Mansion houses and farms of Swinton Park
Images and photographs used in this local history project mainly from S.L.H.L.
Research and written content ©Wallwork History.
Images and photographs used in this local history project mainly from S.L.H.L.
Research and written content ©Wallwork History.
Swinton House, Parkfield House & Lightbourne Green
Swinton House
Swinton House was built in the 17th century. It can be seen on the map above, and on the aerial photograph from Britain from Above.
It stood just off Barton Road.
In 1764 the Duke of Bridgewater bought up lands around the area of Swinton, Little Houghton and Worsley amongst other nearby places.
It was documented prior to 1764 that Mr. Rigby owned Swinton House and the nearby Springwood House.
The messuage which was later called Swinton House was previously owned by Thomas Lansdale.
The Lansdale family were a notable family who lived at Drywood in Worsley for over 300 years and a branch of them earlier lived at Lightbourne Green. (see below)
In the will of Richard Lansdale of Swinton House in 1675 an inventory of his possessions is as follows:-
Richard Lansdale husbandman
Inprimis in cows catell and all sortes 2. 3. 4
Item one gelding and one mare 10. 0. 0
Item in oates and barly in the sheaf 11. 10. 0
Item in hay more 4. 0. 0
Item in cartes and wheeles of all sortes 4. 12. 0
Item in wheele timber 0. 15. 0
Item a plow and irnes chaine and swingle (draw bar of a cart) 0. 8. 0
Item in ladders and wheelebarrows 0. 6. 0
Item one ould garner in the barne 0. 5. 0
Item in horse geares of all sortes 0. 19. 0
Item in harrows & swingletrees plowbeams & sled 0. 13. 0
Item 2 swine grows & one chiste in ye new bueldinge 0. 3. 0
Item one carte rope 3 hatchets 2 irne wedges 0. 3. 0
Item in sonles (?) and frampets (?) rackes & pitch forks 0. 3. 0
Item in spades and forkes frameinge saw & mitens (?)
Item two yone shotes (?) 1. 8. 0
In the lofte in ye lower end of ye house
Imprimis twelve yards of boards 0. 6. 0
Item one stane and keere (?) 0. 6. 0
Just to give an idea of how life was in 1675 living at Swinton House.
James Watson can be seen as the land owner in 1764 of the Swinton Park Estate. which was formally owned by the Eckersall’s family.
Swinton House was later owned by the White family.
Occupants of Swinton House
In 1851 Swinton House was occupied by the Atherton family.
James Atherton was a spirit merchant who was born in Halifax about 1796.
One of his daughter's Eleanor Atherton was born 1843 she remained at Swinton House her family home until her death in 1901.
Mary Swarbrick was Eleanor's lady's maid who had lived with family since 1851 she also remained at Swinton Hall until 1901.
Swinton House lay empty until 1904 when it was leased by the Manchester Education Committee who used it as a school for disabled and poorly children.
21st May 1909 a newspaper article reported Manchester Education Committee leasing Parkfield House in addition to Swinton House which was full. Parkfield House needed no work doing on it in order to accommodate another 60 additional disabled children.
The Manchester Education Committee bought Swinton House and Parkfield House in 1906.
On looking at the 1911 census you can get a sense of how big Swinton House must have been, as there were over 100 patients listed, along with 26 member of nursing staff and house staff. Although these may have been the occupants of both Swinton House and Parkfield which had merged by then.
Swinton House was a three storey building, the left wing was the nurses quarters. The right wing and centre of the house was divided into wards for children who required treatment over a number of years.
Swinton House and Parkfield House was a temporary home to disabled and sick children aged from 2 years to 16 years. The children were admitted prior to having operations at Manchester Royal Infirmary and then sent back to the houses to recover. According to a nurse who did her training there in the 1920's a surgeon used to come to the houses from Manchester Royal Infirmary to visit the children on a weekly basis. A teacher was also on hand and the children had to follow a full school curriculum.
