Rowbottom/Rowbotham

 Rose Eliza Saville 1870-1944
Born Thaxted, Essex, Died Hyde, Chesire.

Rose Eliza Saville was born in Thaxted in about 1870. In the 1871 census a Brazey Eliza Savill is recorded to be living in the village. She is 9 months old and her parents are named as Frederic Savill (Broxted  1844) and Emma Savill (Mason) (Thaxted 1845/6). They are seen to be living on a farm called Bush, which can still be seen today.. The family is not present on the 1881 census. The fact that Rose appears in 1889 in Newton Hyde suggests that she went, either with her family or alone, in search of work. We first encounter her in the marriage records in 1889. Then, in the 1891 census she is living with John Rowbotham in a little terraced house on Field Street in Hyde.  

The area was known as Flowery Fields. There are still a few houses left from the terrace so it is clear what they were like. In front of the house is the Church of St Stephen. (19thC). The area was full of mills and the colliery was nearby as well. It would have been a very practical place for them to live. Before the children were born, Rose worked as a card room operator. The carders job was seen as one of low status job by others in the industry.

Once she had children Rose seems to have stopped working in the mill. She brought up 2 girls and a boy in the house on Field Street. There were probably two rooms on each floor. In the 1911 census there is a new baby in the family, Alice. At 17 her son Robert was an assistant blacksmith. The second sister Annie was a hat trimmer. Between 1901 and 1911 Rose set up a small chips hop in the house where they now lived on Old Road. Today 65 Old Road still has the same function, and gets very busy at times.

In 1913-14  there was a sad occurrence in the family that must have affected her. Her son Robert´s first wife, Ethel Bardsley and their baby, John died after less than a year of the married. Rose subsequently lost her son as he enlisted in the Army Service Corps as a Farrier and Shoemaker. He was away for many years, as most of the men from their neighbourhood would have been. In 1921, after returning from the war Robert married Elizabeth Alice Gregory and soon  afterwards, Rose Rowbotham was born. She was named after her grandmother. Rose Eliza. Rowbottom died in1944.

Robert Rowbottom 1893–1927
Born Hyde  Died Barrow 

Robert Rowbottom was born in 1893 in Newton Hyde. He was the oldest of 4 children. He had two younger sisters, Annie and Elizabeth who were just a couple of years younger than him. When he was 15, Alice was born to his parents. As a child he would probably have gone to school until 12 years old. We see him in 1911 at 17 working as an assistant blacksmith. 

In September  1913, at the age of 19,  he married Ethel Bardsley,  who was from just a few streets away. She lived with her family in Hallbottom Street. Their son John, named after Roberts father, was born around  June 1914.  By October both the child and his mother were dead. Immediately after this tragedy Robert enlisted on Nov.13th 1914. He was then described as a widower. Robert joined the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a Farrier and Shoeing Smith and served in the 23rd Divisional Ammunition Column in the 2nd Section. He would have been responsible for both the making and fitting of shoes for the horses which took ammunition to the gun posts.

The 23rd Division was in the Somme and Passchendale. In 1918 they fighting in Italy. Although he himself would  not normally have been in combat,  it is possible that he would have had to fight at some point. At Ypres all ranks were ordered into battle.  

He was hospitalized in Boulogne on the 8th of September 1916 having been kicked by a horse.  After the Armistice in November 1918 the Divisional Units were moved to Treviso and demobilisation took place in January and February 1919.  However it does not seem that Robert was there at this point. It is not known when he left the 23rd Divisional. Robert would have come home sometime in mid 1919, or a touch later.

In 1921 he was awarded the Victory Medal.

In this period his address was 17 Brook Street but there is a Brook Street in both Hyde and Chadderton, where he later lived with his wife Elizabeth Alice Gregory  In December  he married Elizabeth Alice Gregory whose address was at Westfield Street Chadderton.

He was 28 and she was 26. Their daughter Rose was born in 1922. The family lived in Victoria Street, Chadderton for five years.It is not known where he was working during this period although it is said that after he died his widow was able to sell the smith´s shop where he worked. In 1927 Robert Robottom died of tuberculosis. The last record of him is his death in Barrowmore Hospital for ex servicemen. He left   £103. 18s  to his wife.

Last November we were contacted by Rowan from  N-Spain, asking for help in a bit of family research. We of course tried to help out as best we could.  

