1852 Info 1a: John Harper Crompton |
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The civil birth registration data records: 07 May 1852
John Harper Crompton Boy Father-James Crompton Labourer of John Street Bridlington Mother-Fanny Crompton (Formerly Harper)
The 1861 census shows the family now living in Low Green, Hutton Cranswick, with John Harper‘s birth place being recorded as Scarborough.
ohn
Harper CROMPTON,
1861 Census Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
Source: FHL Film PRO Ref RG09
Piece: 3607; Folio: 7; Page: 7; Sched: 42
Dwelling: Low Green
Place: Hutton Cranswick, York, England
Name Rel Marr Age Occupation Birthplace
James Crompton Head Wid 50 Groom Yorks, Bridlington
Martha Crompton Dau 14 Scholar Yorks, Acomb
Mary Crompton Dau 11 Scholar Yorks, Scarborough
John Crompton Son 8 Scholar Yorks, Scarborough
Sarah Crompton Dau 7 Scholar Yorks, Scarborough
In the 1871 census John Harper was already set in the apprenticeship that would take him into his own building business, being employed by Barmby Smith, a builder in Hutton Cranswick. Robert Smith was also a builder in the same village. His father James, at the time of the 1871 census, was a widower working shepherd at Ganstead, separated from his family.
1871 Census Sun/Mon. 2/3rd April 1871
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG10
Piece: 4806; Folio: 38; Page: 10; Sched: 43
Dwelling: Cranswick village
Place: Hutton Cranswick, York, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Barmby Smith Head M 39 Builder Yorks, Hutton Cranswick
Ruth Smith Wife M 40 Yorks, Pickering
Joseph Smith Son 15 Scholar Yorks, Hutton Cranswick
Robert Smith Son 13 Scholar Yorks, Hutton Cranswick
James Smith Dau 10 Scholar Yorks, Hutton Cranswick
Tom Smith Son 9 Scholar Yorks, Hutton Cranswick
Ruth Sarah Smith Dau 2 Yorks, Hutton Cranswick
John Reed Appr U 19 Bricklayer Yorks, Pickering
Lenard Reed Appr U 18 Bricklayer Yorks, Pickering
John H Crompton Appr U 18 Bricklayer Yorks, Burdlington [sic]
Easter Sissons Serv U 39 Nurse Yorks, Hutton Cranswick
By 1881 John Harper had not only established his own family and successful business, in Holme on Spalding Moor, but also looked after his father, widowed at sometime before the 1861 census.
1881 Census Sun/Mon 2/3rd April 1881
Source: FHL Film 1342144 PRO Ref RG11
Piece: 4735; Folio: 30; Page: 18; Sched: 95
Dwelling: Town Street
Place: Holme On Spalding Moor, York, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
John H. Crompton Head M 28 Builder employing 4 men Yorks, Bridlington
Sarah J. Crompton Wife M 30 Builder's wife Yorks, Newbald
Florence Crompton Dau 3 Yorks, Mkt. Weighton
Richard H. Crompton Son 2 Yorks, Holme
Wyrill Crompton Son 1m Yorks, Holme
James Crompton Fthr W 74 Former shepherd Yorks, Bridlington
Sarah Demman Bord U 31 Certified school teacher Yorks, Heuckley
Margaret Agar Serv U 15 General servant domestic Yorks, Holme
| It is possible that John Harper worked for Richard
Tindle
KNEESAHAW, a builder of Market Weighton. On 27 June 1874 John Harper married his daughter,
Sarah Jane KNEESHAW, who was born 3 October 1850 at North Newbald, in Pocklington Primitive
Methodist Chapel, in Union Street. They lived in Market Weighton where their first two
children were born.
