegroom they saw a future Prime
Minister of England.
I cannot refer to the Congregational Church without
mentioning Mr. J. C. Norbury, who for over fifty years worked
in connection with the same, especially among the young
people. These Rusholme children looked upon him as a true
friend, as indeed he was, and many now fighting the battle of
life have reason to thank Mr. Norbury for help and advice
given them.
The Roman Catholic Church in Thurloe Street was erected
in 1862. '
The cause of Wesleyan Methodism was started by Charles
Beswick, a local preacher from Ardwick, who on Sundays
often went to preach in Fallowfield and Lady Bam. He saw
many children playing about the streets, and started the first
Sunday School in Rusholme in 1826. This was in " Granny
Lane," later Monmouth Street and more recently Claremont
Road. In 1829 the chapel in Dickenson Road was built by
Mr. Fernley, who then lived at Piatt Hall. Later, this was
demolished and re-erected in Lady Barn, to be used as a
Working Men's Club. The present Wesleyan Chapel in
Dickenson Road was opened on December 3, 1862, and is

acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful chapels in the
district.
Birch Infant School in Dickenson Road was erected in the
year 1846, and before the Public Hall was built was used for
all public gatherings. It was for many years the only infant
school in the village. As I write memory recalls Miss
Rawlinson, who was kindness itself, and richly gifted with
that patience she so much needed.
The People's Institute was built in 1872, the entire cost
being paid by Mr. James Ryder. Later, additional rooms
were added by Mrs. Langworthy, who was always a good
friend to the young people of Rusholme. Here was started
the first Boys' Club in Manchester. A few years ago the
whole place was practically rebuilt, with several additions,
as a memorial to the Rev. Dr. McLaren. This place is a
regular hive of Christian industry and nearly every kind of
social and religious work is carried on there.
The Working Men's Club in Nelson Street was erected in
1884, at a cost of £1,000, and Alderman Goldschmidt and Mr.
Bateson Wood were amongst those who established it.
The Rusholme Clock in the tower of the Congregational
Church is a conspicuous object. It was placed in position
in the year 1873, the funds being supplied by public subscrip-
tion. A committee was formed, of which Mr. Councillor
Goldschmidt was chairman, Messrs. E. Wilde and W.
Frevellier, hon. sees., and Mr. Thos. Noton, treasurer. The
clock strikes the hour on a bell weighing 18 cwt., made by
Taylor, of Loughborough. The dials are seventy feet from
the ground, and are therefore well seen from all sides. The
pendulum of the clock weighs nearly 2 cwt. The total cost was
£476. After incorporation the care of the clock was taken
over by the Manchester Corporation.
P U B L I C H A L L D A Y SCHOOL.—How interesting is this group
of forty-two boys taken on the steps of the Rusholme Public
Hall in the year 1864, just fifty years ago. You see Mr.
James Royds, the head master and Mr. Hadfield, drawing
master. The names of the boys as they called each other at
school are reading from left to right,
First line (top): George Warburton, Charlie Hobday, Tony Alton, Charlie
Barton, unknown, Edwin Hyde, Billy Pettigrew, Harry Gould.
Second line: Willie Wilde, Harry Royle, Bob Brunt, jack Mawrey, Arthur
Stringer, Tom Froggatt, Joe Mottram, Will Charlton, Edward Smith.
Third line:George Barton, Will Palin, Tom Hobson, Marmaduke Whitty,
George Palin, Will Whitty, Harry Nail, Tom Fothergill, John Charlton,
John Mottershead, Tom Kellam, Ben Davis, Bob Nail, Billy Hawksby,
Billy Howarth.
xxi.
T H E T H R E E - H O R S E OMNIBUS, 1856
L A S T JOURNEY OF THE C H E A D L E ' B U S - " S C O T C H BOB " DRIVING
S e p t e m b e r I2th, 1913
Fourth line: John Priestly, Will Priestly, Will Kellam, Billy Henson, Arthur
Bond, Tom Charlton, Jimmy Royds, Stringer, Arthur Smith, Charlie
Bond.
Who is the "unknown" one—he looks a determined boy, as
though he would make out something in the world. After
the lapse of all these years I look with pleasure on the faces
of these boys. I have played marbles, and cricket too, with
most of them. Time has wrought many changes and these
boys have become solicitors, merchants, doctor, church-
wardens, at least one a "parson," Chairman of District Coun-
cil, scientist, banker, farmer, and others well known on the
Exchange. Some are doing public work in our own city, a
few haye gone over to the great majority and, although I don't
know, it may be, alas, some have made shipwreck of life.
RUSHOLME NOTABILITIES.
VICTORIA PARK has had a considerable influence on the fortunes
of Rusholme, especially is this true as regards the shop-
keepers. Forty years ago "carriage and'pair" was the order
of the day and these swept through the entrance gates and
along the well kept roads, for here the aristocracy of Man-
chester lived. Saturday was always a busy day with the
shopkeepers attending the carriage folk. To begin, however,
in the year 1836 there stood an old black and white farm-
house exactly in the centre of the present circular walk, with
a strip of road across the village green leading up to it. This
farm was occupied by a Richard Warburton, the father of
Thomas Warburton, who later kept a grocer's shop "down
the green." At that time there was not another house on
what is now Victoria Park. The Victoria Park Company
was formed in 1836 and owned 140 acres, but early met with
financial troubles. The Company, however, survived, and no
one can deny that the park has been an immense benefit to
the people of Rusholme. Some of Manchester's best citizens
have resided in it, and amongst them members of Parliament.
E. R. Langworthy, M.P. for Salford; George Hadfield, M.P.
for Sheffield; James Kershaw, M.P. for Stockport; W. Ent-
wisle, M.P.; W. R. Callender, M.P. for Manchester; John
Slagg, M.P. for Burnley, and many other names could be
mentioned. No reference to Rusholme notabilities would be
complete without particular mention of one whose residence
here has conferred lasting distinction on the village. I refer
to Richard Cobden, who laboured unceasingly for the repeal
of the iniquitous Corn Laws. Cobden, who was in every sense
of the word a Manchester man and was the founder of what
was known as the " Manchester School," made in 1835
speculative purchases of land in Rusholme and also in other

parts of Manchester. He bought land in Victoria Park, in
Dickenson Road and in Wilmslow Road. A portion of the
land used for Birch Park was bought from Cobden's Trustees,
which trust holds land in Rusholme to this day. Cobden lived
in Rusholme during the years 1845 to 1848, when his great
work was accomplished and the Corn Laws repealed. His
house was in Victoria Park, on the other side of the Crescent
entering from Wilmslow Road. It is called " Westerfield,"
and was Mr. Cobden's last home in Manchester. It well
deserves a commemorative tablet.
Mr. W. R. Callender, who then lived at Ashbume House,
Victoria Park, was the host of Mr. Disraeli when in 1872 he
made his famous three hours' speech in the Free Trade Hall.
The seats were taken out of the body of the Hall and it is
said that it held more persons that night than it ever has
done before or since. I well remember the great cheering
crowd that followed Mr. Disraeli from town to Ashburne
House late in the night.
Then there was Robert Barnes. Who does not remember,
as he went to town in the morning, marking time by Barnes's
clock at the corner of High Street? Those were the days
when people walked to town. Robert Barnes lived in Rus-
holme for nearly thirty years and left a large fortune for
building Barnes's Convalescent Home, Barnes's Boys' Home
at Heaton Mersey, and endowing Barnes's Samaritan Charity,
giving in all £80,000 for the good of the city. He attended
the Wesleyan chapel and I very well remember his quiet,
unassuming manner. "The blessing of him that was ready to
perish came upon him and he caused the widow's heart to
sing for joy." Thousands have blessed and will bless the
name of Robert Barnes.
Among other names to be mentioned are those of Sir Harry
and Lady Smith, who lived at Summerfield, Victoria Park,
and for a time at Rusholme House, Wilmslow Road, where
Whitworth Park is situated. I remember his erect military
figure as he used to ride about the village, his breast covered
with medals, and on his famous charger, " Aliwal." He
served under four sovereigns, and wept when he was forbidden
to go to the Crimea to fight for his Queen and country.
Lady Smith was the heroine of one of the most picturesque
incidents of the Peninsular War, and the story of Sir
Harry Smith's swift courtship and marriage sheds a gleam
of romance on the dark sky of the story of the capture
and sacking of Badajoz, which was otherwise a discredit
to the British troops. The defenceless inhabitants of that
town were mercilessly attacked and robbed and we are told

