Fernbank Farm View

A few days ago we posted a couple of photos of the demolition of Fernbank Farm .
Here is the stone from the farm and a rather nice view of it from across "Buttercup Meadow" taken in the late 1970's/early 1980's.

The farm is the building in the middle of the photo on the left of the big tree !


I'm happy to say that the stone is still in the vicinity of the farm, in a neighbours garden !!


Also on the photo is Oxford House which is on the left of the photo and Oxford Road which is the row of houses on the right.


Map showing Fernbank Farm in 1875

The Tithe map from 1836-51 shows that the area where the farm stood was owned by John Boardman and was known as "Fern Hill". The field itself was known as "Thistly Field and Old Meadow" !

Map courtesy of cheshire maps.

 

After the demolition of Fernbank Farm

Fernbank Farm or "Raymonds" Farm (after Raymond Martin who owned it) was demolished around ten years ago. 

I, for one, was sad to see it go even though it was in a bad state of repair for the last few years of its life.
It was great to see Raymonds prize winning chickens running free around the farmyard and all the wild cats who lived in harmony with Raymond.


 

The row of houses on the right hand side are on Stockport Road.



A sad site that the pile of bricks were all that remained of Fernbank Farm.



Fernbank Court was built in its place by Loxley Homes..
The houses were opened for occupation in 2004.

The Chadwick Family

Following on from thursday post about the Chadwick Family, here is Peter Howard with some more information and great photos.... 

"Joseph Chadwick senior lived at 69 Nelson St, Joseph Edward Chadwick (my grandfather) lived at 69, and my father lived at 115.

My mother's sister, Ethel Chadwick, married John Finch. They lived on Travis St and had a sweet shop about half way down. In later years she worked at Byles".

Joseph Chadwick Senior and his second wife, Eliza Jane Sellers. Her family lived at 24 Nelson St

Chadwicks cart outside St George's Church, Hyde in 1920

The same horse outside 69 Nelson St. The house had a yard at the back where the carts and horses were kept.  The man holding the horse was Jack Braddock of Queen St.

Joseph, Rebecca and family. my mother Edith Chadwick (b.1903) is on Rebeccas knee, the other girl is Jane Chadwick, brother is Walter Chadwick (b.1890). The older girl is their niece, Fanny Pearson. Her parents died and they brought her up as their own. I remember visiting Aunty Fanny often. A very kind lady, as was Aunty Jane.

This must have been taken about 1904/5

 Joseph Edward & Cart. Joseph Edward Chadwick holding the 'horse' in Great Norbury Street. On the card is Joseph Chadwick senior, Edith (my mother) the child on the left, Jane on the right with Walter Chadwick aged about 14. 

"From what I have learned, Robert Middleton moved originally to Gee Cross - Werneth Low about 1820, then by 1840 lived at Acorn Lane, before moving to Fern Bank Farm. His son Joseph Middleton lived at Closes Farm in Godley where Rebecca (my grandmother) was born".

Once again, Peter, thanks so much for the photos and information. It's much appreciated that you took the time and trouble to send them to us !

Joseph Chadwick

This photo and account has been sent to us by Peter Howard...
Over to Peter...



"The gentleman driving the coach is my great grandfather Joseph Chadwick (1844-1913). He was born in Compstall as his father was an overlooker of weavers in the mill there. His father William Chadwick was born in Newton where the many of the family can be traced through the censuses.

 

Joseph senior married and his family grew up in Hyde, during the cotton famine they went to America for a few years but returned to Hyde where he bought 3 houses in the newly built Nelson Street.

His son, Joseph (junior) Edward Chadwick (1875-1947) was born in the USA but brought up in Nelson Street. The family were coal carters and furniture removers. The Hearts of Oak business used to run excursions as can be seen, I guess the photo was taken just before 1900 or so.

 

Joseph Edward (my grandfather) married Rebecca Middleton in 1897. She was a member of the Middleton family that descended from Eyam in Derbyshire during the plague  of 1664/5. Like the old Mayor of Hyde Thomas Middleton. Although not immediately related , her branch was traced through the writings and research of Thomas Middleton. Rebecca's grandfather came to Hyde from Eyam around 1820 where he had Fern Bank Farm at Gee Cross.

 

My mother, Edith Chadwick, was born in Nelson Street and my father lived there also. They met as they both worked in 'North's Mill'

 

My Chadwicks can be traced to the late 1700's in Newton and were from a family connected to Mottram church. There being many Chadwicks in the Mottram, Godley and Newton area I cannot find the true origins, this is work in progress."

 

 

A very interesting account !

Many thanks, Peter. 

Your sharing is much appreciated :)