Henry John CROMPTON and Freemasonry

The pronounced representation of the Freemasons at HJ's funeral marked his standing in the organisation. It is assumed that HJ, as a founder member of the Oakland Lodge and the craft-based Industry Chapter, joined Freemasonry because of his business interest. During his life-long commitment HJ was involved in: Lodge of Industry No 361, Hyde. Initiated: 5th January 1928. Passed: 8th March 1928. Raised: 10th May 1928 Age: 45 Address: Hyde. Occupation: Builder. Resigned 25th February 1937. Oaklands Lodge No 5356, Hyde. One of the founders of this lodge in May 1932. Master in 1941. Remained a member until his death which is recorded as July 1957. Industry Chapter No 361, Hyde. Joined the Royal Arch in this Chapter on 28th January 1930. First Principal (equivalent to Master) in 1945. Remained a member until his death As the Worshipful Brother he was responsible for organisation within the Lodge's rules and those of the United Grand Lodge of England. Being a Past Master he was entitled to be appointed Provincial Officer for the Province of Cheshire. Source: The Library and Museum of Freemasonry Right: Henry John CROMPTON, born 1882, as a young man Source: Jim KERON, Ontario, Canada

Right: Oaklands Masonic Lodge, Beech View, Hyde, Cheshire in 2009 As Past Provincial Grand Deacon of Cheshire the funeral of Worshipful Brother CROMPTON was attended by:

• eleven Worshipful Brothers, past Masters of Oakland Lodge;
• three Worshipful Brothers of other Lodges that met at Oaklands;
• eight Worshipful Brothers, past Masters of his Industry Chapter;
• six Brother Masons, including his brother-in-law William Boote, Maggie's husband.

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	HJ died in the third quarter of 1957 (GRO ref: Hyde 10 265).  At his funeral the mourners were: Messers Richard, Walter and Harry - his sons; Master Terry - his grandson Jonathan Terance; Mr Ernest Barlow - his brother in law and husband of the late Jessie; Mr Frank - nephew and son of Wyril; Mr F BIRCHENOUGH - his wife's brother? Mr George SHAW - perhaps related through marriage to one of Wyril's children; The DARBYSHIRE's and DARLINGTON's were represented at John Harper's funeral. Below: The Masonic Square and Compass with the G representing the 'Grand Geometrician of the Universe' on the gate at Oaklands Masonic Hall Bottom: Oaklands Lodge's banner

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His marriage to Lily BIRCHENOUGH

The families support of Hoviley Brow Chapel continued. On 18 June 1911 Henry John CROMPTON, a bricklayer of 18 Thornley Street, Hyde, born in the second quarter of 1882 (GRO ref: Howden 9d 89) married Lily BIRCHENOUGH a spinster and cotton weaver of 1 Shepley Street, Hyde. (GRO ref: Stockport 8a 227) F WORTHINGTON, Wyrill and Mary C CROMPTON were the witnesses. (Note: This signature further adds to the confused spelling of Whryill's name. Lily had been born in the first quarter of 1886 (GRO ref: Stockport 8a 7). However, her death certificate records her birth as 04 December 1887 Right: Map locating Shepley Street, Hyde, Lily BIRCHENOUGH's home at the time of her marriage

Above: HJ and Lilly BIRCHENOUGH's wedding entry in the Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Chapel's register. Source: Manchester City Archives: Hoviley Brow Primitive Methodist Marriage Record - 1909-1953 Ref: Box C22/5 C22/24 (Accessed: 29 February 2020)

Right: 17 Primrose Avenue, Hyde, directly opposite Primrose Crescent. The bungalow home of HJ CROMPTON at the time of his death. Taken in 2009.

Keith Dalby-Oldham write by email.

The wife of one of the partners of Crompton’s was involved with the committee of Hyde Light Opera Company. At one Sunday dress rehearsal at the Theatre Royal, the company realised they needed a tea trolley or, more properly, a dinner wagon. The shout went up and this lady offered to supply one. About an hour or two later a man appeared in the theatre wanting to know where they wanted the wagon. The word “dinner” hadn’t reached the husband who had got one of the men to go down to the yard at Sunday lunchtime and take a full-size builder’s wagon down to the theatre. He was not best pleased when he found out and I think had to be placated with a few bottles from the bar to take home!

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1921 Census:      Sun 19th June 1921
Source:   RG15;  Piece: ; 
          RegDist number: 443; SubDist: 2; ED 18; Sched: 63;
          Reg District: Stockport;  Parish: Hyde
Dwelling: 2 Auburn Street            
Place:    Hyde, Cheshire
Rooms:    5                
Children under sixteen: 3

Name                     Rel    Age  Mar  Occupation  Employer  Work place  Birthplace 
                              Yrs Mn      
Henry John Crompton     Head  39  3  M   Builder & Contractor Employer Thornley Street Yorks, Holme on Spaldingmoor
Lilly Crompton          Wife  35  6  M                                                 Cheshire, Hyde
Richard Harper Crompton  Son   9  2  S   Whole time school                             Cheshire, Hyde
Walter Crompton          Son   6 10  S   Whole time school                             Cheshire, Hyde
Henry John Crompton      Son   4 11  S                                                 Cheshire, Hyde

1939 England and Wales Register 29 September 1939
ED Area code:     LFC
ED District code: E
Sched no:         7
Dwelling:         44 Stockport Road 
Borough,UD,RD:    Hyde, Cheshire

Names            Sex   D of B   Status  Personal Occupation    Others
Crompton Henry J  M   19mar1882    M    Builder & Contractor   Services offered through 
                                                               National Fed. of Building 
                                                               Trades Employer
Crompton Lily     F   04dec 1886   M    Unpaid domestic duties
Crompton Walter   M   14aug1914    S    Foreman bricklayer     Heavy rescue & Demolition
                                                               Squad
Crompton Henry J  M   10jul1916    S    Foreman joiner & Wood  Police War Reserve
                                        machine working

The National Identity Number devised from this Registration would have been: Enumeration Area code+Emuneration District code+Schedule number+position in house

The death of Lily BIRCHENOUGH, HJ's wife

Sometime after Henry John's death Lily, his wife, moved to 5 King George Road, Hyde.

Left: A newspaper clipping of the will of Lily BIRCHENOUGH's, Henry John's wife, printed shortly after 20 July 1972

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Right: Map locating: 17 Primrose Avenue, Hyde, HJ's home at the time of his death in relationship to Thornley Street; 16 Knott Lane, where his sisters lived; 113 Knott Lane, where his sister Nellie lived and later brother Charlie; Joel Lane Methodist Church, where the sisters worshipped; 5 King George Road, where Lily BIRCHENOUGH died; Auburn Avenue, Hyde

Lily died on 20 July1972 in Pole Bank Nursing Home, Hyde, leaving £11,940. (Probate and GRO ref: Ashton 10b 2417)

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass			Version A6 Updated 08 October 2025