that " On the morning after the siege, Kincaid was stand-
ing near the door of his tent when, as he tells the tale, two
Spanish ladies came hurriedly up. They had fled from the
plundering horde in Badajoz; blood was trickling down their
necks from their ears, whence jewels had been wrenched.
The elder begged for herself and her sister the protection of
British officers. Her sister was a girl of sixteen; the enthusi-
astic Kincaid calls her "an angel, a being more transcendently
lovely than I had ever ..before seen." Protection was at
once, of course, given to these ladies and Sir Harry Smith
instantly fell in love with the younger and married her after a
courtship to be measured in hours. The marriage was one
of the happiest on record. It has left a permanent mark in
British history, for Sir Harry Smith was afterwards in com-
mand at the Cape, and "Ladysmith" takes its name from that
Spanish girl with bleeding ears whom Sir Harry Smith made
his wife, and Sir Harry gave his name to Harrismith, which
town played a notable part in the South African War. It
was the sword of Sir Harry Smith which Queen Victoria used
in knighting Sir James Watts at the Art Treasures Exhibition
in 1857. When his famous horse died Sir Harry ascribed to
it almost Christian virtues, as will be seen by the following
inscription:
Near this stone is buried Sir Harry Smith's celebrated Arab charger
of the purest b l o o d .
" ALIWAL."
Sir Harry rode him in the battles of Maharajpore, M o o d k e e ,
Ferozeshshur. Aliwal and Sobraon. H e was the only horse of the
General Staff that was not killed or wounded. H e came f r o m
Arabia to Calcutta, thence to Lahore ; he was marched nearly all
over India ; came by ship to England, thence to the Cape of G o o d
H o p e and back to England. H e was twenty-two years old ; never
was sick during the eighteen years in Sir Harry's possession.
As a charger, he was incomparable, gallant, and d o c i l e ; as a
friend, he was affectionate and faithful.
The horse was buried in the garden in front of Rusholme
House.
OMNIBUSES.
I W E L L remember Alice Robinson, who was born in the first
year of last century, telling me she often saw the London
coach passing through Rusholme, the horn of the guard always
bringing out the people as it passed along the road going
north or south. The news of the battle of Waterloo was
brought to Manchester by this route, the coach bringing
tidings of the great victory being gaily decorated. The first
'bus which went with any regularity ran in the early " forties "
and was owned by Thomas Hargreaves, grocer, of Rusholme.
It started from the old toll-bar which stood near Moss Lane
East, but later it ran to Cheadle and it went three times each
day. The guard on this Cheadle 'bus was a celebrated player
on the old key bugle, which at that time was used in military
bands, before the cornet came into use. An old inhabitant
told me that people living on the main road used to stay up
on the fine summer nights to hear him play some fine old
English or Scotch ballad as he went past on the last 'bus to
Cheadle. His name is not remembered, but he played
splendidly on the calm summer evenings as the 'bus, with its
four horses, went swiftly on through Rusholme and Fallow-
field. In the " fifties" the old three-horse 'bus made its
appearance, and I give a sketch of this taken from the " Illus-
trated London News " of March, 1856. It started from the
Birch Villa Hotel and carried seventeen passengers inside
and twenty-five passengers outside. The 'bus was owned by
Mr. Wood and the destination—Rusholme—was painted on
the rail at the back of the seat just where the luggage was
hauled up. Ladies, of course, did not sit outside; they mostly
went inside among the straw. Later some of these 'buses,
which were painted Scotch plaid and much admired, were
owned by Macewen, a Scotchman, as his name would imply.
The brothers George, William and James Boswell about this
time began running 'buses from Rusholme, afterwards ex-
tending to Cheadle, with Jack Sigley as the driver. Then the
Cheadle Omnibus Company was started, the vehicles beginning
their journey at the Commercial Inn, comer of Brown Street.
I can remember, on the polling day in the Manchester Parlia-
mentary Election in 1867, the excitement caused every hour
when the guard of the 'bus brought up from town the state of
the poll, which, by the way, was mostly incorrect. Rusholme
people had to rely upon such undependable things as
omnibuses in those days for their news. I have a keen
recollection of the wonder caused amongst the youngsters
when the staircased 'buses of the Manchester Carriage Com-
pany made their first appearance. Fred Salt, in a spick-and-
span new suit, was the first conductor, and " Cloggy " White
was the driver in all the glory of a new pair of clogs. Then
began a fierce attempt to run off the old-fashioned omnibuses
of the Cheadle Company. Side by side they would chase
along from Didsbury, the passengers in those days consisting
of Manchester merchants and their sons, standing up and
cheering their own driver as he galloped along. Those were
exhilarating days and I never remember an accident. The
opening of the railway to Withington and Didsbury, in 1880,
soon put an end to the 'buses on the city side of these places.
Then came the horse cars and Mr. Thomas Bridge, who was
the chairman of the Rusholme Local Board, laid the first rail
of the Rusholme horse tramways on May 31st, 1880.
The last of the 'bus drivers was James Telford, better
known as " Scotch Bob," who is indeed a cheery soul. An
extract from that great institution the City News (without
which much local history would be lost) may perhaps close
this subject:
T h e r e will b e general regret when it is k n o w n that the
Cheadle 'bus has g o n e f o r g o o d . S o [writes Mr. William
R o y l e ] has our old friend, " Scotch B o b . " F o r over forty
yeaTS in frost (it took him t w o hours one day) and s n o w , in
rain and sunshine, has B o b driven us o n the Cheadle "bus.
N o more shall w e see his Pickwickian figure nor receive his
cheery greeting f r o m the front of the 'bus as it meanders
along the o l d high road. Last Friday he let g o the reins,
made the 'bus tremble, descended the ladder f o r the last time.
H e patted his b e l o v e d horses on the b a c k , said g o o d - b y e to
them and disappeared. N e x t morning the horses w e r e not
required. Such w a s the passing of the Cheadle 'bus, with
which s o m e o f us have b e e n familiar f r o m our earliest years.
Many pleasant afternoons have w e spent o n the Cheadle 'bus
with B o b at the front. A l o n g Palatine R o a d , d o w n B a r l o w
M o o r R o a d between the beeches and the hawthorns, then
through the village with greetings f r o m B o b f o r everyone, w e
went j o g g i n g a l o n g under the trees b y the W e s l e y a n College,
b y the C o c k Inn, past the cricketers ( B o b always k n e w w h o
were playing), and away b y Parr's W o o d , where the Bar once
s t o o d . T h e n w e felt the fresh breeze of the uplands, crossed
the river into Cheshire, a n d soon w e were in Cheadle, and
B o b a m o n g s t his " ain f o l k . " T h e r e is more enjoyment on
the top o f a 'bus than in a tearing, roaring motor car. I
suppose there is not n o w a horse 'bus on any of the M a n -
chester roads, and so the old order changeth, yielding place to
the n e w . '
BIRCH FIELDS.
B I R C H F I E L D S P A R K was opened by Prince Albert Victor in
October, 1888. It consists of about 33 acres and is a most
popular recreation ground. It is interesting to note the genesis
of this Park. In the year 1880 there was formed in
Manchester a Committee for " Securing open spaces for
Recreation." The leading worker in this movement was that
fine public-spirited citizen Herbert Philips, the pioneer for
securing open spaces. Mr. Philips himself bought that portion
of the present Birch Park which abuts on to Dickenson Road
as a playground for young people, and it was well used.
Incorporation of Rusholme with Manchester came along
a little later and .the Rusholme Local Board made it a condi-
tion that the Corporation should purchase Birch Fields for
public use. This was agreed to, and in 1885 Rusholme was
joined to the city. As the Corporation desired access to
E
Dickenson Road, Mr. Philios in 1887 generously gave his plot

