Thanks to everyone who helped with Moss Side and Alexandra Road where 'my' DERBYSHIRE glass manufacturers were living in the 1870s. The house I was after was very much in the vicinity of St Bede's College which has also been in the spotlight here in the last couple of days. According to old directories, the convent next door to the college (to the south) was called St Gertrude's and it was no. 28 Alexandra Road South. It may be that the house I wanted (named "Ebenezer House" and occupied by the DERBYSHIRE family as their home in the late 1870s) was or is number 30 Alexandra Road South. Again according to directories, it would appear that these properties were all erected some time in the 1870s. They do not appear in the 1871 directory. Another home of the DERBYSHIRE family in the 1870s (this time 1873) was "Melrose Lawn", Alexandra Road, Moss Side. This has been tracked to number 6 Alexandra Road South. Number 8 Alexandra Road South appears in Manchester Library's Local Image Collection. These properties may have been built by a George Napier who appears in the 1876 directory at "Mayfield House" just up the road from Melrose Lawn and Ebenezer House. "Mayfield House" was the last house before the college, now "Mayfield Mansions". Napier was a building contractor who just happens to have been a neighbour of the "Melrose Lawn" DERBYSHIRE in 1871 back across town in Napier Street, Hulme (note NAPIER Street!). Thomas DERBYSHIRE in "Melrose Lawn" was only in his mid-twenties, an up-and-coming glass manufacturer. I suggest that around late 1860s Thomas and his uncle John who was to live in "Ebenezer House" may have heard about Napier's development on Alexandra Road South and done a deal with him, moving into them as brand new. I don't know if they would have taken out a mortgage or rented - I seem to recall reading that only one in ten people in the country at that time owned their own houses. The DERBYSHIRE family had three large glassworks in operation by about 1872, in Hulme and Salford, one just built. Then as now (don't we all know it!) building was affected by the general economy and there were some downturns in the 1870s. By the 1881 census John DERBYSHIRE had left Moss Side in favour of a house on Eccles New Road in Salford. Whether this was an economy measure or he just wanted to be nearer his glassworks on Regent Road can probably only be guessed. Sadly Thomas, his young nephew, died in 1874 age 26, and his own son Thomas died in 1881 age 18, causes not yet known, leaving John and his brothers to carry on the glassmaking. Although Derbyshire glassmaking held its own well enough, the family were not long-lived and they had to struggle in a competitive market, the company finally closing its doors in 1894. Therefore these wonderful new homes overlooking Alexandra Park in the early 1870s must have represented a great high-point in the family's hopes and fortunes. For anyone who wants to know, the college (now a private school) and the convent (now flats) can be seen on modern maps/google earth. My A-Z marks St Bede's College and the Convent on the west side of Alexandra Road South, between Mayfield Road and Wellington Road and Wellington Road and Stanley Road respectively. "Mayfield Mansions" is visible on the A-Z too, above Mayfield Road. Mike Morris wrote: > Now you mention it, I have walked south west from Chorlton on > Medlock on the > border of Moss Side through to Regent road in Salford to go to a > dance on a > Saturday night. > Mike, I hope the girls were worth the walk! Sally in Yorkshire

Sally Haden wrote: > Thanks to everyone who helped with Moss Side and Alexandra Road where > 'my' DERBYSHIRE glass manufacturers were living in the 1870s. > > The house I was after was very much in the vicinity of St Bede's > College which has also been in the spotlight here in the last couple > of days. > > Hi List and Helen, My daughter is a pupil at St Bede's College. The main buildings lie between Wellington Rd and Mayfield Rd with the building that used to be the Convent, now called The Regis, standing on the opposite side of Wellington Rd. The part of the College which is now the Academic hall was the original building that the College moved in to in1877, and was once The Manchester Aquarium. My daughter returns to school at the beginning of September, so if you need any photos of the area let me know and I will gladly take them for you as I will be there daily. There are other independent schools in the area including the King David School which lies at the other end of Alexander Rd South. Hope this helps? Regards, Jan.