Staley Bridge is about two miles above Ashton-under-Line. This village, which is very large and well built, takes its name from an excellent stone bridge over the Tame, which was here before the present village existed. Another bridge, a little lower, was erected a few years ago, by the late John Astley, Esq. of Dukinfield, for the convenience of his own estate.

Dukinfield Lodge, the seat and property of Francis Dukinfield Astley, Esq. is a large irregular pile, occupying a broad terrace, near the top of a steep hill, which rises almost perpendicularly from the river Tame. The views from the house and gardens are particularly romantic and grand.

Staley Bridge has a handsome octagon chapel, of the Church of England, in which is an organ.

This place has been noted for woollen cloth dyers and pressers, as well as weavers: these branches still continue to flourish.

There is a beautiful and romantic situation in the neighbourhood of Staley Bridge, called Scout's Mill, for many years occupied by a person who undertook the care of insane persons. The mill was afterwards used in the cotton branch.

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STALYBRIDGE is a parliamentary and municipal borough, on the banks of the river Tame, with joint stations on the Lancashire and Yorkshire, London and North Western and Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire railways, one mile east from Ashton-under-Lyne, 7 ½ miles east from Manchester, 8 north-east from Stockport, 13 north-east from Macclesfield, 7 north-west from Glossop, and 191 from London, partly in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, in Lancashire, partly in the township of Dukinfield in the parish of Stockport, and partly in the township of Stayley in the parish of Mottram-the two latter being in the Hyde division of the county of Chester: it is in the union and county court district of Ashton-under-Lyne and in the hundreds of Salford (Lancashire) and Macclesfield (Cheshire). For ecclesiastical purposes the Lancashire portion is in the rural deanery of Ashton, archdeaconry and diocese of Manchester; and the Cheshire portion in the rural deanery of Mottram, archdeaconry of Macclesfield and diocese of Chester. The Tame, which divides this portion of Cheshire from Lancashire, flows into the Mersey at Stockport. There is water communication by the London and North Western Canal Company’s and the Merchant’s Carrying Company’s canals.

Stalybridge was incorporated by royal charter granted 5th March, 1857, and the borough was extended August 11th, 1881, by the incorporation of Millbrook, in Cheshire, under “The Stalybridge Extension and Improvement Act, 1881 it is now divided into four wards and the corporation consists of a mayor, eight aldermen and twenty-four councillors, who also act as the Urban Sanitary Authority. The borough has a commission of the peace and a police force. By the “Representation of the People Act, 1867,” it was made a parliamentary borough, containing parts of Dukinfield and Stavley, and returns one member.

The Gas Works, on the Dukinfield side of the borough, and formerly belonging to a company, were purchased by the Corporation July 31st, 1885, for £126,000; and are on a very extensive scale.

The Waterworks, constructed in 1868 for this borough and Ashton-under-Lyne, comprise four large reservoirs amongst the hills in the neighbourhood of Millbrook, 1 ½ miles from the town, and another at Greenfield, constructed in 1886 at a cost of £288,000, with a total capacity of 200,000,000 gallons. The Waterworks are now under the management of the Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge and Dukinfield (district) joint committee of 16 members, 4 of whom are elected by the Corporation of Stalybridge.

The ecclesiastical parish of Old St. George was formed April 12, 1864, from that of Ashton-under-Lyne: the church, occupying an elevated site on Cocker hill, and first erected in 1776 as a chapel of ease to Ashton parish church, was entirely rebuilt in 1888, under the direction of Mr. John Low, architect, of Manchester, at a cost of £4,000, and is an octagonal edifice of stone, consisting of chancel, nave and a western turret containing one bell: the carved oak pulpit was the gift of Mrs. Platt: there are four stained windows, and the church affords. 750 sittings, 250 of which are free. The register of births and deaths dates from 1777, marriages 1864. The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £400, with residence, in the gift of the trustees of the late Earl of Stamford and Warrington, and held since 1867 by the Rev. John Bonafans Jelly-Dudley B.A. of Trinity College, Dublin, and surrogate.

The parish of New St. George was formed July 30, 1847, from that of Ashton-under-Lyne: the church, standing on an eminence called “the Hague,” and erected at the same time, at a cost of £4,500, is a building of stone in the later Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and a western tower with pinnacles Containing one bell: the church was partly reseated and a new pulpit and lectern erected in 1889 at a cost of £550: there are two stained windows erected by the congregation to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee, 1887: the church affords about 1,200 sittings. The register dates from the year 1840. The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £320, net £300, with residence, in the gift of the rector of Ashton-under-Lyne, and held since 1884 by the Rev. John Thomas Read M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin.