of 4-i- acres to the public for ever. The Corporation bought
further land from Sir William Anson and Richard Cobden's
trustees. Sir William Anson also himself gave 5 acres.
We had a rather unimaginative Parks Committee in those
years of long ago and it was difficult to get them to secure
land for open spaces, far different from the Parks Committee
of to-day, which is buying land in every direction for
recreative purposes, to the great good of the community. I
am delighted to place on record a word of appreciation of the
grand work done in other days by this Committee for securing
open spaces in many congested parts of the city.
I dare say many of my readers have seen the huge boulder
stone in Birch Fields, and I give the inscription which has
been engraved upon it.
This stone was found in the excavations in connection with
culverting- Gore Brook at the point where Hamilton R o a d ,
Longsight, crosses it at a depth of sixteen feet from the sur-
face.
The stone is a block of carboniferous sandstone weighing
approximately thirteen tons, picked up by a glacier in the
north of the Pennine Chain or in Scotland and carried by an
iceberg south and dropped as the berg melted on the spot
where it 'was found, then sunk beneath the sea. The stone
was presented to the Corporation by Messrs. Etheridge &
Clark, contractors.
May, iSgS.
The drinking fountain in Birch Fields was one of several

erected from a bequest of the late Alderman Clay.
PLATT FIELDS.
THE acquisition of Platt Fields by the Corporation has been
an immense benefit to South Manchester, and to Rusholme in
particular. The story of the agitation for securing the estate
for the public may be briefly told. An .unsuccessful attempt
to sell the property by public auction was made in June, 1901.
The estate once more came into the market in 1906, but was
withdrawn, the reserve price not being offered. During
succeeding months letters appeared in the public press ad-
vocating its purchase for the public, but these appeals fell
on unsympathetic ears, for there was a wave of economy in
public expenditure passing over the city at that time. Hardly
a letter was written supporting this appeal. The owners,
tired of waiting for public action, decided to sell in lots for
shops and small dwelling houses. A portion abutting on Platt
Lane and Wilmslow Road was actually sold, and plans for the
erection of the shops were submitted to the Corporation and
approved by them. The part sold included the Hall, which

was to be pulled down and the bricks used for building the
houses. This was in June, 1907. The fine trees on the estate
were then at their best, and looking down Piatt Lane from
Wilmslow Road were a delightful sight. These trees had
contained a colony of rooks for over sixty years and that year
they were in stronger force than ever. A letter was written
to the press, headed " A pathetic appeal," begging that the
splendid trees and old rookery should not be disturbed, and
that, if the Piatt estate as a whole could not be secured for
the public, these at least should go untouched. The know-
ledge that there was the possibility of what was described by
some as an act of vandalism being perpetrated stirred public
opinion strongly. Appeals were made in the writer's own
knowledge to very wealthy citizens in Manchester to im-
mortalise themselves by giving this estate to the city, but all
in vain. Every day was precious, for building operations were
beginning and the fine trees were marked for destruction on
the land stretching from Norman Road almost to Piatt Church.
Two men were talking in the plantation just over the wall
from Piatt Lane and one was heard saying. " When these big
trees come down in a few days won't there be a hullabaloo
in Manchester! " This proved there was no time to lose.
The public agitation was begun by giving for the first time
the name " Piatt Fields " to the estate. This was done pur-
posely, as a more " catchy," breezy name and likely to make
the place popular. A public meeting of South Manchester
residents was called to see if something could not be done to
save " Piatt Fields." This was held on July 23, 1907, in the
Wesleyan School, Rusholme. Amongst those present were
Mr. R. D. Darbishire, Mr. T. A. Drew, Mr. Wm. Gaunt,
Mr. O. Heggs, Rev. J. K. Maconachie, Mr. C. Marx, Rev.
A. D. Powell, Dr. Reynolds, Mr. Wm. Royle, Professor
Schuster, Mr. Norbury Williams, and Rev. H. Weston Wright.
The following resolution was carried, " That this meeting of
citizens respectfully requests the Manchester City Council
to enter into negotiations for the purchasing of the Piatt
Fields Estate for the use of the public." The deputation
appointed by this meeting waited upon the Lord Mayor (Mr.
Councillor Harrop) on Monday, July 29. A deputation repre-
senting the Manchester and Salford Sanitary Association,
consisting of Mr. John Angell, Mr. Councillor Abbott, Mr.
Charles Clay, Mr. Theo. Gregory, Mr. T. C. Horsfall, Mr.
E. F. M. Susman and Mr. Fred Scott also waited upon the Lord
Mayor with the same object in view. Mr. T. H. Davis-
Colley and Mr. Will Melland, of the Manchester and Salford
Playing Fields Association, heartily supported the movement;

also many other citizens. The Lord Mayor, to whom the
movement owes more than words can express, resolved to
take the unusual and bold step of calling together a town's
meeting without the proper requisition of citizens and this
was announced for a few days later. Thousands of pictorial
handbills showing photographs of choice bits of it were circu-
lated urging all to attend, and a crowded and enthusiastic
meeting of mostly Rusholmites was held on July 31st, which
passed a resolution recommending the City Council to
purchase Platt Fields for public use as a park. This the
Council ultimately did. The estate has an area of 80,f acres
and the cost was £59,875. As previously mentioned, however,
a good slice of the wooded portion of the estate (including
the Hall) had been sold and the buyer had to be reckoned
with. He had secured a good bargain and very naturally re-
quired compensation if he resold to the Council. The Lord
Mayor said that it would not be possible to persuade the
Council to pay anything more than the purchase price. It
was then necessary to raise the sum of £3,000, and public-
spirited citizens came to the rescue and in a few days it was
done. It is only just to say that the first amount was £500
promised by the Rev. F. G. Buller, Rector of Birch, and Mr.
R. D. Darbishire towards the end said he would gladly sub-
scribe any amount that was short. Space does not permit me
to give the names of all these fine-spirited men. The amount
was not in the end required as the Council in a generous
mood agreed to give the necessary compensation, which in the
the meantime had been reduced in amount.
Platt Fields was formally opened by the Right Hon. The
Lord Mayor (Mr. Councillor Behrens) on May 7th, 1910, as
a woodland park for ever. In the years that are to come
little children may play in these fields, aged people may rest,
and all of us in this beautiful shrine of nature may worship
our common Creator.
There has recently been added to Platt Fields the Ashfield
estate, situated next to Platt Chapel, for so many years the
residence of Mr. Thos. Aitkin and later of Mrs. Aitkin. This
consists of 10J acres and has on it over 300 healthy trees.
We arc indebted for this beautiful estate to the public spirit
of Sir Edward Donner, Bart., whose generosity made it
possible for the citizens to acquire it at a moderate cost.
Platt Fields now consists of 91 j acres.
On the Ashfield estate there is an erection looking very
like ecclesiastical ruins. In fact I have been told they are the
remains of an old monastery and I have often been asked
xxii.
E D W A R D MORRIS
ARCHIE WILSON
" what meaneth these things ? " It may therefore here be

