Right: Whyrill CROMPTON photographed in Hyde in 1903 Source: Val Crompton Note: In the family details Whyrill was spelt Wyril

Spelling Whyrill CROMPTON's name

There are many different spellings of Whyrill's name in official and family documents documents. This has caused much consternation,

It is possible this family name originates from Sarah Jane KNEESHAW, John Harper's wife. Sarah Jane KNEESHAW was the eldest child of nine. In the second quarter of 1869 the eighth child was registered as Wyrill.

Above: Wyrill Kneeshaw's GRO birth entry in 1869

In 1880 John Harper and Sarah Jane's chose to add an H to Whyrill's name and this persisted thorough to his marriage.

Top: Whyrill Crompton's 1880 GRO birth record Above: Whyrill Crompton's 1903 GRO marriage record

1852info2a, sheet 2

But the General Register Office's (GRO) death record adds to the confusion. Here both an H and an L had disappeared.

Above: Whyrill Crompton's GRO death record

In the 1881 census his name is recorded as Wyrill, but this could be an enumerator's error. Newspaper reports have a variety of spellings.

The final confirmation of the spelling of his name has to be taken from his signature on the 1911 census.

The London Gazette of 17 August 1934, Issue 34079, page 5295 complicates the issue as an 'official document'. Here Whyrill's name is recorded as 'Wyril'. This event took place one year before John Harper's death. It is suggested that the Cromptons are John Harper's son, of Crompton Brothers. This is, therefore, the senior Whyrill, born 1880, some four years before his death. Had this been the younger Whyrill, born 1910, Henry John, born 1882 and Whyrill senior's younger brother, would have been the senior partner.

Wendy EVANS always knew her grandfather as Wyril, pronounced 'y-ril'.

Whyrill and Ester

Whyrill CROMPTON married Esther BARLOW in the third quarter of 1903 (GRO ref: Stockport 8a 176). Note the spelling.

Right: A composite image of Whyrill's GRO marriage entry

Esther was born in the fourth quarter of 1876 (GRO ref: Shiffnal 6a 641) in Tonge

The 1901 census shows Esther to be the eldest daughter living at home with her much travelled parents William and Mary. At that time she was 24 and employed as a cotton reel winder.

1901 Census   Sun/Mon 31st March/1st April 1901
Source:       FHL Film  TNA Ref RG13
              Piece: 3281; Folio: 111; Page: 45; Sched: 281
Dwelling:     1 Ash Mount (Alexander Street)
Place:        Hyde, Cheshire, England

Name             Rel  Mar Age Occupation                     Status  Birthplace
William Barlow   Head  M  52  Labourer railway engineering   Worker  Staffs, Farley
                              department
Mary A Barlow    Wife  M  50                                         Staffs, Farley
Esther Barlow     Dau  U  24  Cotton reel winder             Worker  Shrop, Tonge 
Charles H Barlow  Son  U  19  Warehouseman - felt hat works  Worker  Staffs, Little Haywood
Annie M Barlow    Dau  U  17  Cotton reel winder             Worker  Staffs, Coley
Ellen Barlow      Dau  U  15  Cotton weaver                  Worker  Staffs, Coley
George F Barlow   Son     12                                         Staffs, Coley
Florence Barlow   Dau      7                                         Staffs, Great Haywood

1852info2a, sheet 3

The 1891 census shows that Esther was part of an even larger family. Her sister Amy was born in 1873 and Evy in 1886. Her brother William was born in 1875, Alexander in1879, Charlie in 1882 and Thomas in December 1890. Esther's mother, Catherine Glasse, was also living with the family. At the time of the census they were living in Great Haywood, Staffordshire.

It is assumed that the Barlows moved to Alexander Street, Hyde because of employment opportunities. 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. Industrial concerns, particularly the mills and the railways which helped serve them, dominate Hyde, The wealth, which allowed these modern Victoria buildings and services to exist in Hyde, 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 mill owning Ashtons to the tightly-packed working class housing.

