ST ANNE’S HOME

ST ANNE’S HOME A History of the Branch of the for Consumption

Sue Nichols

Altrincham 2010

Sue Nichols (née Johnson) was born of English parents in South Australia in 1954. After studying History, Italian and Fine Arts at Sydney University, she moved to in 1974 to obtain a B.A. (Hons) and an M.A. in the History of European Art, at the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of . Sue then worked in London as a photo librarian in the Witt Library at the Courtauld Institute, subsequently becoming a picture researcher for EMI Records and the publisher Thames and Hudson. Sue moved to the area in 1984 to marry Simon. They have two adult children, Rachel and Paul. Apart from a keen interest in the local history of Altrincham and Bowdon, she is an active member of Altrincham & Bowdon Civic Society and Bowdon Conservation Group and campaigns vigorously to promote and protect the historic buildings, trees and green open spaces in the area.

As an author, her writings include a chapter to update a new edition of The Larousse Encyclopedia of Modern Art (1980) and contributions to A Concise Encyclopedia of the Italian Renaissance (1981). After the birth of her first child in 1987, she became editor of the National Childbirth Trust ‘Newsletter’. In 1990, she was responsible for forming The Vimto Advertising Collection and organising the travelling exhibition of its contents, on the themes of advertising, packaging, marketing and social history. In 1991, Sue instigated and coordinated the ‘Monument to Vimto’ sculpture project for the grounds of UMIST, Manchester. She also wrote the book Vimto: The Story of a Soft Drink (1994), which further explored the popular brand. More recently in 2007, Sue managed the project to digitise and caption The Vimto Advertising Collection, ensuring its increased accessibility and longevity.

At the time of completion of this book, Sue is the Project Coordinator for Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society’s £50,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant entitled ‘The Heritage of the Altrincham Area’, which incorporates the newly formed Altrincham Area Image Archive. For further information see altrinchamheritage.com.

Published by Sue Nichols, 12 Higher Downs, Altrincham, WA14 2QL St Anne’s Home: A History of the Bowdon Branch of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption Copyright © 2010 Sue Nichols. All Rights Reserved. Illustrations: see page 117

Printed by Prontaprint Altrincham, 16 Church Street, Altrincham WA14 4DW

Front Cover: and staff outside the verandahs at St Anne’s Home, seen on postcard of c.1908 (detail).

Frontispiece: Illustration of St Anne’s Home from Sketches of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Throat & Chest, c.1891.

End-piece: The grounds of The Beeches on Christmas Day, 1878. The substantial sandstone boundary wall can be seen in the distance. It was built in 1875, as referred to in the Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’ (see page 34) and an inscription on one of the stones in Beechfield.

Back Cover: The camera-shy Anne Sidebotham, after whom St Anne’s Home was named, with one of her daughters, early 1860s.

CONTENTS

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………. 9 Tuberculosis – The Nature of the Disease……………………...... 9 The Manchester Hospital for Consumption……………...... 12 The Need for Relocation……………………………………...... 12 Dr Arthur Ransome……….…………………………………………………….... 14 Bowdon – The Ideal Location………………………………………………..... 16 Beech Grove (later called The Beeches), Bowdon……………………... 17 Bowdon Downs Congregational Church…………………………………... 22 Enlarging the Grounds of Beech Grove…………………………………….. 23 Beechfield……………………………………………………………………………... 23 Ibotson Walker’s Move Back to Yorkshire………………………………... 24 William Johnson……………………………………………………………………. 24 Joseph Thompson………………………………………………………………….. 25 The Aggrandisement of Beech Grove……………………………………….. 26 Joseph Sidebotham…………………………………………………………………. 27 Life Married to Anne Coward…………………………………………………. 30 The Move to Beech Grove, Bowdon………………………………………... 32 The Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’1872-1885…………………………………33 The Grounds at The Beeches…………………………………………………... 36 The Workshop………………………………………………………………………. 37 The Sidebotham Family Pets………………………………………………….... 38 The Weather……………………………………………………………………….... 40 Holidays in England and Wales……………………………………………….. 41 The Seaside……………..…………………………………………………………….. 42 Travels Abroad…………………………………………………………………….... 43 ‘Bowdon White Brick’…………………………………………………………… 44 Alterations to The Beeches by Joseph Sidebotham………….…..……... 47 The Garden Extension 1869-71…………………………….………..……….. 48 The Library……………………………………………………………..……..……... 50 Further Work at The Beeches…………………………………………….….... 50 Other Features In the Grounds……………………………………….……….. 52 The Drawing Room………………………………………………………..….…... 54 Further Alterations to The Beeches……………………………..……….….. 55 The Woodville Road Extension 1876…………………….……………..…. 55 Earlier Architectural Records of the Area…………………………….…... 63 Getting involved with the Local Churches…………………………….….. 65 The Sidebothams Move to Erlesdene, Green Walk, Bowdon……... 67 St Anne’s Church, Haughton, Denton…………………………………..…. 68 Dr Arthur Ransome and Joseph Sidebotham……………………………... 70 The Purchase of The Beeches for The Hospital…………………….….... 70 The Death of Joseph Sidebotham……………………………………….……. 71 The Sidebotham Children…………………………………………………..…... 72 The Conversion of The Beeches to a Branch Hospital………..….….... 74 The Hardman Street Dispensary, Manchester…………………….…..…. 75 The Crossley Brothers…………………………………………………….…….... 78 The Crossley Wing (later known as the Ashley Ward)………..……... 80 Improvements to The Beeches………………………………………..……..… 85 Further Expansion of St Anne’s Home………………………….…..…..…. 87 Medical Research………………………………………………..……..………..…. 89 Keeping Up With Demand……………………………………..…..………….. 90 Formalising the Treatment………………………………….……..………….... 92 Evolution of The Buildings at St Anne’s Home…………….……….…... 96 Manchester – ‘The Chief Factory of Tuberculosis’…………….…….... 97 The Crossley Sanatorium at Delamere…………………………...……….... 98 The National Insurance Act…………………………………………………...... 100 Changing Purposes of St Anne’s Home………………………….……….… 100 The Recent Past…………………………………………………………………….. 103 The Future of The Beeches/St Anne’s Hospital………………………… 105 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………. 108

Appendix I: Site Map of the T.P.O. and Dates of the Historic Buildings………………………………………………………………………….……. 109 Appendix II: Chronology…………………………………………………….….. 110

Select Bibliography - Primary Sources……………………………………… 112 - Secondary Sources...... 115

Illustrations…………………………………………………………………………… 117 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………..………. 117

Index of People, Businesses, Institutions and Organisations……….. 118 Index of Addresses and Roads…………………………………………………. 122 A photograph pasted into the Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’, taken by Joseph Sidebotham in July 1872. All his children are playing croquet in the extensive grounds of The Beeches, with Miss Fanny Linton, the governess and companion to the family at the centre. In the background can be seen the original 1837 house to the right, with the Italianate extension built by Sidebotham to the left of it.

Postcard dating from the early 1900s, showing the handsome wing of the Bowdon branch of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption, built in the grounds of The Beeches in 1886. It was funded by William J. Crossley and designed to the latest scientific principals, maximising sunlight, ventilation and fresh air, in order to provide a cure for the patients. The sun-bath is to the left, with the cast iron verandah added in 1898-99, to the right of it. The gentleman in the coat with the large moustache, is likely to be Dr Arthur Ransome, friend and neighbour of Joseph Sidebotham and instigator of the establishment of the hospital in raised location and clean air of Bowdon.

[8] INTRODUCTION Dr Arthur Ransome, who was to become the prime mover behind St Anne’s Home, had lived opposite in one of the four houses of Peel Terrace in the 1860s, as described in Peter Kemp’s booklet Higher Downs (1985). The obvious sources did not reveal which house in particular, so I was curious to find out. I started to research the various archives relating to Manchester Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Throat and Chest, of which St Anne’s Home was a suburban branch. This was supplemented by other local history sources, many of which became increasingly available on the internet. The Sidebotham family’s photographs and volumes of their ‘Family Diary’ were also explored. The results, which form this book, show that the hospital and the original 1837 house at its core, had contributed significant warp threads to the rich fabric that made up Bowdon society from the mid-1830s through to the early 1900s. The architectural and medical history of St Anne’s is also important, having been described by Royal Commission’s survey (1998) as, ‘In both its design and medical regime, this hospital set the standard for nearly all subsequent sanatoria in England.’ TUBERCULOSIS – THE NATURE OF THE DISEASE Tuberculosis is an infectious, communicable disease which is spread by breathing in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis after exposure to an infected person’s sneeze or cough or else when held on dust. It can also be caught by ingesting contaminated food. The most common form is pulmonary tuberculosis, which grows and destroys the tissues in the lungs causing haemorrhages, then spreading to other parts of the body. Healthy, well fed people may carry the disease, but can not spread it and usually remain unaffected. For those infected and the more vulnerable with lower immune systems through age, malnutrition or illness, the bacteria become active and grow quickly. The hallmarks include a bloody cough, pallor, night sweats, chills, lack of appetite and weakness. If left untreated, it usually resulted in death. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been afflicting the human race since antiquity. Pathological analysis of the spinal columns of Egyptian mummies from c. 2400 BC shows signs of the disease. The term phthisis (wasting) first appeared in Greek literature in around 460 BC and Hippocrates identified it as the most widespread and deadly disease of all times. As it was invariably fatal, he advised fellow against visiting patients in the late stages of the disease, in case their reputation was damaged. Many cures throughout the ages were tried, from bathing in human urine to eating wolves’ livers, but none appeared effective. In 1679, F. Sylvius in his Opera Medica, identified actual tubercles in the lungs and other areas as being distinctive of the disease. J. J. Manget described the pathological features in 1702. A 1699 Edict by the Italian Republic town of Lucca, recognised that the disease was infectious. The names of deceased were reported and their surroundings disinfected. In 1720, in Britain, the Benjamin Marten correctly conjectured in his New Theory of Consumptions, that TB was caused by ‘wonderfully minute living creatures’, which once in the body could cause the lesions and symptoms of the disease. However, his suggestion that consumption could be transmitted by being in close proximity to the , ‘So nearly as to draw in part of the breath he emits from the lungs’, was not fully understood until the late 19th century. The disease claimed the lives of artists and writers. Those who succumbed in the 19th century included John Keats, Frederick Chopin, Anton Chekhov, Robert Louis Stevenson and Emily Bronte, while later 20th century victims included Franz Kafka, George Orwell

[9] and D.H. Lawrence. During the 19th century the disease became romanticized in the popular imagination as the disease of the young, pure and passionate. The heroines of Alexandre Dumas' 1852 novel, Camille, and Giacomo Puccini's 1896 opera, La Bohéme, were among the fictional characters whose deaths from tuberculosis were imagined as resulting from thwarted love affairs. It was the major single cause of death in Victorian England, in particular the growing cities where unknown thousands died of the debilitating disease each year, both caused by and adding to the hardship and poverty. Few were taken into hospital, as it seemed there was little that could be done and any progress was slow. It was the introduction of the open air sanatorium which first gave hope of a cure for the disease once contracted. The origin of the word is from the Latin sanare, to heal. In 1849, Hermann Brehmer, a Silesian botany student suffering from TB, travelled to the Himalayan mountains to pursue his botanical studies. The fresh air, high elevation, sunshine and copious food did the young man good and he returned cured. He began to study medicine, calling his doctoral dissertation of 1854, Tuberculosis is a Curable Disease. By 1859 he had built an institution in Gobersdorf, Silesia in the middle of fir trees. Patients were exposed on their balconies to continuous fresh air in addition to being given a nutritious diet. This successful treatment became the basis for the development of sophisticated sanatoria, of which St Anne’s Home was the leading light in Great Britain. In 1865, the French military doctor Jean-Antoine Villemin was the first to demonstrate that consumption could be produced in rabbits and guinea pigs by inoculating them with tuberculosis matter, thereby proving it was a communicable disease. He postulated that a specific micro organism was responsible, negating the long held theory that the disease arose spontaneously. Others showed it could be transmitted to animals by ingestion and through the eyes. The breakthrough came in 1882, when the German microbiologist Robert Koch presented his paper describing the staining technique that let him to see Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He had allowed far more time than was usual to grow colonies of the TB bacteria in the laboratory. He showed that the growth of the micro- organism in the system was the true immediate cause of TB. It was then possible to determine the presence of the in any part of the body, how easily it spread and which of the excreta were most dangerous. This research revealed that in the most common form of TB affecting the lungs, pulmonary tuberculosis, was spread from person to person through the droplets from an infected person’s cough or spit. In 1888, Dr George Cornet showed that guinea pigs inoculated with an emulsion from dust from infected rooms contracted the disease. With Koch also demonstrating that sunlight rapidly destroyed the bacillus, the correlation between the spread of the disease and dark, dirty, crowded, unventilated conditions could now be proved. The campaign against the causes of TB through the improvement of home, working and leisure environments and sanitation, along with improved nutrition to strengthen the body’s defences against the disease was given a scientific basis. The benefit of the multiple function of a sanatorium, to isolate the sick from the general population to prevent its spread and to provide fresh air, sunshine, rest and a proper diet, as the most viable cure was now a certainty.

[10] A back slum near Chapel Street in described as, ‘A poisonous nook, hidden from observation by most wayfarers.’ (The Builder, 1862)

However, in 1885, a collective investigation by the British Medical Association showed that still only a quarter of doctors believed that consumption was contagious. It was open-minded and positive doctors like Dr Arthur Ransome, the moving force behind St Anne’s Home, who seized upon Koch’s research as proof of the infectiousness of the disease and the conclusions he had already reached, through his statistical correlation of the disease and its environment, for both the cause and cure.

Around 1890, Koch introduced injections of tuberculin as a supposed cure, but it was only in time that it became useful as a ‘patch test’ on the skin, to determine the presence of the disease. The introduction of the X-ray in 1895 meant the progress and severity of the disease could be analysed. In France in 1921, after nearly a decade of isolating and weakening the bacteria that caused TB in cattle, Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin developed the B.C.G. (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccine, still in wide use today to prevent TB infection especially in children. It was in 1944 at the University of California that the antibiotic Streptomycin saved the life of a critically ill TB patient. There followed many more combinations of anti- TB drugs, dramatically reducing the death toll and bringing the era of sanatoria to an end. The emphasis could change to prevention, by being able to treat infected people before they could pass the disease on to others.

However, the statistics show that today Mycobacterium tuberculosis still causes more deaths than any other single infectious organism. The World Health Organization estimate that nearly 9 million people develop TB every year, 95 percent of those in the developing countries and that in 2009, an estimated 1.7 million people died from it. As the disease was on the increase again, the WHO declared the epidemic a global emergency in 1993. The movement of people across the world has significantly increased its spread. HIV/Aids also reduces the ability of the body to fight the disease. In addition, a multidrug-resistant strain of TB has emerged, due to the lack of completion of the 6 month antibiotic course. The WHO has formed Directly Observed Therapies known as the DOTS-Plus Working Group which aims to detect TB, administer the drugs correctly and monitor the outcome, on a global basis.

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THE MANCHESTER HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION In February 1875, a public meeting was called at advertised by a circular issued by a Dr Shepherd Fletcher. The Mayor of Manchester was the Chairman, and the purpose of the meeting was to consider, ‘The desirability of establishing a hospital in Manchester for consumption and diseases of the throat.’ Officers were appointed who formed a management committee, their task being,

1. To provide Hospital accommodation and medical treatment to necessitous persons afflicted with Pulmonary Consumption and severe Diseases of the Throat as in-patients.

2. To supply other poor persons, similarly afflicted, with advice and medicine as outpatients. (Report, 1875)

The Manchester Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Throat and Chest was the first hospital of its kind in the Manchester area to specialise in and try to cope with the tens of thousands of cases of consumption. It was also the only voluntary consumption hospital in the whole country, until the Victoria Dispensary opened in Edinburgh in 1887. In February 1875 a 14-year lease was taken on a dwelling house at what is still 18 St John Street in central Manchester, where there were beds for eight in-patients and facilities for the relief of out- patients. It was to be funded by an annual charitable subscription and donations and newspaper adverts and 2,000 leaflets called for support for the newly formed charity. The Manchester Royal Eye Hospital built by 1867 was three doors away at 24 St John Street. James McKee was appointed as the secretary and collector of payment from the wealthier patients, receiving a five percent commission in addition to his wage of 27s. per week, jointly shared with his wife Mary Ellen McKee who was appointed Matron. Coal, gas and one servant were also provided for them. They were still there for the 1881 Census, with their two daughters of ages 16 and 10 and just three female in-patients - a dressmaker, a cotton weaver and a provision shop assistant, aged 14. The other patients were perhaps at home for the night of the census count.

Map of Manchester in 1879 showing No.18 St John Street (shaded), the private house which was converted to the Hospital.

THE NEED FOR RELOCATION As early as March 1875, the Medical Report of the founding Doctors Shepherd Fletcher and Alexander Hodgkinson advised that a move to a larger hospital in a suburban position would be desirable, as they felt all they could provide was the ‘alleviation of suffering rather than a cure’. In the first year, 961 out-patients and 23 in-patients were treated. [12]

By 1881, the Committee was still concerned about ‘the locality and structure of the hospital’, but there were not sufficient funds for a large undertaking. There were several problems and the growing arguments can be summarised as follows:-

- The air in Manchester was dusty, damp and dirty, which were ideal conditions for the microbacterium to incubate, but not at all a suitable environment for any sort of cure. - The house on St John St was ‘in a very poor condition…in a wretched locality…near the dirty ’, which exacerbated the disease (Dr Ransome, ‘Some Great & Good Men’). - ‘The noise occasioned by the traffic in the street which rendered careful examination of the patients a matter of extreme difficulty.’ (‘Minutes’, Nov 1878) - There was not enough room to separate men and women, so they had to come on alternate days. - Many potentially curable cases were turned away due to lack of space and beds. The in- patients, of which there were 33 in 1882, tended to be only those in the last stages of the disease, which drained the resources. The treatment of the disease was slow, so one patient could occupy a bed for many weeks. In 1882, there were 1,874 out-patients, each attending four or five times. - The Manchester Royal Infirmary was reluctant to take in-patients, as the condition was considered untreatable in central Manchester. ‘A considerable number of consumptive patients who seek admission to the Manchester Royal Infirmary are necessarily rejected as by the Rules of that Institution they are inadmissible.’ (Report, 1883) - The Mayor of Manchester was concerned at the 1,200 deaths to consumption each year and double that number to respiratory diseases and expressed concern at, ‘The amount of suffering there must be to individuals and families, and the destruction of the large amount of wealth producing and wage earning power.’ (Report, Annual Meeting, 1883).

The committee had put aside £200 of reserved funds in March 1881, as a start towards, ‘A larger and more convenient hospital in a more salubrious atmosphere’.

St John Street, Manchester in 1904

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DR ARTHUR RANSOME Dr Arthur Ransome, M.D., M.A., F.R.C.P., F.R.S. (Manchester 1834-1922 Bournemouth), came from a family of eminent Manchester medical men. He was a half-cousin, once removed from the famous author Arthur Ransome (1884-1967), whose great grandfather was Dr Arthur Ransome’s grandfather, John Atkinson Ransome, F.R.C.S., consultant surgeon at M.R.I.. The latter attended the fatal accident of Liverpool M.P. William Huskisson, who was run over by Stephenson’s Rocket, whilst being on the tracks during a temporary stop on the first passenger railway trip between Manchester and Liverpool in 1830. Arthur Ransome’s extensive training at Trinity College, Dublin then at Caius College, Cambridge, where he took a First in Dr Arthur Ransome, the key person Natural Sciences, was followed by studying Medicine at driving the relocation of the in-patient’s St George’s Hospital in London, where he was awarded department of the Manchester Hospital an M.B. in 1858, with further study in Paris. For his for Consumption to Bowdon’s elevated invention of a mechanical stethometer which measured location, clean air, sunshine and dry, lung and chest movement, Dr Ransome won a sandy soil. Fellowship of the Royal Society. He was also a leading member of the forward thinking Manchester and Salford Sanitary Association from 1859, where in 1860 he instigated the weekly collection and statistical analysis of the occupations and residences of victims of consumption and other diseases, a forerunner of the later national scheme. He had also had taken a prominent role as lecturer at the Manchester Working Men’s College.

Having found no obvious opening as a surgeon in Manchester despite his extensive training, Dr Ransome started out as a G.P. in 1858 in the wealthy suburbs of Altrincham, Bowdon and , 10 miles south of Manchester. Building on the success of Lloyd’s Fever Hospital in Altrincham, which since 1853 had provided accommodation without medical staff for patients with contagious fevers or the poor who had had accidents, Dr Ransome was responsible for it becoming a successful Provident Dispensary for the benefit of the poor and under 14-year-old out-patients in the area. He was one of the first Medical Officers, dealing with the 109 patients in its first year, 1858. As a young G.P., he had no private patients for the first three months, but gradually relatives and family friends came to him and the practice became highly successful. In his first year, his income as a G.P. to the wealthy was £70. By 1862 he was earning £500, as described in his unpublished memoir ‘Some Great and Good Men and Women I Have Known’. In 1858, he lived and worked modestly in two rooms rented for £1 a week at what is still 32 The Downs, Altrincham (Grade II Listed). In the 1861 Census he is listed as a ‘Surgeon. Member of the College of Surgeons. Batchelor of Medicine of Cambridge’, living with Elizabeth Harvey, a house servant. By February 1862, he had moved up The Downs, to one of the four large town houses in Peel Terrace, Dunham Massey, where in the electoral rolls he is recorded as paying a rent of £50 upwards.

A process of elimination, including the 1867 birth certificate of Mary Gertrude Hague whose family were living at 1 Peel Terrace (9 Higher Downs), now shows that Dr Ransome was

[14] living at 4 Peel Terrace, today Oakleigh, 12 Higher Downs. The previous occupant was Jane Oldfield, whose father, grocer James Oldfield, had died of dropsy in 1857 aged 84. He and his two daughters had moved from 2 Norman’s Place, Altrincham, having had the 4 houses of Peel Terrace newly built in 1851-53. Jane also died at the house in January 1862, from concussion after a fall. The calico printer Alfred Binyon, who was living nearby at South Bank, Dunham Massey by 1863, was a friend and brother-in-law to Dr Ransome’s half-uncle. Binyon appears in the electoral roll for 1863-64 as owning the Peel Terrace houses. He was a witness at Dr Ransome’s marriage, so it is likely it was he that rented 4 Peel Terrace to him. Binyon later became one of the supporters of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption.

12 Higher Downs (4 Peel Terrace), now in Altrincham, where Dr Ransome and his family lived from 1862-69. The row of four houses built in 1851-53, 32 The Downs, next to was named after Altrincham town centre, Robert Peel, who where Dr Ransome had died in 1849. became a G.P. in 1858.

During a diphtheria epidemic in the early spring of 1862, a neighbour living at what is now Levenshurst on St John’s Road, Dr Alexander Paterson, succumbed. Dr Ransome took on many of his patients, giving the proceeds to the widowed Mrs Paterson. The Paterson’s daughter became the watercolour artist of great renown, Helen Allingham (1848-1926).

In August 1862 Dr Ransome married Lucy Fullarton at St Margaret’s Church, Dunham Massey. Their eight children were subsequently christened there, six of them having been born at 4 Peel Terrace at 14 month intervals. They would have witnessed the building of the houses on Delamer Road on the open fields behind Higher Downs in the mid-1860s. In 1866, Dr Ransome took a partner, Dr W. O. Jones, who dealt with the routine cases privately and at Altrincham Hospital.

In 1868, with the money they had saved, the Ransomes bought a large plot of land from Lord Stamford and started building Devisdale House on St Margaret’s Road, which was adjacent to the green open heath land known as The Devisdale. The house was completed by 1871. It was designed by his ‘old school friend’, the distinguished and innovative architect, Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905), who had also designed Owens College in 1861 and won the Devisdale competition to build Manchester Town Hall, which was started in 1867. The House grand house was sadly demolished, another victim to the over-development of gatepost the area in recent times. [15]

Dr Arthur Ransome joined the committee of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption in April 1882 that the project for a larger, suburban hospital really took off. Within a month he revitalised the plan for a new hospital and a sub-committee was appointed to look for a location and funding. He had the associate editorship of the German Zeitschrift für Tuberculose so was at the forefront of the new discoveries and was highly regarded in Germany as a pioneer. When the results of experiments by Robert Koch, who had isolated the TB bacteria, were unveiled in March 1882, the statistical association Dr Ransome had made between tuberculosis and dusty, unsanitary, crowded and unventilated conditions could be proved. He sent one of his medical sons to Berlin to study Koch’s method. Koch also demonstrated that cultures of the TB bacteria were rapidly destroyed when exposed to direct sunlight, which Dr Ransome and the Manchester Medical Scientist Professor Delépine went on to confirm. All this explained the success of open-air sanatoria that were being developed in Germany and gave a solid scientific basis for fund raising for a building that could provide a viable treatment for the needy population in the Manchester area. This was outlined in Dr Ransome’s published paper On the Causes of Consumption, 1885. He became Professor of Hygiene at Owens College and then of at the Victoria University (formerly Owens College, later the ). He was appointed Honorary Physician to the hospital in 1883 until 1890 and became totally involved in the development and success of the sanatorium as a leading place for practical research into the causes and cures for consumption. He was an Honorary Consulting Physician for the rest of his life.

Dr Ransome retired to Bournemouth in 1894, where he died in 1922, much acclaimed for his contribution to the research and treatment of TB, particularly amongst the poor. Throughout his life he researched, wrote, lectured and campaigned on improving public health and the environment of the poor, with the aim of preventing the conditions in which consumption could be caught and spread.

Dr Ransome’s son, Herbert Fullarton Ransome followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a Surgeon at Altrincham Hospital and an Honorary Assistant Medical Officer at St Anne’s Home. In 1891 he married Mary, a distant cousin by marriage, daughter of Alfred Neild of Dingle Bank East on East Downs Road, Bowdon, also a supporter of the Hospital. The couple and their family were living at 35 The Downs in 1901, half way between the two .

BOWDON – THE IDEAL LOCATION Since 1849, the elevated Bowdon and Dunham Massey area was served by a nearby train service from the Bowdon Terminus at the foot of The Downs direct to Manchester and yet it was surrounded by agricultural land, market gardens and Dunham . Bagshaw in his 1850 guide stated, ‘The proverbial salubrity of the air, has caused immense numbers of genteel villa residences to be erected by the merchants of Manchester’. By 1850, the major local landowner, George Harry Grey, 7th and Warrington of , had begun to sell his agricultural land for the building of prestigious dwellings, having had control since July 1848, when he turned 21. This was following a growing trend, as also seen with land sold on Rosehill, Bowdon by Thomas Assheton Smith (junior), in the early 1840s. Very few poor people owned or rented any of the newly built houses, as Lord Stamford socially engineered the class of his neighbours by dictating the quality, type, density and rental value of housing through covenants in the deeds. As a result, the area became

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home to many wealthy ‘cottontots’, along with significant characters in the fields of science, literature, education, architecture and music. It was described by Ormerod in 1882 as, ‘Studded with the many commodious and handsomely designed villas and terraces of a large and flourishing community, chiefly composed of those who every evening seek a healthy and pleasant retirement from the toils of business.’ The healthy environment meant there were a number of schools including that of Mr George Schelling’s at Laurel Bank, which provided a private boarding and day facilities run along German ‘Real Schule’ lines, ‘For the special requirements of Young Gentlemen intended for Commercial and Scientific pursuits’.

Apart from the potential source of funding and expertise from the local residents for the new hospital, Dr Ransome persuaded the committee that Bowdon would be an excellent site for medical reasons. Since Koch’s discovery, it had also become clear that the ‘fresh air cure’ being tested in Germany was at the heart of any treatment of consumption. Bowdon was on a hill and away from heavy industry, which meant in 1882, that the air was still clear, clean and fresh. The soil was dry, sandy and well drained, so not damp. This environment was a complete contrast to Manchester’s closed courtyards, alleys and streets of back-to-back houses, which resulted in the foul, dusty, damp air that Dr Ransome had statistically linked to the cause and spread of consumption. He obtained the statistics from the Registrar of Deaths for the area, and showed that there were only two cases of consumption originating in the whole of Bowdon for the previous 9 years; one of the two being a warehouse clerk who had worked long hours in Manchester. He persuaded the Committee that it was an ideal location and that a house suitable for conversion to a hospital should be sought immediately. Later, writing from Bournemouth in 1894, Dr Ransome had to defend the relocation of the Consumption Hospital to Bowdon, declaring that, ‘No deaths occurred from the disease anywhere in the neighbourhood of the hospital.’ (‘Letter, 14th December 1894’).