Right: An undated postcard of Holme on Spalding Moor, showing what is thought to be Town Street, now High Street |
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| From 1878 to 1887 the family lived in Town Street, Holme on Spalding Moor. The 1881 census places John Harper's home between an 'ale brewer & publican' and the blacksmiths. The 1890 map (below) shows the Old Hare and Hounds pub being closest to the start of the Enumerators route at Runner End. The 1855 map locates the blacksmiths, positioned within the red circle on the 1890 map. John Harper's assumed home is marked yellow. |
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| Above: An 1890 map locating John Harper's home in Holme on Spalding Moor in 1890 |
| Right: John Harper's assumed home: it being in the right position, of the right age and having room at the side for a builder's yard. |  |
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Left: High Street, Holme-on-Spalding-Moor in 2010, in the direction of John Harper's assumed home. |
| Right: Holme High Street circa 1960 |  |
17 Church Street, Hyde
A large family followed at regular intervals.
Source: GRO birth records
Registration
Name District Folio Page Date
Crompton William harper Pocklington 9d 109? 4thQt1875
Crompton Florence Pocklington 9d 87 2ndQt1877
Crompton Richard Harper Howden 9d 79 4thQt1878
Crompton Whyrill Howden 9d 96 3rdQt1880
Crompton Henry john Howden 9d 89 2ndQt1882
Crompton Francis Howden 9d 83 1stQt1884
Crompton Fanny Howden 9d 83 3rdQt1885
Crompton Jessie Howden 9d 80 4thQt1886
Crompton Agnes Stockport 8a 10 1stQt1888
Crompton Lottie Stockport 8a 14 4thQt1889
Crompton Mary Cecelia Stockport 8a 14 4thQt1890
Crompton Maggie Stockport 8a 15 3rdQt1894
| In 1887 John Harper and his all but complete family moved to Hyde in Cheshire
to begin his building firm. Their first home was in Church Street, just round the corner from
Thornley Street, which was to become the family home for many years. Both streets are lined
with terraced houses, each having small back yards. Aerial photographs show several examples
of modern redevelopment.
Right: The modernised 17 Church Street, Hyde in August 2009. The brown side door gives access to the rear. |
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1891 Census Sun/Mon 5/6th April 1891
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG12
Piece: 2790; Folio: 49; Page: 42; Sched: 254
Dwelling: 17 Church Street
Place: Hyde, Cheshire, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
John H Crompton Head M 38 Builder Employer Yorks, Bridlington
Sarah A Crompton Wife M 40 Yorks, Newbald
Florence Crompton Dau 13 Yorks, Market Weighton
Richard H Crompton Son 12 Yorks, Spalding Moor
Whyrill Crompton Son 10 Scholar Yorks, Spalding Moor
Henry J Crompton Son 8 Scholar Yorks, Spalding Moor
Frances Crompton Dau 7 Scholar Yorks, Spalding Moor
Fanny Crompton Dau 5 Scholar Yorks, Spalding Moor
Jessie Crompton Dau 4 Scholar Yorks, Spalding Moor
Agnes Crompton Dau 3 Scholar Cheshire, Hyde
Lottie Crompton Dau 1 Cheshire, Hyde
Mary C Crompton Dau 6mn Cheshire, Hyde
James Richardson Boar 27 Joiner Worker Yorks, Market Weighton
John Harper appears to have hired his nieces' husband from Market Weighton.
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| Above: A general view of Church Street, Hyde 2009
Right: Aerial photograph of Church Street, Hyde in 2009 The modern infill, shown on the aerial photograph, suggests that number 17 had a much larger back garden. |
| Possible reasons for John Harper moving to Hyde
John Harper CROMPTON and his family moved to Hyde in 1887, some five or six years after the beginning of its expansion as an industrial town. Hyde Unitarian Chapel and part of the village of Gee Cross started to grow before Hyde. A nonconformist chapel was built here in 1708. Gee Cross was an important early centre of nonconformity (the religious persuasion followed by John Harper), which survived in the area throughout the period of repression following the Restoration. Hyde Chapel and Hyde Hall were in a very picturesque location, just above a weir in the river— "the appearance and noise of this cascade have a romantic effect and the river below for half a mile is made to appear like a lake, forming a fine piece of water well stocked with trout and eels" 1. |
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| Above: Hyde Chapel 1767. The Chapel was demolished following the completion of the new chapel, but the site can be made out in the present graveyard. Source: Old Hyde |
In 1797 a settlement by the name of Hyde did not exist. Although the weir had disappeared, by 1897 Hyde had made enormous growth from the village known as Red Pump Street, which followed the line of Market Street, Hyde. Its growth was inseparable from that of the cotton industry and coal, from the South Lancashire coal field, needed to feed the mill’s steam generating boilers. As new cotton mills were erected, cottages and terraced houses were built for the workers. These hamlets gradually grew together to form Hyde, which soon outstripped Gee Cross.