Above: 1898 map locating Alexander Street, Hyde in relationship to Providence Mill and the railway sidings

1852info2a, sheet 4

Providence Mill was located in Alexander Street, with housing directly opposite. Right: Providence Mill, Alexander Street, Hyde today

Their family

There is no obvious record of the baptism of Harper and Frank.
Here both father and son spell their names Whyrill.
Note how the spelling of Whyrill changes to Whyril.
Right lower: Although the name Florence Mary matches family knowledge Florence's parents are recorded as Wyril and Mary.
	Above: Whyrill and Ester's children in the Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Chapel baptism register. Source: Manchester City Archives: Hoviley Brow Methodist Baptism Record 1845-1934 C22/5

1852info2a, sheet 5

It is interesting to note that Whyrill's trade changes from bricklayer to, in 1918, builder. Since children were born in 1916 and 1918 and Whyrill's trade is listed as bricklayer, rather than soldier, it is unlikely that Whyrill served in the Great War. He is not recorded in the War Medal Index.

Their homes - 15 Napier Street, Hyde

Whyrill's family appears to have been more mobile than other families, although they remain in a narrow area of Hyde.

From at least May 1910 to at least April 1912 and through the 1911 census, the family lived at 15 Napier Street, Hyde. This home was very convenient for what would become the builder's yard for Crompton Brothers.

1911 Census:           Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source TNA Ref:        RG14 PN21339  
       Reg. Gen. Ref:  RG78 PN1269 RegDist: 443 SubDist: 2 En.Dist: 15 Sched: 105
Dwelling:              15 Napier Street, 
Place:                 Hyde, Cheshire
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 4
Years married:         7
Children:              Alive 3, dead none 

Name              Rel  Age Mar  Occupation  Status  Birthplace 
Whyrill Crompton  Head  30  M   Bricklayer  Worker  Yorks, Holme upon Spalding Moor
Esther Crompton   Wife  34  M                       Shropshire, Tonge
Harper Crompton   Son    5                          Cheshire, Hyde
Frank Crompton    Son    2                          Cheshire, Hyde
Whyrill Crompton  Son    10m                        Cheshire, Hyde

Right: Whyrill CROMPTON's signature on the 1911 census

The plaque, on the top left of the photograph, reads 'Napier Terrace 1903'. Right: 15 Napier Street, Hyde

1852info2a, sheet 4

36 Higher Henry Street, Hyde
Right: Charles Henry CROMPTON's baptism record shows that in 1916 the family had moved to 36 Higher Henry Street. This is the brown door towards the right of the photograph.

10 Auburn Avenue, Hyde

In 1918, when Florence was born (GRO ref: Stockport 8a 33), Whyrill and his family were living at 10 Auburn Avenue, Hyde.

1921 Census:      Sun 19th June 1921
Source:   RG15;  Piece: ; 
          RegDist number: 443; SubDist: 2; ED 18; Sched: 67;
          Reg District: Stockport;  Parish: Hyde
Dwelling: 10, Auburn Avenue            
Place:    Hyde, Cheshire
Rooms:    4                
Children under sixteen: five 

Name                   Rel    Age  Mar  Occupation  Employer  Work place  Birthplace 
                             Yrs Mn      
Whyrill Crompton       Head  40 10  M   Builder     Bricklayer At Home    Yorks, Holme on Spaldingmoor
Esther Crompton        Wife  44  7  M   Home Duties                       Shropshire, Tonge
Harper Crompton         Son  15  3  S   Whole time school                 Cheshire, Hyde
Frank Crompton          Son  13  -  S   Whole time school                 Cheshire, Hyde
Wyril Crompton          Son  11  1  S   Whole time school                 Cheshire, Hyde
Charles Henry Crompton  Son   5  3  S   Whole time school                 Cheshire, Hyde
Florence Mary Crompton  Dau   2  9  S                                     Cheshire, Hyde

Left: It is thought that 10 Auburn Avenue, Hyde is the first or second house. 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.

1852info2a, sheet 7

At some point in the development of Crompton Bros the builder's year moved to Silver Hill Road, off the Stockport Roads. Although, in 1911, John harper still lived at 18 Thornley Street, it is possible the builder's yard moved to Silver Hill Road before the 1911 census. Whyrill's home in Napier Street was within easy walking distance of the new yard. Right: Map locating Napier Street, Hyde and its proximity to Thornley Street and the new builders yard.

1852info2a, sheet 8

In later life

Right: Whyrill and Ester CROMPTON, perhaps taken in the 1930s

Their deaths

Whyrill died in the third quarter of 1938 (GRO ref: Hyde 8a 113) aged 57. At the time of his death Whyrill's name is spelt as his grandchildren would recognise it.

Right: Whyrill Crompton's 1938 GRO death entry

1852info2a, sheet 9

Ester died on the 20 July 1940 (GRO ref: Hyde 8a 195).

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass			Version A7 Updated 24 March 2024