Hi, I love your blog spot. My Great Great Gran had a chip shop at 65 Old Road in Hyde form 1910 onwards. From what I have seen on Google maps it still is a chippy! I think the address is in Flowery Field.My Great Great Gran was called Rose Rowbotham (Sometimes written Rowbotham). Her husband was a miner called John and their son was Robert Rowbottom (1893 - 1927) He was a farrier and fought in WW1. He enlisted in Nov. 1914 just after his first wife and their baby died. She was called Ethel Bardsley and was also from Hyde (Hallbottom Road). I have never see any photos of this part of our family because Robert died when my grandmother was only five. Could you give me some advice. I live in N. Spain so making a quick trip is not so easy. I would love to know if there are any pictures.

Thanking you so much........  Rowan Hardman 

When Nancy and I set the blog going we were not sure how it would take off, we have been more than thrilled with all the help from others which has been so freely offered . We had no intentions of getting into Genealogy... but it was inevitable such request would turn up. We have always done what we can to help others and will carry on doing so. What we'd like now is if Rowan can be given some pointers into his family history. We have little knowledge to add but know that out there many of you have spent hours researching your family trees. If you can suggest anything to help Rowan with his quest please do so in the comments or email us and we will pass it on.
One thing we would like to show is your family's histories if it concerns Hyde, you could do the post yourself.. include pictures, and your own story and we'd be pleased to show it here.

Thank you 

Tom & Nancy

Hyde Cemetery Chapel.

I heard that Tameside Council are going to demolish this beautiful building shortly - hope I heard wrong. It's the last of three churches that used to stand within the cemetery grounds. The top one was originally the Church of England building. the middle one (and last remaining) is the non conformist chapel and the bottom one was the Roman Catholic building.I'm not sure when the other two building were demolished but the following aerial map from the 1970's still shows them standing.

The Brunswick, George Street.

The Brunswick or "Brunnie" as it was more commonly known stood on George Street and was established in 1843 by John Wood. In 1891 the Brunswick was described as a fair House with beds for five people and was owned by Annie Wilkinson. The Brunswick had a large concert room at the back and this was used as a music hall for many years in the 1930's- 1940's. The room was later used by many organisations including budding pop groups and weightlifters amongst others.

Next door to The Brunswick is Allotts Removals firm. A familiar site in Hyde for many, many years. Does anyone know if they are still operating?

(Number 22 is the site of the Brunswick)



Thanks to Paul Taylor for the information and Nick Clarke for the photograph.
Much appreciated :)

CO-OP

Flowery Field Branch No.8

 

Flowery Field Branch of The Hyde Equitable Co-operative Society Limited
Grocery, Provision and Butchering

I recently asked for any pictures of the Flowery Field area and was sent these two of the CO -OP..... The shop was on Furnace Street... but to be honest I'm not sure where... at a guess I'd have said across from the Flowery Field pub... but please correct me on this if you know different.

Old Map

Stockdale's Map 1794

John Stockdale 

" The Book Selling Blacksmith

John Stockdale was born in Cumberland, so not a Hydonian, but I'll forgive him for that, seeing as he published this map. He was raised as a Blacksmith like his father,  and become Valet to John Astley of Dukinfield. He married Mary Ridgway, who was a native of Roe Cross, Mottram In Longdendale. Mary was sister to James Ridgway, a well-known publisher of London. He had met Mary in the Dukinfield Moravian Church. 

I came across him by chance when reading up on John Aikin's  'A Description of the Country from Thirty to Forty Miles round Manchester'. (1795), Originally this book intended to be an account of the neighbourhood of Mottram-in-Longdendale, with which Stockdale had personal acquaintance. I'll not go on about his life story, which is worth a read... but I wanted to show this map. It happens so often while researching one thing I want to post about, I end come across something else.  

Godley Arches

The first postcard shows a factory through the Arches which could be Otto Monsted's Magarine factory depending on the date of the postcard.
(Thanks Tom and Dave for the info below).
On this site originally stood the Olive Tree Public House before the site was redeveloped for Monsted's factory.


Looking towards Hattersley


How it looks today

Otto Monsted was a Dane went into partnership with local man John Broomer, operating a margarine factory at Godley, (in an old hat factory) near
Hyde. Broomer sold his share of the business shortly after but is credited for having established the first margarine works in Britain.