Swinton House was built in the 17th century. It can be seen on the map above, and on the aerial photograph from Britain from Above.
It stood just off Barton Road.
In 1764 the Duke of Bridgewater bought up lands around the area of Swinton, Little Houghton and Worsley amongst other nearby places.
It was documented prior to 1764 that Mr. Rigby owned Swinton House and the nearby Springwood House.
The messuage which was later called Swinton House was previously owned by Thomas Lansdale.
The Lansdale family were a notable family who lived at Drywood in Worsley for over 300 years and a branch of them earlier lived at Lightbourne Green. (see below)
In the will of Richard Lansdale of Swinton House in 1675 an inventory of his possessions is as follows:-
Richard Lansdale husbandman
Inprimis in cows catell and all sortes 2. 3. 4
Item one gelding and one mare 10. 0. 0
Item in oates and barly in the sheaf 11. 10. 0
Item in hay more 4. 0. 0
Item in cartes and wheeles of all sortes 4. 12. 0
Item in wheele timber 0. 15. 0
Item a plow and irnes chaine and swingle (draw bar of a cart) 0. 8. 0
Item in ladders and wheelebarrows 0. 6. 0
Item one ould garner in the barne 0. 5. 0
Item in horse geares of all sortes 0. 19. 0
Item in harrows & swingletrees plowbeams & sled 0. 13. 0
Item 2 swine grows & one chiste in ye new bueldinge 0. 3. 0
Item one carte rope 3 hatchets 2 irne wedges 0. 3. 0
Item in sonles (?) and frampets (?) rackes & pitch forks 0. 3. 0
Item in spades and forkes frameinge saw & mitens (?)
Item two yone shotes (?) 1. 8. 0
In the lofte in ye lower end of ye house
Imprimis twelve yards of boards 0. 6. 0
Item one stane and keere (?) 0. 6. 0
Just to give an idea of how life was in 1675 living at Swinton House.
James Watson can be seen as the land owner in 1764 of the Swinton Park Estate. which was formally owned by the Eckersall’s family.
Swinton House was later owned by the White family.
Occupants of Swinton House
In 1851 Swinton House was occupied by the Atherton family.
James Atherton was a spirit merchant who was born in Halifax about 1796.
One of his daughter's Eleanor Atherton was born 1843 she remained at Swinton House her family home until her death in 1901.
Mary Swarbrick was Eleanor's lady's maid who had lived with family since 1851 she also remained at Swinton Hall until 1901.
Swinton House lay empty until 1904 when it was leased by the Manchester Education Committee who used it as a school for disabled and poorly children.
21st May 1909 a newspaper article reported Manchester Education Committee leasing Parkfield House in addition to Swinton House which was full. Parkfield House needed no work doing on it in order to accommodate another 60 additional disabled children.
The Manchester Education Committee bought Swinton House and Parkfield House in 1906.
On looking at the 1911 census you can get a sense of how big Swinton House must have been, as there were over 100 patients listed, along with 26 member of nursing staff and house staff. Although these may have been the occupants of both Swinton House and Parkfield which had merged by then.
Swinton House was a three storey building, the left wing was the nurses quarters. The right wing and centre of the house was divided into wards for children who required treatment over a number of years.
Swinton House and Parkfield House was a temporary home to disabled and sick children aged from 2 years to 16 years. The children were admitted prior to having operations at Manchester Royal Infirmary and then sent back to the houses to recover. According to a nurse who did her training there in the 1920's a surgeon used to come to the houses from Manchester Royal Infirmary to visit the children on a weekly basis. A teacher was also on hand and the children had to follow a full school curriculum.
Parkfield House
Parkfield House stood roughly where the Parkfield/Linksway estate now stands, which was built around 1937.
There is still a stone buttressed wall remaining which can be seen on the East Lancashire Road covered with ivy and other vegetation. The wall fronts Linksway and part of Wingfield Drive. This wall formed part of the boundary wall of Parkfield House.
