Branch Store, Thorp Road and Oldham Road, Newton Heath

When the Newton Heath Branch was opened, in 1898, it was thought desirable to obtain a site as near as possible halfway between the Newton Heath and Oldham Road branches, and so be prepared for the closing of the Wellington Street Branch, the lease of which is rapidly coming to an end. And so, on May 18th, 1899, land and buildings at the corner of Thorp Road — the land containing 1,033 square yards and the buildings consisting of three houses — were bought for £2,400, with the addition of a chief rent of £5. 17s. 2d. The Corporation required 42 yards of the land for improvements in Oldham Road, and they had 94 yards to dispose of in Thorp Road. This was bought by the society, who paid £156 for the net 52 yards.

On July 18th. 1908, the plans of grocer's and butcher's shops and one dwelling house, drawn by A. H. Walsingham and estimated to cost £2,500. were approved at the members' meeting, and subsequently sanctioned by the Manchester Corporation. The new buildings are to be erected on the vacant land at the corner of Thorp Road and Oldham Road. When the plans were under discussion it was suggested that it would be advisable to erect a hall in that locality. It was, however, hinted that it was hoped some time to provide one adjacent to the Newton Heath premises. [Failsworth Industrial Society Limited: Jubilee History, 1859-1909 by Ogden, J. H page 231]

As illustrated the building is stylistically like Walsingham’s work for the Pendleton Co-operative Society at this period, with extensive use of terra cotta. The Jubilee Yearbook of 1909 noted the store as being under construction. However, no reference can be found in Slaver’s Directory of 1911, nor does it appear on the OS map of 1915 and 1931, the land being shown as vacant. It must be assumed that the scheme was not progressed.

Reference           Failsworth Industrial Society Limited: Jubilee History, 1859-1909 by Ogden, J. H page 231 and illustration