New House Farm (aka Tom Croft Farm), Town Ln, Denton
This dairy farm was situated on the north side of Town Ln at the junction with Tom Croft.

New House Farm, early 20th century.

New House Farm, 1909.

The 1881 census notes that the tenant farmer was John Robinson (62) who was farming 58 acres. He was resident with his wife, Mary (57), and three children, Joseph (20), Charles (16) and Charlotte (14). His two sons were assisting him on the farm. By 1891 the tenant farmer was Charles Robinson (27) who was resident with his wife, Emma (32), and son, Charles (b. at Denton, 1888). Charles Robinson and Emma Moss were married at St Lawrence’s Church, Denton, in 1885.

The 1901 census notes that the tenant farmer was George Henry Pennell (40) who was resident with his wife, Betsy (38) and children, George Edgar (13), Charles Reginald (11), Ernest Ambrose (7) and Edith (4). By 1911 the tenant farmer was William Healey (51) who was resident with his wife, Eliza Elizabeth Griffiths (44) and children. He was assisted on the farm by his sons, John William and Thomas. The couple were married at Stockport in 1887. By 1939 John William Healey was the tenant farmer with his wife, Hannah (aka Annie) Elizabeth Eaton who were married at Ashton-under-Lyne in 1931. Their son, William Frederick, was born at Denton on the 12 Jul 1935.

Tom Croft off Town Ln
Tom Croft was an isolated tavern situated in fields off Town Ln and by 1851 it was occupied by Samuel Moss (56) who was a victualler and farmer of two acres. He was resident with his wife, Mary Haughton (46), and nine children. When his daughter, Hannah, was born on the 4 Oct 1835, Samuel was employed as a hatter. He died at Denton in 1856, aged 63 years, and his wife died at Denton in 1867, aged 63 years.

In 1862 William Howard became the licensed victualler of Tom Croft but the 1881 census records his occupation as a hatter, there being no mention of him being a victualler. After this there are no records of the premises being used as a tavern. At this time William Howard (59) was resident at Tom Croft with his wife, Hannah aka Nancy (56), son, Samuel (25), a hatter, and stepson, John Wood (17), a hatter. He was still resident at Tom Croft in 1901 with his wife and stepdaughter, Maria Wood (45), a calico weaver. William Howard married Hannah Wood née Barlow at St Paul’s Church, Stockport, in 1878 and he died at Denton in 1906, aged 82 years.