BEECH GROVE (later called The Beeches), BOWDON The area within which Beech Grove (later to become St Anne’s) was situated, is on the gentle hill at the top end of The Downs, south of Altrincham. It was in the Ecclesiastical of Bowdon, but in a spur of the rural Township or of Dunham Massey. It therefore appears in the Census, electoral rolls and directories as being in Dunham Massey, as distinct from Bowdon. Despite this, it has usually been referred to as Bowdon, to better describe the nature of its location, as well as for prestige. At certain points, the boundaries between the Townships are shown by marked stones or walls, the best being at the foot of Higher Downs. This spur became part of Altrincham Urban District in 1920. Other boundaries continue to change. In 1989 it became part of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St John’s, Altrincham and in 2004 it was included in the local Electoral Ward of Bowdon, rather than that of Altrincham.

Within this spur, was a large plot of land of about nine acres, called Church Gate Field. It was contained within what is now all of Bowdon Road, part of Woodville Road, all of Higher Downs and part of Cavendish Road. It had originally been owned in trust for George Harry Grey, 6th Earl of Stamford and Warrington of Dunham Massey Hall, as part of a settlement made in 1797 upon his marriage. As part of a rationalisation of land holdings, the surviving trustee exchanged three pieces of land on 11th and 12th of April 1836 with John Clarke, a ‘Gentleman’ living in Bowdon, who was also a land owner. He gave up a field on Bowdon Downs, later divided into two closes called Dunham Way Field and New Marled Field. The

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three pieces of land he received were Long Croft Field in Altrincham and Well Acre or Well Field, near Sandiway Head, north of Altrincham, as well as Church Gate Field in Dunham Massey. Two months later, Clarke sold on part of the land north of Altrincham for housing and in 1837 he sold the 2 ends of Church Gate Field. The northeast end went for £717 15s. on 22nd of June 1837 to Ibotson Walker (Doncaster 1804-1864 Balby, Doncaster), Plan in the indenture of 1837, made at described in the Indenture as a ‘Gentleman’ of the sale of first half of the land to Ibotson Altrincham and John Walker, a ‘Manufacturer’ of Walker, southwest of what is now Manchester, probably his brother-in-law of the same Woodville Road. The first section of surname. He had married Ibotson’s sister, Anne brick wall along Woodville Road was Haywood Walker, in Manchester in 1827. Ibotson probably built at that time. and John Walker were in business at 49 Mosley Street, Manchester as ‘Fancy Drill, Fustian and Gambroon Manufacturers’ (Pigot & Co.’s & Slater’s, 1841) and also as ‘Merchants, Manufacturers and General Warehousemen’ at 59 [sic] Mosley Street, Manchester (Slater’s, 1851 & Whellan’s, 1853). Drill is a strong cotton or linen twill material; fustian is a woven cloth with extra wefts cut to make a such as velveteen and corduroy and gambroon is a kind of linen twill lining cloth. In 1834, Ibotson Walker is recorded as living nearby in Norman’s Place, Altrincham (Pigot & Co.’s, 1834).

In the ‘Dunham Massey Tithe Apportionment’ (proved 1841) and the associated basic map made in 1839, Walker’s property appears on Plot 771. He is shown as the ‘Landowner and Occupier’ of a ‘House and Garden’, with a Rent Charge of ½ s.. Plot 772 was Church Gate Field and still owned by John Clarke, with a Rent Charge of 9s., with no land use recorded. Bowdon Lodge, stables, driveways and garden is on Plot 773, with a Rent Charge of 6s. 4d. to Benjamin Williams. Bowdon Lodge was demolished in 1909 to build the County High School for Girls, as Altrincham Girls’ Grammar School was first known. The original stable block on Bowdon Road, along with the fine William IV railings, walls and gate posts (some later) at the entrance by The Firs, are still to be seen.

The ‘Dunham Massey Tithe Apportionment’ map (1839), showing the house, stable, yards, driveway and garden of Ibotson Walker on Plot 771. Downs Cottage on Woodville Road, on Plot 774, was on Stamford land, as was Plot 770, along what is now Higher Downs. Bowdon Road was still just an ancient footpath, becoming a road when the houses started to be built on Plot 776 in 1854.

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John Claudius Loudon, in his illustrated Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm & Villa Architecture, first published in 1833, described a villa as, ‘A country residence with land attached, a portion of which surrounding the house, is laid out as a pleasure ground; or, in other words, with a view to recreation and enjoyment, more than profit.’ The Latin word villa meant ‘farm’, but in classical times had come to refer to a substantial residence. Loudon’s ideal villa should be built on elevated land with dry soil and be close to a town or with good road or canal connections. The location of Walker’s house fitted this description perfectly, taking into account the passenger service on the 1776 into Manchester.

The original 1837 house has a simple square plan, with four main rooms coming off a central hallway. As to be expected, it has full cellars, first floor bedrooms and rooms in the attic. It is likely that the Greek Ionic portico, signifying the central entrance porch and the bow window on the side elevation, seen in the photograph taken in 1867 (see also page 26), date from the original house. The Tithe map was just not detailed enough to show them. Additionally, there was a side extension, angled to be parallel with Woodville Road. This may have had an entrance opening directly onto the road, for tradesmen and deliveries to the kitchen.

A tantalising glimpse of part of Beech Grove can be seen on Sheet 1 of the watercolour ‘Detail Plans of the Township of Altrincham’. These were ‘Surveyed for the Purposes of the Local Board of Health’, by Charles E. Cawley in late 1851. They were presented to the Board in March 1852. He included only a portion of the house and the grounds, as they were located on the other side of the Township boundary, in Dunham Massey. The angled side extension on Woodville Road and the corner entrance to the grounds, can be clearly seen. The large villa, top left on Woodville Road, with its pleasure grounds, coach house, wash house and stables running along The Narrows, is now the utilitarian BT Exchange. However, the first three houses to the right, at the top of The Downs, are still in situ and add to the charm of the street scene. Those on Higher Downs in the bottom right-hand corner, apart from them being in Dunham Massey Township, rather than Altrincham, were not completed until 1852-53.

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This photograph taken in 1878 of the breakfast room (left), shows the original 1837 chimney piece. In the photograph taken in July 2005 (middle), the hall staircase can be seen. The newel post is upside down and is not likely to be original. The balusters have been protected by boarding. The original 1837 sash windows are in place at the southern and rear elevations. The photograph of the first floor front bedroom (right), was taken in July 2005, after the windows had been boarded up.

The original house may have been faced with red brick, similar to 16 The Mount or perhaps stucco, like 14 The Mount, off Church Street, north of Altrincham. Both of these detached houses had been built on farm land, sold by John Clarke on 3rd of June 1836. Spring Bank (demolished), built in the late 1820s by the Attorney Peter Leicester on Ashley Road, Bowdon, is another early example of a substantial red brick house, which may reflect the exterior finish of Walker’s house. All four houses are of the elegant, well-proportioned classical style established in the 18th century. They are symmetrical and have a low-pitched roof, in the style of a Palladian villa. The roof of Walker’s house however is gabled, whereas the other three are hipped. These were among the first mansions built for the prosperous merchants and professionals in the area, upon land just outside the immediate town centre of Altrincham, which due to urban expansion, was becoming more valuable for dwellings, pleasure grounds or parkland, rather than for agricultural use.

Alternatively, the façade and bow window of the house, may have been faced in ashlars – rectangular pieces of dressed stone covering rough brick, as seen in the photograph taken in 1867 (see page 26). We will only be able establish whether the house was faced in red brick, stucco or ashlar, once a close inspection of the underneath of the present white brick façade added in 1897-98 is undertaken, when St Anne’s is sold and work begins on its restoration.

Ibotson Walker’s first name was unusual in that it came from his mother’s surname. It is often transcribed incorrectly as ‘Hotson’. He had been baptised at the Ebenezer Chapel in Doncaster. He and his wife, the widow Eliza Humphreys, had married at Holy Trinity Church, Clapham, Surrey in October 1833. They appear in the 1841 Census as living at ‘The Downs’. They were with their two daughters, Eliza of age 6, born in Manchester and Sarah Louisa aged 3, born in Bowdon and also a Governess, two servants and Sarah Calton, a woman of ‘Independent Means’. In 1842, Lucy Harriet Haywood Walker, was also born in Bowdon. [20]

The eastern façade of Peter Leicester’s house, Spring Bank, Ashley Road, Altrincham. This side and its northern façade, dated from around 1827.The southern façade was altered in the early 20th century. The house was demolished at the end of the last century, but lives on in the name of what is its former grounds, Spring Bank Park, where water still seeps.

16 The Mount, next door to 14 The Mount, Altrincham, both built in 1836 a year earlier than Walker’s house, on land also bought from John Clarke.

14 The Mount, Altrincham. Houses at this time had blind windows due to the window tax, lifted in 1851. The panes in the sash windows are small, as sheet glass was expensive. It was not until the late 1840s that a new process for making large panes of sheet glass was introduced.

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BOWDON DOWNS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The adjacent land to the south of Walker’s plot, which was part of Church Gate Field, was still owned by John Clarke on the 1839 ‘Dunham Massey Tithe Apportionment’ map. Clarke died in 1842 and on 27th of December 1847, his executors sold the western part of the middle section to the trustees of the Bowdon Downs Congregational Church (Grade II Listed), the chief one of whom was Ibotson Walker, who was also its Deacon from 1844-47. He had been a joint founder and main purchaser of an existing small chapel, the basic shape of which can still be seen at what is now 12 and 14 The Downs, Altrincham. Walker was responsible for the building of the new church, which is in Perpendicular Gothic style, on the newly acquired land. The church was described in the December 1847 Walker conveyance as ‘now being erected’ and it was dedicated in June 1848. There is a right of way from what is now Higher Downs, over the adjoining land, in the form of a wide driveway designed for the carriages of the wealthy locals. The fine church was listed in 1974 following a campaign by Bowdon Downs Residents’ Association, who prevented it from being demolished. It is now occupied and cared for by a thriving Upper Room Christian Fellowship, which is non- denominational. It is also used and appreciated at meetings of Bowdon History Society.

The newly built Bowdon Downs Congregational Church in 1848 (above). The couple standing in the grounds of Beech Grove are probably Ibotson Walker and his wife Eliza. This print shows the Church before the addition of transepts and lengthening of the nave in 1868. The houses on Beechfield and Bowdon Road had not been built, so only open fields at the top of the hill are seen beyond.

The interior of the Church in 2010 looking east (left), with its hammer beam roof.

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ENLARGING THE GROUNDS OF BEECH GROVE On 29th of December 1847, the trustees of John Clarke’s estate sold for £837 3s. 3d., over a third of what remained of Church Gate Field, which was adjacent to Ibotson Walker’s land, to form a unified plot of nearly three acres. Covenants in both the 1837 and 1847 conveyances restrict the over-development and the use of both plots. In October 1848, Ibotson Walker took advantage of the new Altrincham Gas Works and had gas brought up to the house to provide both internal and external 1847 indenture plan. Ibotson Walker bought the lighting. In September 1849, he would adjacent land which extended his garden. Land to the have been able to catch the train to southwest was bought to build Bowdon Downs Manchester from Bowdon Terminus at the Congregational Church, while that to the south bottom of The Downs. became Beechfield.

BEECHFIELD Joseph S. Grafton bought the most southerly section of Church Gate Field also on 29th of December 1847 and had built the four semi-detached houses forming Beechfield by 1853. He was a merchant and a Deacon of the church from 1847-57, living at Richmond Hill, Bowdon, but by 1864 had moved to 4 Beechfield, with his widow, Mary, living there until at least 1874. Their daughter, Sarah, married Thomas Coward, who figures later in the Sidebotham family. Grafton’s son was an architect and it was perhaps he who was responsible for this fine example of the newly revived Gothic style, with the splendid barge boards and red and white brick work defining the structure of the houses. In 1836, Augustus Pugin had rejected the ‘pagan’ classical forms in favour of the medieval architecture of England in his True Principals of Gothic Architecture. Stucco was rejected in favour of exposed and honest brickwork, stone or timber, with ornament enriching the essential construction of a building.

Numbers 3 and 4 Beechfield, built by 1853, next to the Bowdon Downs Congregational Church, to the right.

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IBOTSON WALKER’S MOVE BACK TO YORKSHIRE In the 1851 Census, Ibotson Walker is described as a ‘Merchant and Manufacturer’, living with his wife Eliza and their three daughters now of ages 16, 12 and 9 who were at ‘School at Home’. His step-daughter, also listed as Eliza, whose full name was Ellen Elizabeth Humphreys, was also there, aged 21. The family had the impressive number of eleven servants: a cook; a housemaid; a kitchen maid; a housekeeper; four house servants; a butler; a footman and an usher. Ibotson Walker had moved out of Beech Grove by 1857, his 18-year- old daughter Eliza, having died there in 1853. When he bought the land and built the house, he was surrounded on three sides by fields. However, with the selling of Lord Stamford’s land for development, for example that which formed Higher Downs in 1851, the area was rapidly becoming a suburb of Altrincham. Ibotson himself died a widower in May 1864, having moved back to his home town of Balby, near Doncaster in Yorkshire, with his daughter Sarah Louisa, in a house called The Elms. He appears continuously in the electoral rolls from 1842 to 1869, as owning and occupying a freehold house and land on Bowdon Downs in Dunham Massey. His will written and proved in 1864, left an estate valued at under £7,000, mainly to his two surviving natural daughters, Sarah Louisa and Lucy. It refers to his ownership of and rental income from Beech Grove and also that of 66, 68 and 70 The Downs in Altrincham, the charming houses on the corner of New Street. He had owned the land since at least 1835, as seen in the ‘Altrincham Tithe Apportionment’ (proved 1839) and associated map (1835). His step-daughter Ellen Elizabeth Humphreys, who already ‘being already amply provided for’, was left £15 ‘that she might buy a brooch or ring as a remembrance’. One of the Executors of his will was his brother-in-law and partner, John Walker, husband of Ibotson’s sister, Anne. They were living at Church Bank on Richmond Hill, Bowdon by 1851 until at least 1864.

WILLIAM JOHNSON Probably the first person to rent Beech Grove was William Johnson (Manchester 1811-1860 Bowdon), being described in the directories as a ‘Merchant’ (1859) and as an ‘Iron Founder’ (1860). He was in business in Manchester with his brother Richard, as a manufacturer of sheet metals and wire. Richard was living at Greenbank in Bowdon in 1855. William had moved to Beech Grove from Brookfield House, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. In October 1860, described as a ‘Wire Drawer’ aged 49, he died at Beech Grove of a ‘low fever’ and ‘general exhaustion’. His will made at ‘Beech Grove’ in February 1860 left his £11,000 estate, with no leaseholds, to his wife, Emma and their children. The 1861 Census for ‘Beech Grove’ refers to his widow age 42, described as having ‘Interest of Money & Landed Property’. She was living there with her son George, aged 7 and daughter Emma, aged This classical monument in Bowdon 14 and three servants. William Johnson is buried in church yard is above William Johnson’s Bowdon, the inscription on his monument referring to grave. It is also a memorial to his wife his death at Beech Grove. Emma, who died in Beirut in 1904.

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JOSEPH THOMPSON By 1864, Joseph Thompson J.P., L.L.D. (Manchester 1833-1909), had moved from South Bank at the top end of Higher Downs, to rent Beech Grove from Ibotson Walker himself and then the executors of his estate, for at least two years. He lived there with his wife Mary and their children. Beech Grove was detached and had larger grounds. At a young age, when still at school, upon the premature death of his father, he became the head of Joseph Thompson & Son. This was a well-established firm of cotton spinners, weavers and manufacturers of ‘domestics’, tea cloths and sheeting with a large mill in (Slater, 1861). He described himself in the 1861 Census, as a ‘Cotton Weaver and Merchant employing 106 Men and 537 Women’. He was a Deacon at the Bowdon Downs Congregational Church 1858-66 and in 1882 he wrote a history of Joseph Thompson, who rented Congregationalism. As a Trustee of the Beech Grove in the mid-1860s. Congregational Chapel, he employed the architect Alfred Waterhouse to design the building in 1862-63. As Town Councillor for Ardwick in 1865, Joseph Thompson was on the sub-committee of the Manchester Town Hall competition, which Alfred Waterhouse won. Letters from Waterhouse to him in the 1870s, show Thompson’s involvement over the choice of heraldry, subjects for murals and decoration of the Town Hall. Waterhouse also designed Owens College in 1869, with which Thompson was also heavily involved, having become a great educationalist. In 1857, he had been a mature student at Quay Street, the college in the house of reformer Richard Cobden, which formed the basis for Owens College. He wrote a history of Owens College and became a Life Governor and Member of the Council and no doubt he knew Dr Arthur Ransome through the College, as well as via their choice of architect. They were both members of the Bowdon Literary and Scientific Club. He was an Alderman for Ardwick and went on to become a J.P. He was always on the Liberal side of politics and reform. He had moved from Bowdon by 1867 and in the 1871 Census was living with his family at Woodlands, Fulshaw Park in Wilmslow.

The vault of Joseph Thompson and his family in the centre of Bowdon church yard, by the central crossing path

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THE AGGRANDISEMENT OF BEECH GROVE A later resident, Joseph Sidebotham, took a photograph of the house in 1867. To the left can be seen the bow window on the southern elevation, which was probably part of the original 1837 house. It was not a significant enough feature to be shown in the simplified ‘Dunham Massey Tithe Apportionment Map (see page 18). By the time the photograph was taken, a two storied splayed bay had been added to the front elevation. This can be seen to be an extension, as in the cellars, the original foundation walls have been broken into. The arrangement of the timbers in the roof void above the bay provides further proof. The bay does not appear on the detailed Local Board of Health Plans of 1852 (see page 19), as only a portion of the house was depicted. The changes to the façade are most likely to have been carried out by Ibotson Walker, perhaps whilst still living in the house before renting it, which was by 1857. It is unlikely to have been done by his executors, who had control between 1864 and 1868. If the original 1837 house was of red brick or stucco, it is likely that it was at the time of this extension, that the house was faced in the ashlar seen in the 1867 photograph, either to hide ill-matching brick or to be more lasting and practical than stucco, which had also become unfashionable. The ashlars typically were of a uniform height within each course, but varied in their length and also in the height of each course. They gave a refined, substantial appearance, aspiring to the likes of Tatton Park at Knutsford, Cheshire. Whether faced in 1837 or at a later period, the look would have been unusual for the houses in the Altrincham area, the façades of which are predominately red or white brick or of more elaborate stonework. There are pieces of dressed, rectangular stone, now forming the retaining walls of the driveway at the entrance to the grounds, which I strongly suspect came from the ashlar façade of Beech Grove. They could have been removed when the façade of the house was altered again in 1897-98, after it had becomes St Anne’s Home in 1884.

A photograph printed from a collodio- albumen negative of The Beeches in the snow by Joseph Sidebotham, dated 1867, whilst he was still renting the house. The façade and bow window were faced in stone, while the side elevations were in stucco.

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JOSEPH SIDEBOTHAM The next occupant of Beech Grove was the calico printer, Joseph Sidebotham (Apethorn House, Hyde 1824-1885 Erlesdene, Bowdon), who moved there from Ashton-upon-Mersey by 1866, with wife Anne and their six children. He was man of considerable scientific attainments, rubbing shoulders with the top names of the day, albeit in an amateur capacity. Joseph was a polymath who had the skills, time and wealth, along with the enthusiasm, to venture into a variety of fields, as well as commissioning significant architectural projects.

The Sidebotham family had established the cotton industry in Hyde in the 18th century and Joseph’s father, Joseph Sidebotham senior, was the manager of Gibraltar Mill. Joseph was born on 17th of January 1824 and was baptised in St Lawrence’s, Denton the following month, on 15th of February. Educated firstly at Denton Chapel under Reverend Parr Gresswell, young Joseph attended Grammar School until he was 14, followed by Manchester Grammar until he was 16, where he showed an aptitude for mechanical science and natural history. After an apprenticeship started on 10th of January 1840 with the Manchester calico printers Nelson, Knowles & Co. in Bury, he became a Junior Partner at Melland, Appleby and Sidebotham in 1846. Subsequently, he joined the Strines Printing Company in 1847, becoming a Partner two years later and remaining a Director until his retirement in June 1876. His Partners at his retirement were Thomas and Charles Nevill. The company printed calico in a large factory situated on the Joseph Sidebotham in 1862. This carte de , at Strines in Derbyshire, on the visite is one of his own, which appears in an border with Cheshire. They pioneered the large photograph album of members of the scale use of alizarin in place of natural madder Manchester Photographic Society. and their beautiful scarlets were celebrated. Samples of their printed calico, with their associated registration details, appear in their unfaded glory, in a set of pattern books dating from 1868-81, in Manchester Local Studies and Archives. The range of styles is vast, from traditional small flowers and paisley patterns in rich, dark colours to geometric patterns in high key colours, which if not so firmly dated, would be described as Art Deco. The offices of the Strines Printing Company were at 19 George Street, Manchester.

Joseph Sidebotham’s paternalistic attitude towards his employees included the provision of lectures and a library for the workforce at Strines. Upon his retirement, he gave a different book of his choosing to each of the workers, with a list being made in the Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’ of 1875-76. He put the proceeds from the partnership into railway stock. He then

[27] became a County Magistrate of Cheshire. He was a land and colliery proprietor at Hyde and Haughton, Cheshire through large inheritances from brothers Edward Lowe Sidebotham of Shepley and Cheltenham, who was a bachelor and John Sidebotham of Kingston House, Hyde, a widower. They were Joseph’s first cousins once removed, who had left no offspring. Since 1852, Joseph Sidebotham had been a member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, contributing to their Proceedings on a regular basis, as well as becoming a Councillor. He had attended classes in natural history at the Manchester Mechanics Institute, where he was taught the use of the microscope by John B. Dancer in around 1846. Dancer was an optical and scientific instrument maker, who had practised photography since the introduction of the Daguerreotype in 1841. In 1858, Sidebotham became a founder and the Vice President of the Microscopical Collection. One of his papers in 1871 was ‘On the Microscopical Examination of Dust Blown into a Railway-carriage near Birmingham’.

He was also a founder of the Manchester Photographic Society, being its first Secretary in 1855. Through Sidebotham’s promotion of the Society, it became part of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society in 1857. The Photographic Society brought together professionals, amateurs and dealers who met to discuss and present new techniques, equipment and examples of their photographs. Sidebotham described himself as ‘An Amateur Photographer’, in his contributions to the photographic journals, but with the encouragement of Dancer, had been successful before 1851 with the Henry Fox ’s Calotype process, which had unlicensed use for amateurs. He also produced early microphotographs, and wrote an article, defending Dancer as the inventor of them. In 1851, Sidebotham went to London to interview Frederick Scott Archer, who had just published the wet collodion technique. He brought the information back to Manchester. It involved creating negatives by binding the light-sensitive chemical silver nitrate to glass plates with collodion. This was a viscous liquid of guncotton dissolved in ether or alcohol, which had been used during the Crimean War to dress wounds. The resulting contact prints, exposed with sunlight on smooth, thin paper coated with treated albumen (egg white), could be produced in multiples.

With his great friend and later fellow Bowdon resident, the professional photographer James Mudd (Halifax 1821-1910 Bowdon), he advanced the method of taking negatives using the waxed paper technique in 1855. In 1857 they improved the quality of the photographic image, by refining Taupenot’s technique of coating collodion glass negatives with egg white, called ‘collodio-albumen’, after thousands of trials at their homes. These were dry processes, which required a long exposure time, but were more convenient when out in the field. They took fine ‘pictorial’ photographs of romantic ruins and wild landscapes. James Mudd was living at Greenbank on Rosehill, Bowdon with his sister and brother-in-law in the 1861 Census, described as a ‘Photographer and Pattern Designer’. He was also an artist who exhibited his work. By 1864, until his death aged 80 on 31st of January 1910 (not in 1906), he lived at 1 Richmond Hill, with his only child James. Mudd is buried in Bowdon church yard with his mother, son and three of his sisters, who had lived with him and in the house next door at 2 Richmond Hill.

Sidebotham also collaborated with Arthur Neild, a cotton spinner and manufacturer. In the mid-1850s, he was living at Dingle Bank West on East Downs Road, Bowdon, next to his

[28] brother Alfred at Dingle Bank East and his father William Neild at High Lawn, who was later Mayor of Manchester. Like Sidebotham, Arthur Neild was an amateur photographer. He was on the first Council of the Society. Along with other members, Mudd, Sidebotham and Neild exhibited topographical photographs of England and Wales, created by a variety of different negative and printing techniques, in order to demonstrate their successes.

Lyme Park, Derbyshire (far left) by Joseph Sidebotham, 1868.

The gateway at Raglan Castle (left), taken by Joseph Sidebotham using an experimental waxed paper negative in 1857.

Mudd and Sidebotham’s photographs and writings (often under pseudonyms) were included in the ‘The Strines Journal’ (1852-60), a hand-written, single copy publication, covering the arts and science, produced for the education and enlightenment of The Strines Printing Company workers. Sidebotham took a photograph of an innovative Steam Hammer in 1852 designed by his friend, James Nasmyth, expressly for the Journal. He also took the informal photographs of life at The Beeches, which were pasted into the Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’ between 1872 and 1885 and into an album and scrap book collated by his son, Edward.

Joseph was also a keen botanist and entomologist and was a joint founder of the Field Naturalists’ Society, being its first Treasurer. Another friend, the botanist Leo H. Grindon, wrote his biography and described his microscopical contributions, including the identification of 25 species of Manchester flora along the banks of the Tame. In his conservatories at The Beeches and later at Erlesdene on Green Walk, he cultivated the botanically ‘rare and quaint’ from abroad and from the English meadow. As an entomologist, he increased the list of Coleopteran (beetles) and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). Watercolours of items that took his fancy were painted in the pages of the Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’. He also painted some Wedgwood porcelain plates with English wildflowers. Another of his interests was to design sun dials, with the help of his children. He also mused on philosophical matters, one of his talks being on ‘The Meaning, Sources and Distribution of Happiness’.

Astronomy was another of his interests, being a lecturer on the subject at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He was a friend of Professor Piazzi Smyth, the Astronomer-Royal for Scotland. With the help of Dancer and James Nasmyth, an astronomer and photographer as well as inventor, Joseph constructed a great telescope in the gardens of Gibraltar Mill at Hyde. He also built an observatory in the grounds of The Beeches which moved with the family to Erlesdene on Green Walk in 1879.

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The white brick, circular observatory being rebuilt in the grounds of Erlesdene on Green Walk, Bowdon in March 1879, following the family’s move from The Beeches. The photograph was pasted into the Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’ at that time. The observatory had appeared in the grounds of The Beeches on the OS Plan, surveyed in 1876 (see page 52).

The brickwork and the cast iron telescope stand of the observatory still stand in the grounds of Erlesdene.

LIFE MARRIED TO ANNE COWARD This talented and kindly man had married Anne Coward at St Mary’s Church in Bowdon on 26th of August 1852. They then went on a tour of North Wales. Anne was born in Manchester on 31st of March 1823 and was baptised at the Grosvenor Street Chapel, Manchester. Her father was Edward Coward of Melland and Coward, bleachers and manufacturers of ginghams, denims, checks and the like. He and his wife, Alice (née Joule), vacated their house in Upper Brook Street, Manchester for the couple and moved to Victoria Terrace on The Downs in Altrincham. By 1857, Edward Coward was living at 7 Higher Downs, Dunham Massey, which was a semi-detached house, the other side of which was lived in by his son, Thomas, at 8 Higher Downs. Thomas Coward (Manchester 1819-1895 Bowdon), a calico printer by 1861, was Anne Sidebotham’s elder brother, but also a naturalist friend of Joseph. In 1858, he had married Sarah Grafton, daughter of Joseph S. [30]

Grafton, the developer of the houses at Beechfield and later a resident there. Thomas and Sarah’s son became the famous Cheshire naturalist, Thomas Alfred Coward (Dunham Massey 1867-1933 Bowdon). In 1867, Thomas junior was baptised at the Bowdon Downs Congregational Church on Beechfield, with which the family were much involved. Thomas senior had been a Minister at Hatherlow Cheshire from 1843-50. Members of the family later supported the Manchester Hospital for Consumption when the in-patients moved to The Beeches, to become St Anne’s Home. Thomas Coward senior lived at 8 Higher Downs until his death in 1895. Thomas junior delighted in the owls and bats in woodland boundary of The Beeches, opposite his house. At time of writing, they still inhabit the grounds and surrounding area of St Anne’s, to the delight of current residents and passers-by.