The most prominent mill owners, who were also involved in the public life of the town, were the Ashton family. Part of a nonconformist paternalist tradition: they made huge fortunes from cotton, but were willing to spend part of their wealth on the town and their workforce.. An interesting description of the Ashton empire appeared in 1844:
"The little town of Hyde was, at the commencement of the present century, a little hamlet, of only eight hundred souls, on the summit of a barren hill, the soil of which did not yield sufficient for the inhabitants. The brothers Ashton have peopled and enriched this desert. Ten thousand persons are now established in their five factories. … The houses inhabited by the work-people form long and large streets. Mr Ashton has built three hundred of them, which he lets at three shillings, or three shillings and sixpence, per week. Each house contains upon the ground floor, a sitting room, a kitchen, and a back yard, and above, are two or three bedrooms. The proprietor furnishes, at his own charge, water to the houses, keeps them in good repair, and pays the local rates. ... Everywhere is to be observed a cleanliness which bespeaks order and comfort. The furniture is simple, but sufficient; in some houses, a clock is to be seen; in others, a sofa; and, in others again, a piano-forte. Books are plentiful, but I have seen few Bibles, and this seems to confirm that character for indifference in religious matters, for which the work-people of Mr Ashton are celebrated"2.
Hyde, including most of Gee Cross, was granted its Charter of Incorporation in 1881 and this led to a spate of public building. The first sign of Hyde's new status was the Town Hall, opened 27 June 1885, after four years of planning. The new council had bought Greenfield House, which stood next to Greenfield Mill, mill and its machinery for just over £13,000. The mill was rented to Horsfield & Co., who also bought the machinery, but the deal reflected Hyde Corporation's concern for future expansion.
By 1897 Hyde had become the second largest town in what is now the Tameside area with a population of 30,670, according to the 1891 census.
The Public Baths in Union Street were opened on 4 May 1889. That "the building is not perhaps so handsome externally as could have been desired"3 … was said to be a result of the need to keep costs to a minimum and so avoid "elaborate and useless ornamentation". Union Street was also to become the home of the Public Library. In 1894 the Mechanics' Institute, at the corner of Union Street and Market Street, was handed over to Hyde Corporation and became the precursor of the Technical School.
Although industrial concerns, particularly the mills and the railways which helped serve them, dominate Hyde, late Victorian life was marked by increased leisure opportunities for working class people. By 1900 there were over one hundred pubs and beer sellers in Hyde — a ratio of one licensed house for every 300 inhabitants. The Theatre Royal and music-hall, at the corner of Frank Street and Ridling Lane, opened in December 1882 to provide entertainments for working people. It was demolished in 1902 when a new Theatre Royal opened in Corporation Street.
In the late 19th century many leisure activities, from sport to amateur dramatics, were bound up with church life and Hyde was well served by churches of many different denominations — the Unitarian Chapels at Gee Cross (1848) and Flowery Field (1879), St George's (the first Anglican church in Hyde, 1831), Union Street Congregational Chapel (1843) and Hyde Wesleyan Chapel on Norfolk Street (1851) were among the most prominent.
Hyde was therefore providing for the administration, the education and healthy recreation of its inhabitants in typical Victorian style. The wealth which allowed these buildings and services to exist was based on the cotton industry and associated trades which generated enormous growth and paid for the public buildings, the churches and the houses — from the mansions of the Ashtons to the tightly-packed working class housing.