STAYLEY St. Paul ecclesiastical parish was formed out of that of Mottram in 1840: the church, erected in 1839 at a cost of £4,000, and enlarged and restored under the direction of Mr. W. H. Brakespear, architect, at a cost of £5,000, is a cruciform building of stone in the Transition style between Early and Geometrical Gothic, and consists of chancel, clerestoried nave of five bays, aisles, transepts, organ chamber and a western tower containing a clock and 8 bells: the lower stage of the tower forms a porch: the stained east window was presented by James Buckley esq. in 1857, and there are a number of other stained windows, some being memorials: the organ was enlarged and beautified in 1874: the organ and vestry screens and lectern are good examples of carved work in the Gothic style: the pulpit was presented by William Storrs esq. J.P. in 1877: the church affords 1,250 sittings. The register dates from the year 1842. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £531, derived chiefly from pew-rents and an endowment of £700 left by Mrs. Platt in 1889, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Chester and three other trustees, and held since 1887 by the Rev. Thomas Holmes Sheriff M.A. of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

The parish of DUKINFIELD-ST.-John was formed out of that of Stockport Jan. 10, 1843, but only became an independent parish in 1875. St. John’s church, consecrated in 1841, is an edifice of stone in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, pave of six bays, aisles, west porch and a western tower with pinnacles containing one bell: in the chancel is a memorial window to the Rev. William Bell, late vicar, d. Jan. 1875, and there are two others: the church was thoroughly restored in 1893 at a cost of about £1,200, when a new font was given by Mrs. Bretherton and a reredos erected: there are 1,000 sittings, more than half being free. The register dates from the year 1841. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £300, derived from endowments and pew rents, with residence, in the gift of the rector of Stockport, and held since 1875 by the Rev. Richard George Bulkeley, of St. Bees; the boundary line of the boroughs of Stalybridge and Dukinfield divides the church from the parsonage and schools, which are in the latter borough, but the parish mission school is in High street, Stalybridge.

There are two charities belonging to the parish, viz.: Daniel Wylds, of £87, left in the 18th century and recovered in 1880; and Mrs. Hyde’s, of £100, left in 1867. These are in the hands of the Charity Commissioners, and the interest is spent in clothing, distributed in November in each year.

The parish of Holy Trinity CASTLE HALL was formed in 1,846 out of that of Stockport. The church, near the Market hall, erected and endowed in 1852, is a building of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave with clerestory, aisles, north and south porches and an embattled western tower containing 8 bells: the east window is stained and there is a memorial window to the Rev. Fielding Frederick Ould, vicar 1875—81, erected by the congregation in 1882 at a cost of £85: the brass eagle lectern was presented in 1878 by Robert and Margaret Platt, of Dunham Hall, at a cost of upwards of £50: there are 850 sittings, 280 of which are free. The register dates from the year 1852. The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £463, net £420, in the gift of five trustees, and held since 1881 by the Rev. Charles Sutcliffe, of Queen’s College, Birmingham, and a surrogate.

Christ church, in Quarry street, erected in 1878 at a cost of about £3,000, is an edifice of brick in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, vestry and organ chamber: in 1891, the chancel was extended at a cost of £60 and a stained east window erected to the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Platt: the living is a perpetual curacy, net yearly value £200, in the gift of trustees, and held since 1877 by the Rev, James Grant Bird.

Millbrook was incorporated with the borough of Stalybridge, August 11, 1881; the parish of St. James was formed in 1863 from that of St. Paul, Stayley. The church, erected at a cost of £3,500, and consecrated January 29 the same year, is a building of stone in the Gothic style, consisting of chancel, nave, south aisle, south vestry, north porch and a tower at the north end of the nave with spire and containing one bell: there is a memorial window in the chancel to Mary Matilda Harrison, d. June 3, 1871, and a brass to the Rev. William Worth Hoare B.D. 30 years vicar of St. Paul’s, Stayley, d. April 13, 1869: there are 440 sittings, 150 being free. The register dates from 1863. The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £280, net £267, with residence, in the gift of trustees, and held since 1882 by the Rev. Frank Lethbridge Farmer, of St. Aidan’s.

The Catholic church, in Spring Bank, dedicated to St. Peter, was erected in 1838—9, and is an edifice of stone, seating 550: attached is a presbytery and schools.

The Congregational church, erected in 1861 at a cost of £5,000, is a building of stone in the Geometrical Gothic style, and has 1,000 sittings.

The Wesleyan chapel, in Caroline street, erected in 1872, at a cost of £3,500, is of brick with stone dressings, and will seat 950.

The Town Hall, in Stamford street, erected in 1831, is a spacious edifice of stone of the Doric order and contains a large public assembly room holding 800 persons police offices, court room and a committee room; it was considerably enlarged in 1886 at a cost of about £12,000, when a new council chamber and offices for the borough treasurer and surveyor were added, together with apartments for the Free Library and various offices. The municipal insignia comprise only a mayor’s chain and badge and a corporate seal; the former, made by Messrs. Elkington, of London, is of gold, and consists of a series of elaborate links, alternating with crowned shields and intermediate links bearing the letter S; the pendent badge displays the arms and crest granted to the borough by the Royal College of Arms in 1857 and the motto, “Absqve labore nihil;” the seal is merely an embossing stamp bearing the same arms; the mayor wears a robe of purple, trimmed with ermine.