In around 1855, Joseph and Anne Sidebotham moved to a large, picturesque house called Park Villa on Cross Street in Ashton-upon-Mersey, well north of Altrincham. From the photograph taken in 1856, it looks like the house was newly built. The couple were typical of the merchant and professional classes who were moving out of the crowded, dirty, immoral and crime-filled cities to the surrounding suburbs, which by then had good rail connections. Joseph appears in the 1861 Census as a ‘Merchant and Calico Printer’, with Anne and their four children, the youngest being Edward John, aged nine months. A little girl, Emily Alice had died at an age of just one year in 1856. Joseph’s widowed mother Ann, aged 75, was living with them, having moved out of Apethorn House, Hyde in Cheshire. The family had a cook, a servant and three nurses living in the household.

A formal photograph of Anne Sidebotham with her son Edward John, age two, c. 1862 (left). This was taken by Joseph and printed on one of his a photographic cartes de visite, with his monogram on the reverse. Boys were put in dresses until they were ‘breeched’. It is the side parting of the hair to the left, which shows the child to be a boy.

Park Villa on the Ashton Lane end of Cross Street in Ashton-upon-Mersey, Sale (right). The photograph was taken in 1856. The family lived here for about 12 years, before moving to Bowdon in 1866. All but one of the Sidebothams’ seven children were born in Ashton-upon-Mersey.

[31]

THE MOVE TO BEECH GROVE, BOWDON By November 1866, the Sidebothams had moved from Ashton-upon-Mersey, to rent the house called Beech Grove in Bowdon, at the top of The Downs, south of Altrincham town centre. They were probably the next tenants after Joseph Thompson, who had by then moved to Wilmslow, Cheshire. We glean the indicative date from a handwritten ‘List of Apple Trees, Beech Grove’ that had been purchased, dated November 1866. Two photographs, one of the house (see page 26) and another of a game of croquet below, are dated 1867 (the latter in the later hand of Joseph’s son, Edward). Joseph first appears in the 1868-69 electoral roll as occupying a rented house on The Downs, Dunham Massey with the standard ‘Rateable Value of £12 and Under £50 Rental.’

On 31st of December 1868, Joseph Sidebotham bought Beech Grove from the trustees of the estate of Ibotson Walker. In the 1871 electoral roll, he is listed as living at ‘Beech Grove’, which is described as a ‘freehold house and land’ with a ‘Rent of £50 or upwards’, in his ‘own occupation’. His biographer and friend, the botanist Leo Grindon, later described the house as a ‘capital residence’.

In the Census for 1871, along with the subsequent directories and electoral rolls, the house is always described as ‘The Beeches’, the name having been changed. Suited to the sandy soil of the area, there is still a mature green beech tree in the grounds and several more copper beech trees nearby, marking the line of the ancient pathway and burial route between Altrincham and Bowdon Parish Church and its graveyard. The entry in the Census shows Joseph as a ‘Calico Printer & Merchant’, with his wife Anne, their six children aged between 6 and 17, along with four domestic servants.

Joseph Sidebotham photographed his family at Beech Grove playing croquet on the purpose- laid lawn in 1867. Croquet was very popular locally, with around 48 grounds marked on the OS Plan surveyed in 1876. It was a sport played relatively easily by ladies and girls, despite being hindered by their cumbersome attire. The houses of Beechfield and Bowdon Downs Congregational Church, can be seen through the trees. The high stone boundary wall was not built until 1875 (see page 4 and end-piece). [32]

THE SIDEBOTHAM ‘FAMILY DIARY’ 1872 - 1885 At the Beeches on 1st of January 1872, Joseph Sidebotham wrote on the first page of a soft, leather-bound notebook,

‘This is to be our “family diary”. We are all to contribute to it what we please & it is intended that it should be in the care of each one for a week at a time, whose duty it must be to see that a daily record is kept of our doing. There will be no objections to illustrations where desired.’

This was to be the first of 12 notebooks, with the last entry being on 31st of December 1885, seven months after Joseph’s death. They are all divided between the direct descendents of the family, some having very kindly allowed photography of the contents. Initially the ‘Family Diary’ was taken on the extended holidays. However, once some of the children were older and no longer joined their parents, a ‘Travel’ diary and a ‘Home’ diary, were written concurrently.

Contributions were made by all the children, some more enthusiastically than others: Edith Watson (EWS b.1853); Joseph Watson (Joe) (JWS b.1857); Mary Lilian (Lily) (MLS/LMS b.1858); Edward John (Eddie) (EJS b.1860); Annie Elisabeth (AES b.1862) and young James Nasmyth (Nay) (JNS b.1864). The hand of ‘Mama’ does not seem to appear at all, with ‘Papa’ (JS) being the most prolific contributor.

The ‘Family Diary’ provides snapshots of life in a prosperous and well-educated, middle-class Victorian household, which had wide-ranging interests. Banal preoccupations with the weather and pets, appear next to mention of the scientific discoveries and great names and events of the day. Here follows just a few interesting or amusing excerpts, followed by images.

* Jan 23rd 1872 ‘Papa is making gas for the Magic Lantern this evening. JWS’

* Feb 4th 1872 ‘There was a splendid Aurora at night, mostly in the South West, where the sky was of a deep red, brilliant white streamers came to it from the North…JS’

* Feb 19th 1872 ‘I was in the observatory for some time tonight looking at the moon & Jupiter, the latter was very fine & all his moons visible.’ [JS]

* Feb 17th 1872 ‘Went to town in the morning, got some hollyhocks & carnations in the Market.’ [JS]

* Mar 6th 1872 ‘It has been a very fine day. Papa, Annie, Nay & I played at football this afternoon. This morning Papa took portraits of Lily, Annie, Nay and Muff. He could not take one of Old Bumper as she would not be quiet... JWS’

* Apr 29th 1872 ‘Papa went to Stockport this morning to be sworn in as churchwarden for St Margaret’s. Papa is afraid Eddie is beginning with mumps…JWS’

* Llandudno, Jun 4th 1872 ‘This afternoon Eddie and I went to the Postman’s “Camera Obscura” and afterwards round the Great Ormes Head. Edith, Lilian, Annie and Mary followed on shortly after. We all called for gingerbeer and pop…JWS’

* Jun 24th 1872 ‘Dunham Parsonage Bazaar is being held & is the sole topic of conversation at home, the weather is very unfavourable for it.’ [JS]

* Jun 25th 1872 ‘Still bazaars, & still unfavourable weather for it...JS’

* Oct 11th 1872 ‘Miss Martin came this morning and gave us our first dancing lesson, the boys liked it very much. Miss Linton and I went to town.’ [EWS] [33]

* Nov 5th 1872 ‘It is Lilian’s birthday. She had her presents yesterday, which consisted of A paintbox, Aunt Judy’s Magazine, The Doctors little daughter, a pretty little box from Miss Linton and a locket from Muff with his “parthuge” (portrait) and hair inside…JWS’

* Nov 9th 1872 ‘We had our fireworks on the 5th they were very nice. There were some beautiful roman candles…’ [AES]

* Dec 14th 1872 ‘A number of large failures in Manchester were announced today, some of them very unexpected. Poor old pussy died in the night.’ [JS]

* Jan 7th 1873 ‘It has been a fine day, but the “glass” is going down. Papa has bought a new barometer called “The Chameleon Barometer”. It indicates the change of weather by the different colors of a piece of paper. JWS’

* Jan 10th 1873 ‘Mama went to a sewing meeting at Mrs Neild’s yesterday afternoon…The Ex- Emperor of the French died yesterday morning, He had been very ill for some time…JWS’

* Mar 29th 1873 ‘Dear Mama’s birthday. I gave her a ring of opal & diamonds & the children gave her tortoiseshell comb.’ [JS]

th * Llandudno, Jun 12 1873 ‘Nay had rice pudding at his dinner today !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..!!’ [JS]

* Oct 11th 1873 ‘Got some old diaries of my father in 1814 & 1815 for Eddie to read’ [JS]

* Christmas Day, Dec 25th 1873 ‘I was at Hyde yesterday, we signed the deeds & took possession of the collieries at 4 o’clock.’ [JS]

* Nov 14th 1874 ‘…we printed some photographs. Eddie & I went to Dunham Hall, saw Mr [Robert] Platt. Miss Davenport showed us the kitchen & some of the paintings…’ [JS]

* January 1st 1875 ‘Another new years day & a great cause for thankfulness that we are all spared & together today. I have been thinking much how thankful we ought to be for all the mercies we enjoy. Comfortable home, food, clothes, fires and many other blessings, indeed I think no one in the world could be in happier station than we are. May we all cultivate a spirit of thankfulness & contentment & never forget to whom we all owe our blessings...’ [JS]

* Jan 14th 1875 ‘I went to town this morning with Papa and Joe to see some stone implements from a mine at Alderley.’ [EJS]

* Jan 20th 1875 ‘In the Evening we looked over some old drawings & sketches of Mama’s & mine, & also some photographs, some duplicates of which I gave to Eddie…JS’

* Feb 8th 1875 ‘Papa, Mama, Edith, Lily, Bertha, Joe and Miss Linton have gone to the Bowdon tea party. Papa is exhibiting two drawers of coins, a drawer of British moths, two of curious insects, and one of antiquities, also a stereoscope. EJS’

* Mar 15th 1875 ‘I went to look at the exhibition of paintings of the , they are but poor. Looked in to see Holman Hunt’s “Shadow of Death” which looks better the oftener one sees it.’ [JS]

* Apr 13th 1875 ‘Part of the stone came this morning for the new wall near the chapel.’ [JWS]

* Southport, Jun 5th 1875 ‘…the place very full of trippers, the street one continual roar of vehicles….Mr Joynson came & went with us a drive to Blowich, we went into the gardens, found a very low lot of people there, a sort of Belle Vue company…the Zoological collection consists of a bear & a few monkeys & birds very miserably housed.’ [JS]

* Sep 15th 1875 ‘I returned to Manchester [from Kingston] in a first class carriage, calculated to hold six passengers, it contained 20 and a baby besides myself!!’ [JS] [34]

* Sep 23rd 1875 ‘The Agricultural Show at Bowdon, Richard did not get a prize for his pig, it was entered in the wrong class.’ [JS] * Oct 31st 1875 ‘Edward and I went a walk this morning past the Bleeding Wolf & round by Motley Bank...’ [JS]

* Brighton, Nov 24th 1875 ‘….we went to see the aquarium, the Sea Lions etc, also to see the exhibition of Industrious fleas, & the death & burial of Cock Robin, on the Pier, we also went to the Pavilion & heard a concert…’ [JS]

* Manchester, Dec 8th 1875 ‘Cousin Sarah, Edith & I went to look thro the new Town Hall & went to the top of the Cooper Street tower, we were very much pleased, we also went to see the new statue to Oliver Cromwell.’ [JS]

* Christmas Day, Dec 25th 1875 ‘We had cards this morning. Mama and I 20, Edith 19, Joe 13, Lily 15, Annie 16, Edward 13 and Nay 12. Total 111. We had Edith’s class of little girls, & choir from St Margaret’s & others singing for us. Mama and I went to uncle Tom’s for a short time, the children were acting a charade.’ [JS]

* Jan 17th 1876 ‘It is dear Papa’s birthday, we have given him “Etchings from the National Gallery”, and Mama a book called “Nothing but Leaves”.’ [EWS]

* Feb 13th 1876 ‘Dr Ransome called to see Nay who had a boil on his neck.’ [JS]

* Feb 14th 1876 ‘Only three valentines came this morning.’ [AES]

* Feb 17th 1876 ‘The polling day in Manchester, it is very uncertain how the election will go, both sides worked very hard, & it will be a fair trial of strength of the two parties. I hope Powell will get in as I do not like Jacob Bright or his crochet.’ [JS]

* Mar 8th 1876 ‘I ordered a new carriage at Anne Cowburn’s this morning, it is to be ready in about a month. The price is £205.’ [JS]

* Jun 21st 1876 ‘Edward and I went to London on Thursday…At night we went to the Lyceum Theatre and saw Irving in “The Bells”, which was exceedingly nice…Saturday, we went by the Metropolitan Railway to South Kensington and went to the Exhibition of Scientific Instruments which is very fine and quite impossible to see in one visit….On Sunday we went to the Temple church in the morning and to Westminster Abbey in the afternoon where we had a beautiful service…’ [JWS]

* Jul 1st 1876 ‘I wrote to Mr Nasmyth yesterday and sent him a set of the curious phosphorescent powders, which absorb light and give it out again.’ [JS]

* Aug 26th 1876 ‘Our wedding day. Dear Mama gave me Hood’s poems illustrated by Birket Foster & a stand with shell Worcester ware I gave a couple of Worcester pilgrim’s bottles with butterflies on them and a little casket containing a couple of Wedgwood studs.’ [JS]

* Oct 7th 1876 ‘Edward and I went to Mr Mudd’s this afternoon to see his water-colour drawings. Mama had a letter from Aunt Lizzie from Berlin…JWS

* London, May 25th 1877 ‘I went to the Grosvenor Gallery exhibition. I was much amazed with some of the pictures, especially those of Whistlers. I think I could do a “Nocturn” [sic] or two as good as his, but would be ashamed to show them [to] anyone even if they were better! Holman Hunt’s, Alma Tadema & some few others are well worth seeing but not many..Joe and I went again in the afternoon, he said he thought Whistler must be out of his mind, & I think he is & either so or colour blind, or perhaps both.’ [JS]

* Menton Nov 26th 1877 ‘A very fine day. Corsica very distinctly visible this morning….’ [JS] [35]

THE GROUNDS AT THE BEECHES

On 24th of July 1874, ‘Papa bought the new game of “Badminton”’ and the children played it that evening. He photographed them the following evening and Eddie and Joseph printed the photographs and pasted them in the ‘Family Diary’. The 1868 extension to Bowdon Downs Congregational Church can be seen in the background.

Anne Sidebotham taken by Joseph on her (James) Nasmyth, the youngest child aged 8, birthday, 29th of March 1873. Anne never sat in the carriage of his train at ‘Beehive seems to be a willing subject in the few th Station’, taken on 29 of March 1873. The photographs we have of her. She is standing beehives can be seen against the wall behind, by a wall with a gothic arch, through which with the espaliered fruit trees. the workshop can be seen. [36]

THE WORKSHOP

The workshop behind the house, taken in July 1874. This is where the trial sundials were designed, photographs processed and cabinets made for entomological displays.

A trial sundial, April 1873 which when made up was mounted on the wall at The Beeches. It was later moved to Erlesdene and is still with the Sidebotham family.

The free- standing sundial in detail, with the initials ‘J S’ entwined. There appears to be a Eddie standing beside the sundial which telescope in the Joseph designed with his children. It was background. fitted up on 18th of July 1872.

[37]

THE SIDEBOTHAM FAMILY PETS

Muff was taken to see ‘his doctor’ in February 1874, who said he was afraid that he would go deaf, ‘unless care is taken of him.’ There was more concern when Muff went missing. In December 1874, Eddie reported, ‘Muff went for a walk by himself about breakfast time. Edith on her way to Mr Hodgson’s Bible Class met him and had to bring him back (11.45). (P.S.) I beat Muff well!!!’ In March 1876 he disappeared completely, and notices were put up offering a reward for his return and the ‘bellman’ was informed. He was eventually found.

One of the Sidebotham boys and an elder sister with a lamb, at the holiday home next to the Strines Printing Company works in the Goyt valley, Derbyshire. The photograph is dated September 1863.

[38]

Joseph senior reported that Edith trapped poor Blackie’s tail in the door, ‘but she Photograph taken on holiday in Menton of Edith says she did not do it on purpose.’ aged 24, December 1877.

Eddie illustrated this pottery cat that he saw at Joseph wrote on 15th of March 1873, Manorbier, while on holiday near Tenby. ‘Took a photo of Annie’s little white kitten’.

[39]

THE WEATHER

‘Saturday Dec. 29th 1877. A splendid day. Mama and I watched the sunrise at 7.32. It was very beautiful.’ Menton, France.

The robin house inherited from Kingswood House, Hyde in the garden of The Beeches January 1876. Behind is Bowdon Downs Congregational Church, with its transept added in 1868. The dark marking on the roof is presumably where the snow has fallen away.

Most entries in the ‘Family Diary’ started with a brief weather report, as a way of getting into the flow. The rainfall was measured each day and the annual amount was sometimes recorded in the end pages. This photograph of a giant snowman (note the size of the shovel), was taken on a particularly snowy day in December 1878 and pasted into the ‘Family Diary’. Higher Downs and Upper Downs are in the background, beyond the wall. There is another print in Edward Sidebotham’s photograph album, held by Manchester Archives and Local Studies. [40]

HOLIDAYS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Anne Sidebotham with her children and a carriage driver on a road near Southport, 1st of May 1865. Travel in the countryside may have been traffic-free in those days, but the state of roads could be a problem. The photograph was saved in Edward’s album and the caption states that it was printed from a ‘waxed paper negative’, described as a ‘new dry process’. Unlike a wet collodion glass negative, it did not require cumbersome developing equipment out in the field.

The Great Orme Cromlech (a Neolithic burial chamber), near Llandudno in north Wales, photographed on 16th of June 1873 when the family were on a seaside holiday. The interests of the family were wide, ranging from botany and astronomy to art and archaeology.

[41]

THE SEASIDE

Shell of the brown-lipped snail collected in a field near Tenby, 29th of August 1874.

A sand-yacht which gave rides on the beach at Southport, Lancashire, illustrated on 25th of May 1875 by Joseph.

‘Relics of Southport Visit’, 1875

The roller skating rink at Southport portrayed by Eddie, 13th of June 1875.

[42] TH TRAVEL ABROAD

Glace Vénetienne – the desert at the Grand Hotel de Menton, Boxing Day 1877. It consisted of a shade of red and green ice with a light inside, surrounded by ice fruits.

Arbutus Unedo (Strawberry plant), A watercolour by Joseph of a local establishment Menton, along the East Bay at Menton, towards Italy, 1st of December, December 1876. The family did many walks along 1876. the coast and inland up the valley.

A ‘curious conceit’ seen painted on the wall of a villa in Italy, while on a walk across the border from Menton, by Joseph and Mama, 11th of November 1876.

‘Thursday December 20th 1877. Edward, Nay and I went by train to Ventimiglia & walked back, Enjoyed the walk much.’ [43]

‘BOWDON WHITE BRICK’ With its large grounds and convenient, leafy location, Joseph Sidebotham chose to extend The Beeches in order to make more room for his family and possessions. He did so between 1869 and March 1872 on the garden side (see page 48) and in 1876 on Woodville Road (see page 55). The material he chose was a hard, smooth, creamy white or buff fire brick. It was not specified in any sale of land or property conveyance, nor was it sourced locally. It was a fashion started in the 1840s, by the land owners and builders who developed the residential Rosehill area of Bowdon, along with at least seven other smaller developments locally in Bowdon and Altrincham. Contrary to the current belief, it was only later in 1859, that agents of local landowner, the 7th Earl of Stamford started to reinforce this already well-established character, by specifying ‘white brick’ for the building material as a condition of sale of his land for housing.

The ‘white brick’ houses on East Downs Road and Richmond Hill in Bowdon, are in a desirable location, southeast of St Mary’s Church, on the level top and southerly slope of Bowdon Hill, with extensive views over the . In the ‘Bowdon Tithe Apportionment’ of 1839 and map of 1838, the area consisted of ‘Arable’ land occupied by George Pimlott (Plots 57, 58, 59 & 66) and a smaller plot of ‘Garden’ occupied by Thomas Pownall (Plot 60). They were owned by Thomas Assheton Smith Esq (junior) (London 1776- 1858 Vaynol, Gywnedd). He was a wealthy landed proprietor, celebrated fox hunter and cricketer living at Tedham House, Hampshire, who was a descendent of the Asshetons of nearby Ashley Hall, Ashley, Cheshire. In around 1841, he sold off his freehold parcels of land in Bowdon and Bowdon Vale to local residents and developers. In the mid-1840s at Rosehill, the conveyances indicate a complex series of land transactions, with the street directories and Census showing that the houses had been built by 1850. East Downs Road partially followed the line of an existing footpath shown on the Tithe map. The area was given the picturesque name of ‘Rosehill’. The recurring names in the conveyances include John Barratt, the wealthy maltster and grocer located on the Market Place in Altrincham, his sons James Barratt, Samuel Barratt and William Barratt and his son-in-law Richard Hampson.

This flurry of building activity is likely to have been in anticipation of the Act of Parliament passed in July 1845, for raising the capital for and the construction of a railway line from the centre of Manchester to a new terminus at the foot of The Downs in Altrincham, called ‘Bowdon’. Finally opening in September 1849, it provided a 1st Class Express service of 20 minutes, as well as one of 30 minutes. As in a similar development of the time at Alderley Edge, Cheshire, the spacious, semi-detached villas and terraced houses were occupied by merchants and professionals, wishing to escape from the rapidly industrialising city of Manchester. Commuters from Bowdon going by train, would have had a coachman to take them to the station, or else there were willing cab drivers waiting outside St Mary’s Church. By 1849, Bowdon was already recognised as an early commuter suburb of Manchester and was also noted for its pale brick:-

The houses have a remarkable light, clean and elegant appearance; many of them are erected of a light yellow kind of brick, others are stuccoed, and some built in red brick, most of which have sprung up within the last 10 years. The Earl of Stamford is bringing a quantity of land into the market for building purposes; and the increased facilities of communications with Manchester, in consequence of the opening of the railway during the present year [1849], will no doubt give an impetus to building, and add greatly to the prosperity an importance of Bowden [sic]. (Bagshaw’s, 1850) [44]

The pale brick was enlivened with simple Italianate features, which gave a light and airy Mediterranean look in the English climate. As the air was cleaner and purer in the new, still primarily rural and low density suburbs such as Bowdon, it did not get too blackened. Fire brick is very hard and durable, so had the advantages of stone, but was not as expensive. In the case of The Beeches, it also blended well with the stone ashlar façade. Pre-moulded bricks could provide decoration or emphasise key elements. Brick was also seen more honest and practical than stucco, which had gone out of fashion in London by the mid-1840s. The Builder in 1844, described stucco-faced buildings as ‘ephemeral structures’, as poor brickwork could easily be covered up. Despite the availability of branded cements, it was harder to maintain.

Fire brick is produced from refractory or fireclay, found in Coal Measures, just beneath the coal seams and so was usually mined rather than quarried. It was crushed, finely ground, then mixed with 'grog' for strength, followed by a firing at a high temperature for several days. Pale fire bricks are very different in quality and colour to either the greyish Gault brick or yellowish, friable London common stocks. An initial survey reveals that all the ‘white brick’ houses built in the area between the early 1840s and 1850 were of three distinct types.

As of yet, the sources of any of the three types of white brick used between the early 1840s and 1850, have not been established. There were several brickfields and kilns shown on 19th century maps of the area including those in Bowdon Vale; west of Dunham Hall and north of Sandiway Place. Most likely these produced the small, rough, blackened red bricks of the houses and cottages nearby at each location, saving on transport costs. ‘White brick’ is a more expensive, better quality product, so transport costs were not necessarily an issue. ‘Imported’ materials were simply a sign of greater wealth.

Unless any of the bricks have a maker’s mark or inscription or serendipity research turns up an invoice or a letter, we may never know their place of manufacture, presumably associated with a coalfield. The first reference in The Builder to a specific white brick is that of ‘Rugby Brick’ in 1860. From the 1860s fire bricks from the Pease coalfields were used to build Henry Pease’s Saltburn by the Sea. Houses in the local area built in the 1870s onwards used buff or yellowish factory-made bricks from J.C. Edwards and Dennis from Ruabon, Wales, while others come from manufacturers in , north of Manchester.

The row of five houses on the left going up Richmond Road, Bowdon, were built in the 1840s with a unique small, white brick with a greyish tinge. The second white brick used at that time, seen on other houses on East Downs Road at Rosehill and Groby Place, Altrincham is of a regular type and size of buff white fire brick.

[45]

The third brick type has a variable, yellowish grey tinge, in an unusually large size of c.10 x 5 x 4 ¾ inches. These seem to have been made of a slip with grog, rather than moulded clay and may have been meant to resemble stone. They were used in several houses in the local area, including the villas on Rosehill, Bowdon, such as Laurel Mount (top left) and Thornhill (top right). They were also used at Osborne Place, off The Downs in Altrincham (left), which shows the mis-match of size at the corner of the regular red brick with the larger facing brick. The same brick can also be seen at Chesham Place, Bowdon; Yewbank and Apsley Grove in Bowdon Vale and Sandiway Road (far left), Sandiway Place and at 12 The Mount to the north of Altrincham. All the houses were built between the early 1840s and 1850, much of it on Barratt land.

Interestingly, St Margaret’s church in nearby Dunham Massey, which was commissioned by George Harry, 7th Earl of Stamford and Warrington (Enville 1827-Bradgate Hall 1883) and begun in 1851, was originally intended to have been built of ‘white brick’ (Balshaw’s, 1855). It was named after his sister Margaret Millbank (née Grey), who died in 1852. In the end, a delay in construction, followed by a competition and a change of architect, saw it built of red brick faced with stone, held together with iron rods (see pages 63-64). Perhaps there was not a large enough supply of white bricks of a consistent colour and quality or else the budget allowed the use of stone, after the recent land sales described below.

The young 7th Earl of Stamford inherited extensive estates including Dunham Massey, Enville in Staffordshire and Bradgate, Leicestershire, upon the death in 1845 of his grandfather the 6th Earl of Stamford (who had survived his son). After July 1848, when he had come of age, he started to sell off agricultural land for housing developments in Dunham Massey, Bowdon and Altrincham, a trend his grandfather had been against. In 1851 the first sales of land for housing, were those which became the red brick houses on Higher Downs. The counterpart conveyances state the houses were to be built in either ‘brick’ or ‘stone’ (D1, 2, 3 & 4).

[46]

The next wave of development came in 1855-56, with the sale of land for the semi-detached stucco houses on The Firs, St Margaret’s Road and Woodville Road, coinciding with the completion of St Margaret’s Church. Other houses built on land sold in the 1850s, such as Mayfield (D13, 1854), Highfield and Fremont (D27, 1858), on St Margaret’s Road, were built in ‘white brick’, but there is no formal requirement in the conveyance to do so. The first time that a Stamford conveyance, drawn up by his agent, specifies the house should be ‘faced with white brick towards the road or roads’, was for land on Heald Road sold on 7th of May 1859 to Mr Edward Boyer, upon which was built The Oaks (B31). No particular brick company is mentioned, though this may have been agreed informally. The extensive Stamford Estates in Enville, Staffordshire are likely to have produced fire bricks in association with coal mining or Stamford may have held shares in a particular company, but further research is required to establish if either are supposition or fact. Therefore, it can be seen that the 7th Earl of Stamford was only latterly responsible for the predominance of white brick in the area and was only reinforcing the fashion started by the local developers of the 1840s.

ALTERATIONS TO THE BEECHES BY JOSEPH SIDEBOTHAM There were no specifications in the conveyances of 1837 and 1847, drawn up at the sale of the land, as to building materials to be used to face any dwelling. Unrestricted, Joseph Sidebotham still chose to follow the local fashion for ‘white brick’, established in the mid- 1840s, for his extensions. The work done can be described reasonably well, by looking at the Italianate buildings themselves, which are still there. However, they are in some cases masked by later additions or are difficult to access. The detailed 1:500 OS Plan of Altrincham, published in 1878, but surveyed before 11th of February 1876, when they ‘commenced pulling down the box-room’, is very useful (see page 52). In addition, the photographs and information in the Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’ provide in some cases, very detailed information as to the ‘Progress of the Alterations.’ The extension on the garden side was added in the early 1870s. It is likely that the ‘box room’ in creamy white brick was also added at first floor level to the Woodville Road wing of the original house over this period. The Sidebothams went on extended family holidays in England, Wales and Europe, so no doubt had many travelling boxes and trunks to store. The footprint of this wing appears on the 1:500 OS Plan, along with out-houses and the stable building. All of these were demolished in March 1876, to be replaced by another creamy white brick extension built facing Woodville Road.

‘I took two views of the box room as it is at present as records of what it has been, to look at it after the house is altered. I was obliged to use dry plates as the tap was frozen in the photographic room.’ (Joseph Sidebotham, ‘Family Diary’, 12th of February 1876)

[47]

THE GARDEN EXTENSION 1869-71 The two-storied extension, mainly faced in creamy white brick, to the rear left of The Beeches on the garden side, was built between January 1869, by which time Joseph owned the house and late 1871, just before the ‘Family Diary’ of 1872-73 was written, there being no mention of it therein. The ‘Family Diary’ includes a photograph of The Beeches and its completed extension in March 1872 (see page 51). The large ground floor room of the garden extension was built for a library to house the family’s extensive collection of books. It later became the operating theatre for the 20th century hospital and at the time of writing its walls are covered in square, green tiles. However, the form of the original interior can still be made out, namely the chimney breast and recess of the bay window. The external features are also still all there, but far more intact. They include the charming oriel window, the roof and drop pendants of the bay window, the roof brackets and ridge tiles as well as the decorative Italianate creamy white brickwork. The stalk of the oriel window is now smothered in plaster and forms what is now an internal wall. Take away the 20th century additions and the 19th century building and its decorative elements are still there.