Perhaps John Harper CROMPTON saw an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the industrial township of Hyde.
Source: Freely adapted from an article by Alice Lock of Tameside Local Studies Library,
Old Ordnance Survey Maps, Hyde 1897, Alan Godfrey Maps, Consett
Footnotes
(1) Butterworth. James, History and description of the towns and parishes of Stockport, Ashton-u-
Lyne, Mottram-in-Longdendate and Glossop. W.D.Varley,1827, p298-9
(2) Faucher, Leon, Manchester in 1844. Its present condition and future prospects, Cass,
1969. (first published 1844), p105-7.
(3) Middleton, Thomas, The History of Hyde and Its Neighbourhood, Higham Press, 1932, p144.
18 Thornley Street
Between the birth of Lottie, in 1889 and Maggie, born in 1894, John Harper and Sarah moved, with their family and building business, to 18 Thornley Street, Hyde. Here was established the Hyde branch of the family.
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| Above: Map locating Church Street, Hyde in relationship to
Thornley Street
Right: 18 Thornley Street, Hyde. Though this looks to be a smaller house than Church Street it had advantages spotted by the builder's eye. |
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Left: 18 Thornley Street, Hyde with the extensive buildings attached. Either
or both of the attached building would have made an excellent 'builder's yard' for storage
of materials and equipment. The lintel, above the bricked-in doorway, indicates a second
entrance.
Across the road is a new health centre. |
1901 Census Sun/Mon 31st March/1st April 1901
Source: FHL Film PRO Ref RG13
Piece: 3282; Folio: 2; Page: 2; Sched: 12
Dwelling: 18 Thornley Street
Place: Hyde, Cheshire
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
John H Crompton Head M 48 Builder & contractor Yorks, Bridlington
Sarah J Crompton Wife M 50 Yorks, Newbald
Florence Crompton Dau S 23 Yorks, Market Weighton
Richard H Crompton Son S 22 Engineers clerk Yorks, Holme
Whyrill Crompton Son S 20 Apprentice bricklayer Yorks, Holme
Henry J Crompton Son S 19 Apprentice bricklayer Yorks, Holme
Fanny Crompton Dau S 15 Cotton weaver Yorks, Holme
Jessie Crompton Dau S 14 Apprentice confectioner Yorks, Holme
Agnes Crompton Dau S 13 Cheshire, Hyde
Lottie Crompton Dau S 11 Cheshire, Hyde
Mary C Crompton Dau S 10 Cheshire, Hyde
Maggie Crompton Dau S 6 Cheshire, Hyde
Three of the boys died whilst young and four of the girls remained unmarried, leaving two boys and three girls with known issue.
'Mother went on to say that the Hyde Cromptons would have been at a difficult time as there were all those children and probably only two and a bit incomes. Her younger uncles were sent to the mill as part-timers before they left school properly and worked for their father, the second eldest daughter Fanny went into the mill. By 1901 things must have got less tight as Jessie was apprenticed into a more gentle trade.' Alison Warner
Building two Auburn Avenues
From Thornley Street John Harper built and named two streets Auburn Street, one in Hyde and one in nearby Bredbury (see maps below). It is said that the streets took their name from Auburn, one of the villages of Holderness lost to coastal erosion, where Fanny, his mother, had been born. Note: This is not the same Auburn in Goldsmith's 'Deserted Village' poem of 1770. Source: Beresford M., 'The Lost Villages of England', Lutterworth, 1965
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| Above: Aerial photograph of Auburn Ave, Hyde 2009
Right: A map locating Auburn Avenue, Hyde |
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| Above: The street sign at Auburn Avenue, Hyde 2009
Right: The south-east row of Auburn Avenue, Hyde The Avenue ends at Gower Hey Woods which lies on the north-western edge of Gee Cross, Hyde. Covering an area of around 9 hectares, the wood occupies two steep sided valley system which converge halfway through the wood. The majority of the site is secondary woodland mixed with scrub, and although it has some trees of 150 years or more in age, most are more recent. |
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Auburn Avenue is a street of thirteen well built three bed-roomed houses, in three
terraces, of facing red engineering bricks and a more 'common' brick to the sides and rear.
