William Roberts

• Born                      Manchester
• Died                      18 February 1899 at his residence, “Edenwood,” Whalley Range
• Burial                     Harpurhey Cemetery

William Roberts was not to be numbered among the great architects of Victorian Manchester though over the years his bread-and-butter work enabled him to enjoy a comfortable living. He was Unitarian in religion and a Liberal in politics, an individual who had a strong admiration of Gladstone. The extent of that admiration was revealed to the public after his death in 1899, when Roberts, who had never married, left £4,500 out of an estate of over £23,000 to provide a bronze statue of Gladstone for Manchester.

Address
1856            William Roberts architect 44 Princess Street, Manchester
1856-1876    William Roberts architect and surveyor, 51 King Street, Manchester
1883-1886    William Roberts, surveyor, Ogden's chambers, 97 Bridge Street, Manchester

Residence
1851    Grand Junction Inn, Wardle Street, Hulme, Manchester (his father was landlord)
1871    Ashton-on-Mersey
1876    Holly House, Long Lane, Ashton-on-Mersey
1883    Beech Mount, Stretford Road Old Trafford
1891    Chorlton Road, Whalley Range
1899    “Edenwood” Upper Chorlton Road, Whalley Range