The library extension in June 1877, built earlier in the decade, to the left of the original 1837 house. It was built in creamy white brick, which was popular in Bowdon. It also blended with the ashlar façade and stucco and ashlar side elevations of the existing house. A sundial is attached to the bow window of the latter. The urns and fountain add to the overall Italianate look.

The decorative brickwork and the handsome brackets give an Italian air to the gable end of the library extension. They can be glimpsed beyond the 20th century additions.

[48]

Beneath the 20th century clutter and now only now seen from a window, the bay window of the library with its pendant corbels is lurking.

A charming oriel window enlivens the garden façade of the 1869-71 white brick extension.

The base of the oriel window now forms an internal feature in the 20th The light switches of the century hospital extension, with operating theatre, July 2005. plaster covering the white bricks.

[49] THE LIBRARY

Photograph taken in November 1878 of the library, which was situated in the ground floor of the extension to The Beeches, built between 1869 and 1871. Its desk is liberally scattered with reading matter and it was well-lit from the gas light fitting above and a bay window. The walls are hung with oil paintings and the cabinet is filled with fine and interesting china. A comfortable arm chair beckons in the corner.

In May 1874, Joseph was cataloguing his library books. This is likely to be a book plate, an example of which was pasted into the ‘Family Diary’ at that time. The coat of arms and crest is a combination of that of the Sidebotham and the Lowe families, the latter of which Joseph applied for the patent, in 1871.

FURTHER WORK AT THE BEECHES Joseph had further alterations done to the house. On 27th of June 1872, his son Joseph wrote in the ‘Family Diary’, ‘The men are getting on with the new window.’ This most likely refers to the dining room window, to the left of the front door, which was extended outwards. It was already a large window, so presumably was done only to enlarge the room. On 1st of July 1872, Joseph junior wrote, ‘They are busy with the alterations to the dining room. It will soon be completed.’ And so it was and can be seen in the background of a photograph taken at the end of July. No doubt the dining table saw many animated discussions and exchanges of ideas between the talented and learned family members and their guests.

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th Before 6 of March 1872 (left) and after, c. 30th of July 1872 (right) - when the ground floor bay window had been added to the left of the porch, to extend the façade outwards.

The dining room at The Beeches in November 1878. The chimney piece dates from the 1870s, with its fire surround of splayed ‘cheeks’, ornamented with glazed tiles designed to reflect the heat towards the room.

Taken in 2003, this photograph shows where Joseph Sidebotham extended the dining room to the front. The bow window of the original house was to the right, but was removed when the men’s sitting room of St Anne’s Home was added in 1891 (see page 88).

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OTHER FEATURES IN THE GROUNDS In addition to the library extension, the detailed Ordnance Survey Plan of 1876 (published in 1878), shows a ‘Pavilion’, two summer houses (‘S.H.’) and greenhouses (hatched). There is also the white brick ‘Observatory’, most likely commissioned by Joseph Sidebotham with his delight in the stars (see pages 29-30). It would have taken advantage of the height of the site and the clear night air. The workshop building behind the house can also be seen, along with the stables along the wall. All of these had been erected by 1872, as can be seen in the photographs in the ‘Family Diary’. One of the free-standing sundials is there, marked ‘S.D.’. There is a plentiful number of trees and shrubs, including those screening Beechfield and Higher Downs, still serving that purpose today. A croquet ground, being one of at least 48 in Bowdon and Dunham Massey, is also marked on the 1876 OS Plan. Most have been built upon, but it is still a sport still thriving today at the Bowdon Croquet Club on The Firs.

Detail from the 1:500 OS zincograph Plan of the town of Altrincham, surveyed by 11th of February 1876 and published in 1878, showing The Beeches and the features in its grounds.

‘View of the Garden’ taken on

Christmas day, 1878 by Edward J. Sidebotham and pasted in the ‘Family Diary’. It is not clear which one of the two summer houses this one is.

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Photograph taken by Joseph Sidebotham of Nay, Annie, Muff the dog and Lily on 6th of March 1872. It shows from left to right, one of the green houses, the workshop in the distance, the library extension, the main house and the observatory. Not all the fruit trees are planted and the new dining room window on the left of the front porch is not yet built.

Mama and two of the boys at ‘Lavender Bush Station’, April 1873. The workshop in the background was the equivalent of the modern back garden shed. The family developed their photographs there and built sundials. It was situated at the rear of The Beeches.

Some of the Sidebotham family by the ‘badminton house’ in April 1873, looking to the east from the croquet lawn and described on the 1876 Plan as a ‘Pavilion’. It is now to be found in very good condition in the grounds of Erlesdene on Green Walk, having been taken there by the Sidebothams in 1879.

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THE DRAWING ROOM

The drawing room at The Beeches in November 1878, with the Sidebothams’ collection of fine china on display. When the house became St Anne’s Home, the room was opened up to the hall to become the women’s sitting room. It was also extended outwards in 1897-98 to form the present day brick and stone façade. When the hospital opened to out-patients in the 20th century, it became the waiting room familiar to many local patients.

The chimney breast of the waiting room in 2003 (below) and the reception and opened up hall area in 2005 (right), after the closure of St Anne’s. The decorative plaster work on the cornice dates from at most 1878 and was repeated in the later extensions. The door through to the original dining room used to be off the hall of the original house, as can be detected in the plasterwork on both sides of the wall.

[54] FURTHER ALTERATIONS TO THE BEECHES On 10th of January 1875, Joseph Sidebotham wrote, ‘Thirty-five years today since I first went into business in Manchester. Mama says it is getting time I gave up work and I feel so myself, but I cannot see how it is to be done at present.’ It was on 15th of October of that year that his first cousin, once removed, John Sidebotham, who had lived at Kingston House at Hyde in Cheshire all his life, died there aged 77. He was widowed and left no offspring. Joseph became an executor of his will and inherited the bulk of his estate, which included the grand house and its contents, Kingston and collieries at Hyde. Over several months, items were brought over from Kingston House including the plate, some fine china, Joseph Sidebotham from paintings, portraits, furniture, chimney pieces, books, wine, a safe the 1885 biography by for the pantry and a robin house for the garden. Leo Grindon.

With the increased funds and possessions, along with growing teenage children, Joseph Sidebotham decided to make further alterations to the house. On 5th of November 1875, he recorded in the ‘Family Diary’, ‘Saw Mr Mills about plans for the alterations of the house.’ Alexander Mills was an architect born in London, who by the 1871 Census at the age of 57 was living at Newbie on Green Walk, having previously lived around the corner at Church Bank on Richmond Hill, Bowdon. He was a partner of Mills and Murgatroyd of Manchester and he and Mrs Mills were friends of the Sidebothams. The first parts of the alterations were for a new wine cellar under the breakfast room and the demolition and rebuilding of the stables, both of which were ‘nearly finished’ by the end of January 1876. The bins were put in the wine cellar in February, but some were put up incorrectly. They were built for the wine inherited from Kingston House, which eventually came in October 1876 and were catalogued by Joseph. The oak chimney piece from the morning room at Kingston House was removed and reused in the dining room at The Beeches.

THE WOODVILLE ROAD EXTENSION 1876 The main alteration was to demolish the Woodville Road wing of the original house, with its first floor box-room and the two outhouses. They were to be replaced with a three-storied extension in Italianate creamy white brick, to match the garden library extension. The old buildings appear on the OS Plan surveyed in 1876 (see page 52). The survey must have been undertaken before 11th of February 1876, when the demolition started and ‘progress of the alterations’ was recorded in the entries of the ‘Family Diary’ and in accompanying photographs.

The work in 1876 can be summarised as follows:

February 4th - the box room on the Woodville Road side was cleared of its contents and the ground prepared for the proposed alterations. February 11th - start of the demolition of the 1837 wing and outbuildings. Soon after, the family’s coachman John Clarke, had a house taken for him by Mrs Sidebotham opposite the British Schools in Altrincham (now Oxford Road). February 29th - Mr Mills (the architect), had to come as part of the new foundations had to be taken up.

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View of the alterations taken 1st of March 1876 (top left). The stucco elevation and small-paned windows of the original 1837 house can be seen. There is a blind window to the left.

On 11th of March 1876 (above), the slates were being used to keep the bricks and mortar dry, rather than as a damp course.

The yard (left) with kitchen door and window and external shutters, above the cellar stairs, 4th of March. 1876.

March 27th - the centre for the arch over the side door was begun. April 13th - the bricklayers had got up to the level of the first floor of the new building.

Sketch of Mrs Morerley’s Cottage by The Narrows on the other side of Woodville Road (now Calabar Cottage), viewed from the nursery window on 16th of April 1876. The progress of the building works was measured by its disappearance from sight. What the widowed Dinah Morerley, who was in her mid-70s, thought of the new extension is not recorded. The spire of St Margaret’s Church can be seen behind. The buildings to the right were the coach house and wash house of Mr Bottomley’s house opposite (demolished).

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April 18th - the iron beams and a pillar were put up, probably for the over-sailing first storey extension at the rear in the stable yard. April 21st - the stone stringcourse on the road side was put up. May 18th - one of the two iron beams over the nursery window was put up, probably to support the small idiosyncratic over-sailing extension on the Woodville Road side. A new coach house was to be built as well and preparations for this began soon after. May 31st - the chimney of the extension was finished and one of the three large gallow brackets was put up under the over-sailing extension on the Woodville Road side. June 2nd - the roof was started by the joiners.

th The alterations on 9 of June 1876, showing the exposed roof timbers and scaffolding, taken from Woodville Road by Edward. The wooden railings on the wall were replaced with brick later in June.

This poorly developed photograph was loose in the ‘Family Diary’, but is probably the one taken by Edward ‘to send to Strines, from near Mrs Morerley’, on 13th of June 1876.

June15th - the men broke into the nursery and took out the window. The following week they broke into the kitchen, where a new larder with glazed tiles was to be built. June 27th - wooden railings on Woodville Road were taken down and the wall was started.

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July 5th - the family went to stay at Annan House at Llandudno for two months. September 13th - upon their return, they ‘Found the house still in great disorder.’ September 22nd - the woodwork in the study was finished by the joiners. The men were busy at the coach house and preparations were made for paving of the yard and stables. September 23rd - the frame over the side door was put up. September 26th - the paperhangers had finished, followed by the painters on September 28th. October 9th - Joseph wrote, ‘I arranged the things in the study this afternoon’.

The elevations of the extension are built in decorative, creamy white brick. They display a charming variety of nail-head, corbel and basket-weave brick patterns with gauged arches, above which is a central stone pillar forming a blind Venetian window on the main façade. On the roof, the ridge tiles, finials and handsome wooden corbels are still in place. The rear of the 1837 house was refaced in creamy white brick to match.

A copy of the ‘1st Plan’ by Joseph Sidebotham, illustrated in the ‘Family Diary’ in March 1876. The original plans were most likely drawn by the architect, Alexander Mills. However, the quirky features of the building, suggests input from the Joseph Sidebotham, inspired by architecture seen on the family’s travels.

Copy of the ‘2nd Plan’ drawn by Edward on 30th of March 1876. The main change seems to be the addition of a small double window to the attic room, probably to let in more light.

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Photograph of Joseph Sidebotham’s 1876 extension on Woodville Road, to the left, taken in June 2004. Behind it is the red stock brick extension, added to the original 1837 house in stages, the bulk of it being there by 1876. The high brick wall dates back to 1837. Behind it were the stables and coach house.

The charming features of the Woodville Road elevation are still in place, as seen in 2003. However, windows have been clumsily inserted at ground floor level after it ceased to be a dwelling. The second from the left replaced the doorway seen in the ‘1st Plan’ and the photographs taken in 1876. To the far left was a yard, screened from the road by a garden wall before 1886. An external curtain wall, with a new doorway to the road, was put up by 1898, after the Hospital kitchen had been extended. A change in the type of brick and thickness of the mortar shows the alterations in all cases.

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Photograph of The Beeches taken from Woodville Road in November 1878. It shows the over- sailing attic extension (which looks like a balcony at first sight), with its enormous gallow brackets. To the left of the photograph is the ashlar main façade, with the dining room window extended outwards in July 1872. The wooden fence seen in earlier photographs had been replaced with a brick wall. This was how The Beeches appeared when it was sold in 1884 by Joseph Sidebotham to the Manchester Hospital for Consumption, to become the branch hospital called St Anne’s Home, after Joseph’s late wife.

As previously referred to, the attic of the 1837 house was extended outwards as an over- sailing extension, as can be seen by comparing the photographic evidence, the ‘1st Plan’ and also the floorboards internally. On the elevation furthest from the road, the dramatic corbels supporting the overhanging eaves are reminiscent of the picturesque Swiss Cottage style. The stone string course, mentioned in the ‘Family Diary’ can still be seen. The brick motif (which is off-centre) is seen also on nearby Fairlie on Cavendish Road, built four years earlier in a similar Italianate style in creamy white brick. Fairlie was lived in by a later supporter of St Anne’s, Francis Crossley (see pages 78-80). The space underneath the over-sailing extension, where the gallow brackets once were, has been filled in by a corridor, fitted with an unsympathetic window. Worse still is the change to attic window above, which once formed the door with a projecting concrete step, leading to a fire escape for the Hospital. However, if one strips away the later modifications, the original design and features are still in situ.

It is uncertain which room is the study referred to in the ‘Family Diary’. It was probably on the first floor, either the room with the large window, to the right of the gallow brackets or else the one right on the road, behind the blind Venetian window (the room having now been divided into two). The view from the first floor and the attic rooms would have been towards St Margaret’s to north-west and across the roof tops of Altrincham to smoky Manchester, then beyond to the hills in the north.

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This 1876 elevation (left), with its moulded bricks, was originally partially an over-sailing extension supported on gallow brackets, above a yard. The area below has gradually been filled in, hiding the original structure.

Detail of the Woodville Road elevation facing east, hidden at the lower level by later infill.

The main first floor window, in the room now overlooking the new glass roof over part of the hospital kitchen, July 2005.

In the attic, the wide floor board by the is from the 1837 house, whilst the narrow ones toward the window form part of the 1876 over-sailing extension.

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The 1876 extension continued around the rear of the original house, which was faced in creamy white brick to match. Two arched windows were added, probably at the same time. The red stock brick extension, built by February 1876, as seen in the photographs and the OS Map, was left plain, as was usual. On the corner of the latter, there is a moulded brick with the initials ‘J.H.’, perhaps those of the brick maker. Another set of initials, those of ‘J.N.S.’ are imprinted clearly on one of the white bricks of small over-hanging extension. Joseph did not have a middle name, simply being christened ‘Joseph’ at Denton in 1824. His youngest son’s full name was James Nasmyth Sidebotham. He would have been aged 11 in March 1876, but there is no reference in the ‘Family Diary’ to a special brick being made with his initials. Alternatively, they may be those of the brick maker or builder.

The picturesque dormer window of the attic room of the rear extension, 2004.

The extension at the rear of The Beeches, 2003 (left). The area underneath the overhanging extension, supported by an iron pole, had to be kept clear to allow access to the cellar stairs of the original house and the door to the kitchen. Two monogrammed bricks also make an appearance (above).

[62]

Only two of the fireplaces remain in The Beeches. This one is to be found in the attic and probably The charming attic space of the extension photographed dates from the original house of in July 2005, was built in 1876. It is reminiscent of 1837, the wall to the right having French provincial architecture. been knocked through in 1876.

Picturesque chimney pots at Menton, France, recorded by Joseph Sidebotham in the ‘Family Diary’ in 1877.

EARLIER ARCHTECTURAL RECORDS OF THE AREA Back in 1853, while he was still living in Manchester, Joseph Sidebotham took a great interest in the building of St Margaret’s Church in Dunham Massey. With Arthur Neild, a fellow amateur photographer and member of the Manchester Photographic Society, he took at least two photographs of the church under construction. Arthur Neild was a cotton manufacturer, then living at Dingle Bank West, beside his brother Alfred Neild, who lived at Dingle Bank East, both on East Downs Road, Rosehill in Bowdon. Their father was William Neild, who lived next door at High Lawn and later became the Mayor of Manchester.

St Margaret’s was commissioned by George Harry Grey, 7th Earl of Stamford and Warrington, who having gained control of large areas of the land surrounding Dunham Massey Hall at the age of 21 in 1848, began selling building plots for prestigious housing. Part of this grand scheme included the building of a rival place of worship to the old parish church of St Mary the Virgin’s in Bowdon. Building started around 1851 and according to local publisher, Charles Balshaw, in his Stranger’s Guide published in 1855, it was to have been built of ‘white brick, with ashlar dressings’. For an exploration of white brick in Bowdon, please see pages 44-47. However, by September 1851, ‘before half the length of the foundation had been put in, the design was abandoned.’ A competition to build a stone church, using the existing foundations where possible, resulted in the imposing perpendicular gothic style building, designed by William Haley of Manchester. It was built in red brick, faced with Sheffield wall-stone with ashlar stone dressings from Hollington. Taking a further two and one-half years to build, it was consecrated on 13th of June 1855. [63]

St Margaret’s church under construction, shown in a photograph taken by Joseph Sidebotham and Arthur Neild in 1853, saved in an album of Joseph’s son, Edward. The west end was extended in 1923-25 so this photograph shows the original doorway, with its square head over a moulded arch. The stained glass from the west window, which depicted women of the Bible, was dismantled in 1923 and is now stored in the crypt.

The east end of St Margaret’s church, photographed in 1853. When completed in 1855, the large church accommodated about 700 people, one third of the seating being free. It attracted the merchants and manufacturers moving into new houses in the area, built on land gradually released by Lord Stamford.

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Another early photograph in Edward Sidebotham’s album, assumed to have been taken by his father, Joseph, is of the Booth monuments carved by Andrew Carpenter (Le Carpentière) for the private Dunham Chapel, in the old parish church of St Mary’s, Bowdon. It was taken soon before parts of the church were demolished and rebuilt around the monuments in 1858-60.

St Mary’s old church, Bowdon, 1858. The painted monument, with a shield of 60 quarterings of the Booth family, set against an obelisque resting on a sarcophagus, is to the younger sons of the then Earl of Warrington, Langham and Henry Booth, whose portraits appear in the oval medallions (1735). To the right is a monument to Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington and Baron Delamere, and his Countess (1734). The seated figures represent ‘Truth’ and ‘Learning’.

GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE LOCAL CHURCHES Once the Sidebotham family had moved to the area in 1866, they became members of two local Church of England churches, as described in the ‘Family Diary’. Anne and her youngest children generally went to the morning service at their closest church, St John the Evangelist, on St John’s Road in Altrincham, newly built in 1866. The service probably catered for families with young children. Joseph and the older children tended to go to the afternoon or evening service at St Margaret’s on Dunham Road.

In 1871, Joseph and Anne commissioned a stained glass window for St Margaret’s from Lavers, Barraud and Westlake of London, as a memorial to Joseph’s late parents, Joseph and Ann Sidebotham of Werneth. The window is in the south transept, in what was to have been the Stamford Chapel. Despite having commissioned the church, the Earl had moved away from the area to his Enville Estate and so the chapel was never used by the family. The window depicts The Angel at the Tomb and Christ Giving the Keys to Peter, with angels playing instruments in the tracery above, reflecting the musical interests of the family.

[65]

While on the family holiday in Southport, it was recorded in the ‘Family Diary’ that on 8th of June 1875, Joseph received and approved full-size cartoons from the same firm of stained glass artists, for a memorial to the mother of Reverend Richard Hodgson, again for St Margaret’s Church. Joseph had also been at the meeting in the Vestry on 15th of February 1873, which approved the plans and commencement of the new Vicarage, with Maxwell Roscoe as the architect.

Joseph and Anne’s eldest son, Joseph Watson Sidebotham, who was born in 1857, was a composer and a keen organist, who along with his father played the powerful Hill & Co organ at St Margaret’s Church on occasion. On Sunday 20th of July 1873, when he played at both the morning and evening service, he complained in the ‘Family Diary’ that ‘The pedals cyphered very badly all day’. In 1875, Joseph senior was involved in getting quotes for alterations to the organ, which was subsequently extended.

Joseph Sidebotham and his son Joseph later commissioned an organ from Jardine & Co of Manchester, for St Anne’s church at Haughton, Denton, Joseph junior becoming Honorary organist (see pages 68-69). There was plenty of opportunity to practice at home, as there was an organ in the breakfast room at The Beeches and at the subsequent family home, Erlesdene on Green Walk, Bowdon, still to be seen in the early 1930s, being run on electricity.

The breakfast room at The Beeches, with the organ to the right. The photograph, which was pasted into the ‘Family Diary’, was taken in November 1878 as a record of The Beeches, soon before the family moved to Erlesdene on Green Walk.

The family also helped out with the problems of the organ at St Mary’s at Bowdon. On Saturday 13th of November 1875, Joseph senior and his son Joseph went to see and play the newly installed organ. However, Joseph wrote to Canon Arthur Gore with a ‘report of the organ which is not quite satisfactory in some points’ as the bellows were ‘much too small, and very noisy’. On 10th of December 1875, Joseph received a letter from Jardine & Co to say they had made the organ ‘all right’. He tested it and told Canon Gore that he thought the Committee should now pass it. Attending the Sunday service the next day, Joseph described the organ as ‘now very fine and perfect’. [66]

THE SIDEBOTHAMS MOVE TO ERLESDENE, GREEN WALK, BOWDON By March 1879, Joseph and Anne Sidebotham and all their teenage and adult children had moved to the elaborate high Victorian stone mansion on nearby Green Walk in Bowdon called Erlesdene (Grade II Listed). It had been built by Mills and Murgatroyd by 1874 for Thomas Jones, who had bought the land from the Stamford Estate in 1872 and lived there until 1878. His initials appear in stonework cartouches on the exterior. On the brow of the hill, the house had extensive grounds and views of the Cheshire plain, with glorious sunsets. The family had plenty of room for their choice library, the natural history collection and innumerable art treasures and furniture, some The grand portico at Erlesdene, inherited from Kingston House. When they moved to photographed on 13th of December Green Walk, they certainly knew the neighbours. 1879. Anne’s younger brother, Edward Coward and his family, lived opposite at what is now Heather Lea. Their friends Henry and Emily Gaddum, who are referred to in the ‘Family Diary’ lived at Oakley, next door. Alexander Mills, the architect of the 1876 extension to The Beeches and Erlesdene itself, lived further along at Newbie. In the Census for 1881, Joseph listed himself and his eldest son, Joseph Watson as being a ‘Colliery Proprietor’. All the children, except Edward who was away studying Medicine at Caius College, Cambridge were still living at home. Miss Fanny Linton, the Governess, who was now more of a companion, was still with them, aged 39. The family had seven female servants, including two described as a ‘waitress’.

Erlesdene, 2nd of August 1879. Part of the foundations of the enormous conservatory nearest the house appear on the 1876 OS Plan. When they moved here in 1878, Joseph would have brought his collection of rare plants from the greenhouse at The Beeches. The badminton pavilion, brick observatory and the sundials were also moved. The newly-planted ‘Monkey Puzzle’ tree is a native of South America which was popular amongst the wealthy residents of Bowdon. A few still remain, as a reminder of their interests. [67]

John Clarke, the coachman to the family, and his wife Ann were living in the Lodge at Erlesdene in the Census for 1881 and 1891. He had been with the family since at least 1872 and is mentioned in the ‘Family Diary’, advising on the purchase of new carriages or taking them on trips to visit friends.

ST ANNE’S CHURCH, HAUGHTON, DENTON Having acquired a taste for commissioning domestic architecture and stained glass windows for St Margaret’s Church, Joseph moved on to a grander project of a religious and philanthropic nature. February 1882 saw the completion of a unique church dedicated to St Anne set upon on a hill at Haughton, Denton (Grade I Listed). It was commissioned in 1880, initially in honour of Joseph Sidebotham’s mother Ann, but also became dedicated to his wife Anne, who sadly died seven weeks before its consecration in June 1882. Sidebotham provided the land and funded the building of the splendid early Arts and Crafts church and rectory and provided it with an endowment at a total cost of £20,000. He photographed the construction of the idiosyncratic church, which was designed by Manchester Architects Medland and Henry Taylor, who fulfilled their patron’s request that ‘his’ church should be conspicuously different from all others. Joseph’s letter to the foreman and workmen on the church, declared to it to be free from the shams in building exposed by Charles Dickens and Ruskin so that ‘All is good honest brick, stone, granite and marble; no plaster and paint’. Whilst on an extended holiday in Menton, France, Joseph had noted in the ‘Family Diary’ on 7th of December 1876, ‘I was busy making some sketches of spiral arrangements to send to John Ruskin.’ He received a letter from ‘Ruskin’ in Venice the following May in 1877. The contents of the letter are not referred to, but it may have been to do with the plans for the church, if the ‘Ruskin’ concerned was John Ruskin. The mosaics were made by Salviati & Co of Venice. The interior walls consist of rose coloured brick framing a pale yellow brick becoming favoured in Bowdon, which was glazed below the dado rail for practicality. The motif of the St Anne’s daisy appears throughout the decorative detail, lovingly carved in alabaster, stone and oak or cast in iron and copper. Stained glass windows were dedicated to his friends and relations including Edward and Alice Coward, his wife’s parents. Joseph’s children were also involved in the church, his daughter Edith laying the foundation stone. His sons Joseph and Edward donated a splendid organ, and the former was Honorary Organist and long term patron of the living (see page 66). All three sons each donated a bell, cast with their initials.

Joseph Sidebotham’s interest in botany was reflected in the stained glass medallions from St Anne’s church depicting herbs, fruit and flowers from the Bible by Heaton, Butler and Bayne of London. This one depicts Frankincense. The daisy of St Anne is to the sides.

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St Anne’s Church, Haughton, Denton in Cheshire, March 2005.

[69]

DR ARTHUR RANSOME AND JOSEPH SIDEBOTHAM Along with Dr Arthur Ransome, Alfred Neild and the Reverend Alexander Mackennal of Bowdon Downs Congregational Church, Joseph Sidebotham was a Vice President of the Bowdon Literary and Scientific Club, Reverend Canon Arthur Gore of St Mary’s Church being the President. On the night of 27th of November 1882, Sidebotham gave a talk to the Meeting on ‘The Rain-band in the Spectrum’ whilst Dr Ransome covered Koch’s latest research on ‘Bacillus in Tubercular Disease’, no doubt doing some fund raising and recruiting for the Hospital committee whilst he was at it. The family also attended ‘Science Lectures for Bowdon and Altrincham’. Dr Ransome was the Honorary Secretary in the 1870s. Themes of lectures included the likes of ‘Palaeontology’ or ‘Light and Electricity illustrated by Electric Light, the Magic Lantern and numerous experiments’, the latter presented by Professor in 1870. Joseph Sidebotham was involved in arranging the speakers, with his numerous contacts in the field of science. Dr Ransome was a regular visitor to The Beeches and Erlesdene, sometimes sharing new ideas and inventions. One evening in December 1874 he brought with him ‘a curious toy which he had made.’ It consisted of a piece of platinum foil suspended over alcohol in a glass, which when lit would heat the foil. Once the flame had been extinguished, the foil would continue to glow for several hours afterwards. He was also the family physician, attending to boils and fevers, as well as the longer term illnesses of Joseph and Anne. He also met them on holiday in Great Britain and abroad. His son Herbert F. Ransome, went into medicine and was a friend of Edward J. Sidebotham, who also joined the profession.

THE PURCHASE OF THE BEECHES FOR THE HOSPITAL Once he had moved to Erlesdene, Joseph Sidebotham put The Beeches and its garden on the market with Bridgfords. In the 1881 Census it was recorded as being ‘Uninhabited’. In July 1882 Joseph offered to sell The Beeches to the Committee of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption, through his friend and neighbour Dr Ransome, for £5,000, with a donation of £500. The fundraising was still at an early stage, so the Committee declined and investigated another house in Bowdon for conversion. They also approached Lord Stamford for a site on the Dunham Massey estate, but only got as far as agreeing a plot of land with his agent. Negotiations also began with the hospital in Altrincham (where Dr Ransome had been a Consulting Physician) to provide beds for consumptive patients.

Dr Ransome also suggested to the Committee in February 1883, that additional ‘gentlemen’ should be asked to take an, ‘active part in the management of the hospital to join the committee’, presumably for their expertise, but also as a source of funding. In the Report for 1884, 20 distinguished and wealthy men appear as Trustees for the Hospital and the listed donations and annual subscriptions increased substantially. Local residents involved in the Hospital included Bulkeley Allen (Committee, West Lynn, Dunham Massey); Francis W. Crossley (Trustee, Fairlie, Bowdon); William J. Crossley (Chair, Glenfield, Dunham Massey); Charles Behrens (Hon. Secretary, Holmacre, Dunham Massey); Walter Haworth

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(Committee, Ecclesfield, Bowdon) and William Milne (Trustee, Albert Sq, Bowdon). Joseph Sidebotham had also been given a place on the Committee. Many of these and other supporters of the Hospital were Dr Ransome’s personal friends, neighbours, family, patients and members of the Bowdon Literary and Scientific Club.

