Denton Lodge

'Peacock Lodge'

Lime Grove, Denton
Denton Lodge was built in 1790 by the Peacock family, early Denton hat manufacturers, and it stood at the junction of Lime Grove and Annan St. When built, it had large grounds, with an ornamental pond and swans, and the carriage drive (Lime Grove) leading to it was lined with lime trees. It is known (Booker J, 1855, 12) that by 1840 this family was trading as J Peacock & Brothers and the tithe apportionment for Denton, compiled in 1849, lists John Peacock as a hat manufacturer. A trade directory of 1841 lists John Peacock & Sons, hat manufacturers, and William Peacock & Co, silk (hat) manufacturers, of Denton Lodge. A directory for 1853 lists William Cooke Peacock as a hat manufacturer trading as J Peacock & Brothers.

A notice in the London Gazette for 1814 records that Richard Bond, William Bromley and George Peacock of Denton Lodge were partners in a hat manufacturing business. They traded as Messrs Bond, Bromley and Peacock and this is believed to be one of the oldest hat manufacturers in Denton.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1799/1803-1815) a volunteer force was raised in Denton and a member of the Peacock family was their captain. Because of a threatened invasion, local men formed part-time regiments in order to defend their towns and homes.

William Cooke Peacock (1796-1865), Martha Peacock (1806- ) and John Peacock were all born in Denton and they were three of the children of John Peacock and Ann Cooke who married at Manchester Cathedral in 1795. William Cooke was a bachelor, Martha married Robert Wood at Manchester Cathedral in 1834 and John Peacock married Nancy Booth at Manchester Cathedral in 1851. In 1838 a daughter, Amelia, was born to Robert and Martha Wood in Ashton Town and the 1841 census records that she was then with her uncle, William Cooke, at Denton Lodge. Nevertheless, she died in Ashton Town in 1842, aged 3 years, and it is likely that Amelia St, close to Denton Lodge, was named after her.

The trade directory listings can be compared and contrasted with census records. These show that William Cooke Peacock was living on Broom Ln (Hyde Rd) in 1841, Long Ln (Ashton Rd) in 1851 and Broom Ln in 1861, while John Peacock was living on Mosley St, Manchester, in 1841 and Long Ln in 1851 and 1861. Despite the disparity in addresses it is likely that those recorded for Wiliam Cooke Peacock refer to Denton Lodge.

Later in the 19th century the lodge was purchased by James Bevan who was the father of James Alfred Bevan the proprietor of James Bevan & Co, a Denton hat manufacturer with premises on Pit St, off Stockport Rd. In 1925 the lodge and grounds were acquired by Oldham & Son Ltd to facilitate the expansion of their engineering business to the north of Hyde Rd. The lodge was retained for use as an office but the pond was filled in to provide more land for building purposes. During the Second World War the company expanded even further as a result of their war effort. The lodge was extant up to 1989 when it was demolished and the only reminders of its existence are Lime Grove and Annan St. There was a Peacock St off the east side of Ashton Rd, between Amelia St and Howard Ln, but this is no longer extant and the site lies below the M67 Motorway. It is also possible that Bond St and Bromley St, off the south side of Hyde Rd, were named after Richard Bond and William Bromley.