The Free Library, opened 21 September, 1889, contains a lending library of 11,250 volumes and a reference library; it is under the control of a committee of ten members of the corporation and five ratepayers or residents of the borough.

The Mechanics’ Institute, in High street, erected in 1861 at a cost of £4,100, is a building of red brick with stone facings, and contains an assembly room, seating upwards of 1,000 people, news rooms abundantly supplied with the leading papers and periodicals, class rooms and a library of 5,105 volumes; science and art classes are held here in the evenings during the winter months, and under the provisions of the “Technical Instruction Act, 1889,” important changes have been made in the educational work carried on here. A new laboratory was erected in 1890 at a cost of £600, wholly defrayed by the late Mrs. Platt, of Stalybridge, who also left £1,000 for its maintenance; the interior of the building was redecorated throughout and additional class rooms added at the same time, at a cost of about £500: there are now (1896) 155 members; during 1895, 1,293 students were enrolled as attending the science and art classes, of whom 368 passed on examination, The institute is managed by a committee and sub-committees and is supported by subscriptions and grants.

Attached to the institute is a Field Naturalist and Microscopical Society, which numbers about 80 members.

The Liberal Club, Albert square, erected in 1880 from designs by Mr. Gregory Gill, architect, at a cost of about £3,000, is a structure of red brick, and comprises billiard room, assembly room, smoke room, reading and card room.

The Foresters’ Hall, Vaudrey street, erected in 1836, is a plain building of stone, with an assembly room, holding about 1,000 people, but is now very little used.

The Odd Fellows’ Hall and Social Club and Institute, in Albert square, erected in 1877—8 at a cost of about £5,000, is a building of red brick with stone dressings, and comprises billiard room, lodge rooms (in which 12 lodges are held), games, smoking and reading room, and a large hall on the first floor, let for concerts, entertainments &c. capable of seating about 800 persons; the number of members is about 1,500.

Stalybridge is one of the oldest seats of the cotton manufacture and contains many extensive mills, which give employment to the major part of the population; there are machine works, iron foundries, and cut and wrought nail works, and the woollen manufacture is also carried on to a limited extent; there are two branch banks.

The market is held on Saturday; the fairs take place on the last Monday in each month. Annual prize fair first Saturday in September; and the wakes the first Sunday after July 17.

The Market Hall, on the Plantation Grounds, erected in 1866, is an edifice of red brick with stone dressings in the Renaissance style, from designs by the late Mr. Amos Lee, sometime the borough surveyor, and has a lofty tower containing an illuminated clock with four dials.

A Fish Market was erected in 1881 at a cost of £1,500.

The Baths, also on the Plantation Grounds, were presented by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Platt, at a cost of £7,000, and opened 7 May, 1870. The building, which is in the Italian style, comprises a swimming bath, 70 feet by 40 feet, with a clear water area of 63 feet by 24 feet; and on each side are dressing boxes, 32 in number, and over these are side galleries. There is also another swimming bath, 80 feet by 40 feet, containing a clear water area of 75 by 28 feet, and of less depth. There are 20 private baths and a complete set of Turkish baths, and adjoining the entrance hall and office is a residence for the manager. In the rear is a boiler-house and other accessory buildings. The baths are endowed by Mrs. Platt with the annual sum of £100, in aid of their maintenance.

The District Infirmary is in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, and stands on an elevated side fronting the park; it is a structure of brick with stone dressings in the Elizabethan style, erected in 1858—9 at a cost of £11,000, and endowed with a sum of £10,000 left by Samuel Oldham esq. of Oak View. Since its foundation the endowments have been greatly increased, and in 1895 amounted to £39,056, with an annual income of about £3,250; the number of in-patients in 1895 being 574, and out-patients 1,169. The Infirmary has 104 beds. A new nurses’ home was erected in 1889—90, and the rooms formerly occupied by the nurses converted into two new wards, providing 20 additional beds, and various other improvements effected at a total outlay of 4,000. A children’s hospital was also erected in 1892, at an outlay of over £4,500, at the sole cost of James Kershaw esq. J.P, and contains 28 beds, with four additional beds in two isolated wards, together with a kitchen, nurses’ sitting rooms, bedrooms &c.

Stamford Park, opened July 12th, 1873, by the late Earl of Stamford and Warrington, contains 64 acres (about half of which are in Stalybridge and the rest in Ashton), inclusive of 3 small lakes; the original estate was purchased from the trustees of the late Able Harrison esq. by H. T. Darnton esq. of Ashton-under-Lyne, for £2,000, who resold it to the Park Committee, and other land was subsequently given by the late earl; the estimated value of the estate is now about £50,000. The mansion, formerly called Highfield House, is a fine old Elizabethan edifice and now forma a museum, containing a library of about 5,000 volumes, contributed by H. T. Darnton esq,; a valuable geological collection; rare pottery, pictures, antique objects; an extensive collection of entomological and botanical specimens; in the grounds is a memorial to the late Mr. Jethro Tinker, of Stalybridge, who died March 10th, 1871, and a granite monument with medallion bust, erected by the factory workers of Lancashire and Cheshire in 1888 to Mr. Joseph Rayner Stephens, who died in 1879. The whole is under the management of the corporations of Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge, to whom it was transferred 3 June, 1891. The Boating Lake was opened July 14th, 1894.