Joseph Sidebotham made a second offer to sell The Beeches in February 1883, as it was still on the market. After a ‘conversation’ with Dr Ransome, the price was agreed at £4,000 with a donation of £100 on condition that ‘St Anne’ could be incorporated in the name of the hospital, in honour of his late wife, who had died in June 1882. Grindon wrote that in her Joseph had found ‘A Mariners’ compass that should never fail him in his voyage across life’s uncertain and often unquiet sea…she was a lifelong rainbow without the storm.’

With a Testimonial from the Management of the Manchester Royal Infirmary, as to the good work they did and advisability of a specific location like Bowdon, the charity had a successful fund raising campaign from April to June 1883. Circulars and newspaper adverts appealed for funds describing a ‘Special hospital…in any airy, healthy locality, and ought to have about it all modern improvements’. The committee continued to look for other properties, but eventually in December 1883, on the basis of the Doctors’ Medical Report, the deal was finally struck with Joseph Sidebotham for the purchases of The Beeches for £5,000 with a gift of £2,000. Later that month, the name ‘St Anne’s Home for Consumption and Diseases of the Throat’ was decided upon. At the January 1884 meeting, Dr Ransome presented some of the donations from the residents of Bowdon and Dunham Massey. Whole families had thrown themselves into the fund raising effort, donating and collecting money or gifts in kind. Substantial donations were made by Mrs Henrietta Bickham (Gorsefield, Bowdon); Miss Baxter (Bollinworth, Bowdon); Mrs and Miss Bellhouse (Green Oaks, Altrincham); Mrs Ellen Carlisle (High Lawn, Bowdon); Neville Clegg (Oldfield Brow, Dunham Massey); Edward Coward (Heather Lea, Bowdon); Mrs Geldart (Felthorp, Bowdon); Abraham Haworth (Hilston House, Bowdon); Alfred Neild (Dingle Bank East, Bowdon); James Parrot (Laurel Mount, Bowdon); Robert Scott (Denzell, Bowdon); Joseph W. and Edward Sidebotham (Erlesdene, Bowdon) and Thomas Thompson (Heald Bank, Bowdon). By August 1884 the New Building Fund had raised over £8,300 in donations and subscriptions.

THE DEATH OF JOSEPH SIDEBOTHAM Joseph Sidebotham became Vice-President, but died on 30th of May 1885, despite having, ‘Up to the last…the skilful attention of his fidus Achates, Dr Ransome’ (Grindon). In his Will written in July 1881, with a codicil of July 1882 after the death of Anne, he left his lands, mines, collieries and ‘mill houses’ in Kingston and Hyde, along with the collieries and mines at Broomstairs, Haughton to his eldest son Joseph W. Sidebotham. The latter also inherited Erlesdene and its contents, along with Rose Cottages at the junction of Langham and Bow Green Road, Bowdon. The interest in the Bowdon property was originally in trust for Anne, but she had predeceased them both. Edward, at his father’s death, took up the inheritance left by Edward Lowe Sidebotham and was given additional land around the Hyde to Manchester turnpike road. The youngest son James, was left the estates at and Hoviley, Hyde. The three daughters, Edith, Lilian and Annie had already been provided for, but were left an additional £2,000 each. Joseph left an estate of nearly £93,902 including leaseholds (£69,916 gross, resworn 1886). He is buried in Bowdon church yard alongside his wife.

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The grave of Anne and Joseph Sidebotham in the far western side of Bowdon church yard. They were later joined by their sons Joseph and Edward and their respective wives.

THE SIDEBOTHAM CHILDREN Joseph Watson Sidebotham (Ashton-upon-Mersey 1857-1925 Bowdon) carried on the colliery businesses. He also continued to be involved in the hospital, being a Committee Member and Trustee. He became Conservative M.P. for Hyde Division, was a County Magistrate and had a degree in Music from Oxford. He was living with his wife Marian, nee Dowling, at The Thorns on East Downs Road in Bowdon in the 1891 Census. By 1901 they had moved to a Merlewood (formerly Merlebank) on Langham Rd, which had been designed by Alfred Waterhouse, now converted into apartments. At Bowdon in 1913, his daughter Margaret Lilian (Greta) Sidebotham, married Brian Crossley, the son of Sir William Crossley, the main benefactor of the hospital as Joseph W. Sidebotham M.P. described later in this book. for Hyde and a J.P..

Dr Edward J. Sidebotham (Ashton-upon-Mersey 1860-Bowdon 1929), who trained at Cambridge as a Physician, continued living at Erlesdene with his wife Benedicta and their children, the family having rearranged their father Joseph’s estate. He served on Bowdon Urban District Council for 35 years and was President of the Altrincham Conservative Club. His interest in the arts extended to being Chairman of the and on the Committee of the . Edward’s wife Benedicta, continued to live at Erlesdene after it was put up for auction for conversion to apartments on 30th of May 1933.

The youngest, James Nasmyth Sidebotham (Ashton-upon-Mersey 1864-1904 Altrincham) became a Civil and Mechanical Engineer and lived at Parkfield (demolished) in Groby Place in 1891 and at Groby Lawn on Groby Road by 1901. James is buried at St Anne’s, Denton while his brothers are buried at Bowdon with their parents.

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The drawing room at Erlesdene, Green Walk in 1930, in one of a set of quality photographs taken by John Ingham, a photographer working from the top of The Downs, Altrincham. Along with the spacious reception rooms, including a music room and a billiard room, the house had on the upper floors eight principal bedrooms; two dressing rooms; five secondary bedrooms; three tower rooms; two principal bathrooms and separate W.C.s.

The dining room at Erlesdene, Green Walk in 1930, still with a 19th century air about it. Some of the oil paintings, furnishings and a Donegal carpet were auctioned by Capes, Dunn & Co. of Manchester on 4th of December 1934 by Dr Edward J.Sidebotham’s widow and executrix Benedicta, who continued to live in one of the apartments once the house was converted. [73]

THE CONVERSION OF THE BEECHES TO A BRANCH HOSPITAL The Beeches and its grounds were conveyed on 16th of April 1884 from Joseph Sidebotham in trust to three Manchester Hospital for Consumption Committee members, with the covenants to prevent the over-development of the site maintained. Later in April, plans to convert the building began, under the supervision of Dr Ransome and the sub-committee of the ten Committee members and medical staff. The architect was James Murgatroyd of Mills & Murgatroyd of Manchester, the firm which had built Erlesdene on Green Walk (1874), (later lived in by Joseph Sidebotham) and the Dispensary for Sick Children on Gartside Street, Manchester (1868). Murgatroyd wrote to the committee stating that as the medical advisors had specified the number of cubic feet of air to be thrown in and extracted from the wards, the ventilation arrangements would have to be expanded. Also the means of heating the air had to be extended, as it was now to be exclusive of fireplaces, as originally intended. Despite these requirements, his estimate remained the same. In order to create a suitable dust-free environment, Dr Ransome proposed additionally that the walls should be not be papered but painted a pale green, using a silicate paint called ‘Duresco’. The floors of the wards were to be stained and prepared for dry rubbing, not washing. The floor of the laboratory was to be stained and varnished. Each of the 18 patients was to be provided with an iron bed, a chest of drawers and a ‘toilet glass’. Wash stands, folding tables, couches and upholstered chairs made up the rest of the furniture. The stables were to be converted into an efficient laundry, to deal with the constant disinfecting of patients’ clothes and bedding.

The gardens had also become very overgrown and were cleared, manured and planted with trees, shrubs, bulbs and seeds donated by Joseph Sidebotham. The grounds today act as a woodland habitat for bats and barn owls and provide a green, leafy space to counteract the pollution in nearby Altrincham town centre. A strip of land at the back of The Beeches was conveyed to the Bowdon Downs Congregational Church in July 1884, to enlarge the area at the side of the building. The congregation was very supportive of the hospital, making regular donations from the Sunday collection. Many gifts including clothing, pictures, furniture, food, books and games for the new hospital were made by local families whose details were published each year in the annual hospital Report. They supported the hospital both financially and in kind for many decades.

Dr Ransome could now put into practice his recommended treatment to cure patients - a well-ventilated and dust-free environment with plenty of fresh air, sunshine, good nutrition, cleanliness, rest and temperance, along with special baths and medical treatment well away from the conditions, particularly of the poor, which spread and encouraged the disease. Entertainment was also provided for the patients, to relieve the strict regime. Under Dr Ransome’s influence, their progress and response to treatments was carefully recorded and analysed in the controlled environment. It was estimated that nearly 200,000 people in England were suffering from consumption and that over one third of deaths between the ages of 15 and 55 were caused by it, so this was a great opportunity to study the disease with the hope of establishing the most effective combination of treatments leading to a cure.

The new hospital at Bowdon was opened at the end of March 1885 with 16 in-patients (later 18) and two Nurses, one Matron (employed for £40 per annum with board and lodging) and one Resident Medical Officer in attendance. 84 patients had been selected from out-patients

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in the Manchester region, from those who were deemed to benefit the most from the stay, which averaged one and one-half months. They came from generally the poorer areas and their residences and occupations were carefully recorded, as part of the statistical research. A few paying patients were taken at 10s. a week, but the majority paid only what they or their friends could afford, if anything at all. Those on poor relief from the town were excluded, so as not to duplicate care. The average cost for the in-patients at Bowdon was £1 3s. 2d. per head, with the average payment made by patients being 3s. 8¾d. The new hospital gave a fillip to the fundraising, with a total of £1,435 raised in 1885, as opposed to £865 in 1884.

The high cost relative to other hospitals was in part due to expensive medicines, but also to the ‘food of a more nourishing character,’ which was considered an important part of the treatment. In 1885, most of the 84 patients gained in weight and strength and left cured, and in some instances with a remarkable improvement, though 13 were only relieved, and eventually died. None had died at the hospital, as their friends or family took them away beforehand. The majority of patients could return to their work, some having been reluctant to come at all, as they deprived their families of what little income they were earning. When patients went home, they were visited and given a daily supply of milk, eggs and rice. Doctors and philanthropists were recognising that tuberculosis was a preventable disease of the undernourished. The family were also advised on ways of preventing the catching and the spread of the disease, such as personal hygiene, keeping dust at bay and maximising ventilation and daylight, even though these conditions were often out of the control of the slum dwellers.

St Anne’s branch hospital in Bowdon was unique, in that even by 1903, it was still the only sanatorium in the whole country, which gave free open-air treatment to the poor and needy.

THE HARDMAN STEET DISPENSARY, MANCHESTER The out-patients site of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption at 18 St John Street was not only in an unsuitable location, but also was becoming very crowded due to the rapid increase in the number of people presenting themselves, presumably encouraged by the publicity. On 8th of October 1885, following another successful fundraising campaign by Dr Ransome, a purpose-built out-patients was opened in Hardman Street by the hospital’s patron, the Earl of Derby. The architects were Pennington & Brigden of Manchester, who had designed the General Hospital for Sick Children (1872) and the Royal Eye Hospital (1886) in Manchester. Built in red brick with terracotta detailing, the façade was made up of two Dutch gables topped by chimneys. In 1891 the building was extended to include a lofty, hexagonal hall where 200 patients sat waiting their turn to be examined, treated and dispensed with weekly medicine. The lucky ones, who were most likely to recover, were considered for admission to the Bowdon in-patients department. A special feature of the building was a mechanical ventilation system to provide fresh air, to reduce infection.

In 1912, after the National Insurance Act, the clinic became the Tuburculosis Dispensary for the Manchester Corporation and in 1948 was transferred to the South Manchester Hospital Management Committee to become the Manchester Audiology Clinic. It closed in 1951 and the building has now been restored and turned into prestigious solicitors’ offices. This is often the best way of maintaining the integrity of such buildings.

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An illustration of the Hardman Street branch from the Report of 1886. The inscribed name is still there today, but hidden away.

The Hardman Street Dispensary in 2005, successfully converted into offices.

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One of the three Consulting Rooms at the Hardman Street Dispensary where the patients were assessed to see if they were lucky enough to be sent to St Anne’s for treatment (Sketches, The Receiving Room at Hardman Street 1891). where the patients first presented themselves. The more publicity about the hospital and its work, the more the patients came, in hope of being treated (Sketches, 1891).

The Dispensary at Hardman Street where prescriptions to relieve the symptoms of patients were prepared for ingestion, inhalation or injection by the over- The cavernous light and airy octagonal Waiting Hall for stretched staff (Sketches, potential patients, added in 1891 (Sketches, 1891). 1891).

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THE CROSSLEY BROTHERS Dr Ransome’s most worthwhile networking endeavours, presented themselves in the form of two brothers, the engineers and philanthropists, Francis W. Crossley (Co. Antrim 1839- 1897 Manchester) and William J. Crossley (Co. Antrim 1844-1911 Manchester). In 1867 they both founded the Crossley Brothers company, taking over a business making india rubber machinery in Manchester, with loans from relatives. The early years were difficult, and for a few years they had rooms as lodgers with local builder Martin Stone and his family at what is now 24 Stamford Road, Bowdon (1 Bell Place) where they appear in the 1871 Census with their sister Emmeline. Martin Stone appears in a directory as living at 1 Bell Place (Worrall’s 1871) and this is confirmed through deduction using the Census, directories and electoral rolls. One of Francis’ inventions was a new way to lathe india rubber thread, but their real breakthrough came in 1876, when they took up and improved the home and colonial patent for a 4-stroke gas engine from the German Dr Nicolaus Otto, having acted as agents for previous versions. The business acumen of William and the creativity and skill of Francis developed the engine and revolutionised the trade in small motors, replacing the use of steam for low horse powers. In 1881, they built a large factory at Openshaw, which by 1901 was employing over 2,000 workers on fair wages with good conditions. Their moral and ethical view of life was integral to their business, particularly for Francis. He refused to sell gas engines for use in breweries or for creating electricity for the lighting of theatres or public houses, but a compromise with the other members of the firm was reached, whereby Francis’ share of the profits from such sales was directed towards charities instead. In 1879, they made a subscription to the Manchester Hospital for Consumption as the Crossley Brothers company but by 1883, they began to give substantial personal donations and subscriptions.

Francis joined the Committee in 1883 after a visit from Dr Ransome and became a Vice President in 1885 and was a Trustee from 1884 until his death. He lived with his wife Emily Kerr at Oaklands on Langham Road after their marriage in 1871 and by 1874 had moved to the recently built Italianate white brick house with a loggia called Fairlie on Cavendish Road (now part of Altrincham Girls’ Grammar School), across the road from Dr Ransome at Devisdale House. He and Emily also built and managed two ‘Preventative and Rescue Homes’ with schooling for a total of about 60 destitute and needy young girls on Ashley Road in nearby . In 1882 he and his family signed the Pledge of Abstinence, pouring the contents of their extensive wine cellar down the drain. In the mid-1880s, Frank became very supportive of The Salvation Army, with Mrs Catherine and General William Booth staying at Frank Crossley in his favourite form Fairlie several times. During the summers of 1888 and of dress, an unusual cut away business 1889, a tent was erected on the lawn to hold ‘holiness’ coat, perhaps designed for long hours meetings, with a variety of religious speakers. He had spent at the drawing board at Fairlie. been a member of the Bowdon Downs Congregational

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Church since the early 1870s, was a Sunday School teacher there and was elected as a Deacon from 1881-88. Having decided against the practice of baptising infants, his two eldest children were baptised ‘at their own request’ in 1883 when they were aged 10 and 11 in the drawing room of Fairlie, by the then Minister and friend, Dr Alexander Mackennal.

However, it was an event at the church one Wednesday evening in 1888, when Frank was giving an address that changed his life. He disliked the Nonconformist habit of sitting to pray and after failing to persuade the congregation to kneel before God, he declared,

To some of you this place is sacred for its quiet, refined associations; you love it. As for me, I hate it all. Let us leave this respectable neighbourhood and go right down among the poor folks. This is where a church should be. (He Heard from God E.K. Crossley, 1959)

Fairlie built by 1874, now on Cavendish Road, Bowdon with Francis Crossley, Emily and their three sons who lived there until 1888, before moving to Ancoats.

The Star Hall, Ancoats which became the Crossley’s new home and base of their reforming good works.

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Unable to persuade others to leave the refined and cosy life in Bowdon, but good to his word, Francis did move away. He bought and demolished the old and disreputable Star Music Hall in the poorest, roughest and most drunken area of Manchester that he could find – Ancoats. He rebuilt it in 1889 to provide a meeting hall, bathrooms, coffee rooms and housing for workers. In February 1890, rather than putting the Salvation Army in possession, he sold Fairlie and moved with his wife and eldest daughter to the modest Star Hall accommodation. The other children went to boarding school, and the family met at a small house in Derbyshire for the holidays. Francis, Emily and their daughter Ella (born Helen) devoted themselves to social and missionary work of every kind, based in Ancoats. A bronze portrait plaque after his death in 1897 declared Francis to be ‘A Friend of God. A Friend of Man’.

Upon his marriage to Mabel Anderson in 1876, William J. Crossley had built Newington, a large semi-detached house on The Firs (demolished), further along the road from his brother. By 1879, they moved to a grand stone house, Glenfield (demolished) near St Margaret’s Church in Dunham Massey. Unlike his brother Francis, he was an Anglican and was a Church Warden at St Margaret’s, although he did hold a seat at Bowdon Downs Congregational Church. He was an astute businessman and like his brother, a great philanthropist on a grand scale. He was a friend of Dr Ransome and at the Annual Meeting of 1885, Dr Ransome suggested to William, who was already on the committee, that he might consider taking on the vacant role of Chairman of the Board of Management of the hospital. At the very first meeting of the committee as its new Chairman, W. J. Crossley announced his intention to build an extension William J. Crossley who instigated to the hospital with wards to take additional in-patients. and funded the building of the In November 1885, his plans were placed before the innovative wards at St Anne’s Home meeting, ‘for free criticism’. They were quickly and the Sanatorium at Delamere. approved, and the medical team led by Dr Ransome, could see their medical theories put into practice in the form of a new open air sanatorium. Mabel Crossley’s father was Francis Anderson, H.M. Inspector-General of Hospitals in India, though this probable influence is not recorded.

THE CROSSLEY WING (LATER KNOWN AS THE ASHLEY WARD) The Brompton Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest in London, founded in 1842, was the first place to address the lack of specific hospital care for consumptive patients. It had a ventilation system keeping the temperature at 61º F., however the windows were kept closed and the wards were small and not well lit. There had been a few sanatoria built along the German lines, such as the (Royal) National Sanatorium built in 1855 by public subscription for convalescents from consumption in the health resort of Bournemouth. It had spacious wards with large windows facing the sea air and sunshine. In 2002 it was successfully converted into exclusive retirement apartments. The large North London Hospital for Consumption at Mount Vernon, Hampstead, built by 1881, was set high to reflect the view

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that pure and dry air, rather than mild air, was best treatment for pulmonary complaints. It had a south-westerly aspect, so that the balconies, open arcades and windows captured the sun, but this was more to provide ‘comfort and solace to the many inmates’, rather than as a medical treatment. There was a ventilation system, but it was in conjunction with open fires in moderate size wards, to create a home-like appearance. It was the little branch hospital of St Anne’s at Bowdon, which was to provide the first total design solution.

The architects of the new building commissioned by W. J. Crossley for the new building at St Anne’s Home were Messrs. Tate and Popplewell of 87 Mosley St, Manchester and the contractor was a Mr William Lambert of Altrincham. Alfred L. Tate lived locally at Groby Place, Altrincham in 1871 then by 1881 in Harefield House on Woodville Road (which has been demolished and the Beaupre flats built in its place). Tate’s practice also designed the black and white Cheshire style house and shops at 66 George Street, Altrincham (1881), The Peoples Institute in Ancoats (1889) and St Peter’s in Hale (1892). Working with W. J. Crossley’s engineering skills and Dr Ransome’s practical medical expertise based on the latest research, they had the task of engineering a new form of architecture – the open air St Peter’s Church, Hale designed by Tate and sanatorium maximising exposure of the Popplewell in 1892. The materials are similar to the patients to the sun. St Anne’s was the Crossley Wing, being in variegated header bond brick first hospital in Britain to be specifically and decorative terracotta, adapted to a different style engineered to provide the best and use. conditions possible for the cure of TB, the wards were being built to requirements of the Doctors. These ideal conditions also prevented the spread of the disease to staff, visitors and recovering patients.

Another Appeal for funds to support the extra 20 beds at the hospital was made and it described the new wards at Bowdon as,

Being constructed on the most approved principals. There will be 120 sq ft of floor space, and nearly 2000 cubic ft of air per bed. 5000 [cubic] ft of fresh air per bed per hour at 62 degrees F guaranteed. A sun-room, for the more delicate patients to sit in, is to be attached, and it is hoped that the salubrious and highly suitable air of Bowdon, in conjunction with the above named arrangements, will give highly satisfactory results.

The superior cross-ventilation of fresh air through the wards and from under the floors was achieved through the purpose-built ventilation system in the cellars. The cellars are also [81]

raised, so as not to encourage the build up of stale air, identified by Dr Ransome as a TB hazard. The unique design of the tall windows of openings with hoppers over casements, the central cupola and the high ceilings with open decorative roof trusses (now enclosed) were all part of the design. The temperature was controlled by the nurses who would turn a crank handle as soon as the temperature varied from the ideal of 62 º F. The Report in 1887 declared that, ‘The ventilation of these wards is so perfect that free currents of pure warmed air are continually passing through them, without draughts, and thus night and day they are entirely free from any closeness even in the heat of summer.’

The half-butterfly plan faces due south to maximise the exposure to sunlight, both indoors and also in the sun- bath in the apex, of which the supporting walls remain. The upper section was referred to as a ‘greenhouse’ on a plan in 1983 and was subsequently demolished. The arrangement works well with the existing buildings in the area, balancing the four semi-detached houses opposite in Beechfield built by 1853. With the focal point of the Congregational Church, and the houses of Beechfield and the Crossley Wing, the buildings form a unified, if unusual whole.

The half-butterfly, south-facing Crossley Wing was completed in 1886 and had been designed according to the latest scientific principles relating to TB. The chimney of the ventilation system and the low walls and balcony of the sun-bath still remain. This photograph was taken in 2004 before damage was caused through neglect and the lack of maintenance and adequate of security by Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust after it closed. This has meant that the task of restoration is more onerous than it should have been.

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Detail of the area covered by the sun-bath, the line on the header bricks of which can be seen to the right. The exterior of the building comprising of a variegated brick laid in header bond, particular to the area south of Manchester and custom made decorative terracotta work, is handsome and well proportioned. The unique windows, specifically designed for the ventilation scheme and admittance of sunlight, are framed by splayed pilasters. A terracotta and belt course of roundels and fluting unifies the structure. The lower part of the building is enlivened with niches, and extended pilaster bases. Terracotta with its smooth and hardy surface was self cleaning, suitable for the purpose of the building. The ridge tiles, ball finials and hexagonal chimney stacks are all still in place on the roof which is covered with contrasting green Westmoreland slates. The overall effect is of an Italianate Tuscan style.

The door to the raised cellars, to the rear of the Crossley Wing.

The Crossley Wing in 2004, showing extensive use of terracotta in an Italianate classical style.

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The light and airy Crossley Wing, as it appeared in 1891 (Sketches, 1891).

The new building was completed by June 1886. It included a nurses’ kitchen and bathrooms at its centre with a small w.c. turret at the outer end. In February 1887, when it was informally opened, Dr Arthur Ransome was able to write to W. J. Crossley thanking him for providing and furnishing the two ‘handsome new wards containing 20 beds’ and the dining room. The discreet entwined initials ‘W.J.C.’ and ‘1886’ can be seen in the apexes of terracotta pediments of the two gabled dormer double windows above the eaves at the northern side of the building. In his unpublished memoir, Dr Ransome describes how W. J. Crossley suggested that one of the wards be named after him, but he modestly declined.

W. J. Crossley’s initials (above) and the date 1886, entwined with oak leaves (right). The windows of the buildings were boarded at the end of 2004 to deter vandals.

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IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BEECHES To cater for the extra patients, the kitchen of The Beeches was also extended and a new 35ft by 18ft dining room was added on Woodville Road. It had a large, hexagonal- segmented bay window, letting in plenty of light and overlooking the gardens. Built in white brick with stone dressings and a Swiss cottage style roofline, it matched Joseph Sidebotham’s extension of 1876. The windows on the Woodville Road elevation were blind, but enlivened the façade. The current windows on the road side were added at a later stage, probably when all but one of the tall windows on the garden side were engulfed in the 1934 extension. The large windows of the Dining Room, to the right, were The furniture was supplied by the designed to let in plenty of beneficial sunlight (Report, local firm Samuel Okell & Co. of 1886). Only one of the windows remains to be seen today. Altrincham, whose head was an active member of Bowdon Literary and Scientific Club, as was Dr Ransome, along with other supporters of the hospital. The latest scientific inventions and ideas of the day were regularly presented and discussed at the Club.

The new dining room added to The Beeches in 1886 in which the patients would have been treated to a nutritious diet. The grand piano by the left-hand wall was used for concerts, sometimes given by local Bowdon residents, in order to relieve the boredom of the patients (Sketches, 1891). [85]

The smaller wards in The Beeches were used to treat the more serious patients, where it was quieter. Other rooms were used for systematic inhalations of pure ozonized oxygen and other substances. A dark room was fitted up for laryngoscopic purposes. The hospital Report for 1886 declared that, ‘Advantage has been taken of the facilities afforded by the Institution for the application of new and scientific methods of treatment advocated from time to time both at home and abroad.’ It was from the mid-1880s that the long and successful collaboration between the Victoria University of Manchester medical scientists, Medical Officers of Health and clinicians who were working at the Manchester Hospital for Consumption at Bowdon had started, resulting in several initiatives in the study and treatment of consumption around the Manchester area. When advertising for a resident House Physician in March 1885, it was stated that the disease could be, ‘Studied with a minuteness and accuracy which is not possible in private practice.’

Breathing Ozone was one of the many treatments introduced and studied at the Manchester Hospital for Consumption (Sketches, 1891).

The Report of the Medical Board for 1887 gave the statistics for that year. 128 patients had been treated, the average duration of treatment being fifty-nine days. 102 left during the year, 15 of them well and 48 only relieved, but improved and gained in weight and strength, enabling them to continue their occupations. Some of the latter had only a temporary improvement, the disease progressing again once they returned home or to work. Of the rest, 21 left with their condition unaltered, 12 left worst and 6 died - 5 of phthisis. As most of the patients presented themselves at the Hardman Street clinic at the later stages of the disease, not wanting to deprive their families of their wages, the results were seen as satisfactory. [86]

FURTHER EXPANSION OF ST ANNE’S HOME In 1890, it was recognised that there were still not enough beds and too many admissions were being delayed. Two more wards containing 7 beds each were built running straight along Bowdon Road in the same style as the Crossley Wing. It was later called Dunham Ward. A men’s sitting room to the left of The Beeches was also added. These were completed around 1891 and furnished at the expense of W. J. Crossley, though his name as the donor was not publicised. The original wards were used for the men, with the new wards were for women. St Anne’s was still the only hospital in the Manchester area that provided beds for the special treatment of TB patients. A delightful promotional booklet entitled Sketches of The Manchester Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest and Throat published c.1891, illustrated the new building work accompanied by literary extracts referring to the benefits of light, fresh air and medical care.

OS Map revised in 1897 showing St Anne’s Home with the Crossley Wing and sun-bath, the men’s sitting room and dining room at The Beeches and the 1891 wing on Bowdon Road, later known as Dunham Ward. The path and woodland along Higher Downs and Beechfield are still there today.

The 1891 Bowdon Road Wing, extended at each end in 1897-98, matches the Crossley Wing. The origins of the gateposts and the small section of stone wall at the corner, pre-dating the OS map surveyed in 1876, remain a picturesque mystery. The high brick wall was built in two sections - 1837 and 1847, tying in when Ibotson Walker bought his 2 plots of land.

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The men’s sitting room had large windows to maximise sunlight. It was built in 1891 as an extension from the side of original dining room of The Beeches, seen to the left (Sketches, 1891).