stated that they are the windows taken from the Manchester
Cathedral many years ago when alterations were made. They
were in the first instance erected at Manley Hall, the residence
of Mr. Sam Mendel, but over forty years ago brought to and
re-erected at Ashfield.
At one time Athletic Festivals were the order of the day and
every village had its local athletes. As I have before men-
tioned we have had in Rusholme our full share of runners,
boxers, pigeon flyers, gymnasts, etc., so a number of Rus-
holme young men decided about forty years ago to have an
Athletic Festival. Mr. Knoop kindly lent us a field which
was situated where the Billiard Hall now stands. This was a
great success so we held another the following year in Piatt
Fields. All the youth and beauty of Rusholme turned up,
accompanied by their parents and cousins. We put up a stand
which .was "grand" in more senses than one. Well, in thfe
middle of the afternoon, just as the sun had begun to take an
interest in the proceedings, down came the grand stand. It
was the most graceful fall ever known, for before the aristocracy
of Rusholme knew where they were they found themselves on
the grass. No one was really hurt, but someone said they
were and sued us innocent young men for damages and we
lost; so we sued the stand builder and won, thus getting our
money back. When we won we went to the Public Hall and
hoisted the flag in celebration of our victory. People wondered
what this meant, was there a Royal visit or were the Germans
coming? The directors met and threatened they would expel
us from the Hall, so this was the last of the Athletic Festivals
in Rusholme.
I fully intended before finishing this work to make mention
of all the books and pamphlets from which I have gathered
facts and also to acknowledge the great kindness of friends
in giving me so much information. But when I come to
tabulate all these I am overcome by the number and I dare
not begin for fear of omitting some. I think all who have
honoured me by reading this book will recognise that I have
had to rely much on my friends. I can only say they have
suffered an enthusiast very cheerfully. Words cannot suffi-
ciently express my thanks to all helpers and I hope they
will take this as an expression of my gratitude to them. If by
good fortune there is any profit on the production and sale
of this book I propose to give it to the poor widows of
Rusholme.
js2
EPILOGUE.
No one can estimate the pleasure I have had in writing- this
history. Having been bom in Rusholme and lived all mv
life there it is natural that I should have a strong affection
for the place. Born in humble circumstances I have deep
sympathy with the poor. There has always been much
distress and poverty in the village, for Rusholme never had
any manufactories to employ its inhabitants and it was never
far enough in the country for them to be employed on the
land. There is much unskilled labour, and with many life
has been a hard struggle for existence. I have visited the
poor in their homes in Rusholme, and have known their hooes
and fears; and I should be unfaithful to my convictions if I
did not testify to the kindness, the patience and the quiet heroism
of the poor. The thought of this enriches the halls of
memory, and brings inspiration and confidence in many a
trying moment.
Let not ambition mock their simple toil,
Their humble joys and destiny obscure;
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor.
Hundreds of times in visiting the poor, the sick and the dying,
my heart has been warmed and my faith cheered by seeing
the kindness of the poor for one another. I have spoken in
this book of the men who in other days gave their time and
energies for the good of the village. Amongst old Rusholmites
there has always been a very kind and friendly feeling, and I
venture to say that this is due largely to the influence of the
honourable and good men we have had in the village during
the last fifty years, all working in their own way for the good
of the people.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne ?
APPENDIX.
THE beginnings of Rusholme are wrapped in a haze. No
flint, stone, or bronze implements have been found within its
immediate boundaries, but during a long occupation in Man-
chester, the Romans seemed to have strayed occasionally into
its scrubby and turfy heathery wastes, following and fishing
its littie rivulets and deep pools. In one of these, towards its
western side, now occupied by Alexandra Park, two stone
net-sinkers were discovered, some twenty years ago; and in
Birch Brook, not so long ago, an oaken box, filled with Roman
coins—perhaps lost by some straggling fugitive. To the north
a Roman road passed along the banks of the Medlock,
crossing Oxford Road and the Garrett, and at its eastern site
another road stretched in the direction of Stockport. No
doubt, then, that the district must have been more or less
familiar to the squatters of the vicinity.
Tradition connects the Nico (or Mickle Ditch), with the
inroads of the Danes, who, in the 9th century, burned and
ransacked Manchester. It is said that the ditch was thrown
up by the Mercians against these ruthless invaders, but
whatever may be its origin, no discoveries or excavations,
along its line, have been made to solve the question.
Light, at last, breaks upon the district, during the 13th
century.
Rusholme, in early times, formed part of the manor of
Withington, and the Traflord family became connected with
it as far back as the 13th century.
The Grelles, Lords of Manchester, granted the Withington
Manor to the Hathersage family, by whom, probably before
1224, some land was granted in Rusholme to Richard de
Traflord. It consisted of—
Twenty acres, bordering on Tollacke, beginning at the Great
Moss in the going up to Goslache as far as the boundary of
Piatt, and so crossing from the bound of Piatt towards
Grenclow-lacke, together with the common pasture in VVyd-
dine.
In 1317, Nicholas de Longford, lord of Withington, con-
firmed to Henry de Trafiord the grant of his predecessor, in a
more definite manner. It is described as—
A certain tract of waste land, beginning at the Goslache to

the Hunt Lane in Platt, following the King's highway to-
wards the north as far as Grenlow-lache, and so descend-
ing Grenlow-lache towards the west as far as Kemlache,
and from Kemlache crossing towards the south by the
wells ajid ditch as far as the Yhildhouse Ditch, thence going
up as far as Goslache, and along Goslache as far as the
aforesaid Hunt Lane, and he likewise grants him and his
heirs a right for himself and tenants to dig turves on the
Yhildhouse MOOT.
Another early name was Henry de Rusholme, who held

his lands of Matthew de Hathersage, described in 1260—
One messuage, etc., situate at the end of his meadow to-
wards the north, near to the Hutte (Hunt) Lane, 15
perches l o n g ; 4 perches wide ; one acre of land, one end
of which contiguous to his messuage and the other toward
his orchard; o n e acre of meadow in Rusholme meadow,
one acre, one end adjoining this meadow and the other
extending westward to Le Menegate, % an acre between this
parcel and the Goslache, a ridge o r narrow slip of land
called Le Qwicke hagged-londe, lying between the Goslache
and Le Menegate; j an acre of land between the Hutte
Lane and Goslache ; six acres of land adjoining the land
of H u g h de Asselum (Haslam), bounded at either end by
Goslache and the old ditch.
In another grant in the reign of Henry III. to Henry de