Occupants of Parkfield House
Parkfield House was once the family home of the music composer Gerald Graham Peel 1887-1937
Gerald Graham Peel wrote over 100 songs - some of which were performed as far afield as Australia by the famous trio bush poets William Ogilvie, Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson.
Gerald Peel 1847-1910 (father of Gerald Graham Peel) was an Egyptian Cotton Merchant and Spinner, BA of Oxford, and Magistrate of Pendlebury. He was born in Swinton and baptised at St. Peter's. Gerald Peel was the son of John Peel also a Merchant and his wife Esther.
Gerald Peel lived at Parkfield House with his wife Elizabeth nee Graham and family during 1891.
Parkfield House was also home to other wealthy business men such as Clifford Smith and his family in 1881. Clifford Smith was a Mining Engineer, Magistrate and Estate Agent.
There was also a gardeners' cottage in the grounds known as Parkfield Lodge. This was occupied for a number of years by Mr. William Royle the head gardener and his family.
The Parkfield Coachman's Cottage was occupied for 20 years or more by the coachman Mr. Henry Williams and his family. Henry was originally from Anglesey.
Present day
Springfield Primary School now stands on the land once graced by Swinton House.
Swinton House and Parkfield House were both demolished prior to 1938.
A new school was built and opened in 1938 named Swinton and Pendlebury Open Air School which stood in approximately seven acres of parkland. It was a special community Open Air School. Each classroom had windows to three sides, so that lessons could be conducted in the open air. The school was later renamed Parkfield, it was also well know locally for it's extra large globe in the garden.
The Open Air school closed in 1991 and was demolished due to problems with asbestos.
Parkfield House stood roughly where the Parkfield/Linksway estate now stands, which was built around 1937.
There is still a stone buttressed wall remaining which can be seen on the East Lancashire Road covered with ivy and other vegetation. The wall fronts Linksway and part of Wingfield Drive. This wall formed part of the boundary wall of Parkfield House.
Occupants of Parkfield House
Parkfield House was once the family home of the music composer Gerald Graham Peel 1887-1937
Gerald Graham Peel wrote over 100 songs - some of which were performed as far afield as Australia by the famous trio bush poets William Ogilvie, Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson.
Gerald Peel 1847-1910 (father of Gerald Graham Peel) was an Egyptian Cotton Merchant and Spinner, BA of Oxford, and Magistrate of Pendlebury. He was born in Swinton and baptised at St. Peter's. Gerald Peel was the son of John Peel also a Merchant and his wife Esther.
Gerald Peel lived at Parkfield House with his wife Elizabeth nee Graham and family during 1891.
Parkfield House was also home to other wealthy business men such as Clifford Smith and his family in 1881. Clifford Smith was a Mining Engineer, Magistrate and Estate Agent.
There was also a gardeners' cottage in the grounds known as Parkfield Lodge. This was occupied for a number of years by Mr. William Royle the head gardener and his family.
The Parkfield Coachman's Cottage was occupied for 20 years or more by the coachman Mr. Henry Williams and his family. Henry was originally from Anglesey.
Present day
Springfield Primary School now stands on the land once graced by Swinton House.
Swinton House and Parkfield House were both demolished prior to 1938.
A new school was built and opened in 1938 named Swinton and Pendlebury Open Air School which stood in approximately seven acres of parkland. It was a special community Open Air School. Each classroom had windows to three sides, so that lessons could be conducted in the open air. The school was later renamed Parkfield, it was also well know locally for it's extra large globe in the garden.
The Open Air school closed in 1991 and was demolished due to problems with asbestos.
2021 Update:- Due to clearance of the overgrown vegetation it is nice to be able to see the stone buttressed wall which once formed part of the boundary of the original Parkfield House. The wall can be seen from the East Lancashire Road, fronting Linksway and part of Wingfield Drive.
Lightbourne Green
Documents recorded in 1764 show Robert Lansdale lived at Lightbourne Green which was previously owned by Thomas Valentine, and Richard Lightbourne before him. Hence the name of Lightbourne Green.