The Census taken in 1891 gives a snap shot of the 33 patients temporarily resident at the hospital, showing their occupations which included a ‘Fancy Box Maker’, an ‘Actress’, a ‘Potter’, a ‘Railway Porter’ and a ‘National School Teacher’. The patients were described in Sketches in c.1891 as having, ‘The advantage of pure air, perfect hygienic surroundings, good food, absolute rest, and constant medical supervision.’ They were encouraged to be in the open air as much as possible in the grounds or by walking in the surrounding countryside which included nearby Dunham Massey Park. The less able played bagatelle or read whilst basking in the sun-bath. The reading rooms contained books and indoor games, with that of the women having a piano, while in the men’s sitting room there was a billiard table. The The men’s sitting room has a quirky ventilation 1886 dining room also contained a grand piano chimney sat astride a green Westmoreland slate which would have been used for informal roof. In mid-2005, thieves vandalised the roof concerts given by local residents for the patients when stealing the slates (left). Unfortunately to relieve the boredom during their month stay, this was left unseen to for many months. now extended to three months.

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Dunham Park, 1904. Being open and free, it was popular not only with local residents, but also with many day trippers from Manchester, even before the arrival of the railway in Altrincham in 1849. describes a visit by canal boat to its ‘ancestral trees’ and ‘grassy walks’ in her short story Libbie Marsh’s Three Eras (1847).

A postcard showing the grounds of St Anne’s Home in 1904, with patients taking in the air. The houses on Higher Downs can be seen beyond the trees and shrubs, which still provide screening and a nature reserve for bats and owls. The green beech to the right is now magnificently mature.

MEDICAL RESEARCH The specialist hospital with its forward-looking founders, was an important site for the study of the disease. The extensions and increase of patients from 1891 meant that the hospital could now really give, ‘Every facility for the study of the dreadful disease,’ and it was hoped that, ‘Much good will accrue from the opportunities for research which are now afforded.’ (Report, 1891). Students were admitted to the hospital and the clinicians working in both branches of the Manchester Hospital for Consumption, collaborated with the University medical scientists, in particular Professor of (later Bacteriology), A. Sheridan Delépine, at Owens College, and the Medical Officers of Health on all aspects of the disease. They were able to prove that tuberculosis could be transmitted via the milk of infected cows. [89]

As a result, from 1894, at the appointment of Dr James Niven as Medical Officer of Health, the cow sheds and cows in the Manchester area were inspected. At the hospital, Dr Ransome was always coming up with new ‘instrumental appliances’ to improve treatments, having to justify the cost to the Committee. He received a grant from the British Medical Association to research the virulence of the bacillus tubercle. The hospital also treated other diseases of the chest and throat, and provided first-hand experience for research into their causes and treatments.

KEEPING UP WITH DEMAND Keeping up with demand for in-patient beds was a battle that the Hospital was constantly fighting. By July 1898, the specialist hospital architect William Cecil Hardisty (Liverpool 1855-1921 Manchester) of Manchester, had extended the Bowdon Road wards at both ends in the Crossley wing style, giving a total of 50 beds, including the patients who presumably had occupied The Beeches. He also brought forward the right hand façade of The Beeches to enlarge the women’s sitting room, being the drawing room of the original house, including the later bay window. This is the façade we see today with its stone window frames and white brick matching Joseph Sidebotham’s 1870s extensions and the hospital’s 1891 dining room. The style is reminiscent of Swiss German villas, no doubt to bring the feeling of a mountain resort. The interior was remodelled further to provide a new dispensary and a servants’ dining hall. Electric light was also introduced which in replacing gas ‘removed one of the chief causes of pollution in the sitting rooms’ (Report, 1898). The contractors were Messrs. J. Hamilton & Son. W. Cecil Hardisty was responsible for the staff accommodation extension of the Royal Eye Hospital in 1897 and built an Accident and Out-Patients Department for the Ancoats Hospital. He had come to Manchester in 1878 and spent some time with the hospital architects Pennington and Brigden. In the 1901 Census, he was living in Brighton Grove in Rusholme.

Interior of the Bowdon Road Wing (later the Dunham Ward) in the early 1900s, with a polished wooden floor and the wall tiles, now plastered over, which local residents remember as being green.

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Postcard of St Anne’s Home sent in 1904 with Hardisty’s extended façade of 1897-98. Strictly speaking, St Anne’s was in the Township of Dunham Massey, but its location, like that of The Beeches before it, was always referred to as ‘Bowdon’.

St Anne’s Hospital in 2004 showing it little changed from 1904, apart from the lack of full height chimney stacks on The Beeches and the new windows of the men’s sitting room to the left. The only remaining window of the dining room bay is to the far right.

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FORMALISING THE TREATMENT In July 1898, William Crossley suggested that the doctors of the Hospital visit the ‘Continental Sanatoria to form a definite opinion and expound the general principals’ relating to the expense, diet and the results and effectiveness of treatments, especially in the open air. Ages and family history were also to be taken into account. The treatment which had been adopted by most of the large German sanatoria consisted of firstly lying in specially constructed verandahs or ‘liegehallen’ (rest halls); secondly an abundance of food, varied in character consisting of carbohydrates and fat forming constituents such as milk and thirdly the Nordrach System which forced patients to be exposed to fresh air in all weathers. The first and second elements were adopted at St Anne’s, as a continuation of the treatment they had pioneered, but the third was rejected, with the patients only gradually exposed to the weather, especially if they were bronchial. By 1899, verandahs or liegehallen with electric lighting had been added for the systematic outdoor treatment in the fresh air. They were designed by W. Cecil Hardisty and feature decorative cast iron columns and a splendid mosaic floor, all still extant. Patients were put under different treatment regimes, with those men under No.1 for example, spending the whole day on couches and not allowed to play cards, as this involved them sitting up. A game of billiards, which involved bending over, was allowed only for an hour in the evening, but for longer on rainy days. Smoking was usually allowed in the grounds but not indoors or in the sun-bath.

Postcard of St Anne’s, early 1900s, with patients benefiting from the new verandahs. On the lawn there appears to be a weather station, giving the patients an interest and also carrying on the tradition started by the Sidebotham family.

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The cast iron detailing on the Verandah built by 1899 is reminiscent of the shopping arcades at seaside resorts such as Llandudno, where people went to convalesce. The doors and most of the windows are a later addition. Internally the ceiling is in situ, as is the mosaic floor, both having been covered over. This photograph was taken in 2004 when St Anne’s was still open.

A group of men, along with a lad, recuperating in the fresh air and shelter of the Verandah. The cast iron columns gave the atmosphere of a seaside resort (Report, 1899).

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Women and girls sporting their hats in the verandah. The aqua mosaic floor, which is still in situ, can just be made out (Report, 1899).

The 46 patients from the 1901 Census include occupations which reflect the changing times: ‘Cloth Cap Maker’; ‘Paper-bag Maker’; ‘Embroiderer’; ‘Cook (Restaurant)’; ‘Driver Bread Van’; ‘Pattern Maker (Wood)’; ‘Shop assistant (Drapery)’; ‘Piano Tuner’ and a ‘Hair Dresser’. Youngest was 14-year old Arthur Holt born in Bradford, a ‘French Polisher’, the eldest being Albert Robertshaw born in Manchester, aged 46, a ‘Cloth Looper, Warehouse’.

If able, they were required to undertake light work, household duties and sewing for the hospital. However, since 1898 they were not allowed to leave the hospital grounds due to two cases brought to the Medical Board’s attention. Firstly, a boy was suffering from acute dyspepsia, due to a landlady in a public house on The Downs sympathising with his troubles and regaling him with free port and eggs. Secondly, two women had been found eating ice cream and buns, pressed upon them by caring friends. Given the opportunity, the men made for the nearest public house and the women patronised the ‘cook shops’. These treats upset the strict dietary regime imposed and monitored by the hospital. This was constantly under revision and in 1899 a new German diet, suggested by W. J. Crossley, was adopted. This involved extra expense totalling 18s. 10d. in 1902 per patient per week. Additionally, the patients ate more food which was put down to them having better appetites, as they were outside for longer in the verandahs. When they were discharged, the patients were provided with a daily supply of milk, eggs and rice as although the conditions to which they were returning could barely be improved, they could still benefit from a better diet.

In 1899, the average stay was for sixty-six days with 1 in 38 out patients from Hardman Street admitted. The improved figures for 1900 when the systematic open-air treatment for consumption was introduced were as follows:- Much Improved 62; Improved 71; Stationary 12; Worse 14; Died 3; Total 162. Unlike the figures for the other illnesses of the throat and chest treated by the hospital, there is not a figure for ‘Cured’ as it was recognised that because the disease was still in the system, it could return at any time. It would be nearly half a century before antibiotics could claim to totally cure TB, if administered correctly.

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Diet Chart as published in the Report, 1906.

Plan of the St Anne’s Home showing Hardisty’s extensions to the Bowdon Road Wing and the façade of The Beeches, along with the addition of the verandahs on the Crossley Wing by 1899 (Report, 1899).

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EVOLUTION OF THE BUILDINGS AT ST ANNE’S HOME

The new Crossley Wing, with the sun-bath at its centre, 1886. The dining room, also built in 1886 but partly demolished in the 1930s, with large windows overlooking the garden can

be seen to the far right of the original house, The Beeches (Report, 1886).

End of the Crossley Wing, before the addition of the verandahs for open-air treatment. The roof of the men’s sitting room added in 1891 can be seen between the buildings. The Beeches is shown before the extension to the façade. The beech tree, right, is now mature (M F & P, 1897).

Patients on the new verandahs for open air treatment added to the Crossley Wing by 1899 and the 1897-98 extension and alteration to the windows at the front of The Beeches, both by W. Cecil Hardisty (Report, 1899).

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MANCHESTER – ‘THE CHIEF FACTORY OF TUBERCULOSIS’ Despite the conclusive scientific evidence that TB was a highly infectious disease, the spread of which was exacerbated by poor social and sanitary conditions, it was not until 1899 that Manchester adopted a Notification Scheme to make TB a voluntarily communicable disease. Manchester and Brighton were the only places in the country to do so. Dr Niven had proposed the idea nationally to his fellow Medical Officers in 1892, but it was rejected. The evidence collected showed conditions in central Manchester to be in Dr Niven’s words, ‘The chief factory of tuberculosis’. There was criticism that as the death rate was statistically highest in one-roomed dwellings, there was little point dealing with the disease directly through notification until the true remedy of slum clearance and reduction of poverty could be undertaken. Dr Niven agreed this was obvious, but pointed out that such rapid change was not likely, so this could not be an excuse to neglect the disease. Apart from the Notification Scheme, campaigners convinced the Corporation to more fully address an improvement in housing conditions, malnutrition through the provision of school dinners, the availability of sunshine, exercise and fresh air through the provision of public parks and the physical education of the young as ways of reducing the number of cases of TB.

The high incidence of TB amongst adult male workers in towns was explained by their habit of spitting in the workshop, on the floor of the public house or in trams. Notices were distributed to dissuade the practice, with a Byelaw passed in 1904 preventing spitting in public places. Factories were also advised to wet sweep their floors with disinfectant, otherwise most work places were by now well ventilated through earlier Acts of Parliament.

With the notification system under Dr Niven’s supervision, three medical assistants were appointed. They would make enquiries, give advice and ensure the measures were undertaken. Disinfection and reduction of dust, if carried out by the householder, consisted of a thorough cleaning of all surfaces with dough. If carried out free of charge by the Corporation, under a scheme initiated by the Medical Board of Health for Manchester, and Salford by Doctors Ransome and Tatham in 1894, a solution of chlorinated lime proved effective. This had been demonstrated by the research of Professor Delépine into bacteriology as applied to public health. In 1895, Dr Edward J. Sidebotham, Joseph’s son, joined the Public Health Laboratory in Manchester headed by Professor Delépine, as a bacteriological assistant on a voluntary basis. He became Assistant Director of Public Health and a Lecturer in Bacteriology at the University of Manchester.

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The patients themselves were given a cardboard box and lid, tarred internally into which they were to expectorate. When full it was burnt at the back of the fire. Waxed tissue paper and later a sputum flask were for use outside the home, to keep the hands clear of contamination. The provision of 200 hospital beds was proposed, but were only gradually acquired, many provided by St Anne’s which received 1s. per notification. The Corporation also identified the need for workshops to provide training in lighter occupations and funding for the family whilst the wage earner recuperated. Enough bedding was to be provided so that it could be kept sanitised and the patient kept warm despite the advisory constantly open window.

Dr Ransome, in the 1899 version of one of his many lectures on the causes and prevention of Consumption, pointed out that the wealthy should also take heed of his three key pieces of advice - ‘Ventilation’, ‘Cleanliness’ and’Intemperance’. Lack of ventilation, even in mansions of the wealthy could be a danger, if the windows were not opened for long enough. Merchants and clerks, working in dusty offices and warehouses, travelling in crowded trains and omnibuses were exposing themselves to the disease. Late nights in the stifling atmosphere of crowded clubs, theatres and balls were another danger, albeit voluntary. Secondly, even though there is ‘the perfection of cleanliness about the living rooms’, the damp and dirty air could ascend from the cellars. ‘The very abundance of the various conveniences for cleanliness’, could expose the inhabitants to sewer gas and a consequently to a variety of diseases, including TB. Thirdly, intemperance, not only in alcohol, but also in diet as well, could predispose the well-to-do. He also brought together the variety of statistical evidence being collected world wide showing the direct proportion of consumption or lack of it to the lack of ventilation. In the crowded cities of from Paris to Peking, it was rife, whereas sparsely populated areas such as Africa and Iceland, and in particular cases such as the Labrador fishermen who live in draughty tents, it was virtually unknown.

THE CROSSLEY SANATORIUM AT DELAMERE The visit of the doctors to the continental sanatoria in 1898 at the suggestion of W.J. Crossley bore fruit as the research was to go towards the plans for building of a much larger institution, in a countryside location as the air in Bowdon was no longer as clean as it had been due to the development of the area. In 1900, the Hospital had seen over 11,000 patients, so demand was great. At the A.G.M. in 1900 the plans for the Manchester Sanatorium at Delamere Forest, near Frodsham in Cheshire were presented, funded primarily by W. J. Crossley with £70,000. The architect was again W. Cecil Hardisty who had visited Germany with W. J. Crossley to investigate current European practice before the building was designed and built ‘on very perfect lines’. Crossley was very involved in the detailed planning down to whether it would be preferable to have basins with running hot and cold water with the disadvantage of a waste pipe and the smell of soap on the wards, or just a basin and wash stand. There followed an appeal for an Endowment Fund to maintain the hospital once built, to cover the annual costs of up to £4,000. Twenty of the beds were set aside for the Manchester Corporation’s Notification Scheme, which had increased the number of out-patients at the hospital to 11,000 a year in 1902. However in 1903, there still were only 2,000 beds in sixty sanatoria trying to cope with the c.160,000 consumptives in the country. These sanatoria were filled with the wealthy paying up to 5 guineas a week – and still the only open-air sanatorium in the country where the poor were admitted free had been St Anne’s Home in Bowdon, funded by donation and public subscription.

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The Crossley Sanatorium at Kingswood, Delamere where all the rooms were south facing, some with balconies. The building is of red brick with terracotta dressings and pebble dash panels. The game of croquet kept the patients outdoors and occupied.

In a raised location at 470 ft receiving sea breezes in the open country side, the fine three storied building (Grade II Listed) in Renaissance Revival style, was opened in March 1905 and cared for up to 100 patients. All the airy rooms faced south and the large windows opened onto balconies for systematic basking in the sun and taking the air, which were by then widely accepted as a reasonable cure known as ‘the sanatorium treatment’, pioneered by St Anne’s Home where ‘the open air treatment had always been in vogue’. The dining room where the essential nutritious diet was taken, the chapel and the kitchen were to the rear. There were electric lifts for the more feeble patients and electric fans for the warmer weather. In the grounds were shelters for sitting out in the fresh air. Unlike the paying patients of whom there were up to 36, poor patients were restricted to the grounds and encouraged to do light work around the hospital, so as not to become chronic invalids. The more curable cases were sent to Delamere, with the more advanced cases treated at Bowdon.

William J. Crossley became a Cheshire County Councillor for Altrincham in 1901 and their Liberal M.P. in 1906, with Temperance as the plank of his main political platform. In a profile of 1902, his mission was described as being, ‘To direct his zeal and energies to the amelioration of the social condition and the uplifting of the masses to higher standards of life and conduct.’ Another of his local contributions was the buying of land and building of St Elizabeth’s mission church in Islington Street in 1890, being a daughter church of St John’s which primarily served the poor of the area. He became a Baronet in 1909. His youngest son, Brian Crossley, married the granddaughter of Joseph Sidebotham, Margaret in 1913 at St Mary’s Bowdon. Sadly, in 1914 Margaret (Greta) died aged 22 in Algiers, Brian dying a year later aged 29 in action in France. They are commemorated on an enamelled wall plaque in St Margaret’s Church. William J. Crossley who had died in 1911, is buried with a modest stone cross gravestone in the far western side of St Mary’s church yard, Bowdon.

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THE NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT With the evidence for the ‘fresh air’ cure shown to be working in Britain, as well as the high altitude of the Swiss Alps or Mediterranean air, the early 1900s saw a general movement and enthusiasm for the extinction of TB, amongst the wealthier paying classes at least, and resulted in the building of many open air sanatoria, of which St Anne’s had been a pioneer 15 years earlier. No doubt Dr Ransome’s The Principals of Open Air Treatment and Phthisis and of Sanatorium Construction published in 1903 was widely consulted.

For the poor, the process was a lot slower. Dr James Niven unsuccessfully argued the case before the Poor Law Commission 1905-09, to set up a fund to assist families of consumptive patients deprived of a wage earner, knowing that a high standard of nutrition increased resistance. He calculated that in about 1911, TB cost Manchester £500,000 in lost wages and poor relief and treatment in Union hospitals. It was not until the National Insurance Act, 1911 which came into force in July 1912, that registered working men could obtain sickness benefit, unemployment benefit and specific tuberculosis treatment. In addition, the Act provided finance for sanatoria for the preventive diagnosis, treatment and research for the whole community in cases where there was hope of recovery. Dr Niven regretted the emphasis on treatment rather than prevention, but made the most of the funding. Dr Sutherland, an experienced physician from the Consumption Hospital supervised the Manchester scheme. The clinic on Hardman Street became the city’s Tuberculosis Dispensary. In 1914, Dr Sutherland took over public health work as well, so that education, prevention, and treatment of the disease were integrated. At the same time, the Corporation finally put aside £2,000 to support affected families, in addition to the £500 from the National Insurance funds.

In 1912 the two sanatoria funded by the scheme were developed from existing buildings at the Sanatorium which had been opened in 1902 for infectious diseases in south Manchester (well described in the book by Robert Price Davies, 2002) and the Union Sanatorium at Abergele in North Wales, where many children were sent. The early patients at Baguley were mostly insured working people, who felt they had paid for their treatment through taxes, and did not take kindly to the strict hospital regime, pioneered at St Anne’s. By the 1920s there were over 300 beds at Baguley, with Abergele in 1939 only having 207.

CHANGING PURPOSES OF ST ANNE’S HOME During World War I, consumptive children were taken into the St Anne’s Home and provision was made for a teacher to take them for lessons in their beds, which were pushed together, for three hours a day. In 1921, it was decided to restrict the age of children to over 14, as the female patients, with whom they shared a ward, complained of the noise.

On the death of Dr Ransome in 1922, the Board acknowledged in its ‘Minutes’ his contribution stating that, ‘It was due in great measure to Dr Ransome that the Hospital at Bowdon developed from a small in-patient department of 14 beds to one of 52 beds and that of the Crossley Sanatorium was built.’ A presentation made to him locally in 1894, had declared him to be a friend to the rich, but a ‘devoted friend to the poor’. He certainly was a great motivator and organiser, and achieved at least some of his aims in the field of tuberculosis.

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Higher Downs, as seen on a postcard sent in 1921. The stone walls and hedging have not yet been opened up for car parking. The original 1837 entrance to Beech Grove to the right, on the corner of Woodville Road, was closed up by the Hospital, but reopened again in the 1930s.

By 1920, St Anne’s Home was set for closure as one of its main objectives was being dealt with elsewhere. Beds for potential consumption patients lay empty as the Manchester Corporation had taken increasingly taken responsibility for tuberculosis since 1912. In 1923, the Board had the buildings and grounds valued at between £4,500 and £5,000 and approached the Charity Commission seeking approval to sell up and build a smaller hospital closer to Manchester for operations on the nose and throat, working closely with the out-patients department in Hardman Street. In the end, the hospital had a reprieve and in 1928 alterations and extensions to the operating theatre to take ear, nose and throat cases took place. In 1931, it was officially renamed ‘St Anne’s Home’, which is The gates of St Anne’s Home which bear the likely date for the gates and mildly Art Deco brick its name, 2004. Beyond lies the mature gate posts at the corner of Higher Downs. The woodland and wildlife habitat, hospital was very successful, taking private patients to established since at least 1837. subsidise the more needy patients. The medical reports explained how they kept up with the latest methods, keeping up the tradition started by Dr Ransome. In 1932, 25 beds were allocated to diseases of the chest for pre and non tubercular patients, with the remaining 25 allocated to surgical cases for diseases of the ear, nose and throat. There was also an out-patients department, opened in 1933. The Crossley Sanatorium kept 110 beds for the tubercular patients.

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No.1 Ward of The Crossley Wing (Report, 1934). The roof trusses, wall tiles and probably the wooden floor are still extant, but hidden, waiting to be restored and appreciated once again (see page 106).

The two storied extension, which was built along Woodville Road in 1934, incorporated most of the bay window of the Dining Room and was used as boarding accommodation for nurses from Altrincham hospital. It is a rather unsympathetic and utilitarian addition, that has been empty for sometime. A tennis court was also laid out in the grounds in 1934.

St Anne’s Home in the Report of 1934, with the new extension on Woodville Rd to the right. The original design of the bay windows of the Men’s Sitting Room, can be seen to the left.

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St Anne’s in 2003. To the left is the 1934 extension, attached to the 1891 dining room with its later windows and dormers. Beyond is Sidebotham’s 1876 Italianate extension, which is an important element of the street scene on Woodville Road.

With war imminent at the end of August 1939, the good work of the hospital was interrupted and the patients sent home, as both St Anne’s and the Crossley Sanatorium came under the instruction of the Ministry of Health through the Emergency Hospital Scheme. But by the end of the year, the beds had started filling up again with TB patients. A capacious First Aid Post was installed in the basements under Wards 1 and 2 of the Crossley Wing, staffed by the British Red Cross. There was an air raid shelter in the cellars of The Beeches, as there was in many 19th century houses. The vegetable garden was put to extensive use.

THE RECENT PAST On 24th of June 1948, the Committee met for the last time at the nationalisation of the health service under the National Health Act. The Crossley Sanatorium at Delamere was transferred by the Minister of Health to the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board and was merged with the Liverpool Sanatorium to form the Crossley Hospital. This was much to the dismay of the then Chairman of the Consumption Hospital, William Crossley’s son, Sir Kenneth Crossley who said it was built for the people of Manchester. The buildings of Crossley East (Kingswood), having become a long-stay geriatric home and briefly a boarding school called Kingswood College, lay empty for several years awaiting redevelopment. In 2006, the buildings were bought by P.J. Livesey Group, which has carefully restored them, converting them into luxury apartments known as Kingsley Park.

St Anne’s Home on the ‘appointed day’ came initially under North and Mid-Cheshire Management Committee and was effectively a wing of Altrincham General Hospital. Renamed St Anne’s Hospital in the 1953, The Beeches became an Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic. The main wards were used variously for general medicine, convalescence particularly of stroke cases and also for E.N.T. treatment. When the removal of tonsils was more common, many local children remember their stay in St Anne’s. In 1961, a large temporary prefabricated building known as the William Timpson House, named after the Chairman of [103]

the Board of Management of Altrincham Hospital, was built on the vegetable garden. It housed the Preliminary Training School for Nurses, which Timpson had previously established in 1947 in two small houses in Altrincham. Trainee nurses were given three months theoretical and practical instruction, before working on the wards.

A League of Friends was founded in 1959 and continued the tradition of the annual garden party at St Anne’s, which featured the much admired rose garden. They raised funds for the benefit of patients and staff of all five of the Altrincham and Bowdon hospitals existing at that time. The League of Friends continues to support the only one remaining, that being Altrincham General Hospital in the town centre, next to the Market area. The volunteers of the League have recently celebrated their Golden Jubilee.

This young ear, nose and throat patient and his attentive visitors, were photographed in 1975 (left). In the days when tonsils were more commonly removed, many local children came to St Anne’s for the operation. Another photograph, also taken in 1975 (right), shows the nursing team working in the green-tiled operating theatre. This room used to be the library of The Beeches (see page 50). St Anne’s came under the Trafford District Health Authority in 1974 and in 1994 under Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust. The Beeches continued as an E.N.T. out-patients clinic with consulting rooms, the drawing room of the original house being used as the main waiting room. The stables of The Beeches, which became a laundry for the hospital in 1884, were demolished in the mid-1990s. The William Timpson building was refurbished and used as a day centre for the Community Psychiatric Nursing Service until 2005. From the 1980s, the main wards for St Anne’s Hospital had been used for elderly patients, who enjoyed the well- lit rooms and leafy aspect, until the sudden and unwelcomed closure on 15th of December 2004. This was due to problems with the central heating system and roof, as well as the general lack of maintenance over several years. On part of the original area of the croquet lawn, a temporary car parking surface had been laid, apparently complying with covenants restricting any permanent structural use or coverage of that part of the site. In 2005 at the request of residents, applied Tree Preservation Order No. 348, in order to protect the central mature green beech tree and the areas of the complex woodland on three sides, which provides a rich wildlife habitat. The historic buildings and general character of the site are afforded protection by being situated in The Devisdale Conservation Area. [104]

St Anne’s Hospital boarded up in December 2004, soon after it closed. To the left is the portable William Timpson House building, which obscures the Crossley Wing behind. After some initial vandalism and theft, 24-hour security with guard dogs was eventually provided to protect the buildings. The maturing green beech tree, which appears in earlier photographs, is to the right.

THE FUTURE OF THE BEECHES/ST ANNE’S HOSPITAL In 2006, on behalf of Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, MCP Planning and Dunlop Haywards of Manchester prepared a detailed information pack, including potential uses of the site, with a view to its disposal by formal tender. Due to the local planning restraint policy on the use of land for housing in place at the time, development options were limited to non-residential. Unfortunately the marketing did not fully reflect the contents of a development brief created by the Planning department of Trafford Council, which included a presumption to retain and restore all the 19th century buildings and to protect and retain the trees, woodland and green open space. This was reinforced by the views of an alliance of Bowdon Conservation Group, Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society and Bowdon Downs Residents’ Association, supported by other local groups, as well as The Victorian Society in Manchester and London. A price was agreed with a developer, on the basis of demolishing some of the 19th century buildings and creating a substantial residential care home, based on independent living. However, their offer was subsequently withdrawn, following clarification on the restrictions already outlined in the development brief, at a meeting with the Planning department.

In 2007, the decision was taken to include the disposal of St Anne’s within the scheme to sell the Altrincham General Hospital site, in order to fund a lease on a brand new hospital, built to modern standards. The location was to be either on part of the current Market Street site in Altrincham or elsewhere in the town centre. Following many years of campaigning by the community to save Altrincham General from closure, led by former nurse, the late Pat Morris, Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust have guaranteed that all current services will be maintained or increased at the new hospital.

Eventually in late 2008, under the guidance of Serco Group plc, the process moved forward and in February 2009, an OJEU advert invited developers to undertake the project. Vision Twentyone of Manchester was appointed to conduct the comprehensive public engagement, which included an exhibition of the proposals prepared by the three bidders initially selected.

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At time of writing, all three development teams have been invited to submit detailed solutions for a new hospital by 1st of February 2010. One bid is headed by local firm Citybranch Ltd, who have proposed a site on Railway Street, with the second bid being submitted by another local firm, Nikal, who would include the hospital in their major Altair development on Oakfield Road. The third company, Vinci Construction UK Ltd, would rebuild on the current site at the modern Pott Street end, with the historic 1870 and 1914 facades being retained for an alternate use. If either Nikal or Citybranch are successful, they would also retain these facades as part of a mixed development on the old site, significantly contributing to the regeneration of the historic market area. In addition to the general public consultation, all three developers have engaged fully with representatives of local groups and societies, with the aim of achieving an optimum solution for the new community health facility prior to any planning application, whichever developer is awarded the project.

With regards to the disposal of St Anne’s Hospital, after five long years, the decision was taken in December 2009 to sell it separately after all. A brief tender process at the beginning of the year, with the marketing undertaken by GVA Grimley, Manchester, should see the successful bidder chosen by March 2010. Potential uses include restoration and conversion into luxury homes, now that the land for housing restraint policy no longer applies or else for use as prestigious offices. The nature of the buildings and the differing levels, make it unlikely to be used as a hospital or nursing home. Another potential use would be for that of nearby Altrincham Girls’ Grammar School, who have long held an interest in restoring and converting the historic buildings and generally require more green recreational space.

