"Rookswood" Old Hall Road Broughton Park Salford.

Crossing over from Crumpsall into Broughton Park we come across another residence built from Mr Darbyshire’s designs, known as “Rookswood.” This house at once commands attention by its novelty both in design and construction and like Mr Truefitt’s bank (Altrincham) at once challenges criticism. It is very different in style and character from the house we have just left (Miltonville) being much smaller and generally more homely-looking. The nature of the site appears to have furnished the key-note of design to the architect. This house is built on a plot of land in Broughton Park nearly opposite the old hall gates, the south front looking on the fine trees replete with associations of old English life and the poetic and dreamy cawing of rooks. As a matter of course “Rookswood” accords with such sentiments; it has a comfortable homely nestling look, in opposition to the exalted ideas of modern luxury; and the realisation of this feeling of domesticity appears to us the acme of modern house building. Externally the house is a gem of design and the view from the south-east angle is particularly charming and picturesque. The straight avenue to the entrance porch terminated by a pointed archway and gable above which appears the quaint little dormer windows of the outbuildings, is very charming and a somewhat bold stroke in these days of beautiful curves and meandering walks, grottos and white spar rockeries. The house is faced with white end common bricks, with stone dressings, the main gables are constructed in half-timber work and the roofs are covered with red tiles from Surrey. In a few years, when the creepers and vegetation have got up into full growing order, this house and grounds will have a very pleasing effect. [Critic 13 July 1872 page 3]

Reference    The Critic Vol 2. 13 July 1872 page 3
Reference    Pevsner. Lancashire South. page 394