Trafiord it speaks of Le Gyldehousys. The bounds are de-
fined—
From Goslache as far as the saplings where a ditch was
formed to convey the water to a mill, and so alongside
that ditch to the moss, and from the moss again to the
Goslache.
In 1300, in a grant to Jordan, son of William de Fallow-
field, the lands conveyed consist in—
All his part of o n e ploughland called Grenclowe-field, lying
between the land of Henry de Trafford on the one side
and that of William, the son of Henry de Manchester, on
the other side, o f which said ploughland one end reaches
to the King's highway leading to Ince ( I) ; the other end
reaches to a ploughland called Le Somer Werkeddeffeld,
and also j an acre of meadow called Le Brode Medow,
bounded on both sides by the land of Henry de Trafford,
one end of which extends to the bank or boundary of the
wood called Le Birchene Wode and the other end extends
to Clayfteld.
There is no need, in a popular account of Rusholme, to

extend into further details with regard to the early territorial
occupation of the township, which can be more closely studied
in Booker's Ancient Chapel of Birch.
We glean from it the existence of a large moss, on .which
the grantee and his tenants had a right to dig turves, this was
CHEADLE, DIDSBUUY A N D M A N C H E S T E R COACH
xxiii.
the Yhildhouse Moor, which was ditched: The character of

the locality is further indicated by the name Tollache, Gos-
lache, Grenlowlache, Kemlache, and what was in the 18th
century called Carter's Lache, the word lache signifying a
marshy pool.
Then we have the mention of Hunt Lane in Platt, and Le
Menegate; the messuage of Henry de Rusholme, with his
orchard and meadow land; we have reference made to
Grenclowe-field, .the Somer Werkeddefield, the Brode-medow,
the Clayfleld, and certain ploughlands, and a mill connected
with the Gyldehousys. The growth of the birch on the moor
is shown by the wood, called the Birchenwode. We thus gain
some slight insight into the appearance of Rusholme in the
14th century.
It also speaks of the King's high road, at Rusholme,
which must have run on the same track as the present high
road. As pointed out already access from Manchester was
via Rusholme Road; the other King's high road alluded to
passed Rushford, on the eastern side of the township.
It is difficult to identify at present the exact situation of
the various places. The Goslacke (Gorselache), Gooseacre
(Gorse-acre), and Gorsecroft were in all probability at the
further end of Platt Lane and south of the Gyldehousys
(Heald House), where we find yet on Slater's map of 1852 a
large and extended sheet of water.
The Gyldehousys, Yieldhouses, or Guildhouse, are fre-
quendy mentioned among the Trafford deeds. They passed
from that family into the possession of the Collegiate Church
towards the end of the 16th century.
The Court Leet Records inform us that in—
1 5 8 8 E d w a r d Siddall, of Slade H a l l ;
1590 T h o s . Strangwaies, of Strangwaies;
1629 Edmund Prestwich, of H u l m e :
were seised of lands and tenements in Rusholme. The latter
seems to have owned the land indicated in the map of the
township as Hulme Detached.
T H E YIELDHOUSES.
According to an indenture, in the possession of the Warden

and Fellows of Manchester, dated 1645, this estate (con-
sisting in 1859 of farm buildings, two detached houses, six
cottages, and also twenty-two acres of land, and two closes
of land called the Gorse Croft, containing three acres of land)
was leased by Richard Hey rick (Warden) and the Fellows to
Ralph Worsley, of Platt. It was held in 1647 (see C. L.
Records) by his tenant, George Travis, senior, described " o f

the Yieldhouses."
The Owen MSS. gives us a list of some of the successive
tenants, who held their lease from the Collegiate Church,
which I subjoin for its local interest—
1678 T h o m a s Travis, husbandman, o n e cottage or dwelling-
house and t w o closes of land called the Gorse Croft,
containing three acres of land, parcel of Yieldhouse.
Rent, 5s.
1682 Ralph Worsley, o f Piatt, gent., messuage and tene-
ment late in the tenure of G e o r g e Travis, the elder,
deceased. Rent, 35s.
1689 Ralph Worsley, n o w or late in the tenure of T h o m a s
Travis. Rent, 32s.
1709 Ralph Worsley, gent., n o w or late in the tenure of
Edward Hulme. Rent, 40s.
1728 Charles Worsley, gent. Rent, 40s.
1735 Charles Worsley, demised to Thomas Travis. 40s.
1771 Richard W r o e , o f Manchester, tallow-chandler, sur-
render of messuage and tenements in Rusholme,
called the Yieldhouse, n o w in the tenure of John Lees,
E s q . , also a cottage and t w o closes formerly in the
tenure of E d w a r d Hulme and the said John Lees. 40s.
1785 Richard W r o e , surrender of Yieldhouse, also a cottage,
Gorse Croft, formerly demised to Thomas Travis.
£ 2 10s.
JOSHUA MARRIOTT'S HOUSE IN RUSHOLME
The Manchester Mercury of 1783 also alludes to Joshua
Marriott as residing in Rusholme in 1765. He was a yarn
merchant and thread maker, trading under the name of
Marriott & Hill. He failed in 1783, and his assignees offer,
to be let for 3, 5, or 7 years—
All that messuage or dwelling-house, with the pleasure
grounds, outhouses, offices, and gardens thereto belonging
and about ten acres o f m e a d o w and pasture land, in rich
condition, situate at Rusholme, about t w o miles f r o m
Manchester, late in the occupation of the said Mr.
Marriott.
At the end of Piatt Lane we still see a piece of land laid
out in the fashion of pleasure grounds, having some avenues
of trees bounding it. May this have been part of the estate
occupied by him?
I give now a list of the residents in Rusholme who attended
Birch Chapel, as given in the Chapel Book of 1636 (see
Booker's Ancient Chapel of Birch, p. 143), together with
the amount paid by each in support of the ministrations.
RUSHOLME.
Ralph Worsley, 28s.
T h o m a s Shelmerdine, 13s. 4d. (Yeoman ; had a brick-kiln
near the high r o a d . )
T h o m a s Travis, 10s.
William Shelmerdine, 8s. ( H o u s o n Green.)
Richard Travisse, 6s. 8d. ( 1 6 2 4 . Richard Travis de R u s -
holme, lynen webster, Mosley MS.)
Charles Worsley, 4s.
John Davie, of Manchester, 4s.
John Wilkinson, whelewrit, 4s.
T h o m a s Janney, 4s.
Edmund Smith, 4s.
T h o m a s Shelmerdine, sen., 3s. 4d.
Robert B o w k e r , 3s. 4d.
Edward Baguley, 3s. 4d. (lived near the middle of the
Green).
R e n o u d Parkinson. 3s.
John Davie. 2s. 8d.
A d a m Sidall, 2s. 4d.
T h o m a s Bamford, 2s.
E d w a r d Worsley, 2s.
Marie Davie, Is. 4d. (Alehouse-keeper, already mentioned
in 1 6 2 0 . )
Margaret Dickonson, l s j 4d.
William Birch, I s . 4d.
BIRCHE AND BIRCH H A L L HOUSES.
Mrs. Anne Birche, 25s.