The outskirts and approaches of the town are diversified by the handsome and substantial residences and tasteful grounds of the gentry and principal manufacturers of the place. Eastwood, the property and residence of John Frederick Cheetham esq. J.P. a mansion in the Classic style, occupies a commanding site on the south-east of the town; the shrubberies are luxuriant and the extensive grounds artistically arranged. The Priory, the property of Mrs. George Cheetham, is a mansion of the Tudor period, with grounds, about 16 acres in extent, from, which extensive views are obtained. Gorse Hall, a fine mansion of stone, surrounded by an extensive estate, and formerly the property of the late William Starrs esq. is at present occupied by G. H. Storrs esq. Staveleigh, the residence and property of John F. Knott esq. is a mansion in the Tudor Renaissance style. Other principal residences are those of Capt. William Harrison, Jas. Woolley Summers esq. J.P. and H. H. Summers esq.

The population in 1871 of the municipal borough was 21,092; in 1881, 25,977; in 1891, 26,783, and of the parliamentary borough in 1891, 44,135; acreage of the municipal borough, 3,071; and the rateable value, £127,734 (acreage of parliamentary borough, 4,334).

The population of the municipal wards in 1891 was:-Dukinfield, 7,837; Lancashire, 5,873; Millbrook, 2,950 and Stayley, 10,123. The population of the ecclesiastical parishes in 1891 was:-Old St. George, 2,712; New St. George, 3,505; Stayley, 5,960; Dukinfield St. John, 11,174; Castle Hall, 6,277; Millbrook, 4,113.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with the times of Services.

Old St. George’s Church, Cockerhill, Rev. John Bonafons Jelly-Dudley B.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

New St. George’s, the Hague, Rev. John Thomas Read M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Holy Trinity, Castle Hall, Rev. Charles Sutcliffe, vicar; Rev. Thomas Smith M.A. curate; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wednesdays 7.30 p.m.; saints’ day, 11 a.m.

St. Paul’s, Huddersfield road, Rev. Thomas Holmes Sheriff M.A. vicar; Rev. John Grimshaw Brown B.A. curate; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; saints’ days & Fri. 11 a.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

St. James’, Millbrook, Rev. Frank Lethbridge Farmer, vicar; Rev. J. Hind Farmer M.A. curate; 8 & 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 10 a.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

St. John’s, High street, Rev. Richard George Bulkeley, vicar; Rev. James Lawton, curate; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8.30 a.m.

Christ Church, High street, Rev. J. G. Bird, incumbent; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; saints’ days, 11 a.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Holy Trinity Mission Hall, Brierley street, 3.15 & 7 p.m.

Catholic (St. Peter’s), Spring Bank street, Very Rev. Canon Carroll V.G. & Rev. Aloysius O’Toole, priests; mass, 8, 9.30 & 11 a.m.; rosary & benediction, 6.30 p.m.; Tues. daily at 7.30 & 8.30 a.m.; rosary & benediction, Tues. & Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, Wakefield road, Rev. Charles Rushby, minister; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 850 Baptist (Particular), Cross Leech street, Rev. Andrew Bowden; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; seats 500.

Congregational, Melbourne street, Rev. George Edward Oheeseman; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 8 p.m.; seats 1,100.

Methodist New Connexion, Grosvenor square, Rev. J. Lee Fox; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 1,000.

Methodist New Connexion (Mount Tabor), Rev. G. Wheatley; 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.; seats 200.

Primitive Methodist, Canal street, Rev. Thomas Logar; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; seats, 400.

United Methodist Free Church, Booth street, Rev. Geo. Mellelieu; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; seats 250.

Unitarian, Canal street, Rev. William Harrison; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; seats 400.

Wesleyan, Caroline street, Rev. John Toft; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Tues. 7.30 p.m.; seats 950.

Wesleyan Methodist, Millbrook, Rev. J. T. Bennett; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Spiritual Progress Church, Corporation street; 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Gospel Mission Room, Kay street; 10.30 a.m. 2.45 & 6.30 p.m.; Mon. & Wed. 7.30 p.m.

SCHOOLS

A School Board of 9 members was formed January 16,1871.

Clerk, John Welch, 129 Stamford street.

School Officers, James Leech, 60 Stamford street & Fredk. Richard Beeley, Town hall.

Treasurer, Herbt. Bottomley, Manchester & County Bank Lim.

The Board meets at the Town hall on the 2nd Wednesday in the month at 6.15 p.m.

Old St. George’s (Cockerhill), Stamford street, erected in 1871, rebuilt & enlarged in 1882, at a cost of £4,300, for 650 children; average attendance, 350.

New St. George’s (National), The Hague, erected in 1873 at a cost of £817, for 375 children; average attendance, 220.

Castle Hall (National), Walmsley street (mixed & infants), erected in 1862, for 820 children; average attendance, 650.

