Calling all Wythenshawe folk

[ValsGranddaughter]

Yes, I know Wythenshawe is officially 'in Manchester' these days, but I was wondering if the present area known as 'Brownley Green' in Wythenshawe stands on the site of the original Brownley/Brownlow Green, once part of Etchells?  My earliest traced and proven ancestors came from Brownlow Green in Etchells and were smiths and yeomen farmers there from the late 16th to mid 18th century!  I have always wanted to nip along to see what is left of the place, but no doubt it has all been swallowed up by the modern housing estates?

Does anyone know if it would be worth a visit - at least to get the lie of the land - and indeed if it IS the old Brownlow/Brownley Green that I suspect it is?  I've done all the literary research on the place, but would love to see old photos too, if anyone could point me in the right direction.

Many thanks everyone.

[__tracy__]

Hi

http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/

This site is great for old Wythenshawe photos  just tap the road name in 

Brownley Green is what we know as Sharston and yes its a new development site

other roads off Brownley rd to look at are
Crossacres rd
Mayfair Rd
Woodhouse Lane
Hollyhedge Rd
 also Sharston  varied pics worth a look 

i would not advise you to go as it really has changed its just a motorway with council houses on each side .

Hope this Helps  if not yell 

Tracy

[ValsGranddaughter]

Thanks for the link, Tracy - some useful photos there.  It does show that the land must have been very flat, at least.  A work colleague who is from Wythenshawe has told me that the new Brownley Green IS on the site of the old one, but like you, she said that there is very little to see now that would give me a hint of what life was like there hundreds of years ago.  Due to leaving a fantastic succession of wills, together with the Northenden PRs, I have been able to trace my Brownley Green lot back to the 1580s.  I suppose I will never be able to glean what it was like other than fields, fields, farms and fields 

Thanks for your help, Tracy.

ETA:  By the way - do we share Makins?  Mine started out in Manchester in the 18th century, drifted over to Cheadle, then planted themselves in the Glossop area for several generations, before branching off again in all directions.  Please send a PM if you think we could help each other on that one.

[sparkle]

Hi, I am searching for decendants of  Grandad Joseph Brown B Liverpool, he was a cousin to Allan Harrison & 1st wife Maggie Bickerdike a Blacksmith from Denton Hyde,, Children, 1 son Herbert ( who had a Daughter).- daughters Mary Elizabeth- Edith b 1906- May-, Maggie died & Allan remarried, they later lived in Wythenshawe where they made Leather goods from Home,Edith b Feb 1906 was Married to Billy Phillips in 1931 he was a Photographer & lived in Wythenshawe  & had a son  & Daughter  they emigrated to Perth Australia with Father Allan aged 82  in 1957 died aged abt 99 in 1974 &  Edie & Billy's Daughter  probably Married as not on Ship Manifest with them, son stayed behind. Daughter  stayed Behind,Daughter *  aged 53 Emigrated with Husband  * aged 54 Builder Son * aged 26 Builder -Daughter in Law * aged 20 address 10 Ryeburn Ave Wythenshawe Manchester.  * didn't marry. * possibly Emigrated also.
Any information welcome,
      Anne.
contact lost. Allan's Father Joseph Harrison b 1853 Mottram Cheshire  (son of Joseph Harrison b 1830 Mottram & Harriet  nee  Cooper) b Hollingworh 1829) died aged 36 in  March 1890 at 86 back Lane Hyde, Grandad Joseph Brown b Jan 1874 Liverpool & sister Harriet Brown b Dec 1880 Liverpool lived with the family till 1890 after his mother Mary ann Brown nee Harrison  b March 1852 Mottram disappeared in Feb 1886,Grandad Joseph & Harriet Brown put in the Salford & manchester home for abandoned - Poor Children till found we assume by her Brother Joseph.