Looking towards Hyde centre


Todays view
The Godley works was closed in 1921 and shortly afterwards taken over by Walls then its various successors (Birdseye Walls, Mattessons Walls, Kerry Foods)and at some stage the original building was demolished.



Aerial view of Godley Arches and the remains of the site of the original Otto Monstead Factory.

Great updated pictures by Dave :)

Jollys Sports Shop

Jollys shop stood on Hoviley Brow ,which was renamed Clarendon Place after the motorway came through Hyde. It was a Sports Shop which had a veritible display of Sheath Knives and suchlike in the window , which was every young boys dream ! He also sold Longbows and Air Rifles besides the ordinary "sports wear and equiptment". Towards Bonfire Night he sold the biggest and best fireworks in Hyde - most too large to even contemplate asking your parents for! The majority were of a display quality.
Great shop indeed!


Alan Jollys shop (in the centre of the photo)


How it looks today

Joel Lane Methodist Pantomime

This photo was kindly lent by Garry Bromley. He is seated front row ,2nd left.
It was taken circa 1955.
More information will be added when I receive it!

Thanks Garry :)

Flowery Field School

Flowery Field  School  Centenary

1830 - 1930

We have many visitors who grew up, went to school and worked around Flowery Field, I hope this is of interest to you. We would like to do more about this area so please feel free to contact us with pictures, postcards, publications and of course your memories. 

4th Hyde (St Georges) Scout Group

Here we have a group photograph of the 4th Hyde (St Georges) Scout Group circa 1956.

A happy lot they look ,too!   It was sent in by John T who has given us as much information on the names as he can remember at the moment. If anyone recognises anybody on it who is missing their names please get in touch and we will add them..

                                                      4th Hyde (St Georges) Scout Group

Row 1 - David Holgate, Ken Clarke, David North, ???, ???, David Shaw, ??? Northgrave, Dave Wilkinson, Mick Martin, Jim Miles, ??? Watkins, Ken Ibbertson.
Row 2 - Brian Hadley, ??? Sweeney?, ???, David Biggle, John T, ??? Biggle, Ken Henshall, Geoff Tongue, Norman Harrison, Barry Buck, ???, Alex Dunlop, ???, ???, ??? Jewitt.
Row 3 - John Tetlow, Phil Ashley, John Booth, ???, ???, ???, Stuart Smith, Gerald Gould, Ken Hadley, ???.
Row 4 - ???, Graham Buckley, Stuart Kirk, Rodney Potts, Geoffrey Hyde, ???, ???, ???.

Update 9-5-11 provided by Mike Lees:  

The gentleman in the middle of the group is stated as being Geoff Tongue, it is actually Les Tongue, Geoff's father, who was Scoutmaster at 4th Hyde for many years.

Hyde Colliery Disaster 1889 and Poem

At just after 9:00am on Friday, 18 January 1889, an underground explosion occurred that caused 23 miners to be killed and another five to be seriously injured.


The Mine Shaft shown from Manchester Road. The canal bridge is to the left.

The owners of the pit at this time were the brothers Joseph Watson Sidebotham MP and James Nasmyth Sidebotham of Bowdon, Cheshire, but during the inquest the company name, Hyde and Haughton Colliery Company, was substituted for their names. By 1902, the colliery was trading as Hyde Lane Colliery Ltd, Manchester Road, Hyde.

The pit reopened at 5:30am on Thursday, 24 January 1889.

The verdict reported that the incident was accidental and was caused by the use of naked lights by the miners.



