Post Office Directory 1870
Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Great Britain was the first country to introduce a flat rate pre-paid postal service. Price one penny per half ounce the year was 1840. It was ridiculed at the time but it became the basis for the world's postal services. The Post Office for many years published directories that listed the towns covered - which was everywhere in the country . It also gave details of those with a trade or calling. These would be the middle classes of the day, and most likely to communicate by letter. Labourers and the lower orders were not listed so it is not possible to use the material for population or occupation studies. However it does give an insight into the 'notable' families, and the principal activities of the area. As can be seen this was farming and market gardening, with some shopkeepers and publicans listed. Also note William Cunliffe Brookes, the multi-millionaire, capitalist and M.P. who lived in Barlow Hall when he was not at his other houses in London, Scotland and the south of France. There were no street numbers - addresses merely consisted of name, the building and the district. Presumably the part-time postmaster could make enquiry's to find any recipient. Thomas Taylor had that job and the letters arrived from Manchester, via Stretford, at 10 a.m. Letters from Chorlton were dispatched at 6.40 p.m.
 
Birley Rev. William M.A. Rectory
Brookes Wm Cunliffe esq Barlow hall
Brundrett Mr.Henry, Marsledge cottage
Brundrett Mr. Jeremiah, Summer house [Beech Road ]
Brundrett Miss Mary, Roe house [Beech Road ]
Butterworth Mr. George T
Clarke Charles, esq. Oakley
Earnshaw Mr. Hartley, Chorlton cottage
Hall Issac, esq. Brook bank
Holt James esq. Beech cottage [Beech Road - it was a big house Barlow Moor Rd end ]
Morton Mr. Charles, Lime bank
Sharp Daniel, esq
COMMERCIAL
Alderley James, farmer, Redbank farm
Bailey William, market gardener
Bancroft James, farmer, Sandy brow
Bates Samuel, shoemaker
Benstow Harriet (Mrs.), dressmaker
Beswick John, market gardener
Brownhill Wm, wheelwright & beer retailer
Brundrett Jas. Market gardener, High lane
Brundrett John, jun, farmer, Oak house 
Brundrett John sen. Farmer & market gardener, Oak house farm
Brundrett Wm, market gardener, High lane cottage
Brundrett Joseph, shoemaker
Chesshyre William, farmer & market gardener, Pit's brow
Cook John, farmer, Hardy farm
Cookson John, farmer, Dark lane farm
Cordingley Joseph, Bridge Inn
Deakin Martha (Mrs.), market gardener
Dean Samuel, farmer, Barlow farm
Dean Sarah (Mrs.), market gardener
Fox Hannah (Rrs.), laundress
Fox John, tailor
Gresty John, market gardener
Gresty Thomas, farmer & market gardener
Gresty William market gardener
Griffith James, wheelwright, Lloyd street  [ later renamed Whitelow Road ]
Griffith Wiliam,  market gardener, Lloyd street
Hayson Thomas, farmer
Higginbotham James, farmer & market gardener
Holland Joseph, Horse & Jockey inn, & brewer
Holland Thomas, farmer, Brook farm
Hornby Thomas, shopkeeper
Howard Eliza (Mrs.), ladies seminary, Brook cottage
Jones James, market gardener
Kenyon George, market gardener
Knight William, farmer
Langford John, farmer & market gardener
Lowe William, blacksmith
Lunt Jane (Mrs.), market gardener
Lunt William, market gardener
Moores William, market gardener
Nixon Samuel, beer retailer
Partington William, Bowling Green inn
Renshaw Chas. Farmer & market gardener
Renshaw William, market gardener
Sadler James, confectioner
Sadler William, tailor
Stretch John, farmer, Clough farm
Taylor Thomas, boot & shoe maker & postmaster
Warburton Joshua, beer retailer & market gardener
Warburton Joshua, market gardener
Warburton Peter, shopkeeper
Whitelegg George, farmer
Williams William, dairyman
Wood Hannah (Mrs.), farmer, Hardy house
 
corrected 2/12/1999; original published 24/03/99; by www.beechroad.com
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