Saving The Houses - by Sylvia Hillier

On August 29th 1878 the plot of land fronting Grange Lane (now Gillbrook Road) and Rushton Street was purchased by Mr George Knight from Mr James Ryder to build houses.

The agreement stated that Mr Knight should build and finish the houses within 12 calendar months. The houses must be good and substantial dwellings built of either brick or stone, set in lime mortar, with good timber and covered with slates or tiles. Also they must, at all times, be kept in the same good condition and when the occasion should require it, will be re-built the same.

Fortunately with the help of Mr & Mrs Sands the undertaking was adhered to, making the houses very desirable properties.

Minutes from the Rushton Street Residents' Association Meeting:

On the 7th February 1973 the City of Manchester declared that 324 houses in the Didsbury area of Manchester were unfit for inhabitation. These included houses in Rushton Street, Knight Street and Gillbrook Road. A census of residents took place and everyone decided that they all wanted to stay as a close-knit community and therefore a committee was set-up:

Chairman - Mr Eric Sands
Vice Chair - Mrs LAL Sands
Secretary - Mrs Sylvia Hillier
Treasurer - Mrs Beryl Davies

Other members were:
Mrs Anne Browne
Mr Tony Bentley
Mr Keith Hill
Mr Jack Hulme

Due to the prompt action by the committee and local councillors acting on behalf of the residents, the threat of demolition was averted.

Our Residents' Association was formed to try and persuade the City Council to rescind the application for demolition. The land in our area had been designated for industrial use. Healds Dairies were hoping that if the land was cleared they would apply for permission to extend Didsbury Park - Sylvia discovered this when she went to see Mr John Heald at the dairy.

Government grants were available at this time to renovate houses instead of demolishing them. Therefore a survey was undertaken by the committee and this was sent to the Town Hall.

The properties were owned by various landlords and owner-occupiers but the landlords were reluctant to come on-board, but after numerous meetings we did get an undertaking from them and they eventually all decided to renovate all of their houses along with the owner-occupiers.

Everyone had to vacate the properties and so most people stayed with friends and relatives, although one or two families were temporarily re-housed by the City Council. A furniture van was purchased and insured by the residents to house their furniture and goods which was parked in either Rushton Street or Knight Street depending upon which house was being renovated at the time.

The following actions were then taken:

1. A firm of Chartered Surveyors was appointed: Leslie D Clegg at Morgan & Co and Mr Mears was the Quantity Surveyor who undertook the project.

2. The public enquiry which took place was attended by most of the residents in the Town Hall. The enquiry decided in favour of the residents and they were able to go ahead with the improvements.

3. A survey of every house and a schedule of improvements was taken for every house in the area.

4. The first houses to be renovated were in Knight Street and Gillbrook Road and, although the renovations took many years to complete, there was no animosity between the neighbourhood. We were all so pleased to get our new homes and keep our community intact.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about the fight to save the houses in our area all of the documents and minutes are held in the Central Library in Manchester.