"Halton Bank” Eccles Old Road Pendleton

One of three mansions designed by T W Atkinson recorded in Colvin. A description appears in the sales particulars:

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION on 17 July 1900 at the Mitre Hotel, Cathedral Gates Manchester - All that Freehold Plot of Land situate in Pendleton and abutting on Eccles Old Road and Bolton Road respectively, containing 10,120 square yards or thereabouts; together with two Semi-detached Dwelling Houses thereon known as “Halton Bank,” and numbered 4 and 6 in Eccles Old Road. A large portion of this land is vacant, and admirably adapted for building purposes. The property is sold free from chief rent, but subject to certain restrictive covenants as to building and otherwise. The mines are excepted. [Manchester Courier 14 July 1900 page 12]

Heelis, Stephen (1801–1871), lawyer, was born in Bolton. Articled to the firm of Sharpe, Eccles, and Cririe (antecedents of the present Slater Heelis solicitors) he was admitted as an attorney in the Hilary term of 1826. Heelis remained with the firm and became a partner in 1833. Credited as the founder of the Manchester Law Association, he became its president in 1843 and again in 1867. He was elected alderman for the Seedley ward of the borough of Salford. He is said to have been offered and refused a knighthood. He was mayor of Salford in 1855–6 and again in 1856–7. A strong Conservative supporter, he worked on several parliamentary election campaigns in Manchester and was a generous subscriber to the funds of the local Conservative association. He was also an early member of the Salford volunteer corps to which he also made generous financial contributions. As solicitor for John Owens, the Manchester industrialist, Heelis became one of the first trustees of Owens College (subsequently the Victoria University of Manchester). William Heelis, the husband of Beatrix Potter, was the great-grandson of a cousin of Stephen Heelis's father. Heelis died on Saturday 26 August 1871 at his house, Above Beck in Grasmere. (V R Parrott)