Off Manchester Rd, Denton
This house was situated about 110 yards to the south of Manchester Rd between Ruby St and Christ Church and it was approached by a drive from a lane along the
east side of Christ Church. A farm on this site can be traced back to the mid-17th century when the vicinity was known as Bridgehouse (or Backhouse) Fold after a family of that name.
The house was built with the decorative Flemish brick bond that was popular in Denton, where the header brick ends were of contrasting colour. This produced a fine ordered appearance that, historically, was used for buildings of better quality.
By the late 19th century, the house was occupied by Joseph Baxendale (Baxendell), a hat manufacturer, whose nephew, Thomas Baxendale (Baxendell), built Alpha Mill on the south side of Manchester Rd, alongside the Stockport and Guide Bridge line of the London and North Western Railway. By the 1930s the house had been converted for industrial use and hat boxes were being made there by a Mr Wallwork. By the 1960s it was occupied by E Lappin's plant hire firm.
After the house was demolished, Church Mews, off the west side of Ruby St, was built on the site. Nowadays, the only reminder of the former existence of this house is the short Rosehill Ave (formerly Rose Hill) that connects Ruby St and Windmill Ln.
