Haughton Hall & Farm

off Hyde Rd, Haughton, Lancashire
This timber-framed hall and associated farm were about 272 yards and 200 yards south of Hyde Rd, respectively. It is understood that the earliest hall was demolished between 1870 and 1880 leaving a later dwelling (also known as Haughton Hall) and farm still standing. These were extant until 1946 when they were demolished to make way for a housing estate. The hall had a small lodge that was situated on the south side of Hyde Rd between the present Haughton Hall Rd and George St. This was a single-storey, stone-built structure with a slated gable roof and a chimney stack at the bottom end.

An inscribed lintel from Haughton Hall. The initials TB and MB refer to the Booth family in the year 1678. The initials TB and the year 1723 occurred on the front of the hall.
Credit: A Arrowsmith.

Little is known about the early history of Haughton Hall or when it was built but it is understood (Middleton, 1936, p. 111) that it may have been the residence of the Haughton (or Houghton) family and the landowner was the Hyde family. During the reign of Elizabeth I (1588-1603) a Ralph Haughton received a grant of 22 acres of waste land in the vicinity. Two other inhabitants of the township were John and Nicholas Haughton who were assessed in 1645 for the upkeep of Denton Chapel. However, it is uncertain whether they were relatives of Ralph Haughton and there is no evidence to connect any of them with Haughton Hall. One hypothesis is that the earliest residents of the hall just took Haughton as their surname. It is known that the hall was later owned in succession by the Booth, Holford and Bentley families. Inscribed stones built into Haughton Hall establish that the Booth family was resident over the period 1678 to 1723 but dates of their residence before and after this period are unknown. The hall was purchased from the Holford family by the Bentley family early in the 19th century.

By the time of the 1841 Census the residents of the hall were John Bentley I (1764/65-1847, of independent means) and his family. Following his death the 1851 Census shows that the hall was then occupied by his daughters Sarah (49, a farmer) and Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ (47) and two nieces.

By 1861 the hall was in multiple occupancy with three families:: Sarah Bentley (farmer of 30 acres) and her sister, Betsy.; Elisha Stopford (hat manufacturer employing 16 men), his wife, Martha, and daughter, Alice.; The widowed Henry Renshaw (agricultural labourer) and his sons, Henry and James.

By 1847 Elisha Stopford of Hooley Hill, Audenshaw, was in business with Adam Stopford of Dublin and William Pooles of Hooley Hill as hat manufacturers trading as Pooles and Stopfords. By 1863 Adam Stopford and Elisha Stopford were co-partners as hat manufacturers and merchants at Denton when they became bankrupt. Elisha Stopford died at Cheetham, Manchester, in 1866, aged 72 years.

John Bentley II was born at Denton in 1815/16 and he married Eliza Andrew Nield at Manchester Cathedral in 1850. They had five children, all born at Denton with the exception of their first born, William, who was born at Oldham in 1853. The other four were Frank (b. & d. 1854), John Whitehead (b. 1855), Harry (b.1858) and Ada Mary (b. 1862).

The 1841 Census shows that John Bentley II, a hatter, was resident at Haughton Cottage with Anne and Margaret Bentley. By 1861 he was resident with his wife and family on Town Ln, Denton, with the occupation of a master hat manufacturer. By 1871 he had moved with his family to Manchester Rd, Denton, and by 1881 he was resident at the later Haughton Hall with his wife, son, William, and daughter, Ada Mary. He died at Denton in 1893, aged 77 years. Bentley Rd, to the west of Haughton Hall Rd is named after him. His wife died at Denton in 1880, aged 59 years.

By 1891 Haughton Hall was occupied by Daniel Lever, a hat manufacturer, and his family. The hat works was on Ashton Rd, Denton, and from 1887 he was trading on his own account. Previously his co-owner was Edwin France, trading as Lever and France and prior to that, his co-owners were Edwin Ashworth and Edwin France, trading as Ashworth, Lever, and Co. In 1891 the farm was occupied by Henry Leak (1841/44-1912, aka Leake), his wife, Sarah, and their family, including their ten-year-old son, Alfred, who was to succeed him in managing the farm.

By 1911 Haughton Hall was occupied by William Chadwick, a pawnbroker, his wife, Hannah, and their five children. The farm was occupied by Henry Leak, his wife, their son, Alfred, and daughter, Sarah.

By 1939 the hall was occupied by Oswald Lester (a greengrocer) with his wife, Clarissa Arrowsmith, and their son, Colin. Oswald’s sister, Annie, was also resident there. At this point the farm was occupied by Alfred Leak who was married to Lizzie Arrowsmith, the aunt of Clarissa Arrowsmith. Alfred Leak was the last person to farm at Haughton Hall Farm. He was born at Denton on the 14 Mar 1881 and he died at Audenshaw in 1959, aged 75 years. Lizzie Leak née Arrowsmith was born at Denton on the 11 Oct 1874 and she died at Audenshaw in 1954, aged 80 years.