The Welsh blue slated roofs are topped by impressive chimney stacks.
Although modernised with uPVC windows and doors the street still gives the impression of homes for a more affluent client: they are fronted by large windows and bays on the ground floor. However, gardens, serviced by a rear car width access, are small and limited to a size similar to those in an industrial terrace. |
| In November 2009 these houses were for sale at about £150 000.
Above: The north-west row of Auburn Avenue, Hyde Right: The back of north-west row of Auburn Avenue, Hyde |
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John Harper's second development, also called Auburn Avenue, is in Bredbury along the A560 from Hyde. This row of houses isn't as salubrious as the Hyde development. The ten, possibly two bed-roomed terraced houses, faces the wire fenced Bredbury Medical Centre and ends at an industrial complex. However, the back gardens over look an area of rough recreational land leading to an old railway embankment.
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| Above: A 2009 map locating Auburn Avenue, Bredbury |
The 1911 map of Bredbury shows that Bents Lane Farm, the location of Auburn Avenue, was a working farm. By 1923 the even numbers of Auburn Avenue had been built. John Harper may have speculated in planning to develop this 'brown field' site, building an estate houses for the industrial workers on the land of the disused colliery. The 'modern' factory, at the end of Auburn Avenue can be seen.
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| Above: Map of Bredbury in 1923, showing Auburn Avenue in yellow. Scale 1:10,560 |
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| Above: The street name plate from Bredbury
Left: an aerial view of the eight houses in Auburn Avenue, Bredbury. The avenue leads to a factory area and is opposite Bredbury Medical Centre |
| The houses on the right of Auburn Avenue are all even numbered.
Right: Auburn Avenue, Bredbury looking towards the industrial complex Below: Auburn Avenue, Bredbury looking towards Stockport Road West |
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Note how similar the terrace construction is to the Hyde development: the same
engineering bricks are used to front the terrace and the same 'common' bricks for the side.
However, this terrace appears to be of cheaper two bed-roomed houses. In August 2008 number 8 Auburn Avenue, the white door by the convertible car and next door to Fanny and John Nixon's home, sold for £114,950. |
The 1911 census
It is interesting to note that Florence remained without an occupation through to the 1911 census and that Jessie, in her 'gentle trade', was self employed. It is also possible that Agnes employed both Lottie and Cissy (Mary cecelia). A family of enterprise?
1911 Census: Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source: TNA Ref: RG14 PN21338
Reg. Gen. Ref: RG78 PN1269 En.Dist: 14; Sched: 87
RegDist: Stockport SubDist: Hyde
Dwelling: 18 Thornley Street
Place: Hyde
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 7
Years married: 35
Children: Alive 9, dead 3
Name Rel Age Mar Occupation Status Birthplace
John Harper Crompton Head 58 M Builder Employ Yorks, Bridlington
Sarah Jane Crompton Wife 60 M Yorks, Newbald
Florence Crompton Dau 33 S Yorks, Market Weighton
Henry John Crompton Son 29 S Bricklayer Worker Yorks, Holme on Spalding Moor
Fanny Crompton Dau 25 S Cotton weaver Worker Yorks, Holme on Spalding Moor
Jessie Crompton Dau 24 S Confectioner Own a/c Yorks, Holme on Spalding Moor
Agnes Crompton Dau 23 S Dressmaker Employ Cheshire, Hyde
Lottie Crompton Dau 21 S Dressmaker Worker Cheshire, Hyde
Mary Cecelia Crompton Dau 20 S Dressmaker Worker Cheshire, Hyde
Maggie Crompton Dau 16 S Cheshire, Hyde
Margaret Radcliffe Vis 22 S Cheshire, Marple
John Harper and Sarah Jane in later life
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| Right: A newspaper clipping, from an unknown newspaper, from early July 1934 |
| Pocklington Primitive Methodist Chapel
Right: On the left with the classical gable looking towards the Market Place Below: second building on the right, from the Market Place end. |
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| Right: The site of Primitive Methodist Chapel, Union Street,
Pocklington 2010. The chapel was demolished and the yellow brick house built.