St. Paul’s (National), Huddersfield road (mixed & infants), built in 1841 & enlarged in 1886, at a cost of £800, for 600 children; average attendance, 150 boys, 150 girls & 100 infants.

Christ Church (National), High street (mixed & infants), erected in 1872 & enlarged in 1882, for 500 children; average attendance, 420.

St. James’ (National), Millbrook, erected for 450 children; average attendance,310.

St. James’ (National), Carbrook, erected in 1879, for 320 children; average attendance, 140.

St. Peter’s (Catholic), Spring Bank street, erected in 1840, for 530 children; average attendance, 400.

Hob Hill, Grosvenor street, erected for 656 children; average attendance, 400.

British, Heyrod, erected in 1879, for 266 children; average attendance, 90.

Wesleyan, Canal street, Charles Harmer, master; Mrs. H. Harmer, mistress.

Evening Classes, Mechanics’ Institute; teachers: building construction & carpentry, John Poole; geometry, Edwd. Tittle; machine drawing & applied mechanics, Thomas Cooke & John Poole; mathematics, S. Mellows B.Sc.; cotton spinning & weaving, John Woolley; chemistry, D. McLaren B.Sc.; art drawing, E. Tittle; physiology, D. McLaren B.Sc.; french, S. Mellows B.Sc.

School Board Evening Classes (Christ Church School); headmaster, De Holt; assistant's, Williamson, T. Pickering, Miss Hancock & Miss Brandish.

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STALYBRIDGE is a parliamentary and municipal borough and parish on the banks of the river Tame, with a station on the Lancashire and Yorkshire, and joint station on the London and North Western and Great Central (late M. S. & L.) railways, and is 1 mile south-east from Ashton-under-Lyne, 7 ½ miles east from Manchester, 8 north-east from Stockport, la north-east from Macclesfield, 7 north-west from Glossop and 191 from London. In 1896 the Local Government Board constituted Stalybridge a distinct parish, wholly in the Hyde division of the county of Chester, in place of being partly in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, in Lancashire, partly in the township of Dukinfield, in the parish of Stockport, and partly in the township of Stayley, in the parish of Mottram, and it is in the union and county court district of Ashton-under-Lyne and in the hundred of Macclesfield (Cheshire). For ecclesiastical purposes the portion once in Lancashire still remains in the rural deanery of Ashton, archdeaconry and diocese of Manchester; and that in Cheshire in the rural deanery of Mottram, archdeaconry of Macclesfield and diocese of Chester. The Tame, which divides this portion of Cheshire from Lancashire, flows into the Mersey at Stockport. There is water communication by the London and North Western Canal Company’s and the Manchester Ship Canal Company’s canals.

Stalybridge was incorporated by royal charter granted 5th March, 1857, and the borough was extended August 11th, 1881, by the incorporation of Millbrook and Heyrod under “The Stalybridge Extension and improvement Act, 1881”; it is now divided into four wards and the corporation consists of a mayor, eight aldermen and twenty-four councillors. The borough has a commission of the peace and a police force. By the” Representation of the People Act, 1867,” it was made a parliamentary borough, consisting of the municipal borough of Stalybridge and Dukinfield, since constituted a municipal borough.

The Gas Works, on the Dukinfield side of the borough, and formerly belonging to a company, were purchased by the Corporation, July 31st, 1885, for £126,000; and are on a very extensive scale.

The Waterworks, constructed in 1868 for this borough and Ashton-under-Lyne, comprise four large reservoirs, amongst the hills in the neighbourhood of Millbrook, 1 ½ miles from the town, and another at Greenfield, constructed in 1886 at a cost of £288,000, with a total capacity of 200,000,000, gallons. The Waterworks are now under the management of the Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge and Dukinfield (district) joint committee of 16 members, 4 of whom are elected by the Corporation of Stalybridge: Sewerage works for the joint district of StaIybridge and Dukinfield were constructed in 1897 at Bradley Hurst Farm, under the direction of the Stalybridge and Dukinfield Joint Sewerage Board.

Under the Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Electricity and Tramways Board, formed by members of the Councils of these, towns, and by an Act of Parliament passed in 1901, a system of electric tramways between these places, consisting at present of about 18 miles, has been constructed, and was opened May 21st, 1904. The cost of the undertaking being about £500,000.

The ecclesiastical parish of Old St. George was formed April 12, 1864, from that of Ashton-under-Lyne: the church, occupying an elevated Bite on Cocker hill, and first erected in 1776 as a chapel of ease to Ashton parish church, was entirely re-built in 1887, under the direction of Mr. John Low, architect, of Manchester, at a cost of £4,600, and is an octagonal edifice of stone, consisting of chancel, nave and a western turret containing one bell: the carved oak pulpit was the gift of Mrs. Platt: there are four stained windows, that on the south side being the gift of Ralph Bates esq.: the church affords 750 sittings, 250 of which are free. The register of births and deaths date from 1777, marriages, 1864. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £400, with residence, in the gift of the Earl of Stamford, and is now (Oct. 1904) vacant.

