JOHN RYLANDS
Creation of Longford Park estate
John Rylands moved out from Wigan to Manchester in 1834[1] and had lived in six different places of residency before he set up home in Stretford. In the 1820's, John Rylands lived at 7 Green Street. Afterwards, he moved to Lever Street. He also acquired a suburban house on Smedley Lane, Cheetham Hill. He then lived in a house on 3 Newton Street[2].
Dinah Raby, the first wife of John passed away in 1843[3], consequently Rylands acquired Gorton Villa in 1844[4]. Five years later, in 1848[5], John Rylands married Martha Carden, therefore he moved from Gorton Villa to No. 24, Ardwick Green[6].
[Map 3]
Ardwick Green
The map [Map 3] shows where John Rylands took residency in Ardwick Green in 1850. Also, this map reveals Rusholme Road Cemetery, where both Dinah Raby in 1843 and Martha Carden in 1875 were buried. As well as, two of his children - Emily in 1843 and William in 1861. However, in 1955, the Cemetery was destroyed[7].
Due to the industrial development of the estate, John Rylands erected property in Longford Hall in 1855 and relocated into a brand new Italian designed home in 1857[8]. He was determined to "plan the landscape of the new estate" and also "paid special attention to irrigation and to horticulture"[9]. Rylands had 19 care - takers to whom he built special apartments behind the hall. The extended garden of four acres and thirty one conservatories that contained of steam - pipes, supported by six boilers, gas works and steam engine allowed him to grow tropical fruits such as grapes, pineapples and peaches. He also grew vegetables for sale[10].
[Map 4]
Map locates John Rylands living places in Manchester.
[Map 5]
Longford Park estate.
[Map 6]
Plan of Lonford Park domain, the home of John Rylands, created in 1881.
Copyright of the University of Manchester
In 1876 he purchased Sunnyside houses for £1,540[11] and in 1888 he funded the construction of six cottages, which provided a home for aged women. The successful purchase of approximately fifty-four properties increased his estate by approximately seventy - nine acres for £65,712[12], leaving him as the indirect lord of the district. Thus, he invested £11,600 into the construction of Town Hall[13]. The building was provided with a gymnasium in the basement, on the first floor they set up a public hall and supplied an organ, the hall accommodated 300 people as well as a gallery to fit in another 600 individuals. Furthermore, in 1883, he initiated Stretford Public Hall - the first free of charge lending library which was accessible for the public and contained over 3,000 books[14]. John Rylands invested £4,320 in public baths and in 1883 he established a coffee - house[15]. 1877 he opened up "almshouses" for elder gentlemen[16].
In 1886, John Rylands became a founder of the Longford Institute, which was suited with a tennis court and children's playground. In the same year he established another Institute, which was replicated in Haven and Heapey Street. He personally funded the institute's library with 500 books.
Unfortunately, the Longford Hall had been demolished in 1995. Longford Institute was also destroyed together with the public baths and coffee house[17]. It appears, that Union Chapel on Edge Lane, Stretford, whose construction began in 1860's had also had been destroyed. The reconstruction works began since 1989[18].
[Fig. 12]
Stretford Town Hall in 1907
Copyright of the Manchester Library
[Fig. 13]
Aerial view of Stretford Town Hall in 1933.
Copyright of the Manchester Library
[Fig. 14]
Walled rose garden, 1933.
[Fig. 15]
Walled rose garden, the view from Cafe, 1977
[Fig. 16]
Longford Park today
[Fig. 17]
Floodlit rock garden for coronation of George VI.
[Fig. 18]
Lonford Park today.
[Fig. 19]
Longford Park today.
[Fig. 21]
Longford Hall, 1977. New stairs were added for Royal Garden Party.
[Fig. 20]
Longford Hall, 1920's.
[Fig. 22]
In June 1977, Queen Elizabeth II together with the Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit to Longford Park.
[Fig. 23]
Sunnyside, Longford Park today.
[Fig. 24]
Sunnyside, Longford Park today.
[1]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 11.
[2]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 18.
[3]Ibid., p. 6.
[4]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 19.
[5]‘John Rylands’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24416> [accessed 16 March 2015] (para. 6 of6)
[6]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 19.
[7]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 79.
[8]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 19.
[9]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 19.
[10]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 19.
[11]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 93.
[12]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 54.
[13]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 54.
[14]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 54.
[15]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 55.
[16]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 97.
[17]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 19.
[18]Farnie, D. A., John Rylands of Manchester (Manchester: John Rylands University Library, 1993), p. 77.