M r . Oliver E d g e , 25s.
M r . T h o m a s Birche, 20s.
T h o m a s Greaves, 4s.
Henry Hughes, 4s.
John Ridinges, 2s.
T h o . Birch, blacksmith, 2s.
Edmund Whitticar, 2s.
List of the inhabitants of Rusholme and neighbourhood

who were brought before the magistrates as referred to on
page 23.
1662. James Clough, of Manchester aforesaid, informeth
upon oath that upon Sunday, the 14th December, these
persons hereunder named did not resort nor repair to their
parish church, nor did heare Divine Service at any
church, cha-ppell, or other usuall place appointed for common
prayer, according to the statute in that behalf, and hqe rather
knowes the same, for that hee saw them at Birch Chappell
on the day aforesaid:
E d w a r d Gathorne,
Richard Ellor,
Samuel Ellor, • of Manchester.
E d w a r d Mather,
T h o m a s Leeds,
John Baguley, of Ardwick.
Miles Gathome, o f Salford.
S S n f & o n J ^ ^ m e .
Upon the 21st of December—

Mr. Thomas Birch, the elder, and his wife.
Mr. Thomas Birch, the younger.
Alice Birch.
James Hulme.
Oliver E d g e .
g n T s l o ^ ^ r 6 ' } ° f Manchester.
William Jackson and his wife.
Robert Birch, of Grinlaw.
John Baguley, o f Ardwick.
William Birch, of Grinlaw.
Richard Ellor,
Ralph Soundiford and his wife, I
T h e wife of Edmund Mather, |
Thomas Worrall and his wife, V all of Manchester.
Rich. Hunt,
Thomas Strickland, |
James Strickland, J
James Bowker, o f Blakeley.
Mr. Thomas Birch, the elder.
This 21st day Mr. Wiggins preached at Birch Chappell.
The 28th day of December, 1662—
William Jackson, of Rusholme.
Samuel Ellor, of Manchester.
James Hulme, of Birch.
Thomas Wilkinson, of Rusholme.
John Baguley, of Ardwick.
James Reddich, of Fallowfield.
Oliver E d g e , of Birch Hall fould.
Edward Gathome,
John Maddock, > of Manchester.
James Johnson, J
This 28th day one James Fitton, of —, preached at Birch.
R. L. de G. informeth ut supra that these undernamed
did not resort to the Church nor heare ut supra the 7th day
of December, 1662—
Thomas Birch, senior, et uxor.
Thomas Birch, junior, et uxor.
Mrs. Alice Birch.
Mrs. Holcroft.
James Hulme.
Oliver E d g e .
William Grantham, et uxor.
James Reddich.
Raphe Cooper.
John Hughes.
William Jackson, et uxor.
Thomas Jannie.
xxiv.
HERBERT H . A S Q U I T H HELEN MELLAND

M a r r i e d a t ' t h e C o n g r e g a t i o n a l C h u r c h , Rusholmea
23rd A u g u s t , 1877
T H E AUTHOR
Thomas Wilkinson.
Reginald Parkinson.
Edward Mather.
Samuel Ellor.
Richard Ellor.
Edward Gaythome.
John Leeds.
Thomas Leeds.
John Baguley.
Henry Tailer.
Who preached? I suppose, James Bowker.
R . L . d e G . informeth ut supra and these persons under-
named that they w e r e absent the 14th December—
Thomas Birch, junior, et uxor.
Mr. Holcroft, et uxor.
Mrs. Alice Birch.
Thomas Gilbody.
Oliver E d g e , .et uxor.
William Grantham.
Raphe Cooper.
William Jackson.
Henry Tailer.
Thomas Jannie.
Reginald Parkinson.
And James Fitton then and there preached.
R. L. de G. informeth, etc., that they were absent from
their •parish church, and were at Birche Cha-ppell the 4th
January, 1662-3—
Thomas Birch, senior.
Thomas Birch, junior.
Oliver E d g e .
James Reddich.
Raphe Cooper.
William Grantham.
Edward Gaythome.
Thomas Leeds.
John Leeds.
Richard Ellor.
Ralphe Sondiforth, et uxor.
Jeremiah Marsden then and there preached.
December 6, 1662—
A warrant from J. L., N. M., J. H., to the Constable of
Withington to bring before us—
Oliver E d g e , of Birch Hall fould,
William Jackson, of Risholme.
Robert Birch, of Grindlowe,
Thomas Robinson, of the same, to take the oath of
Mark Heape, of the same, obedience.
Reginald Parkinson, of Rusholme,
James Redditch, of Fallowfield,
Raphe Cooper, of Cringle brooke,
December g, 1662—
The names of those persons who came this day before
J. L., N. M., and J. H., and took the oath of obedience—
Oliver E d g e .
William Jackson.
Reginald Parkinson.
James R e d d i c h .
Raphe Cooper.
James B o w k e r , o f Blakely, minister.
The persons not appearing and are yet to take the said
oath are—
R o b e r t Birch, of Grindlow.
T h o m a s R o b i n s o n , ") , ,
Mark H e a p e , j of the same -
December 22, 1662—

A warrant to the Constables of Withington to summon
these persons undernamed to appear before us to give some
reasonable excuse for their absence from Church—
T h o m a s Birch,
T h o S ' B ^ h ; etUX°r' I Mrd Persons none of them
junior esar appeared at the time and place
Alice Birch ' ' appointed saveing Oliver E d g e .
James H u l m e , J
Oliver E d g e , hee appeared but g a v e noe satisfactory reason
of his absence.
A like warrant to the Constable of Manchester to summon

the persons (to be seen from the list of 21st December*).
Some of them still abstained from Church, and were summoned
May 23rd, 1663; to be distrained twelve fence a Sunday for
absence from Church (May 27th, 1663).
Names of residents in Rusholme mentioned in the Man-

chester Court Leet Records for breaking the assize, etc.
In the Manchester Quarter Sessions, 1616-1623—
1 6 1 9 - 2 0 T h o m a s Shelmerdyne de Risholme, yeoman, for
fighting a n d breaking the peace.
1620 John Wilkinson, ditto, husbandman.
1620 Marie Davie, breaking the assize of ale measure.
In the Mosley MS.—

1 6 2 4 Richard Travis de Rusholme, lynen weaver, for fighting
and breaking the peace.
*The full list of the absentees are not reproduced here, not to lengthen the account.
1624 John Bowker de Rusholme, husbandman, for fighting

and breaking the peace.
1867 Thomas Boardman de Rusholme, husbandman, for
fighting and breaking the peace.
1669 Reginald Parkinson de Rusholme, webster, refuses pay-
ment of tythe.
In the Court Leet Records—

1663 John Bayley, of Rusholme, yeoman (bond taken for
security of inhabitants).
1664 John Bowker de Rusholme, husbandman (bond taken
for security of inhabitants).
1672 George Worsley, of Rusholme, 1 hyde faulty, 5d.
1681 Ralph Worsley, of Rusholme, 1 pint 1 gill too little, 6d.
1681 Ralph Worsley, of Rusholme, for two point dishes and
refuseth to sell by sealed measure, 18d.
1685 Mr. Ralph Worsley, o f the Platt, for not keeping their
causes (causeways) in g o o d repair for the dwelling-
house of Joseph Orme, 3s. 4d.
1685 Mr. Worsley, of the Platt, for not mending his land
near ye pinffold, itt being out of repaire, 2s. 6d.
1756 John Worsley, of Rusholme, f o r exposing butter short
of weight, 5s.
1753 Martha Burgess, of Carter's Leach, near Rusholme Green,
for exposing two half-pounds of butter short of weight,
5s.
List of residents in Rusholme in 1824-5*—
Gentry:
Ainsworth, Mrs., gentlewoman.
Aldred, Tas., Holt's domain.
Bayley, Sam, gent., Yieldhouse.
Bower, Alex., drysalter, Oaks.
Dale, John, warehouseman.
Dickinson, Mrs. Sarah, Birch Villa.
E d g e , John, cotton manufacturer.
Entwistle, Rich., Esq., Rusholme-house.
Gleave, Mrs. Frances.
Hill, Mrs. gentlewoman.
Jackson, John, gent.
Little, Thomas, calenderer.
Marsland, John, Esq., Birch-hall.
Pilling, Charles, manufacturer.
Robinson, Will wine merchant, Platt Cottage.
Rothwell, John, calenderer.
Sharp, Thomas, iron merchant. Birch Cottage.
Smith, Robert, gentleman. Moss Cottage.
Wiggin, Timothy, merchant, Platt hall.
W o o d , G. W „ Esq.
Overseer and Collector of Taxes:

Bower, Thomas, Moon-croft.
* See Pigot's and Dean's Manthesttr Director^

Tradesmen:
Brickhill, John, shopkeeper.
Calvert, George, whipmaker, Draper's l o d g e .
Fletcher, James, blacksmith.
Giles, John, shopkeeper.
Harrison, Sarah, confectioner.
T h o m a s , shopkeeper.
Holehouse, William, butcher.
Kearsley, James, shopkeeper.
Langford, Edward, joiner and cabinetmaker.
Mellor, Jos., hosier.
Moore, John, gardener and seedsman.
Taylor, Jos., gardener.
FINIS
INDEX
Anderson, Mr., 35.