The parish of St. George, THE HAGUE, was formed July 30, 1840, from that of Ashton-under-Lyne: the church, situated on an eminence called “the Hague,” and erected at the same time at a cost of £4,500, is a building of stone in the Later Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and a western tower with pinnacles containing one bell: the church was restored in 1885, at a cost of £1,532, and partly reseated in 1889, and a lectern and pulpit erected at a cost of £550: in 1892 the interior was decorated and a new reredos put in at a cost of about £350: the east window, which is stained, was erected by subscription to commemorate the jubilee of the church: there are about 1,000 sittings. The register dates from 1840. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £370, without residence, in the gift of the rector of Ashton-under-Lyne, and held since 1898 by the Rev. Thomas Murphy Oldfield M.A. and L.Th. of the University of Durham.

STAYLEY ST. PAUL’S is an ecclesiastical parish, formed out of that of Mottram in 1840: the church, erected in 1839 at a cost of £4,000, and enlarged and restored in 1874 under the direction of Mr. W. H. Brakespear, architect, at a cost of £5,000, is a cruciform building of stone, in the Transition style between Early and Geometrical Gothic, and consists of chancel clerestoried nave of five bays, aisles, transepts, organ chamber and a western tower containing a clock and 8 bells: the south transept was added in 1899 at a cost of £1,600: the lower stage of the tower forms a porch: the stained east window was presented by James Buckley esq., in 1857, and there are a number of other stained windows, some being memorials: the organ was enlarged and beautified in 1874: the organ and vestry screens and lectern are good examples of carved work in the Gothic style: the pulpit was presented by the late William Storrs esq. J.P. in 1877: the church affords 1,100 sittings. The register dates from the year 1842. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £550, derived chiefly from fees and pew rents and an endowment of £700 left by Mrs. Platt in 1889, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Chester and three other trustees, and held since 1887 by the Rev. Thomas Holmes Sheriff M.A. of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, rural dean of Mottram, and surrogate.

The parish of Holy Trinity (Castle Hall) was formed in 1846 out of that of Stockport. The church, standing near the Market hall, and erected and endowed in 1852, is a building of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave with clerestory, aisles, north and south porches and an embattled western tower containing 8 bells: the east window is stained, and there is a memorial window to the Rev. Fielding Frederick Ould, the late vicar, erected by the congregation in 1882 at a cost of £85: the brass eagle lectern was presented in 1878 by Robert and Margaret Platt, of Dunham Hall, at a cost of upwards of £50: in 1896 an organ chamber and vestry were built at a cost of £1,500, and the organ enlarged, at a cost of £400: there are 920 sittings, 280 of which are free. The register dates from the year 1852. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £450, with residence, in the gift of five trustees, and held since 1881 by the Rev. Charles Sutcliffe, of Queen’s College, Birmingham, and a surrogate.

Christ Church is an ecclesiastical parish formed in 1880; the church in Quarry street, erected in 1878 at a cost of about £3,500, is an edifice of brick in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, vestry and organ chamber, the stained east window, erected in 1891, is a memorial to the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Platt: the chancel was extended at the same time at a cost of £60: there are 800 sittings. The register dates from the year 1878. The living is a vicarage, not yearly value £300, in the gift of trustees, and held since 1877 by the Rev. James Grant Bird.

The Catholic church, in Spring Bank, dedicated to St. Peter, was erected in 1838—9, and is an edifice of stone, seating 550: attached is a presbytery and schools.

The Congregational church, originally erected in 1830, and rebuilt in 1861, at a cost of £5,000, is a building of stone in the Geometrical Gothic style, and has 950 sittings.

The Wesleyan chapel, in Caroline street, erected in 1872 at a cost of £3,500, and restored and enlarged in 1895, at a cost of £816, is of brick with stone dressings, and will seat 950.

There are also General Particular Baptist, Methodist New Connexion, United Methodist, Primitive Methodist and Unitarian chapels.

The Town Hall, in Stamford street, erected in 1831, is a spacious edifice of stone of the Doric order, and contains a large public assembly room holding 800 persons, police offices, court room and a committee room; it was considerably enlarged in 1883 at a cost of about £10,000, when a new council chamber and offices for the borough treasurer and surveyor were added, together with, apartments for various offices. The Astley Cheetham Free Library, in Trinity street, opened 16th of October, 1901, is a fine building of red brick with stone facings, and contains a lending library of 14,000 volumes, and a reference library, and was the gift of John Frederick Cheetham esq. and is under the control of a committee of ten members of the corporation and five ratepayers or residents of the borough.

The new Post Office adjoins the library and was opened in 1902.

A new Fire Station was erected in Waterloo road in 1903. Here are branches of the Manchester and Liverpool District Banking Co. Limited, the Manchester and County Bank Limited, and Parr’s Bank Limited.

