Edward Cordall

• Birth date            July-Sept 1853 at Tarporley, Cheshire
• Married                22 July 1894 to Rachel Smith at Church of St Luke, Heywood
• Death                  9 September 1883 at Douglas IoM. Missing presumed dead

 

The son of Daniel Cordall cabinet maker and his wife Martha (Ellson), Edward Cordall was born at Tarporley, Cheshire, in June-September 1853 but had seemingly moved to Heywood by 1870.  He was trained as a joiner but by 1870 he was also attending classes in is Machine Construction and Drawing, at the Mechanics Institution.In November 1878 he began advertising in the Heywood Gazette as an Architect, Builder, Quantity Surveyor, etc. These advertisements continued to be published on an almost weekly basis for the next three years.  By 1881 he was employing three men (census record). However, architectural commissions were few, a total of four being recorded in the local paper between 1881 and 1883.

In September 1883 he visited the Isle of Man, leaving his family at home. On the evening of Sunday 9 September he hired a rowing boat at Douglas and set off towards Onchan Harbour. The boat was later found empty, but no body was recovered. As nothing further was heard of Edward Cordall, it was generally presumed he had drowned.

EDWARD CORDALL, ARCHITECT, BUILDER, QUANTITY SURVEYOR, etc., AGINCOURT-STREET, NEW YORK, HEYWOOD. Designs Prepared and Estimates Given for Shop Fronts, Conservatories, Hothouses, &c. Plans, Specifications, and Detail Drawings for every description of Building prepared on reasonable terms. [Heywood Advertiser 7 May 1880 page 1]

VISITOR MISSING, SUPPOSED DROWNING — It is to be feared that a visitor who went out in a small rowing boat on Sunday evening and has not since been heard of, and whose appearance exactly answers that given of a gentleman named Cordall missing from his lodgings, has met his death by drowning. The gentleman missing from his lodgings at No. 11, Parade Street is Mr Edward Cordall, contractor, of Tower street, Heywood, and aged 33 years. Leaving his wife and three children it home he came to Douglas on Saturday, intending to return on Tuesday. At six o'clock on Sunday evening he left his lodgings with the intention of going for a row in the bay, and has not since been heard of, further than that a gentleman tallying with the description given of him hired the 12 foot boat “Duke” from the centre steps on the Promenade at ten minutes past six the same evening and was last seen rowing in the direction of Onchan Harbour. That the gentleman in the boat must have upset her shortly after he was seen near Onchan Harbour is extremely probable, from the fact that it was nowhere to be found when searched for by the owner as early as seven o'clock. The first tidings gleaned of the boat were from a visitor who found the oars in a gully seaward of Port Jack about noon on Monday, and a renewed and closer search resulted in the discovery of the “Duke” in a creek in the same vicinity. Her bottom was but very slightly damaged, and the fact that the seats had been washed out would seem to indicate that she was tossing about in the waves raised by the wind which sprang up early on Monday morning and was thrown ashore sometime about noon, when the sea had comparatively calmed down. Nothing was found belonging to the gentleman who hired the boat out, and it is generally feared that the worst has befallen him. Before he started, he was asked if he would take a boat boy with him and declined. The news that Mr Cordail was missing was telegraphed to Heywood by the police the first thing on Monday morning, and his brother came to Douglas in the evening and his father-in-law next day. Supposing him drowned search has been made for his body each day since, but up to a late hour last night it had not been found. He was a steady and good husband. [Isle of Man Times 15 September 1883 page 5]

 WORKS

 1881        All Souls Schools, Castleton, Rochdale - Tenders are invited for the whole of the Works required in the ENLARGEMENT of ALL SOULS' SCHOOLS, Castleton. Plans and specification may be seen at the Office of the Architect. Sealed and endorsed Tenders to be sent in to the Rev. J. Pickop, William street, Heywood, not later than the 16th day of May. EDWARD CORDALL, Architect, 160 Market Place, Heywood.  [Heywood Advertiser 29 April 1881 page 1]

1881        New Chancel, Bamford Chapel -Builders desirous of Tendering for the whole of the Works required in the ERECTION of NEW CHANCEL, &c., at Bamford Chapel, may see plans and specifications at the Office of the Architect, EDWARD CORDALL, Market Place, Heywood. Sealed Tenders to be delivered not later than May 10th, addressed to Mr. J. S. Porter, secretary of committee, Dixon Fold, near Rochdale. [Heywood Advertiser 29 April 1881 page 1]

1882        Bamford Wesleyan Chapel - BAMFORD WESLEYAN CHAPEL - On Saturday evening a valedictory tea party and public meeting were held in the little Wesleyan chapel at Bamford, which has been the centre of Bamford Methodism since the year 1835. The building is to be taken down and replaced by a structure more adequate to the requirements of the present day. The new chapel, which will be built according to a design. by Mr. Edward Cordall, will seat 200 persons, and a schoolroom will also be erected capable of accommodating 100 scholars. The arrangements will be such that upon an emergency the chapel and school may be thrown open one to the other, and thus one large room will be secured. The total cost of the new buildings will not be far shorted £B00, towards which some £400 is already promised or subscribed. The four corner stones are arranged to be laid in about a month's time. [Heywood Advertiser 23 June 1882 page 8]

1883        New Jerusalem Church, Heywood: Additions -Builders desirous of Tendering for the whole of the works required in the various ALTERATIONS and ADDITIONS to the New Jerusalem Church, Heywood, may see drawings and specifications at the office of the architect on and after Tuesday, the 24th inst. Sealed Tenders to be delivered to Mr. James Mason, Coomassie-street, not later than May 17th, 1883. The Committee do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any other Tender. EDWARD CORDALL, architect, Market Place, Heywood. [Heywood Advertiser 20 April 1883 page 1]

Address
1878-1881    Agincourt Street, New York, Heywood
1881-1883    Edward Cordall, 160, Market Place, Heywood
1881             Edward Cordall, Tower Street, Heywood, surveyor to Heywood and District Starr-Bowkett Building Society. {Heywood Advertiser 22 July 1881 page1]

Residence
1874             58 Starky Street, Heywood – marriage certificate   
1878             Agincourt Street, Heywood
1881-1883    63, Tower Street Heywood

Reference    Heywood Advertiser 10 June 1870 page 2
Reference    Heywood Advertiser 8 November 1878 page 8 – Advertisement
Reference    Heywood Advertiser 7 May 1880 page 1
Reference    Manx Sun 15 September 1883 page 4
Reference    Building News 21 September 1883 page
Reference    Isle of Man Times 15 September 1883 page 5