Below left: Sarah Jane KNEESHAW in later life Below right: John Harper and Sarah Jane, before 1930 Source: Jim KERON, Ontario, Canada |
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Sarah jane's death in 1930
Lottie CROMPTON had already written to her sister Fanny, now Fanny Nixon, living in London, Ontario. John Harper's emotive letter followed later.
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| Above: John Harper's letter of 27 March 1930, to Fanny and
Jack Nixon in Canada, announcing Sarah jane's death.
Double click on the image to open a fuller A4 version. Source: Jim Keron, Ontario, Canada |
Marion KERON, Sarah Jane's grand daughter, retold two stories concerning the death of Sarah Jane.
When they knew Sarah Jane was dying one of her daughters asked her if she was bothered by death or accepted it. Her reply was that "she had trusted Jesus all her life and wasn't about to quit now." Jim KERON is not certain whether this was handed down verbally or written in a letter. The day the letter to Fanny arrived Marion was home from school for some reason. She was really grateful when her father showed up at home unexpectedly at noon so he was there to comfort her mother.
| John Harper's death in 1935
'The [possible] mourners were'
Flowers were received from:
Representatives of Hoviley Methodist Church, Hyde and District Property Owners' Association and from a local councillor suggest long-standing and recognised commitments to the community John Harper also had connections with Eccles, Chorlton, Glossop, Dunkinfield, perhaps through the Primitive Methodist Church. |
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Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Church
Hoviley was a district just north-east of Hyde town centre. At one time Hoviley was part of the main route from Hyde to Ashton-under-Lyne. It included:
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| Above: The location of Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Church in
1897
Double click on the map to open a 442Kb A4 1897 map showing the position of Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Chapel and Thornley Street |
Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Chapel - built in 1813
| At Manchester Central Library: | At Manchester Archives: |
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| Most of Hoviley Brow is now under a slip road to the M67 motorway. Hoviley (the road),
Hoviley Bridge and Ashton Road still exist as Commercial Street. With the exception of a
factory and a pub near the bridge, all the old property in Hoviley has been demolished.
This old street, taken approximately 50 years ago, gives a flavour of the area around Hoviley Primitive Methodist Chapel. It was near the Dye Works, which is now home to ABC Wax. The houses were demolished by the 1970s for the motorway. Right: Old Hoviley near the dye works. Source: Old Hyde |
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| Above: A 2009 aerial photograph showing the position of Hoviley
Brow Primitive Methodist Chapel to the same scale as the 1897 map Double click on the aerial photograph to open a 620Kb A4 2009 aerial photograph of the wider area |
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| Above: The site of Hoviley Brow, in 2009, from the intersection
of Clark Way and Femally Street
Above right: The site of Hoviley Brow Chapel as it looked in 2009 Right: The Hoviley Brow intersection of the Hyde bypass, part of the M67, under construction, between 1975 and 1978 |
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Left: Hoviley Methodist Church with umbrellas at the ready during a wet Whit Week in 1953 |
The final marriage, at Hoviley Brow, was sanctified in May 1953. The last entry in the Register marks its closure and the closure of the Chapel.
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| Above: The final statement in the register of Hoviley Brow
Primitive Methodist Church.
Source: Manchester City Archives: Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Baptism Record 1909-1953 Ref: C275/522 |
| Transcription: Memorandum in consequence of the Methodist Chapel, Hoviley Brow, Hyde, having ceased to be used as a place of worship by the congregation on whose behalf it was certified, this and the duplicate Marriage Registers are closed by direction of the Registrar General and the other Register has been placed in the custody of the Superintendent Registrar of the Hyde Registration District. |
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| This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass |
Version C16 Updated 25 December 2010 |