The rollcall of the 23 Miners who died

• Frank Ashton (14), Jigger of 10 Queen Street, Hyde.
• Emanuel Bailey (47), Coal Miner of Limehurst, Waterloo, Ashton-under-Lyne.
• John Bailey (52), Coal Miner of 57 Edna Street, Hyde.
• James Bradley (20), Waggoner of 91 Haughton Green.
• James Broadhurst (19), Waggoner of 6 Charles Street, Hyde.
• William Catterall, also known as William Catterall Platt (63), Coal Miner of 70 Reed Street, Hyde.
• Thomas Davies (46), Coal Miner of 6 Norbury Street, Hyde.
• Joseph Fish (23), Coal Miner of New Whittington, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, but lodging at 2 High Street, Gee Cross.
• Joseph Gee (34), Coal Miner of 56 Fountain Street, Godley.
• Peter Gee (27), Coal Miner of Two Trees Lane, Haughton. Married with two children.
• Thomas Gee (27), Coal Miner of 110 Manchester Road, Hyde. 
• James Hall (65), Coal Miner of 7 Nelson Street, Hyde.
• William Haslam (20), Waggoner of 48 Reed Street, Hyde. Single.
• Frederick Howles (17), Waggoner of 1 Ann Street, Hyde.
• John Ridgway (20), Waggoner of 4 Norbury Street, Hyde.
• Thomas Shaw (35), Coal Miner of 1 Manchester Road, Hyde.
• William Slate (37), Coal Miner of 1 White's Court, Water Street, Hyde.
• Henry Slater (43), Coal Miner of 24 Cheapside, Hyde.
• Harry Slater, also known as Henry Slater Junior (15), Jigger of 24 Cheapside, Hyde.
• Samuel Watson (24), Coal Miner of Cotton Street, Hyde.
• George Harry Wilde (19), Waggoner of 15 Syddall Street, Hyde.
• Joseph Wilde (31), Fireman of 7 Port Street, Hyde. Married.
• Arthur Wildgoose (15), Taker-off of 116 Hyde Lane, Hyde. 

The survivors:

• Eli Bradbury.
• Tom Brown, of Kingston Brow, Hyde.
• James Davies, Coal Miner, of 3 Dow Street, Newton.
• Master Etchells .
• Thomas Taylor, of 33 Francis Street, Hyde.
• William Gee, Coal Miner, of 15 High Street, Gee Cross.
• John Haslam.
• Edward Jackson.
• John William Wilde , Waggoner, of 15 Syddall Street, Hyde.
• Mr Atkinson.
• Mr Ellis.
• Mr Grattan (saved by the above John Haslam).
• Mr Kelly.
• Mr Sawyer
  
  

Location of the blue plaque on Manchester Road courtesy of Dave.
Thanks very much ,Dave :).


Sonnet written by James Bradley.

John Collier - Caricaturist & Satirical Poet

John Collier (18 December 1708 – 14 July 1786) was an English caricaturist and satirical poet known by the pseudonym of Tim Bobbin, or Timothy Bobbin. The son of an impoverished curate, he was said to have been born at Harrison Fold in Newton but  moved to Milnrow at the age of 17 to work as a schoolmaster. Marriage and nine children meant he needed to supplement his income and he began producing illustrated satirical poetry in Lancashire dialect and a book of dialect terms.





English caricaturist John Collier published several graphic prints using the pen name Tim Bobbin. Here is ”A Rap at the Pyrates” from 1773. A victimized writer flees upstairs while pirate printers are dealing with stacks of prints. ”



He died in 1786 leaving the sum of £50 and was buried in the cemetery of Rochdale Parish Church, St. Chad's. He wrote his own epitaph 20 minutes before he died,

"Jack of all trades...left to lie i'th dark" is inscribed on his grave stone.



Self Portrait  Oil On Board....

Thomas Street Institute Site.

Thomas Street - The Working Men's Institute.


This is the approximate site of the Institute in the present day. It was situated near where the white sign is, next to the multi storey car park . Not a lot to see now to say how important it was to the Chartist movement in Hyde in the 1800's .

Allotments, And Homing Pigeons

These allotments are now long gone, they were at the bottom of Fawley Avenue, I don't know how many of them were there ...I suppose around 10 - 15 in this part. 

Chicken Coop

Some of my earliest memory's are from the times I spent down here. I recall feeding the chickens.. and being a bit scared of the Cockerel. I heard tales of the fox that would sneak in at night and kill the hens. I know that more than one was caught and disposed of.  Dad showed some of the Hens at local 'Fur and Feather' shows which were once held in Hyde over the Ambulance Station. My sister would show rabbits.  Of course growing up we were never short of eggs, chicken and rabbit, all of which made it to our table. Dad never ate chicken, mum told me years after he never would having reared them from eggs.

Veg Patch

We always had fresh veg...  mum would ask dad to bring home what she needed and when dad had finished flying the pigeons.. which he did every day.... he would come home with the goods.

