Tatton Arms Hothen Northenden

MANCHESTER.—The Tatton Arms Hotel at Northenden.— Some historical interest was attached to the old Tatton Arms, at Northenden, and it was difficult to find within so short a distance of Manchester so picturesque a combination as it formed in the village scenery. Owing to its low situation the house has often been inundated, and the occupants have had to be rescued by boats when the Mersey has overflowed its banks. The house, owing to its great age, had also become dilapidated and unsuitable for modern wants, therefore Thomas William Tatton, Esq, the lord of this and adjoining manors, and the principal landowner in the district, instructed Mr James Redford, of Manchester and Northenden, to prepare designs for the new hotel, which is built immediately at the rear of the old house, but raised much above it to avoid damage from any future floods, &c, on the site of the old Carr Butts, where the train bands formerly practised their artillery'. The foundation was commenced by the laying of the first brick on 23rd June of last year, by Mr Reginald Tatton, youngest son of Thomas William Tatton, Esq. A jar, containing a document setting forth the event, with a short history of the hotels, the village, and the population according to the last census, with newspapers of the day and coins, is deposited in one of the walls. The new erection is built on a parpoint stone base with polychrome brickwork above, having projecting diapers, quoins, and moulded string courses, with Beeley Moor stone dressings to doors and windows. The roof covering is formed into a diaper, with green, amongst blue slates; the walls are built hollow, and bound together with iron ties; the windows have plate glass in the lower portion, with leaded quarry glass in the upper. Some of the timber work of the gables is projected on moulded corbels; while others are decorated with the conventional English roses and incised ornaments, and bear the monogram of the proprietor, T. W. T., with the date 1S73. The upper portion of the building is of framed timber work filled in with plaster, and with its overhanging gables and projections, dormers, characteristic high chimneys, and which are made a feature, telling of good cheer within; projecting eaves, perforated verge boards, carved finials, solid massive wood mullioned and transomed casements, makes an attractive object in the landscape, bringing forcibly to mind the black and white buildings of the sixteenth century, of which so many picturesque specimens remain in the county. The hotel and outbuildings have been erected from the designs of Mr James Redford, of Manchester and Northenden, Architect, under the super vision of Mr Thomas Worthington, the land steward, and who has also planned and executed with the workmen on the estate the terraces and grounds about the building, and the excavating and drainage required. The various artificers' trades have been contracted for separately : — Mr Harry Chandlev, of Gatley, was the bricklayer; Mr James Taylor, of Pooley's Park, Manchester, the mason; Messrs Samuel and William Brundritt of Northenden New Road, Didsbury, the carpenters and joiners; Mr Walton, of Altrincham, the plumber, glazier, gasfitter, and bellhanger; Mr Bardslev, of Cheadle, the plasterer and painter; and the grates have been supplied by Messrs J. M. and W. Leigh, of Market-street, Manchester. [British Architect 24 April 1874 page 270].

Reference           British Architect 24 April 1874 page 270