Mary Ann's Husband was Evans Bates Brown an American mariner,he drowned in the potomac River accidently while alone aboard a Schooner in June 1903. Harriet Died in America before 1903 when grandad arrived after Boer War to bring her home to England he had enlisted in the Kings (Liverpool) Regiment in 1892 when he found she had been sent to Canada from the liverpool Sheltering home in 1892 after he had gone tramping (searching for work),

  Anne.

[TomUK]

Just a couple more bits about Brownley Green.

You are right about Etchells and Brownlow Green being modern Brownley Green.

The Brownley Green area became one of the first new Manchester housing areas to be created in the 1930's, along with Royal Oak, Benchill, Crossacres and Sharston to become part of what was to become the sprawling Wythenshawe Housing estate. The estate re-housed people from the older inner city areas of terraced houses and cobbled streets. The estate continued to be developed after the second world war when Baguley, Newall Green and Woodhouse Park were completed in the late 40's/early 50's. At the time it was the largest housing estate in Europe.

Brownley Green is not 'what we now know as Sharston' as mentioned earlier. Sharston is still a separate district nearby (as is Benchill, which largely divides the two districts).  Brownley Green is still recognised as an area of Wythenshawe by locals. Crossacres is a small area next to Brownley Green and some old documents describe the area as Brownley Green, Crossacres.

Brownley Green is close to the Wythenshawe Civic Centre and much of it has been nibbled away by spread of the site.  Brownley Green school was cleared in recent times and there are new apartment buildings on the site.

Until the 70's/80's one or two of the early buildings from the old days still existed.

I presume you've seen the Brownlow Green smithy photo on the M/cr Libraries site.

[Col7777]

My name is Colin, I was born 1948 in Royal Oak.  My mam and dad lived with my dad's sister and her family, the Corrigans till we got our own house, yes it must have been crowded but I was a baby then and didn't take up much room.

I have many memories of those years and of people who lived around that part of Royal Oak.  If anyone has family or lived around there from the 1950's onwards I may know of them and/or wish to share any memories, it's good to talk. 

By the way, this should be in Lancashire not Cheshire.

Moderator comment: Personal information and details of living people removed from this and subsequent posts

[Mike48]

hi my name is mike I lived  in the prefabs till my family moved.  I had 2. sisters and 1 brother i went to St peters primary and St Paul secondary school my mum and dad where both blind so most people new of them, I emigrated to Australia in1973 and live in Perth west Australia all the time but traveled quite a lot i have to children both girls and 5 grand children both living within 15 minuets of me i am know living on my own due to circumstance beyond my control i recall the name Colin * but cannot put a face to the name sorry if you would like to give me a call.  love to talk about old times. mike.                                                                   

[Col7777]

@ Mike48,

Hello Mike,

Forgive me but I don't recall your name, but I have a few cousins who lived in Westage Gardens and I asked them if they might have known you as they lived near to you plus they also went to the same schools as yourself.
Do you know a family called Corrigan, they lived in the end avenue of Westage?

Also they asked me to ask you if you remember the Conlans who lived on Altrincham Rd near the Royal Oak pub.

Now a coincidence, my cousin emigrated to Australia 1974 and moved to Perth in 1976, isn't it a small world sometimes.

As for me, I went to Royal Oak School then Baguley Hall, I was born in Maldon Grove off Royal Oak rd, then we lived in Pentwyn Grove and also Rawlpool Gardens.  In my teens I was a rocker, leather jackets and motorbikes plus I had a German Shepherd dog that was nearly always with me, does that ring any bells with you?

Another question:  Are you on Facebook, I had a look and found a guy with the same name as you who lives in Perth, it might not be you but the guy I was looking at on FB didn't look familiar but sometimes people change so again forgive me for not recognising you?

[Mike48]

Hi Colin

I remember names but not faces - the one I recall is * Conlan - is this one of the Conlans you know?  I think my sister may have known them well.
I have two sisters and a younger brother.
I remember * who lived on Altrincham Road.

I remember a lad with an German Shepard - might have been you. Have sent you a friend request on Facebook and will post some old photo's on their and maybe will jog some memories.

Nice talking about the old times with someone from the same area/era.