The Mechanics’ institute, in High street, erected in 1861—2 at a cost of £4,100, is a building of red brick with stone facings, and contains an assembly room, seating upwards of 1,000 people, news rooms, class rooms and a library of 5,107 volumes; science and art classes held here in the evenings. The laboratory was erected in 1890 at a cost of £600, wholly defrayed by the late Mrs. Platt, of Stalybridge, who also left £1,000 for its maintenance; the interior of the building was redecorated throughout and additional class rooms added at the same time, at a cost of about £500. The Technical school and higher grade school are conducted in the institute, and the Field Naturalist and Microscopical Society holds its meetings here.

The Liberal Club, Grosvenor st. erected in 1880, from designs by Mr. Gregory Gill, architect, at a cost of about £3,000, is a structure of red brick, and comprises billiard room, assembly room, smoke room, reading and card room, and a library of over 400 volumes.

The Odd Fellows’ Hall and Social Club, in Albert square, erected in 1877—8 at a cost of over £5,000, is a building of red brick with stone dressings, and comprises billiard room; hall on the first floor, let for concerts, entertainments etc. capable of seating about 700 persons; the number of members in 1901 was over 1,500.

The Drill Hall, in Walmsley street, the property of the Stalybridge detachment of the 4th V. B. Cheshire Regiment, was erected about 1880 at a cost of over £5,000.

Stalybridge is one of the oldest seats of the cotton manufacture and contains many extensive mills, which give employment to the major part of the population; there are machine works, iron foundries, and cut and wrought nail works, and the woollen manufacture is also carried on to a limited extent.

The market is held on Saturday; the fairs take place on the last Monday in each month. Annual prize fair first Saturday in September; and the wakes the first Sunday after July 17.

The Market Hall, on the Plantation Grounds and erected in 1866, at a cost of £10,000, is an edifice of red brick with stone dressings in the Renaissance style, from designs by Mr. Amos Lee, the borough surveyor, and has a lofty tower containing an illuminated clock with four dials.

A Fish Market was erected in 1881 at a cost of £1,500.

The Baths, also on the Plantation Grounds, were presented by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Platt, at a cost of £7,000, and opened 7 May, 1870 The building, which is in the Italian style, comprises a swimming bath, 70 feet by 40 feet, with a clear water area of 63 feet by 24 feet; and on each side are dressing boxes, 32 in number, and over these are side galleries. There is also another swimming bath, 80 feet by 40 feet, containing a clear water area of 75 by 28 feet, and of less depth. There are 20 private baths, and a complete set of Turkish baths, and adjoining the entrance hall and office is a residence for the manager. In the rear is a boiler-house and other accessory buildings. The baths are endowed by Mrs. Platt with £2,600, in aid of their maintenance. There are marble busts of Robert Platt esq. and Mrs, Platt in the vestibule, erected by public subscriptions.

The District infirmary, standing on an elevated site fronting the park, is a structure of brick with stone dressings in the Elizabethan style, erected in 1858—9, and endowed with a sum of £10,000 left by Samuel Oldham esq. of Oak View. Since its foundation the endowments have been increased to £40,000. A nurses home has been erected, and the rooms formerly occupied by the nurses converted into two wards, providing 20 additional beds, and various other improvements effected at a total outlay of £4,000. A children’s hospital was added in 1893, at the sole cost of James Kershaw esq. to contain 34 beds, and in 1896 an operating room added.

Stamford Park, opened July 12th, 1873, by the late Earl of Stamford and Warrington, contains 64 acres, inclusive of two large lakes, one of which is used for boating, and three smaller ones. The original estate was purchased from trustees, and other land was subsequently given by the late Earl of Stamford and Warrington. The estimated value of the estate is now about £50,000. The mansion, formerly called Highfield House, is a fine old Elizabethan edifice and until recently was used as a museum; it contains a library of 5,000 volumes, contributed by H. T. Darnton esq.; a valuable geological collection; rare pottery, pictures, antique objects, and extensive collection of entomological and botanical specimens; in the grounds is a memorial to the late Mr. Jethro Tinker, of Stalybridge, who died March 10th, 1871, and a granite monument with medallion bust, erected by the factory workers of Lancashire and Cheshire in 1888 to Mr. Joseph Rayner Stephens, who died in 1879. The whole is under the management of the corporations of Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge, to whom it was transferred 3 June, 1891, The outskirts and approaches of the town are ornamented by the handsome and substantial residences and tasteful grounds of the gentry and principal manufacturers of the place.

The area of the municipal borough is 3,137 acres; rateable value, £109,107; the population in 1871 was 21,092: 1881, 25,977; 1891, 26,783; and in 1901, 27,674.

The population of the municipal wards in 1901 was field, 7,908; Lancashire, 5,983; Millbrook, 4,039; Stayley, 9,744.

The population of the ecclesiastical parishes in 1901 was:-Old St. George, 2,654; New St. George, 3,771; Christ Church, Dukinfield, 4,966; St. James, Millbrook, 4,229; St. John the Evangelist, Dukinfield, 12,256; St. Paul’s, Stayley, 6,824.

The area of the parliamentary borough is 4,793 acres. The population in 1901 was 46,603; the number of electors on the parliamentary register in 1904 was 7,578.