My dad checking his roses

I only recently found out that the allotment was my granddads, before it was my dads, one of my cousins was bought up by my grandparents. She recalls going to the allotment for fresh veg before she went to school. She told me that when dad came back from the London Blitz, he was a nervous wreck and it was to this allotment he turned and converlesced.

When the war was on my dad was a fireman, he was at Coventry and Manchester when they were blitzed, and my cousin recalls seeing him off when he was sent to London. Fire fighters from all over were sent to help out when the London blitz was on. We were never told of his time as a fireman, dad never talked about it at all... we now know that while in London a schools air-raid shelters were hit... Dad was one of the men sent in to clear up. My cousins recalls him coming home ill, what ever happened at that time changed him from being 'out going' to a very quiet man... he spoke to my granddad about what went on.. but no one else. 

Show Chrysanthemums
   



Cut Flowers And Tomatoes

Dad spent most of his spare time on the allotment, he would set off to work at Redferns Rubber Works... nip down there to let the pigeons out at dinner time. He'd then call back there after work, picked up any veg mum wanted,  or any flowers if they were wanted. He'd then come home for his tea.... before going back down to lock up the chickens and pigeons. I would sometimes go down with him at this time. I remember the chaps down there all smoked, all laughed and they always seemed to be helping each other with jobs, and of course sharing their veg with each other. 

Jack Warburton And Dad

I'm sure that these allotments were much more than a place to grow veg and keep the odd animals and birds. It seemed a way of life, a place of refuge for the men, a place of relaxation, apart for the weekends when it became a very different place indeed. Most of the chaps belonged to either Hyde Homing Society, or Gee Cross Homing Society, which meant Fridays was a busy time, the best and fittest pigeons would have been fed a bit less,  birds would be packed in baskets and taken to the Society headquarters, ring numbers would be wrote down, subs, and race fees paid. The Racing Pigeons would then be sent off either by train, or lorry to be released at a certain time. Each bird being given a rubber ring which when it flew back home would quickly be taken off it, put in a thimble sized container which fitted into a special clock. These clocks would have all been checked and set by each Homing Society taking place in the race.  Races were won and lost at how quick you could land your bird, and get the ring inside the clock. Many a race was lost by the appearance of a cat or hawk in the area... the pigeon might have made good time... but would refuse to land if all was not right. Kids were normally not allowed down there on Racing Day.

Pigeon Cote

Pigeon Racing had many followers at that time... and I know it meant the world to some. My dad was Secretary and Treasurer of both local clubs and some time of other. His knowledge and skill with the birds was always sought after. He would work out the speed the birds reached by time and distance... keep records of each birds achievements and it was only the best birds that were bred from. Females would have their eggs removed to be hatched and reared by a 'proved' mother. Dad would then keep only what he thought would be the best for racing and sell on the others. His 'seconds' were much sought after. 

When Fawley Farm Allotments were Compulsory Purchased  for housing it was the end of an era for many... some did not manage to find other allotments... or restriction were in place for what you could and could not keep. Dad was one of the lucky ones... he joined up with two of his friends Stefan Zeman, and George Higgingbottom... the veg and flowers were lost... but these 3 formed a partnership which bred and raced many winners.  

Prize Winning Pigeon

Dad's new allotment was not far away at all... it was right under the shadow of St Georges Church on Church Brow.... It was pigeon only now... gone the chickens and veg... it was all systems go on the new pigeon lofts. Dad lived for his pigeons, spent a large part of his life around them, it is fitting that  this was the last picture took of him... He died not long after this picture was taken in 1970 aged 58.

Church Brow

Charlotte House.

Charlotte House , Albert Road . circa 2009


Charlotte House , Albert Road. 23rd December 2010


What a sad site to see - such a beautiful old house going up in flames. Luckily it was empty of residents at the time , although the owners were in the property and were rescued safely.
It looks doubtful whether it will be rebuilt to its former glory again.

Postcards from Werneth Low.

Here we have two postcards  sent in by John T. Such beautiful countryside.
Thanks for sharing them with us , John :)



Mottram Old Road



Mottram Old Road, photograph by Dave Williams


Harrop Edge
Unsure of the exact dates but obviously before the Hattersley overspill estate was built and that should put the date at the latest,  the late 1950's/early 1960's.

Harrop Edge, photograph by Dave Williams