Ryecroft (Hall?) near Ashton under Lyne

TO BUILDERS  Persons desirous of giving in a tender for the CARPENTRY & JOINERY WORK of a house now building at Ryecroft near Ashton under Lyne may see the drawings and specification on and after Thursday the 9th inst. At the office of Mr HAYLEY, architect, Manchester. The tenders to be returned to the above office not later than Saturday the 18th of August. The lowest tender will not necessarily be taken.[Manchester Guardian Saturday 4 August 1849 Page 2]

Reference           Manchester Guardian Saturday 4 August 1849 Page 2 Column 6 (Contracts)

Notes - Such adverts assume current local knowledge and do not provide full details. The house referred to in the advertisement is assumed to be Ryecroft Hall on the basis that if another house was under construction in the area at the same time, the advertisement would have been more specific. Generally adverts placed in the “Contracts” section of the Manchester Guardian were for major building projects such as schools churches etc as the advert of 21 July 1849. Houses are relatively uncommon and the inclusion of a house at Ryecroft is indicative of a major building project. At the time it was not uncommon for building works to be let as a series of separate contracts for the various elements of the work. Typically contracts would be let for excavations and foundations; brickwork and stonework; carpentry and joinery etc.

Mr Hayley is assumed to be William Hayley - no others of this name are listed as Architect in the directories 1847 and 1853.