The eventual owner of St Anne’s will be expected to engage fully with all those keen to see it carefully restored to its former glory, based on the vast collection of historic photographic evidence. This should include the re-creation of the sun-bath and the missing cast iron verandahs; the restoration of the mosaic floor of the verandah and the revealing of the roof trusses of the Crossley Wing. There is also a high expectation that any new use should respect the residential surroundings and street scene, including the retention and protection of the brick and the stone walls and all the trees, woodland walk and green open space. Barn owls and Pipistrelle bats are seen in the grounds and around Beechfield on a regular basis, so suitable measures to protect their habitat will also be necessary.

The mosaic tiles of the verandah floor can be seen externally, but also lurk under the lino in the now enclosed southeast section.

The original 1886 roof trusses in the Crossley Wing, still in situ.

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The fine green beech tree in the garden (right), with its branches now reaching the ground, 2010.

The mature woodland walk (below), along the walled boundary with Higher Downs, has provided enjoyment and exercise for the occupants of the house and later patients and staff of the hospital, for over 160 years.

The view along Higher Downs of the woodland, 2005. As a verdant swathe in the street scene for the well-being of passers-by and residents alike, the trees are an integral part of the character that comprises The Devisdale and the adjacent The Downs Conservation Areas. Since the recent closure of St Anne’s Hospital, it has become even more of a wildlife haven and continues to provide the environmental benefits of cutting pollution, cooling the air and biodiversity.

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CONCLUSION Being an embodiment of a pioneering medical treatment for consumption and resulting from the networking of inspired and philanthropic local men and women, St Anne’s Home consists of a special set of 19th century buildings, deserving far wider recognition and appreciation, than it has had in many years. It is a fascinating combination of the medical, social and architectural history, which arose from the rich crucible that was Bowdon, over several decades of the Victorian period.

St Anne’s Home in 1938 - and as it could be seen again, albeit with the green beech tree now fully mature (Report, 1938).

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APPENDIX I

SITE MAP OF THE T.P.O. AND DATES OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS

©Sue Nichols 2005

Amended site map (1996), showing the woodland trees and shrubs (A1 & A2) and the green beech tree (T1), fully protected by Trafford Council’s Tree Preservation Order No. 348 (11th January 2005).

The location and dates of the significant historic buildings on the site are also depicted. The original 1837 house with its later additions, both domestic and institutional, is alongside Woodville Road. The 1886 half- butterfly plan Crossley Wing (Ashley Ward) and its later verandahs, is at the centre of the site. The 1891 wing (Dunham Ward) is on Bowdon Road.

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APPENDIX II

CHRONOLOGY

1837 Ibotson Walker, a merchant and manufacturer of fustian and fancy drill, bought land at the top of The Downs and built for his family a modest detached villa, one of the earliest in the area. It was known as Beech Grove by 1858 and The Beeches by 1867.

1847 Ibotson Walker bought more land from the same plot, which was adjacent to that bought to build Bowdon Downs Congregational Church, of which he was a Deacon.

1858-61 William Johnson, iron founder and wire worker and his family rented Beech Grove.

1864-66 Joseph Thompson, a cotton manufacturer, Deacon of Bowdon Downs Church & educationalist, being the force behind Manchester Town Hall and a great supporter of Owens College, was renting Beech Grove.

1866-1879 Joseph Sidebotham first rented, then purchased Beech Grove in 1868 from the Estate of Ibotson Walker. He was a successful calico printer and colliery proprietor talented in astronomy, botany and photography, being a founder of the Manchester Photographic Society in 1855. He extended the house in white brick in an Italianate style in the early 1870s on the garden side and in 1876 on the Woodville Rd side (architect Alexander Mills) and built an observatory in the grounds. His photographs of his family and pets, the exterior and interior of the house, the building works of 1876 and the garden still exist.

1875 Manchester Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Throat was opened at 18 St John St for the poor and needy of Manchester, treating out-patients and in-patients. Due to the bad air and light of Manchester however, the patients could only be relieved rather than cured. The hospital was funded by public donation and subscription.

1882 Robert Koch in Germany isolated the TB bacterium and confirmed the link with its transmission in dusty, airless, dark environments with a cure being sunlight and fresh air. Dr Arthur Ransome, a G.P., medical statistician, innovator and researcher who edited a German scientific journal on TB now had scientific proof of his statistical association.

Dr Ransome joined the Hospital committee and revitalised the much needed relocation of the in-patients to an environment with clean healthy air. Armed with the Koch’s scientific discoveries, he began a fund raising campaign with most help coming from the great and good of Bowdon, where he lived. The local community supported the hospital financially, with goods in kind and by their expertise and did so for many years.

1883-1884 Dr Ransome’s friend and neighbour Joseph Sidebotham, having moved to Erlesdene on Green Walk by 1879, eventually sold The Beeches to the Hospital in 1884 for £5,000 with a donation of £2,000. It was converted for use as an in-patient’s hospital with the treatment and environment based on the latest scientific research. It was called ‘St Anne’s Home’ after Sidebotham’s late wife, Anne. She was the aunt of Thomas Alfred Coward, the naturalist, who lived opposite at 8 Higher Downs and would have delighted in the bats and owls that still inhabit the grounds of St Anne’s.

1885 The new hospital opened with 16 patients who stayed for an average of two months with a regime of fresh air, sunshine and a good diet in a hygienic, dust free environment. This was the only free sanatorium in Britain until the 1900s.

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William J. Crossley, engineer and philanthropist, became Chairman and guided by Dr Ransome, commissioned plans for a state-of-the-art specialist wing, which he would finance. The design was engineered to reflect the latest scientific discoveries, being of a south-facing, half-butterfly plan to maximise sunlight. A ventilation system in the raised cellars, in conjunction with the high ceilings and unique windows, provided a constant 5,000 cubic ft of fresh air per bed per hour at a temperature of 62 degrees F. The initials ‘W.J.C.’ and the date ‘1886’ appear on two terracotta pediments entwined with oak leaves and acorns. The architects of the handsome Tuscan style building of brick and decorative terracotta were Tate & Popplewell of Manchester.

Francis W. Crossley, William’s brother was Vice-President and Trustee and lived around the corner at Fairlie on Cavendish Rd. William was living at Glenfield near St Margaret’s church. Dr Ransome had moved from 12 Higher Downs to Devisdale House on St Margaret’s Rd.

Funds were also raised for a new clinic for out-patients in Hardman St in Manchester, designed by Pennington & Brigden, now successfully converted into prestigious offices.

1886 The Crossley Wing was completed, along with a new dining room extension on Woodville Rd. Twenty additional patients were taken in. The hospital became an important centre for pioneering medical research in conjunction with Owens College into the causes and further cures for TB.

1891 An additional wing in the same style as the Crossley Wing was added along Bowdon Rd for an extra 14 patients and a men’s sitting room was added to The Beeches.

1898-99 Verandahs for a systematic open air cure were added to the Crossley Wing and the façade of The Beeches was partially extended in white brick by W. Cecil Hardisty for the women’s sitting room. The Bowdon Rd wing was also extended at both ends.

1905 The Crossley Sanatorium at Delamere by Hardisty was opened for 100 extra patients.

1934 An extension to the hospital was built along Woodville Rd as staff accommodation.

1944 Antibiotics meant a more reliable TB cure, which reduced the need for sanatoria.

1948 St Anne’s Home became part of the NHS, with an E.N.T. clinic and wards used for general medicine and more recently convalescence, geriatric and psychiatric care. It became known as St Anne’s Hospital in 1953.

1961 The Preliminary Training School for Nurses was housed in a large portable building put up in the grounds, called William Timpson House.

2004 St Anne’s Hospital was closed suddenly on 15th of December, by its owner, Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust. An alliance of local residents, groups and societies was formed in order to outline their expectations for the future of the 19th century buildings, woodland and green open space to the Trust, Trafford Council and anyone interested in developing the site.

2010 All the buildings and the grounds were put on the open market through a tender process, which at time of writing, is still underway. Due to the inadequate security for many months after closure; the ongoing lack of maintenance and repair of the buildings and the delays in reaching this point, the task of restoring the historic buildings is now far more complex that it should have been.

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SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

PRIMARY SOURCES

Manuscripts 1892, Pennington & Brigden, Architects & Wilson & Bowdon Parish Church Archive Toft, Manchester, Contractors; M363/1/3, Finance Church Rate for Bowdon Parish, 1850 (transcribed by Committee ante 19 Nov 1885 - 23 Jan 1911; Marjorie Cox) M363/1/ 1/1-8, General Board Minutes c.1875 - 24 A Valuation of the Township of Bowdon in the County Jun 1948 (includes occasional newspaper cuttings and of Chester…, Thomas Greaves, Jun 1843 letters); (Included in) M363/1/1/1, Letter, 14 Dec

Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Chester 1894, Bournemouth, Dr Arthur Ransome; EDT13/1, Altrincham Tithe Apportionment, proved M363/1/2, Medical Board Minutes 1 Feb 1898 - 15 24 June 1839 Aug 1905, with letters EDT 59/1, Bowdon Tithe Apportionment, proved 31 Autograph Collection, Thompson Papers, 1862-1902 (Letters from Alfred Waterhouse) Dec 1841

EDT 144/1, Dunham Massey Tithe Apportionment, National Trust, Stamford Estates Office, proved 23 Sep 1841 Altrincham MF 264/42, St Margaret’s Church, Dunham Massey: Stamford Estates Counterpart Deeds for Altrincham Baptisms & Marriages (A), Bowdon (B) & Dunham Massey (D) and WS 1842, Will of John Clarke, Bowdon, 1842 associated annotated plans

MF91/3, WR2A pp.605-11 Will of William Johnson of Bowdon & Manchester, 1860 Principal Probate Registry, London WS 1857, Will of James Oldfield of Dunham Will of Edward Lowe Sidebotham Esq. of Shepley Hall Massey,1857 & Cheltenham, Probate 25 Jan 1871 WS 1825, Will of Joseph Sidebotham of Apethorn, Will of John Sidebotham Esq. of Kingston House, Werneth, 1825 Hyde, Probate 29 Oct 1875

MF 91/34, WR26 pp.1040-49, Will of Joseph The Sidebotham Family Collection (with digital Sidebotham Esq. of Bowdon, 1885 images held in the Altrincham Area Image Archive)

Documents; photographs; newspaper cuttings; H. M. Land Registry, Lytham St Anne’s ephemera and research notes relating to the history of Various Title Deeds and Plans including GM45001 the Sidebotham family, including: ‘List of Apple Trees Saint Anne’s Hospital, Woodville Road, Altrincham, Beech Grove purchased from Buchill [?] Sale, Nov WA14 2AQ

1866’; ‘Pedigree of The Sidebotham Family’, Joel The John Rylands University Library Wainwright; Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’: No. 1: 1 Jan Manchester Medical Collection, Oxford Road, 1872 - 31 Dec 1873; No. 2: 1 Jan 1874 - 21 Jun 1875; Manchester No. 3: 13 Apr 1875 - 3 Nov 1876; No. 4: 30 Oct MMC/2/RansomeA/1/3, File 1862-1923, Letter, 19 1876 - 31 Dec 1877; No. 5: 4 Nov 1876 - 4 Sep 1878;

Feb 1862, Bowdon, Dr Arthur Ransome No. 7: 5 Sep 1878 - 31 Dec 1879; ‘Edward John Some Great and Good Men and Women Which I Have Sidebotham, Diary, Beech Grove’, Oct 1868 - May

Known, n.d., Dr Arthur Ransome, unpublished typed 1872 manuscript, currently ‘missing’. Sue Nichols has Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, photocopies of the section referring to the Altrincham Various Title Deeds relating to GM45001 Saint Anne’s area.

Hospital, Woodville Road, Altrincham, WA14 2AQ

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Manchester Hospital for Consumption & Diseases of Trafford Register Office, Sale the Throat: M363/2/1/1, Bill of Extras and Entry of Birth for Altrincham: Arthur Cyril Ransome, Deductions on Contract for Alterations to Hospital for 8 Jul 1868; Herbert Fullerton Ransome, 17 May 1863; Consumption Bowdon, Mar - May 1885, Mills & Mary Gertrude Hague, 1 May 1867 Murgatroyd Architects; M363/2/1/2-4, Bills for Entry of Marriage for Altrincham: Arthur Ransome & Alterations at Hardman St, Manchester, Mar - May Lucy Elizabeth Fullerton, 5 Aug 1862

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Oldfield, 5 Jan 1862 BALSHAW, Charles, Stranger’s Guide and Complete

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Online Resources for Manuscripts The Institutions, Officers and Services of the Congregational (2010): Census Church Bowdon Downs: Report (1865; 1880; 1881) Enumerators’ Returns for England Manchester Faces and Places including: ‘The Late F. W. (2010): Birth, Crossley J.P.’, 8 (1896-97); ‘William J Crossley’, NS Marriage and Death Index Collections 1837-2005; 1 (1901-02); ‘Professor A. Sheridan Deléphine’, NS 1 Census Enumerators’ Returns for England (1901-02); ‘Manchester Hospital for Consumption’ 8 (1896-97); ‘Manchester Hospital for Consumption’, NS 3 (1904); ‘Owens College’ 3 (1891-92); ‘Dr Printed Texts Arthur Ransome’, 5 (1893-94); ‘Alderman Joseph British Library Thompson, J.P.’ 3 (1891-92); ‘Alderman Joseph LOUDON, John Claudius, Loudon’s Encyclopaedia of Thompson, L.L.D., J.P.’, NS3 (1904) Cottage, Farm & Villa Architecture & Furniture (London, Manchester Hospital for Consumption & Diseases of the 1833) Throat: Report (1875 to 1879; 1881 to 1901; 1907 to

The John Rylands University Library, Oxford 1947) Road, Manchester TRACEY, W. Burnett, Manchester and Salford at the th The Builder including: ‘Hospital Extension, Close of the 19 Century and Contemporary Biographies, Manchester’, 7 Aug 1897, 114-15; ‘Hospital for Sick Pike’s New Century Series No. 2 (1901)

Children, , Manchester’, 26 Oct 1872, The Sue Nichols Collection (with a selection of 845-47; ‘The North London Hospital for images held in the Altrincham Area Image Archive) Consumption, Mount Vernon, Hampstead’ 25 Dec CROSSLEY, Ella K., He Heard from God - The Story of 1880, 750 Frank Crossley (London: 1959)

The John Rylands University Library, HARRIS, J. Rendal, The Life of Francis William Crossley Manchester Medical Collection, Oxford Road, (London: 1900) with newspaper cutting ‘Death of Sir Manchester William Crossley’, The Daily News, 13 Oct 1911 Anon., On the Prevention and Cure of Phthisis and the Work INGHAM, Alfred, A History of Altrincham and Bowdon… done in the Respect by the Manchester Hospital for (Atrincham: 1879) Consumption and Diseases of the Chest and Throat (prob. NICKSEN, Charles, Bygone Altrincham (Manchester: by Dr Siegmund MORITZ) (Manchester: 1902) 1935) MMC/2/RansomeA/2 Cuttings Book c.1874- RANSOME, Arthur, Consumption: Its Causes and 1915:‘Consumption Hospital at Delamere’, Knutsford Prevention, Manchester Health Lectures for the People Guardian, 31 Mar 1900; ‘Dr Ransome on the New Series No. 1 (1899-1900)

Prevention of Consumption’, The Manchester Guardian, Royal Astronomical Society, London 3 Sep 1887; ‘The Fresh Air Cure for Consumption’, ‘Joseph Sidebotham’, Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical [Manchester] Evening Mail, 27 Sep 1887 Society: Report of the Council to the Sixty-sixth Annual MC/2/RansomeA/1/File 1862-1923, Obituary General Meeting, Vol 46, Pt 4 (Feb 1886), 194-96

‘Arthur Ransome’, Report of the Royal College of Physicians (1923); ‘Obituary - Arthur Ransome, M.D. Trafford Council, Sale CAMB., F.R.C.P. LOND., F.R.S. Consulting TRAFFORD COUNCIL, Planning Guidance for Physician, Manchester Hospital for Consumption’, The Development at Altrincham General Hospital, Market Street, Lancet, (5 Aug 1922), 301-02 Altrincham and St Anne’s Hospital, Woodville Road/Higher MMC/9/21/3/1 ‘Delamere Sanatorium’, The British Downs, Bowdon (Sale: Feb 2009) - Planning Guidelines: Medical Journal, (19 Jul 1902) The Downs, The Devisdale Bowdon, Ashley Heath (Sale: Manchester Hospital for Consumption & Diseases of the 1992) - Trafford Town and Country Planning Acts. Throat: Report (1902 to 1903; 1906; 1924 to 1925; Future development of St Anne’s Hospital Site, 1927; 1930; 1934; 1936; 1939; 1945 & 1946) Woodville Road, Altrincham, Letter, 15 Mar 2006, NIVEN, James, Observations on the History of the Public Gary Earnshaw to MCP Planning - L/RC/09/13280, Health Effort (Manchester: 1923) Tree Preservation Order No, 348 Former St Anne’s

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Altrincham Cheshire, 11 Jan 2005 particular BAGSHAW, Samuel, History, Gazetteer, and

Directory of the County Palatine of Chester (Sheffield, Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, Davyhulme 1850) BOWDON CONSERVATION GROUP ed., St Anne’s (2010) DUNLOP HAYWARDS ed., The Former St Anne’s (2010) in Hospital, Woodville Road, Bowdon, Altrincham: For Sale by particular ‘The Crossley Sanatorium’, The Manchester Formal Tender (Manchester: 2006) Guardian, 5 Apr 1905; ‘Dr E. J. Sidebotham’, The GVA GRIMLEY, For Sale: …Former St Anne’s Home… Manchester Guardian, 10 May 1928; ‘Sales by Auction: (Manchester: Feb 2010) Erlesdene, Bowdon’, The Manchester Guardian, 6 May MCP PLANNING, St Anne’s Hospital, Woodville Road, 1933; ‘Sales by Auction: Capes, Dunn & Co.’ Altrincham: Context Plan (Manchester: 2006) (Erlesdene, Bowdon), The Manchester Guardian, 24 Nov

Trafford Local Studies, Sale 1934 1839-1939 Centenary of the Church of Christ Bowdon (2010) Downs of the Congregational Order meeting at Bowdon, Cheshire (1939) Visual Records Altrincham General Hospital Annual Report (1945 & 1947) The John Rylands University Library, Altrincham Provident Dispensary and Hospital: Descriptive Manchester Medical Collection, Oxford Road, Souvenir (Altrincham: 1914) Manchester Bowdon Literary and Scientific Club: Report 1865 (1866); MMC/9/21/4/1, Anon., Sketches of the Manchester 1880-81; 1881-82 & 1882-83 Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest &

Electoral Registers for Altrincham, Bowdon, Dunham Throat, Manchester (c.1891)

Massey & Hale, 1832-1920 Imperial and Local Progress of Sixty Years, 1837-1897, Manchester Archives and Local Studies, Altrincham & Bowdon Guardian Supplement, 2nd Manchester edition (Altrincham: 1897) L142/5/2/1, Album of Miscellaneous Papers of The ORMEROD, George, The History of the County Palatine Sidebotham Family, 1871-1901 and City of Chester…, Helsby, Thomas, ed., Vol 1 (2nd L142/5/2/2, Album of Miscellaneous Papers of The edition, London: 1882) Sidebotham Family, 1897-1920 Street Directories covering 1772 to 1939 L142/5, Album of Photographs, mostly taken by The Town and Trade of Altrincham (Altrincham: 1897) Joseph Sidebotham, Vol 1, 1852-56, originally held by

the P.C.C. of St Anne’s, Haughton.* Wellcome Library, London L142/5, Album of Photographs mostly taken by BULSTRODE, H. Timbrell, M.D., Public Health. Joseph Sidebotham, Vol 2, c.1856-81, compiled by his Report on Sanatoria for Consumption and Certain Other son Edward J. Sidebotham. The album was originally Aspects of the Tuberculosis Question 1905-06, held by the P.C.C. of St Anne’s, Haughton.* Parliamentary Papers, XXVII (1907) L142/5/3/1-2, Glass photographs of St Lawrence, RANSOME, Dr Arthur, A Campaign Against Denton by Joseph Sidebotham. originally held by the Consumption: A Collection of Papers relating to Tuberculosis P.C.C. of St Anne’s, Haughton. (Cambridge: 1915) L142/5/2/3-5, Newspaper Cuttings, n.d.

L/142/4/1-14, Photographs taken during the building Online Resources for Printed Texts of St Anne’s Church, Haughton taken by Joseph (2010): Birth, Sidebotham, 1880-82, originally held by the P.C.C. of Marriage and Death Index Collections 1837-2005; St Anne’s, Haughton.* National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & L142/2, St Anne’s Church, Haughton, Church Administrations), England and Wales, 1861-1941 Wardens Fabric of the Church, 1880-1968 (2010): The * Black and white copy negatives available at Builder, 1-10 (1843-1852) Manchester County Records Office (Documentary (2010): Photographic Archive 2157), with a selection of colour WILMOT, Sir John E Eardley, bart, Reminiscences of the digital images held by the Atrincham Area Image late Thomas Asshton Smith, Esq or, The Pursuits of an Archive. English Country Gentleman (London: 1862)

(2010): Interim Report The Sue Nichols Collection/Altrincham Area of the Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis, Sessional Image Archive Paper (Feb 1912) Collection of historic postcards depicting the local (2010) DENTITH, Heather J., ‘The History of St Anne’s (2010) Hospital 1875-1975’, unpublished ‘O’ Level Project, [114]

with photographs (Hale: 1975). Currently held by Sue SECONDARY SOURCES Nichols on behalf of Bowdon History Society

Printed Texts The Sidebotham Family Collection ANDREWS, Judy, Arthur Ransome’s Family from 1869- See ‘Manuscripts’ above 1975 (Windermere: 2002)

Online Resources for Photographs and BAMFORD, Frank, The Making of Altrincham 1850- Illustrations 1991: From Market to Megastore? (Altrincham: 1991) (2010) for - Mansions and Men of Dunham Massey: From Errant Earl to information about the Altrincham Area Image Archive Red Dean (Altrincham: 1991) (2010) BAYLISS, Don Historical Atlas of Trafford (Altrincham: (2010) 1996) - A Town in Crisis: Altrincham in the Mid-Nineteenth Century (Altrincham: 2006) (2010) (‘Trafford Lifetimes’ image database) BAYLISS, Don, ed., Altrincham: A History (Timperley: 1992); - A Cheshire Market Town in Victorian Times: Maps and Plans Altrincham in 1841, Altrincham History Society Occasional Paper No. 5 (Altrincham: 1994) Chester Archives and Local Studies, Chester BAYLISS, Hilda, Altrincham: A Pictorial History, EDT13/2, Map of the Township of Altrincham in the (Chichester: 1996) County of Chester.., John Crampton, 1835 BIRCHALL, Stephen, Dissent in Altrincham: Religion, EDT 59/2, Map of the Township of Bowden [sic] in Politics and a Touch of Scandal 1870-1905 (Milton Parish of Bowden [sic].., R. Thornton, 1838 Keynes: 2010) EDT 144/2, Map of the Township of Dunham Massey BOWDON HISTORY SOCIETY, Bowdon and Dunham in the Parish of Bowdon..,1839

Massey, (Stroud: 1999) Trafford Healthcare NHS trust, Davyhulme BROOKS, Michael W., John Ruskin and Victorian St Anne’s Home (Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital), Architecture (London: 1989) Ground Floor Plan, 1:500, Nov 1983 BRUNSKILL, R. W., Brick Building in Britain (London: St Anne’s Hospital, Set of Plans and Drawings, N. D. 1997) - Vernacular Architecture An illustrated Handbook Simcock, 1:200 and 1:100, 1998 (London: 2000) St Anne’s Hospital, Site Layout, 1:200, N. D. CRONIN, Jill, ed., Saint Anne, Haughton 1882-1982 Simcock, 7 Dec 2004 (Haughton: 1982)

DAVIES, Robert Price, Baguley and Wythenshawe Trafford Local Studies Hospitals - A History (Hale: 2002) ALT/9/1/1/1, Detail Plans of the Township of DORE, R. N., A History of Hale, Cheshire: From Altrincham Surveyed for the Purposes of The Local Domesday to Dormitory (Hale: 1972) Board of Health, 1852, Sheets 1 - 15, scale 1:538 or ELLWOOD, Willis J. & A. Félicité TUXFORD, eds 10 feet to one mile, by Charles E. Cawley, Some Manchester Doctors: A Biographical Collection to Mark watercolour on paper mounted on linen. Digital scans th the 150 Anniversary of the Manchester Medical Society commissioned by the Altrincham Area Image Archive 1834-1984 (Manchester: 1984) and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. ESHBORN, Charles, One Hundred Years of Photography - ORDNANCE SURVEY, The Village Atlas: The Growth of The Centenary of the Manchester Photographic Society Manchester - Lancashire and North Cheshire 1840-1912 1855-1955 (Manchester: 1955) (London: 1989) EYRE, Michael, Chris HEAPS & Alan TOWNSIN, O.S. 1:2500, Cheshire sheet XVIII.8, Second Edition, Crossley (Shepperton: 2002) 1898, surveyed 1874, revised 1897, published 1898 FITZPATRICK, Gillian, Altrincham Pat & Present, O.S. 1:500 or 10.56 feet to one mile, Cheshire sheet (Timperley: 1990) XVIII.6.11 (and others), Ordnance Plans of the Town GASKELL, Elizabeth, Libbie Marsh’s Three Eras, of Altrincham, Southampton, surveyed 1876, Howitt’s Journal of Literature and Popular Progress published 1878 (London: 1847)

Online Resources for Maps and Plans HALLETT, Michael ‘The Strines Journal and the (2010) for Nasmyth Steam Hammer’, History of Photography, (Jul- information about the ‘Historic Altrincham Plans’ web Sep 1989), 221-22 site, which will feature the 1852 Altrincham Local HARTWELL, Clare, Pevsner Architectural Guides: Board of Health ‘Detail Plans’ (1852) (see page 19) Manchester (London: 2001) and 1878 OS Plans of the Town of Altrincham HILL, Christopher, ‘Anyone for Croquet?, Altrincham (surveyed 1876, published 1878) (see page 52). History Society Journal,13, (Altrincham: 1997) - Helen Allingham, Victorian Watercolour Artist, Altrincham (2010) History Society Occasional Paper No. 1 (Altrincham: (2010) 1991) [115]

HYDE, Matthew, The Villas of Alderley Edge, (Swindon: 1998) (Altrincham: 1999) RICHARDSON, Ruth & Robert Thorne, The Builder, KEMP, Peter, Higher Downs, Altrincham: A Short History, Illustrations Index 1843-1883 (Gomshall: 1994) Bowdon History Society (Bowdon: 1985) (along with ROTHWELL, James, Dunham Massey (London: 2000) associated extensive research notes and compilations ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Catalogue of currently held and added to by Sue Nichols, on behalf Scientific Papers 1800 - 1863 Compiled and Published by of Bowdon History Society) The Royal Society of London, Vol V (London: 1871); KENDRICK, Myra, Schools in Victorian Bowdon, Catalogue of Scientific Papers 1864 - 1873 Compiled by The Bowdon History Society (Bowdon: 1996) Royal Society of London, Vol VIII (London: 1879) LEE, K. George, Notes on St Margaret’s Church, Dunham SAMBROOK, Pamela, A Country House at Work: Three Massey (leaflet) (Altrincham: 2005) Centuries of Dunham Massey (London: 2003) MARSHALL, John & Ian WILLOX, The Victorian House SHAW, Rev Henry, The Story of the Church of Christ of (London: 1986) the Congregational Order, Meeting at Bowdon Downs 1839- MIDDLETON, Thomas, The Annals of Hyde and 1900 (Manchester: 1901) Haughton (Manchester: 1899) - A History of Hyde and Its SOUTHERN, Pat, Altrincham: An Illustrated History, Neighbourhood… (Hyde: 1932) (Derby: 2002) MILLIGAN, Harry, ‘Joseph Sidebotham: A Victorian STEWART, Cecil, The Architecture of Manchester: Index Amateur Photographer’, The Photographic Journal, Mar- to the Principal Buildings and Their Architects 1800-1900, Apr (1978) (Manchester: 1956) MORRISON, Basil D., Looking Back at Altrincham THOMPSON, Joseph, Congregationalism: Historical (Timperley: 1980) Sketch (1882) MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, Joseph WEDD, Kit, The Victorian Society Book of The Victorian Sidebotham 1824-1885 (leaflet) (Manchester: 2001) House (London: 2002) - Care for Victorian Houses Number NEVELL, Michael, The Archaeology of Trafford Three: Fireplaces, The Victorian Society (London: 1993) (Trafford: 1997) WETTON, Jenny, ‘James Mudd and Joseph NICHOLS, Sue, ‘St Anne’s Home’ Altrincham History Sidebotham: Bowdon Photographers’, The Bowdon Society Journal, 25 (Altrincham: 2005) Sheaf, 14 (Oct 1989) OLIVER, Richard, Ordnance Survey Maps: A Concise WHEELER, Geoffrey, St Peter’s Centenary 1891-1992 Guide for Historians (London: 1993) (Hale: 1992)