Anson, Archdeacon, 18, 20, 28, 29.
Anson, Sir W m . , 23,-66.
Asquith, Mr. Herbert H . , 41, 59.
Barnes, Robert, 62.
Behrens, Councillor C.p 68.
Beswick, Charles, 31, 44, 59.
" Blake Flatt," mention o f , 27.
Birch, family of, 17-20 ; original name of the estate of, 17 ;
Matthew de Birches, 17.
Birch Hall, sold to George Croxton, of Manchester, 19.
Birch Hall, Germans preaching in, 2 6 ; underground passage to,
25 ; modernised, 20.
Birch Hall Houses, 24, 25.
Birch Fields, opening of, 65 ; boulder in, 66 ; drinking fountain in,
66.
Birch Fold Cottage, oldest house in Rusholme, 2 5 ; demolished,
. 1912, 25.
Birch Infant School, 60.
Birch, old chapel o f , 2 0 - 2 4 ; date of building of, 20 ; reference to,
in visitation returns of 1598, 20 ; site o f , 2 1 ; land purchased
for endowment fund for, 2 1 ; families giving contributions to-
wards endowment fund for, 2 1 ; some expenses connected
with, 2 1 ; list of families supporting, in 1640, 2 2 ; plan of, in
1640, 22.
Birch, present church o f , foundation and consecration of, 2 2 ; rec-
tory o f , 2 2 ; inscription on bells of, 2 4 ; Anson chapel in, 24.
F
82 INDEX
Birch, Rev. Robert, minister at Birch Chapel, 2 2 ; refused to c o n -

form, 2 2 ; silenced by Act of Uniformity, 1662, 2 2 ; went to
live at Grindlow, 23.
Birch, Colonel Thomas, offers services to the Parliament, 1 8 ;
quarrels with Lord Strange (afterwards Lord Derby), 1 9 ;
attacked Preston, 1 9 ; appointed Governor of Liverpool, 19 ;
retirement, 1 9 ; helps to endow Birch Chapel, 2 1 ; fined
under the Conventicle Act, 26.
Birch, Rev. William, rector of Stanhope-in-Weardale, 1 8 ; his
character, 18 ;his will, 18.
Booth, Mary, wife of Major-General Worsley, 16.
Brighton Grove, scheme for, 30.
Buckley, Mr. J. S., " H i s t o r y of Birch-in-Rusholme," 21, 24.
Burdsell, John, 14.
Callender, Mr. W . R., 62.
Carter's Lache, 46.
Chadwick, Mother, 46.
Cheadle, stage coach from, 38 ; last 'bus driver to and from, 65.
Clock House Lane, 43.
Clough, James, informer, 23.
Cobden, Richard, 61-62.
Conventicle Act, 1664, 26.
Congregational Church, 59.
Cottrill, Miss, 25.
Croxton, George, of Manchester, 19.
Darbishire, Mr. R . D . , 41, 42, 43.
Day, William, 28.
Dead Entry, 48.
Deborah, wife of Ralph Worsley, of Piatt, 22, 26.
Derby, Lord Strange, afterwards Earl of, 19.
Dickinson, John, 19, 20.
Dickenson R o a d , 45.
Dugard, Rev. G., 45.
E d g e , Captain Oliver, of Birch Hall Houses, 24, 25, 48.
Entwistle, Richard, 43.
Entwistle, William, M.P., 38.
Famworth, Adam de, Richard, son of, 13.
Farr, —, owner of brick croft in Rusholme, 32.
Finch, Rev. Henry, 25-27 ; preached in one of Birch Hall Houses,
25 ; app. to charge of Birch Chapel, 2 6 ; first minister of
Piatt Chapel, 27 ; death of, 2 7 , ; Calamy's eulogy of, 27.
INDEX 83
Finlayson, Rev. Thomas C., D . D . , 29, 30, 69.
Finney, Rev. W . H „ 43.
Gilbody's Cottage, 44.
Gladstone, Mr. W . E „ 42.
Goldschmidt, Alderman Philip, 40.
Gore Brook, first reference to, 12, 48.
Goselache, or Gooseacre, 12.
Granny Lane (later Monmouth Street and Claremont R o a d ) , 44.
Halley, Dr., " Lancashire, Its Puritanism and Nonconformity," 13.
Heald Farm, 12.
Honford, William de, 12.
Hough, The, near Wilmslow, 33, 34.
Hoimsfield, James, 40.
James, William, 40, 41.
John Street, Rusholme, 33.
Kenyon, Dorothy, daughter of R o g e r Kenyon, of Whalley, wife of
Major-General Worsley.
Knoop, Mr. Julius, 34, 69.
Langworthy, Mrs., 40.
Lawson, Mr., a Rusholme elocutionist, 32.
L o w e , Thomas, 39, 40.
Maclaren, R e v . Dr. Alexander, 34.
Market Sted Lane, 14.
Mee's Farm, 35.
Melland, Dr. Frederick, 41, 59.
Mickle Ditch, 47-48.
More, Richard de la, 12.
Morris, Edward, blind man, 38.
Mosley, Rowland, 13.
Moss, Alderman Fletcher, 33.
Moss House Cottage, 38, 43.
Nico Ditch, 25.
Norman R o a d , 44.
Norbury, Mr. J. C., 59.
Omnibuses v. Rusholme omnibuses.
" Palace," T h e , in Market Street, 20.
People's Institute, 60.
Peterloo Massacre, 45.
Philips, Mr. Herbert, 65.
Pill R o w , 44-
84 INDEX
Piatt, estate o f , first mention of, 12 ; conveyed to Knights of Saint