Lightbourne Green was a farm with other out buildings, it too can be seen on the maps.
Occupants of Lightbourne Green Farm
John Moores farmed at Lightbourne Green from at least 1841 until his death in 1874. His wife Mary and family carried on living and farming there after his death. They still lived there in 1881 when Mary was listed as a farmer of 74 acres employing 2 labourers.
In 1885 due to a decline in farming Mary Moores was selling off the following farming stock.
7 useful dairy cows & heifers
two - one year old bull, stirks.
two active draught horses
two colts
carts, implements & effects.
George Stubbs from Prestbury, Macclesfield came to live and farm at Lightbourne Green after 1881. He was at Lightbourne Green farm from at least 1888 when his wife Elizabeth Julia died whilst living at the farm.
There was a large hay stack fire on the farm in 1895 and Salford Fire Brigade attended it, they used water from the nearby reservoir. After tackling the fire for about two hours, they managed to separate the burning part and save the rest of the hay. The fire caused about £100 worth of damage. The fire was believed to have started from a spark from someone smoking a pipe.
In 1909 the farm was still being used as a dairy farm as George Stubbs was advertising for a milker in the local newspapers.
Lightbourne Green farm along with the other nearby dwellings were demolished before 1921 when houses were built on the land.
Documents recorded in 1764 show Robert Lansdale lived at Lightbourne Green which was previously owned by Thomas Valentine, and Richard Lightbourne before him. Hence the name of Lightbourne Green.
Lightbourne Green was a farm with other out buildings, it too can be seen on the maps.
Occupants of Lightbourne Green Farm
John Moores farmed at Lightbourne Green from at least 1841 until his death in 1874. His wife Mary and family carried on living and farming there after his death. They still lived there in 1881 when Mary was listed as a farmer of 74 acres employing 2 labourers.
In 1885 due to a decline in farming Mary Moores was selling off the following farming stock.
7 useful dairy cows & heifers
two - one year old bull, stirks.
two active draught horses
two colts
carts, implements & effects.
George Stubbs from Prestbury, Macclesfield came to live and farm at Lightbourne Green after 1881. He was at Lightbourne Green farm from at least 1888 when his wife Elizabeth Julia died whilst living at the farm.
There was a large hay stack fire on the farm in 1895 and Salford Fire Brigade attended it, they used water from the nearby reservoir. After tackling the fire for about two hours, they managed to separate the burning part and save the rest of the hay. The fire caused about £100 worth of damage. The fire was believed to have started from a spark from someone smoking a pipe.
In 1909 the farm was still being used as a dairy farm as George Stubbs was advertising for a milker in the local newspapers.
Lightbourne Green farm along with the other nearby dwellings were demolished before 1921 when houses were built on the land.
Swinton Park
Was once an area of beautiful wooded park and farm land.
Live stock covered Swinton fields, Oakwood Park, Barton Road, Manchester Road spreading down to Ellesmere Park, Eccles fields and across to Pendleton.
the sales of some of the properties within Swinton Park show it was a land full of grazing animals, dairy farming and the home owners were very keen on their thorough breed horses. The area was part of the Watson family Estate during 1764.
Mansion houses were built on Swinton Park, Manchester Road and the surrounding area for wealthy Merchants and Business men who wanted to live away from the busy cities such as Manchester.
Some parts of Swinton Park still remain as open fields, one of which is known locally as the Dell. The Dell is the area from Manchester Road to the East Lancashire Road where the Folly Brook runs it then runs onto areas of Swinton Park Golf club, Eccles fields onto Folly lane/Rocky lane onto Worsley Golf Club.
Swinton Park golf club is also part of the original Swinton Park which remains for now, but sadly, there are talks of plans to build houses on the site which would be a great shame and a loss of ancient open parkland.
Harrold Gate/Harroll Place
An area along Manchester Road, at the back of the Farmers Arms to Dorchester Road and bordering Barton Road was known as Harrold Gate. The present day Swinton Football Club is there now. Next to the Farmers Arms stood Swinton Police Station then Harold Terrace which is still standing.