PEVSNER, Nikolaus and Edward HUBBARD, The

Buildings of England - Cheshire (Hamondsworth: 1978) Online resources for Printed Texts PHILLIPS, A. D. M. & C. B. PHILLIPS, A New (2010) Historical Atlas of Cheshire, (Chester: 2002) (2010) (Sale of St Anne’s History of Hospital Development in Manchester and Its Hospital) Region 1752-1946 (Manchester: 1985) (2010) POWICKE, Frederick J., A History of the Cheshire (2010) County Union of Congregational Churches, Prepared to Celebrate its Centenary (1806-1906) (Manchester: 1907) (2010) PUGH, James L, The Story of Altrincham General 1870- 1970 (Altrincham: 1970) (2010) RENDELL, Douglas, Photographers in the Altrincham (2010) Area (Altrincham: 2006) (2010) 1948: Survey of Their Architecture & Design, Royal (2010)

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ILLUSTRATIONS

Alex Brodie 104t Altrincham Area Image Archive: Bowdon History Society front cover, 22c; Photo Rosalind Makin 19t; Manchester Archives and Local Studies, Manchester 12, 14, 25t, 55, 72c, 80, 96c, 108; Manchester Archives and Local Studies, Manchester and The Parochial Church Council of St Anne’s Church, Haughton, Denton 19c, 26b, 27, 29, 31r, 32, 41t, 51tl, 53t, 64, 65t, back cover; The Sue Nichols Collection 8b, 11, 75, 78, 79b, 78, 79b, 89t, 91t, 92b, 101t, 109; Photo Sue Nichols 5, 15, 20c, 20r, 21c, 21b, 22b, 23b, 24, 25b, 26t, 30c, 45, 46, 48b, 49, 51b, 54bl, 54cr, 56br, 59, 61, 62, 63tl, 63tr, 65b, 68, 69, 72t, 76b, 81, 82b, 83, 84bl, 84br, 87b, 91b, 92t, 93t, 101c, 103, 105, 106, 107; Photo Gerry Shaw 88b; Peggy and Stephen Sidebotham Collection 31l, 38b, 73, 97; The Sidebotham Family Collection, Sidebotham ‘Family Diary’ No. 1: 8t, 36l, 36r, 37cl, 37bl, 37br, 39tl, 39br, 41b, 51tr, 53c, 53b; No. 2: 36t, 37t, 39tl, 39bl, 42, 50c, 70; No. 3: 38tr, 40tl, 47, 56, 57, 58; No. 4: 39tr, 40tr, 43, 63c; No. 5: 48c; No. 7: 20l, 38b, 30t, 40b, 50t, 51c, 52b, 54t, 60, 66, 67, end-piece; Trafford Local Studies 19b, 52c, 87c Cheshire Archives and Local Studies 18b Crossley Family Archive 79c, 99 Heather J. Dentith 104cl, 104cr The John Rylands University Library, Manchester Medical Collection 2, 77, 84t, 85b, 86, 88t Land Registry, Lytham St Anne’s 18 t, 23t Manchester Archives and Local Studies 13, 76t, 82c, 85t, 93b, 94, 95, 96t, 96b, 102, 108 Trafford Local Studies 89, 90

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks are due to those individuals listed below, who have contributed through a variety of ways and means on the long and fascinating journey to produce this book. Along with my family, they have also provided encouragement and support throughout the campaign to save and restore the 19th century buildings and to protect the woodland wildlife habitat, central beech tree and boundary walls of St Anne’s Home. They are as follows:

Judy Andrews; Linda Antonelli; Derek Austin; Christine and Derek Bainbridge; Alex Baldwin; Don Bayliss; Stephen Birchall; Alan Bradley; Ian Bradley; Graham Brady M.P.; Pat Bloor; Alex Brodie; Kevin Carroll; Jill and Bernard Champness; Judie Collins; Marjorie Cox; Jill Cronin; Neil Darlington; Richard Dawborn; Sue Dawson; Gary Earnshaw; David Eastwood; Mike Eyres; Robert Fysh; Pauline Foley; Sally Forsyth; Morris Garratt; Pastor Paul Hailes; Chrystal Hart; Chris Heaps; Chris Hill; David Hilton; Ruth and John Holland; Matthew Hyde; Roland Kay; Peter Kemp; Jimmy Makin; Sue Meakins; David Miller; The late Pat Morris; Basil D. Morrison; Derek Murdie; Andrew Murray; Sheila Murray; Peter Noble; Paula Pearson; Mary and Bob Piers; Robert Price Davies; Elisabeth Read; Doug Rendell; Tristram Reynolds; Dana Ross-Wawrzynski; Harry Scholar; Gerry Shaw; Peggy and Stephen Sidebotham; Martin and Sandra Stone; Julia Taylor; Ronald and Valerie Trenbath

In addition, these organisations listed have also strongly supported the aims of protection and restoration: Altrincham & Bowdon Civic Society; Altrincham Court Leet; Bowdon Conservation Group; Bowdon Downs Residents’ Association; Bowdon History Society; Hale Civic Society; Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society; Manchester Region Industrial Archaeological Society; The Victorian Society, Manchester branch and The Victorian Society, London

I would also like to thank the ever helpful staff at The John Rylands University Library Manchester Medical Collection; Manchester Archives and Local Studies; National Trust Estates Office (in particular, Alison Williams); Prontaprint Altrincham and Trafford Local Studies. [117]

INDEX of PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, INSTITUTIONS and ORGANISATIONS

Page numbers in italics refer to Mrs, 71 Carlisle, Mrs Ellen, 71 illustrations and/or their Bickham, Henrietta, 71 Carpenter, Andrew (Le captions Binyon, Alfred, 15 Carpentière), 65, 65

A Blowich Zoological Collection, Carver, Dr J.R., 97 Allen, Bulkeley, 70 34 Cawley, Charles, E., 19, 19 Allingham, Helen (née Booth, Charity Commission, 101 Paterson), 15 Catherine, 78, 79, 80 Chekhov, Anton, 9 Henry, 65, 65 Cheshire County Council, 99 Alma-Tadema, Sir Lawrence, 35 st Altrincham Agricultural Show Henry, 1 Earl of Chopin, Frederick, 9 (Bowdon), 35 Warrington, Citybranch Ltd, , 106 Altrincham & Bowdon Civic 65, 65 Clarke, Society, 4, 105, 117 Langham, 65, 65 Ann, 68 Altrincham (& Bowdon) General William, 78, John (coachman), 55, Hospital(s), League 79, 80 68 of Friends, 104 Bottomley, Mr, 56 John (gentleman), 17- Altrincham Conservative Club, Bowdon Conservation Group, 4, 18, 18, 20, 21, 72 105, 117 22-23, 23 Altrincham General Hospital Bowdon Croquet Club, 52 Clegg, Neville, 71 (Altrincham Provident Bowdon Downs Congregational Cobden, Richard, 25 Dispensary and Church, 4, 22, 22-23, Community Psychiatric Nursing Hospital), 15, 16, 70 25, 31, 32, 36, 40, 70, Service, 104 102-106 74, 78-80, 82, 110, Cornet, Dr George, 10 Altrincham General Hospital end-piece Coutts, Dr F. J. H., 97 Preliminary Training Bowdon Downs Residents’ Coward, School for Nurses, 103- Association, 22, 105, Alice (née Joule), 30, 104, 105, 111 117 68 Altrincham Girls’ Grammar Bowdon History Society, 22, 117 Anne: see Sidebotham School (County High Bowdon Literary & Scientific Edward, 67, 71 School for Girls), 18, Club, 25, 70-71, 85 Edward (Snr), 30, 68 18, 78-79, 79, 106 Bowdon Terminus, Altrincham, Sarah (née Grafton), Altrincham Local Board of 16, 23, 44 23, 23, 30-31 Health, 19, 19, 26 Bowdon Urban District Council, Thomas Alfred, 23, 31, Ancoats Congregational Chapel, 72 110 25 Boyer, Edward, 47 Thomas (Snr), 23, 30- Ancoats Hospital, 90 Brehmer, Hermann, 10 31 Anderson, Bridgfords, 70 Cowburn, Anne, 35 Mabel: see Crossley Bright, Jacob, 35 Crossley Brothers, 78 Francis, 80 British Medical Association, 90 Crossley Family, 79 Archer, Frederick Scott, 28 British Red Cross, 103 Crossley, British Schools, Altrincham, 55 Brian, 72, 99 B Brompton Hospital for Emily (née Kerr), 78, Bagshaw, Samuel, 4, 16, 44 Consumption and 79, 80 Baguley Sanatorium, 100 Diseases of the Chest, Emmeline, 78 Balshaw, Charles, 63 London, 80 Frances William, 60, Barratt, Bronte, Emily, 9 70, 78-80, 78- James, 44, 46-47, 46 79, 111 John, 44, 46-47, 46 C Helen (Ella) K., 79-80 Samuel, 44, 46-47, 46 Caius College, Cambridge, 14, Sir Kenneth, 103 William, 44, 46-47, 46 67, 72 Mabel (née Baxter, Miss, 71 California University, 11 Anderson), 80 Behrens, Charles, 70 Calmette, Albert, 11 (Sir) William John, 8, Bellhouse, Calton, Sarah, 20 70, 72, 78, 80- Miss, 71 Capes, Dunn & Co., 73 84, 82-84, 87,

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87-88, 92, 92, Gresswell, Rev Parr, 27 Johnson, 94, 95-96, 98- Grey, Emma, 24, 24 101, 99, 102, George Harry, 6th Earl Emma, 24 106, 108, 109, Stamford and George, 24 111 Warrington, Richard, 24 Crossley Preventative and Rescue 17, 18, 46 William, 24, 24, 110 Homes, Hale, 78 George Harry, 7th Earl Jones, Crossley Sanatorium (Crossley Stamford and Thomas, 67, 67 East Hospital, Warrington, Dr W. O., 15 Kingswood), Delamere, 15, 16, 24, Joule, Alice: see Coward 98-101, 99, 103 44, 46, 63, 64- Joynson, Mr, 34 65, 65, 67, 70 D Margaret: see Millbank K Dancer, John, B, 28-29 Grindon, Leo H., 29, 32, 55, 71 Kafka, Franz, 9 Davenport, Miss, 34 Grosvenor Street, Chapel, Keats, John, 9 Delépine, Professor A. Manchester, 39 Kemp, Peter, 9 Sheridan, 16, 89, Guérin, Camille, 11 Kerr, Emily: see Crossley 97, 97 GVA Grimley, Manchester, 106 Kingswood College, Delamere, Dennis, Ruabon, 46 99, 103 Derby, Earl of, 74 H Kingston Cotton Mill, Hyde, 55 Dickens, Charles, 68 (Messrs.) J. Hamilton & Son, Koch, Robert, 10, 11, 16, 17, Dispensary for Sick 90, 90-91 70, 110 Children, Hampson, Richard, 44, 46-47, Manchester, 74 46 L Dowling, Marian : see Hardisty, William Cecil, front Lambert, William, 81 Sidebotham cover, 8, 90, 92, 90-96, Lavers, Barraud & Westlake, Dumas, Alexandre, 10 98-99, 99, 102, 105- 65-66, 65 Dunham Parsonage, 33 106, 108, 109, 111 Lawrence, D. H., 10 Dunlop Haywards, Manchester, Hardman Street Dispensary, Leicester, Peter, 20, 21 105 Manchester, 75, 76- Linton, Miss Fanny, 8, 33-34, 67 77, 94, 100-101 Liverpool Regional Hospital E Harvey, Elizabeth, 14 Board, 103 Ebenezer Chapel, Doncaster, 20 Haughton Collieries, 28, 72 Liverpool Sanatorium 103 Edwards, J. C., Ruabon, 46 Haworth, Livesey Group, P. J., 103

Abraham, 71 Lloyd’s Fever Hospital, F Walter, 70-71 Altrincham, 14 Field Naturalists’ Society, 29 Hayley, William 63, 64-65 Loudon, John Claudius, 19 Fletcher, Dr Shepherd, 12 Heaton, Butler & Bayne, 68-69 Foster, Myles Birket, 35 Hill & Co, 66 M Fullerton, Lucy Elizabeth: see Hippocrates, 9 Mackennal, Rev. Alexander, 70, Ransome Hodgkinson, Dr Alexander, 12 79 Hodgson, Rev. Richard, 38, 66 Manchester Academy, 34 G Holt, Arthur, 94 Manchester & Salford Sanitary Gaddum, Holy Trinity Church, Clapham, Association, 14 Henry, 67 20 Manchester Art Gallery, 72 Emily, 67 Humphries/eys, Manchester Audiology Clinic, Gaskell, Elizabeth, 89 Eliza: see Walker) 75, 76-77 Geldart, Mrs, 71 Eliza (Ellen Elizabeth), Manchester Corporation, 97-98, General Hospital for Sick 24 100-101 Children, Pendlebury, Hunt, Holman, 34-35 Manchester Grammar School, 27 75 Huskisson, William, 14 Manchester Hospital for Gore, Canon Arthur, 66, 70 Hyde Collieries, 28, 34, 55, 72 Consumption & Grafton, Diseases of the Throat Joseph S., 23, 23, 30-31 I and Chest (see also St Mary, 23, 23 Irving, Henry, 35 Anne’s Home and Sarah: see Coward Hardman Street Grand Hotel de Menton, Menton J Dispensary), 8, 9, 12- (France), 43 Jardine & Co, 66 13, 12-14, 15-17, 31,

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60, 70-72, 74-75, 76- N Ransome, 77, 78, 80-81, 86- 87, Nasmyth, James, 29, 35 Arthur, 14 89-90, 92, 94, 100-101, National Gallery, London, 35 Dr Arthur, 8, 9, 11,13- 103, 110-111 (Royal) National Sanatorium, 17, 14-15, 25, Manchester Literary & Bournemouth, 80 35, 70-71, 70, Philosophical Society, Neild, 74-75, 78, 80, 28 Alfred, 16, 71, 28, 70- 86, 89-90, 97- Manchester Local Studies & 71 98, 100-101, Archives, 27, 40, 64, Arthur, 28-29, 63-64 110-111 65 Mary: see Ransome Herbert Fullarton, 16, Manchester Mechanics Mrs, 34 70 Institute, 28-29 William, 29, 63 John Atkinson, 14 Manchester Photographic Nelson, Knowles & Co, 27 Lucy Elizabeth (née Society, 27, 28-29, 63, Nevill, Fullerton), 15 110 Charles, 27 Mary (née Neild), 16 Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Thomas, 27 Roscoe, Maxwell, 66 12, 12, 75, 90 Nikal, Manchester, 106 Royal Astronomical Society, 29 Manchester Royal Infirmary, 13, Niven, James, 90, 97-98, 100 Royal Society, 14 14, 71 North & Mid-Cheshire Ruskin, John, 68 Manchester Town Hall, 12, 15, Management S 25, 35, 110 Committee, 103 St Anne’s Church, Haughton, 66, Manchester Working Men’s North London Hospital for 68-69, 68-69, 72 College, 14 Consumption, St Anne’s Home (covering text Manget, J. J., 10 Hampstead, 80 Marten, Benjamin, 9 and illustrations Martin, Miss, 33 O 1884-1952), front cover, Mayor of Manchester, 12-13, 29, Okell, Samuel (& Co.), 85, 85 frontispiece, 4, 8, 5, 9, 63 Oldfield, 11,16-17, 26, 31, 48, Mckee, James, 15 60, 70-71, 74-75, 80- James, 12 Jane, 15 96, 82, 84-96, 98-103, Mary Ellen, 12 Orwell, George, 9 101-102, 108-109, 101- MCP Planning, Manchester, 105 Otto, Nicolaus, 78 111 Medical Board of Health for Owens College, Manchester, St Anne’s Hospital (covering text Manchester, Oldham 15-16, 25, 86, 89, 110- and illustrations & Salford, 97-98 111 1953-2010), 20, 20, 26,

Melland, Appleby & Sidebotham, P 31, 48, 48, 49, 51, 54, 27 59, 60, 61-63, 82-84, Parrot, James, 71 Melland & Coward, 30 87-88, 91-93, 101, Paterson, Microscopical Collection, 28 103-107, 109, 111 Dr Alexander, 15 Millbank, Margaret (née Grey), St Elizabeth’s Church, Helen: see Allingham 46 Altrincham, 99 Mrs, 15 Mills, Alexander, 55-58, 56- St George’s Hospital, London, Pease, Henry, 45 63, 60, 62, 67, 67, 87, 14 Peel, Sir Robert, 15 95, 103, 109, 110 St John the Evangelist’s Church Pennington & Brigden, 75, 76- Mills & Murgatroyd, 55-58,56- & Parish, Altrincham, 77, 90, 111 63, 60, 62, 67, 67, 17, 65, 99 People’s Institute, Ancoats, 74, 87, 91, 95, 103, St Lawrence’s Church, 81 109, 110 Denton, 27 Pimlott, George, 44 Mills, Mrs, 55 St Margaret’s Church, Platt, Robert Mr, 34 Milne, William, 71 Dunham Massey, 15, Powell, Francis Sharpe, 35 Ministry of Health, 103 33, 35, 46, 56, 60, 63, Pownall, Thomas, 44 Morerley, Mrs Dinah, 56, 57 65-66, 64-65, 68, 80, Puccini, Giacomo, 10 Morris, Pat, 105 99 Pugin, Augustus, 23 Mudd Family, 28 St Mary the Virgin’s Church, church yard & Parish, Mudd, James (Jnr), 28 Q Mudd, James (Snr), 28-29, 35 Bowdon, 17, 24-25, 32, Murgatroyd, James, 74, 91, 95- R 63, 65-66, 65, 71-72, 96, 109 Ransome Family, 15 72, 99 [120]

St Peter’s Church, Hale, 81, 81 38, 50, 66, 66, Trafford District Health Salivati & Co., Venice, 68, 69 67-68, 71-72, Authority, 104 Salvation Army, 78, 79, 80 72 Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, Schelling, George, 17 Margaret Lilian (Greta), 82, 104-106, 111 Science Lectures for Bowdon & 72, 99 Trinity College, Dublin, 14 Altrincham, 70 Marian (née Dowling), Tuberculosis Dispensary, Scott, Robert, 71 72, 72, Manchester, 75, 76-77, Serco Group plc, 105 Mary Lilian (Lily) 8, 31- 100 Sellers, Dr A., 97 35, 31-32, 36, Sidebotham Family, 8, 9, 31-35, 38, 53, 67, 71 U 41, 47, 53, 65, 67-68 Smith, Thomas Assheton (Jnr), Union Sanatorium, Sidebotham, 16, 44 Abergele, 100 Ann (née Watson), Smyth, Prof Piazzi, 29 Upper Room Christian South Kensington Museum, Fellowship, 22, 22 31, 31, 65, 65, 68 35 V Anne (née Coward), Southport Pier Co. Ltd, 42 Victoria Dispensary for 4, 27, 30-35, Southport Roller Skating Rink, Consumption, 31, 36, 40, 41, 42 Edinburgh, 12 43, 53, 55, 60, Star (Music) Hall, Ancoats, 79, Victorian Society (Manchester & 65, 67, 70-71, 80 London), 105, 117 72, 110, back Stephenson, George, 14 Victoria University, cover Stevenson, Robert Louis, 9 Manchester (see also Annie Elisabeth, 4, 8, Stewart, Professor Balfour, 70 Owens College), 16, 31-35, 32, 36, Stockport Grammar School, 27 86, 89, 97 38-39, 53, 67, Stone, Martin, 78 Villemin, Jean-Antoine, 10 71, end-piece Strines Printing Co., 27, 29, 38 Vinci Construction UK Ltd, 106 Benedicta, 72, 73 Sutherland, Dr, 100 VisionTwentyone, Manchester, Edith Watson, 8, 31-35, Sylvius, F., 9 105 31-32, 36, 38- 39, 67-68, 71 T W Edward John, 8, 29, 31- Talbot, Henry Fox, 28 Walker, 35, 31-32, 36- Tate & Popplewell, front cover, Anne Haywood, 18, 24 43, 52, 57-58, frontispiece, 8, 81, 81, Eliza, 20, 22, 24 64-65, 65, 67- 82-84, 87, 87, 92, 95- Eliza, 20, 24 68, 70-72, 72- 96, 102, 105-106, 108- Ibotson, 18-26, 18-23, 73, 97, 97 109, 111 26, 32, 87, Edward Lowe, 28, Tate, Alfred L., front cover, 95,110 50, 71 frontispiece, 8, 81, 81, John, 18, 18, 24 Emily Alice, 31, 31, 82-84, 87, 87, 92, 95- Lucy Harriet James Nasmyth (Nay), 96, 102, 105-106, 108- Haywood, 8, 31-35, 31- 109, 111 20, 24 32, 36, 43, 53, Tatham, Dr, 97 Sarah Louise, 20, 24 62, 62, 67- Taylor, Waterhouse, Alfred, 15, 15, 68, 71-72 Henry, 68-69, 68-69, 25, 72 John, 27, 28, 55 Medland, 68-69, 68- Watson, Ann: see Joseph, 4, 8, 26-35, 26- 69, Sidebotham 27, 29-32, 36- Temple Church, London, 35 Westminster Abbey, London, 35 43, 44-45, 47- Thompson, Whistler, James, 35 48, 47-70, 72, Joseph Thompson & Whitworth Art Gallery, 50, 52, 55-58, Son, 25 Manchester, 72 60, 62-63, 65- Joseph, 25, 25, 32, Williams, Benjamin, 18, 18 68, 70-72, 74, 110 World Health Organization, 11 85, 90, 97, 99, Mary, 25 103, 110, end- Thomas, 71 X piece, back cover Timpson, William, 103-104, Joseph (Snr), 27, 65, 65 105, 111 Y Joseph Watson, 8,31- Trafford Council, 104-106, 107, 35, 31-32, 36, 109, 111 Z [121]

INDEX of ADDRESSES and ROADS

Page numbers in italics refer to Nos 80, 82, 84 & 86: Greenwood Street, Altrincham, illustrations and captions. Local 19, 19 106 Township locations are those Victoria Terrace, 30 Groby Place, Altrincham, pre-1920. Dunham Massey Hall, Dunham Groby Place, 44-45, 45,

A Massey, 16, 17, 34, 45, 81 Albert Square, Bowdon, 71 63 Parkfield, 72 Annan House, Llandudno, 58 Dunham Park, Dunham Massey, Groby Road, Altrincham, Apethorn House, Werneth, 27 16, 88, 89 Green Oaks, 71 Dunham Road, Groby Lawn, 72 Apsley Grove, Bowdon, 44-45, 46 Denzell House, 71 Glenfield, 70, 80 H Ashley Hall, Ashley, 44 Hardman Street, Manchester, 75, West Lynn, 70 Ashley Road, Altrincham, 76 Spring Bank, 20, 21 E Heald Road, Bowdon Ashley Road, Hale, 78 East Downs Road, Rosehill, The Oaks, 47 B Bowdon, 16, 44-45, 45-46, 47 Higher Downs, Dunham Massey, 9, 15, 17, 18-19, 23, 24, 40, 46, Balby, Doncaster Dingle Bank East, 16, 52, 52, 87, 89, 101, 101, 107, The Elms, 24 29, 63, 71 109 Beechfield, Dunham Massey, 4, Dingle Bank West, 28, Nos 7 & 8: 30 18, 22-23, 22-23, 30- 63 No. 8, 31 31, 32, 52, 52, 82, 87, Greenbank, 24, 28 No.9: 14 106, 109, end-piece High Lawn, 29, 63, 71 Nos 9, 10, 11 & 12 Nos 3 & 4, 23 Laurel Mount, Nos 3, (Oakleigh) (Peel No. 4, 23, 30-31 4, 5 & 6, 46 Terrace Nos 1, Bowdon Road, Dunham Massey, The Thorns, 72 2, 3 & 4): 9, 14- 17, 18, 22, 22-23, 32, Thornhill, 46 Enville Hall, 46-47 15, 15 52, 87, 109 Bradgate Hall, 46 F I Brighton Grove, Rusholme, 90 The Firs, Bowdon, 47 Bowdon Lodge, 18, 18 J C Catherine Road, Bowdon, Newington, 80 K Felthorp, 71 Fulshaw Park, Wilmslow, Kingston House, Hyde, 28, 34, Woodlands, 25 Fairlie, 60, 70, 78-79, 40, 55

79 G Cavendish Road, Dunham L George Street, Altrincham, Massey, 17 Langham Road, Bowdon, No. 66: 81 Bowdon Lodge, 18, 18, Heald Bank, 71 George Street, Manchester, South Bank, 15, 25 Merlewood No.19, 27 Chapel Street, Salford, 11 (Merlebank), Gibralter Mill, Hyde, 29 Cheetham Hill, 72 Grand Hotel de Menton, Brookfield House, 24 Rose Cottages, 71 Menton, (France), 43 Chesham Place, Bowdon, Oaklands, 78 Grange Road, Bowdon, Chesham Place, 46 Yew Bank, 44-45, 46 Bollinworth, 71 Cross Street, Ashton-upon- Lyme Park, Disley, 29 Great Orme Cromlech, nr. Mersey, Llandudno, 41 M Park Villa, 31-32, 31 Green Walk, Bowdon, (Old) Market Place, Altrincham, D Erlesdene, 27, 29, 30, 44 Delamer Road, Dunham Massey, 66, 67-68, 67, 70-72, Market Street, Altrincham, 105- 15 73, 74 106 The Downs, Altrincham, 16, 17, Gorsefield (Bickham Mosley Street, Manchester, 19, 20, 23, 44, 94 House), 71 No. 49, 18 Nos 12 & 14: 22 Heather Lea, 67, 71 No. 59, 18 No. 32: 14, 15 Hilston House, 71 The Mount, Altrincham, No. 35: 16 Newbie, 55, 67 No. 12: 44-45, 46 Nos 66, 68 & 70: 24 Oakley, 67 Nos 14 & 16: 20, 21

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N St John Street, Manchester, 12- Laurel Bank, 17 The Narrows, 19, 19 13 Woodville Road, Dunham Normans’ Place, 18 No.18, 12, 12-13, 75 Massey, 18-19, 19, 47, 47, 52- No. 2: 15 No.24, 12, 12-13 53, 55, 56-57, 57, 59-60, 59-60, St Margaret’s Road, 47 87, 103, 109 O Devisdale House, 15, 15 Beech Grove (The Osborne Place, Altrincham, Fremont, 47 Beeches from Nos 1, 2 & 3: 44-45, Highfield, 47 1871), front 46 Mayfield, 47 cover, Sandiway Place, Altrincham, 44- frontispiece, 4, Oxford Road (British Schools 45, 46 17, 18-20, 18- Road), Alrincham, 55 Sandiway Road, Altrincham, 44- 20, 22-27, 22- 45, 46 23, 26, 29, 30, P Shepley Hall, Ashton-under- 31-35, 32, 36- Park Road, Bowdon Lyne, 28 40, 44-45, 47- Ecclesfield, 70-71 Stamford Road, Bowdon, 48, 47-54, 50, Q No. 24, (1 Bell Place), 52, 55-58, 60, 78 62, 56-63, 66- R Suffolk Road, Dunham Massey, 67, 66, 70-71 Raglan Castle, 29 Holmacre, 70 74, 85-86, 85, Richmond Hill, Bowdon, 23 87, 89, 90, 91, Nos 1 & 2, 28 T 95-96, 102, Nos 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, 44- Tedham House, Hampshire, 44 103-106, 103, 45, 45 Tatton Park, Knutsford, 26 105, 107-109, Church Bank, 24, 55 U end-piece Richmond Road, Bowdon (also Calabar Cottage, 56 Upper Brook Street, Manchester, see Richmond Hill), Downs Cottage, 18 30 Laurel Mount, No. 1, Harefield House, 52, 71 Upper Downs, Dunham Massey, 81, 87 Laurel Mount, Nos 1 & 40, 52, 87 109 2, 44-45, 46 X Rosehill, Bowdon 16, 44-45, 45- V 46 Vicarage Lane, Bowdon, Y Yew Bank, 44-45, 46 S Z St John’s Road, Dunham Massey, W Levenshurst, 15 West Road, Bowdon,

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