John, 12 ; boundaries of gift o f , 12 ; family of Piatt severed
connection with, 13.
Piatt Hall, the old Elizabethan building, 17.
Piatt Hall,the present, 17.
Piatt Chapel, 2 5 - 2 7 ; cost of building of, 2 7 ; preacher at opening
service, 2 7 ; Abraham Rudhall supplied bell for, 2 7 ; inscrip-
tion on bell of, 2 7 ; Communion chalices at, 2 7 ; Worsley
Chapel in, 27 ; a weird story in connection with, 3 1 ; present
church of, 58.
Piatt, Edmund, 13.
Piatt Cottage, 44.
Piatt Day Schools, 58.
Piatt Fields, 68, 69 ; agitation for acquisition of, 68, 6 9 ; opening
o f , 68 ; addition to, 68.
Poplar House, 44.
Potter, Mr. Crompton, 43.
Poynting, Rev. C. T . , 27.
Pretender, T h e Young, 20.
Red Rover, 46.
Regent (or Knoop's) House, 44.
Roberts, Mr. William, photographer, 34.
Robinson, Alice, 63.
Roman Catholic Church in Rusholme, 59.
Rudd's Farm, 45.
Rudhall, Abraham, 27.
Ruggles's Cottage in Granny Lane, 33.
Rusholme, meaning of name, 11 ; spelling of name, 1 1 ; transition
period of spelling, 1 2 ; royalty in, 31, 3 2 ; trades unionist
riot in, 32, 33 ; shooting gallery in, 33 ; ice skating rink in,
33 ; gas introduced into, 33 ; lamplighter in, 33 ; place named
in Germany, 3 4 ; Working Men's Club in, 34 ; Coffee Tavern
in, 34 ; find of Roman coins in, 34, 35 ; country in, 35 ; Cricket
Club in, 35 ; famous cricketers in, 3 5 ; coronation bonfires
seen from, 3 6 ; poor cotton operatives in cotton famine in,
3 6 ; geology of, 3 6 ; neolithic, 3 7 ; health of, 3 7 ; geological
discovery in, 37 ; flood in, 37 ; small local museum in, 37 ;
" unemployed " working in, 37, 3 8 ; incorporation with Man-
chester, 3 9 ; Volunteer Fire Brigade in, 4 0 ; Working Men's
INDEX 85
Club in, 40, 6 0 ; Toll-Bar in, 43, 4 4 ; Rusholme Green, 45 ;
a walk round, a hundred years ago, 4 3 - 4 7 ; weavers in, 4 8 ;
assessment of property in, in 1692, 4 8 ; population of, 48,
4 9 ; street names in, 4 9 - 5 2 ; Wakes and Rush Cart Day in,
5 2 ; famous sportsmen of, 5 3 ; first day school in, 5 9 ; Rus-
holme Clock, 6 0 ; notabilities, 61-63 ;• omnibuses in, 63, 65 ;
athletic festivals in, 69.
Rusholme House, 43.
Rusholme, public buildings in, 58-61.
Rusholme Local Board of Health, formation of, 56, 57.
Rusholme Public Hall, 2 8 ; inauguration of, 5 4 ; lectures in, 54,
5 5 ; societies meeting in, 56, 5 7 ; fund to erect, 5 8 ; day
school held in, 60.
Rush Brook, 45.
Rusholme R o a d , origin of name, 38.
Ruskin, John, in Rusholme, 55.
Sayers, T o m , the prizefighter, 31.
Sharp's Lane (after Lomas's Lane and Dickenson R o a d ) , 45.
Shelmerdine, Thomas, 13.
Siddall (Syddall), Mr., of Slade, 21, 48.
Smith, Sir Harry and Lady, 62, 63.
Steinthal, R e v . S. A., 27.
Strawberry Lane, 45.
Travis, George, 13.
Twist, Rev. J. J., 39.
Uniformity, Act of, 22, 23.
Victoria Park, 61, 62.
Watts. Sir James, of Abney Hall, 31.
Watts, Mr. James, 38.
Wesleyan Methodist Church in Rusholme, 59, 60.
Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School, 31.
Whitelegge, R e v . William, 27.
Whitworth, Sir Joseph, and his legatees, 33, 42, 43.
Wigan, R e v . John, 14 ; set up Congregationalism at Birch Chapel,
22.
Wilkins, Dr. A . S „ 30.
Wilde, Edward, 55.
Williamson, Mrs., " T h e History of Fallowfield," 18.
Wilson, Archie, 46.
Woolston, Mr. Gravely, Quaker, 25.
Worsley, family of, of Piatt, pedigree of, 13 ; Elias, Lord of, 13.
86 INDEX
Worsley, Charles, grandfather of Major-General Worsley, 13.

Worsley, Ralph, son of Charles, bought Platt estate, 13, 14.
Worsley, Major-General Charles, 1 4 - 1 6 ; joins Parliamentary
forces, 1 4 ; raises troop for Cromwell, 1 4 ; present at disso-
lution of Long Parliament, 15 ; first M . P . for Manchester, 15 ;
temperance worker in Manchester, 1 6 ; died in London, May,
1656, aet. 35, 1 6 ; buried in Westminster Abbey, 1 6 ; tribute
to, 1 6 ; funeral o f , 1 6 ; annuity for w i d o w of, 1 6 ; sword of,
1 6 ; wives of, see Booth, Mary, and Kenyon, Dorothy.
Worsley, Ralph, son of Major-General Worsley, 22, 27.
Worsley, Mr., o f Heild House, 48.
Worsley, Lieut., 48.
Worsley, George, 48.

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3 HISTORY OF RUSHOLME

Denotes3oc/it(ary7oyy/-/sh/pofJ?us/}o/me. £>. C. D/ssentmg Chape/. T^B. To//Har. *a & ffouses

Rev. T . C. Finlayson, D.D. ... viii.

THE sketch of Rusholme, as it has been, has arisen from a

No pretensions are made, and no finality has been

In the 16th and 17th centuries large tracts of turfy moss

plants. Bird-life was then more intense and varied. Except

Their great day for decking themselves out was Sunday,

ELMWOOD, BIRCH POLYGON,

stone slab that had on it "Rushulme Place." This house was

PLATT HALL AND THE WORSLEYS.

Shortly afterwards the Knights of St. John transferred the

of foot. It was in this capacity that he accompanied Crom-

him writing in January, 1656:—"That he finds it a difficult

James I., what was considered by Dean Stanley to be the

about the year 1522, was evidently a man of delightful charac-

January 15, 1643, a circumstance occurred which brought him

ministers ejected in 1662, became the purchaser, whose name

dependents. Birch Chapel, which many people living to-

by this enactment two thousand ministers were deprived of

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE BELLS.

BIRCH HALL HOUSES.

so fortunate as to meet with anybody that would kill me,

somewhat mixed up with the history of Birch Chapel, I

no sympathy with Mr. Finch's Nonconformist views, secured

This bell is still in use, calling passers-by to the worship

announced the text in the tone of voice to which those of

never seen a finer piece of critical writing." Perhaps his

In the year 1834 a private company was formed to build

The following is a bit of weird history: As mentioned

One day, about the middle of the year 1863, a great

Rusholme has been favoured with the visit of Royalty

among the crowd as he walked along Wilmslow Road. This

March 10, 1863, was also a great day for Rusholmc.

On the large field behind Birch Schools, where the Exhibi-

A very conspicuous object years ago in Whitworth Lane

The first real ice skating-rink in England was erected at

I give in this volume a photograph of a very old house

Gas was introduced into Rusholme in the year 1847,

I remember in the year 1862 much excitement was caused

quarrelling and did not return to Rusholme until the small

Although Dr. Maclaren never lived in Rusholme, he was

Some time ago there was a find of coins in Gore Brook,

" THK LITTLE WINDOW W H E R E THE SUN CAME

The last quarter of a century has seen a great trans-

On the night of the coronation of George V.—whom

God long preserve—from the top windows of my house I

I have been writing about Rusholme above the level of

T H E " U N E M P L O Y E D " A T W O R K MAKING T H E L A K E

It is not generally known that in the reading room of the

pathetic sight. T h e elderly men came, those w h o obviously

Many people have wondered what connection "Rusholme

I have dealt with omnibuses on another page, but show a

I give in this volume a photograph of Edward Morris which

Messre. ALTON, STRINGER, MAPLESTON, ULPH, CLARK

Rusholme was incorporated with the city of Manchester

Methodism in Rusholme and passed away in 1892 at the ripe

Fate was unkind to him and for long years he wandered

who spoke there. The leaders of the Liberal party in

GILBODY'S COTTAGE, WILMSLOW ROAD