Clerk to the Mottram-in-Longendale Urban District Council, Fred Thompson, 123 Stamford street.

Collector of King’s Taxes for Stalybridge, John Richard Norman, 129 Stamford street.

Inland Revenue Officer, Edward J. Butterfield, 1 Richmond st.

Medical Officers, Ashton-under-Lyne Union, No. 3 District, Frederick John Roberts-Dudley M.R.C.S.Eng. 133 Stamford street; No. 5 District, George Bradley Howe M.R.C.S.Eng. 1 Dean street.

Public Vaccinator, Ashton-under-Lyne Union, Nos. 3 & 5 Districts, George Bradley Howe M.R.C.S.Eng. 1 Dean street.

Registrar of Births & Deaths, Stalybridge Sub-District, Ashton-under-Lyne Union, Samuel Newton Percy Brierley, Town hall.

Relieving Officer, 2nd District, Ashton-under-Lyne Union, Edwin Bradbury, 99 Grosvenor street.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of Services

Old St. George’s Church, Cockerill, , vicar; Rev. Edward M. Baker M.A. curate; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. George’s, The Hague, Rev. Thomas Murphy Oldfield M.A., L.Th. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 11 a.m.; fri 11 a.m.

Holy Trinity, Castle Hall, Rev. Charles Sutcliffe, vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; all saints’ days, 11 a.m.

St. Paul’s, Huddersfield road, Rev. Thomas Holmes Sheriff M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; saints’ days, 11.30 a.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; Fri. 11.30 a.m.

St. James’, Millbrook, Rev. Frank Lethbridge Farmer, vicar; Rev. George Sulivan Edgcombe B.A. curate; 8 & 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

St. John’s High street, Dukinfield, Rev. Cecil Gordon Calthrop M.A. vicar; Rev. M. P. Uttley B.A. curate; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8.30 a.m.

Christ Church, High street, Rev. James Grant Bird, vicar: 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; holy days, 11 am, & 7.30 p.m.

Christ Church Mission Room, Robinson street; 8 p.m.; seats 52.

Holy Trinity Mission Hall, Brierley street; 3 & 7 p.m.

Catholic (St. Peters), Spring Bank street, Rev. James O'Grady, priest; mass 8, 9.30 & 11 a.m.; mass daily at 7.30 & 8.30 a.m.; rosary & benediction, Tues. & Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Convent of the immaculate Conception, Spring Bank st.; Rev. Mother St. Agatha, superioress.

Baptist (General) (Mount Olivet), Wakefield road, Rev. Charles Rushby, minister; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 750.

Baptist (Particular), Cross Leech street; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 500.

Congregational, Melbourne street, Rev. George Walker; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 1,100.

Methodist Free Church, Booth street, Rev. William Dawkins; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Methodist New Connexion, Grosvenor sq. 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 800.

Methodist New Connexion (Mount Tabor), Millbrook, 6 p.m.; seats 300.

Primitive Methodist, Canal street, Rev. Thomas Wilshaw; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.; seats 450.

Unitarian, Canal street; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; seats 400.

Wesleyan, Caroline street (Ashton-under-Lyne circuit), 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.: Tues. 7.30 p.m.; seats 845.

Wesleyan, Millbrook (Ashton-under-Lyne circuit), 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.: seats 110.

Gospel Mission Room, Kay street, 6.30 p.m.; seats 460.

Progressive Spiritual Hall, Trinity street; services, 3 & 6.30 p.m. Wed. 7.30 p.m.

PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The Committee was formed in May, 1903, and consists of 20 members, viz.: 12 members of Town Council & 8 co-opted.

Secretary, James Waterhouse Simister, Portland chambers.

School Officers, James Leech, Town hall & Frederick Richard Beeley, Town hall.

New St. Georges, The Hague, Cambridge street, erected to 1873 at a cost of £817, for 330 children; average attendance, 260.

Old St. George’s, Stamford street, erected in 1871, rebuilt & enlarged in 1882, at a cost of £4,300, for 580 children; average attendance, 410.

Castle Hall, Walmsley street (mixed & infants), erected in 1862 at a cost of £3,000, for 840 children; average attendance, 698.

St. Paul’s, Huddersfield road (mixed & infants), built in 1841 & enlarged in 1888, at a cost of £800, for 530 children; average attendance, 415.

Christ Church, High street (mixed & infants), erected in 1872 & enlarged in 1882 for 700 children; average attendance, 480.

St. James’, Millbrook, erected for 525 children; average attendance, 268.

St. James’, Carbrook, erected in 1879, for 290 children, average attendance, 160.

Catholic (St. Peter’s), Grasscroft street, erected in 1840, enlarged in 1895 at a coat of £1,000, for 530 children; average attendance, 370.

Hob Hill, Grosvenor street, erected 1883—4, for 656 children; average attendance, 417.

Heyrod, established 1819, enlarged in 1879, for 170 children; average attendance, 100.

Canal street (mixed), for 550 children; average attendance, 385.