Barton Road
Up until the building of the East Lancashire Road Barton Road was just an unsurfaced dirt track country lane, which ended at Portland Road. A small lane then lead down to where the East Lancashire Road now is to give access to Swinton House and Lawnswood House.
The road was named after the Barton family who built the Barton Arcade in Manchester.
The Barton family were fairly big home and land owners in the area. Henry John Hope Barton Esq. was a wealthy gentleman and landowner born in Chelsea London, and lived in Yorkshire. His ancestors who lived at Springwood House and Endsley House inherited parts of the Swinton Park Estate through marriages into the Watson family of Preston.
The Barton family also married into the family of Sir Benjamin Heywood of Irlams o'th' Height.
The East Lancashire Road
Building of the East Lancashire Road which cut across Swinton Park to provide better access between the the Industrial areas of East Lancashire and Manchester with the Port of Liverpool. The road was officially opened in 1934 by King George V.
It altered the area a great deal, resulting in some of the mansion houses being demolished such as, Swinton House, Parkfield House, Springwood House, Endsley House.
Ingleside is still standing to this day and is now the Ingleside Birth & Community Centre.
Was once an area of beautiful wooded park and farm land.
Live stock covered Swinton fields, Oakwood Park, Barton Road, Manchester Road spreading down to Ellesmere Park, Eccles fields and across to Pendleton.
the sales of some of the properties within Swinton Park show it was a land full of grazing animals, dairy farming and the home owners were very keen on their thorough breed horses. The area was part of the Watson family Estate during 1764.
Mansion houses were built on Swinton Park, Manchester Road and the surrounding area for wealthy Merchants and Business men who wanted to live away from the busy cities such as Manchester.
Some parts of Swinton Park still remain as open fields, one of which is known locally as the Dell. The Dell is the area from Manchester Road to the East Lancashire Road where the Folly Brook runs it then runs onto areas of Swinton Park Golf club, Eccles fields onto Folly lane/Rocky lane onto Worsley Golf Club.
Swinton Park golf club is also part of the original Swinton Park which remains for now, but sadly, there are talks of plans to build houses on the site which would be a great shame and a loss of ancient open parkland.
Harrold Gate/Harroll Place
An area along Manchester Road, at the back of the Farmers Arms to Dorchester Road and bordering Barton Road was known as Harrold Gate. The present day Swinton Football Club is there now. Next to the Farmers Arms stood Swinton Police Station then Harold Terrace which is still standing.
Barton Road
Up until the building of the East Lancashire Road Barton Road was just an unsurfaced dirt track country lane, which ended at Portland Road. A small lane then lead down to where the East Lancashire Road now is to give access to Swinton House and Lawnswood House.
The road was named after the Barton family who built the Barton Arcade in Manchester.
The Barton family were fairly big home and land owners in the area. Henry John Hope Barton Esq. was a wealthy gentleman and landowner born in Chelsea London, and lived in Yorkshire. His ancestors who lived at Springwood House and Endsley House inherited parts of the Swinton Park Estate through marriages into the Watson family of Preston.
The Barton family also married into the family of Sir Benjamin Heywood of Irlams o'th' Height.
The East Lancashire Road
Building of the East Lancashire Road which cut across Swinton Park to provide better access between the the Industrial areas of East Lancashire and Manchester with the Port of Liverpool. The road was officially opened in 1934 by King George V.
It altered the area a great deal, resulting in some of the mansion houses being demolished such as, Swinton House, Parkfield House, Springwood House, Endsley House.
Ingleside is still standing to this day and is now the Ingleside Birth & Community Centre.
Mansion houses and farms of Swinton Park
Images and photographs used in this local history project mainly from S.L.H.L.
Research and written content ©Wallwork History.
Images and photographs used in this local history project mainly from S.L.H.L.
Research and written content ©Wallwork History.
