The Roles of William and John Henry Royle in the Development of ...

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18 23 and of Flixton and Ellen Fielden, who is unmarried, aged 21 and of Flixton. They are both living off the income from houses and the interest that this living creates and are residing at Doveston Road, Ashton - on - Mersey, Cheshire. The significance of this entry lies in the occupation of the three siblings, which is linked to property ownership and the rental returns and profits achieved as a result of this ownership. This is a factor they share in common with the Royles, leading to the creation of a land - owning and property developing dynasty by the end of the first decade of the 20 th century. Other names, connected with the development of this dynasty, are mentioned in John Royle Junior’s will and can be traced onto the 1881 Census, including Henry Valentine (RG11 3889/94 No. 32) who is noted as the head of the household, is married, aged 59 and a pavior, of Flixton. With him is his wife, Margaret, aged 49 and of Lowton; Mary Ann, his daughter, who is unmarried, aged 29 and of Lowton; James Banks, a boarder, who is unmarried, aged 15, of Patricroft and a baker’s assistant; and John Mercer, a child, aged 3, of Flixton. They are living at Church Road, Flixton, in one of the many properties owned and rented in the centre of Flixton Village by the Royles and discussed further in ‘Part Eight.’ Also on the 1881 Census, in the next property, can be found John Hunter, (RG11 3889/94 No.31), who is noted as the head of the household, is married and aged 36, of Urmston. He is listed as a shopkeeper and provisions dealer, occupying a shop which was still in the possession of William and John Henry Royle in 1920 (E/18/50) and is discussed in more detail in ‘Part Eight.’ With him is Betty Hunter, his wife, who is aged 46 and of Flixton; Martha Royle, his sister -in- law, who is unmarried, aged 40, of Flixton and an assistant shopkeeper; and Mary Royle, his sister-in-law, who is unmarried, aged 36, of Flixton and a dressmaker. They are all residing at Church Road, Flixton. The only recorded baptism of the three sisters belongs to Betty Royle, who was baptised on the 27 th July 1834, at Flixton, to George Royle and Jane Royle, who were married on the 24 th September 1823, at Cathedral, Manchester. Further George Royle connections in Flixton are discussed in more detail in ‘Part Six.’ John Royle Junior’s will gives us the first detailed indication of the extent of the Royle’s property, land and conveyance activities in Flixton Village. When we link them to a study of Greater Manchester Record Office’s documents of the Royle’s conveyance activities, discussed in Parts Four, Five, Six, Seven and Eight, along Carrington Road, we can see that they are both lucrative and influential regarding the progress of development here. Pool Plat, Whatcroft and Treeley all bordered onto Carrington Road at the point where it was proposed Flixton Bridge would cross the River Mersey, hence an extremely beneficial financial situation presented itself to the Royles and they took advantage of it to full effect. John Royle Junior’s will meant that the executors - family members - would stay involved in the long term development of Carrington Road and it is only with the appearance of the will of William Royle in 1939 that we see the various ‘loose ends’ of the contractual agreements in John’s will being ‘tied up.’ The will was initially drawn up on the 4 th December 1926 and in relation to William’s children, stated that,
“Also seeing that my three children are now all of age and so are eligible to receive my one fifth share of the capital fixed or otherwise from the estate of the late John Royle I declare that it is my wish that the same shall be paid to them forthwith or as early as possible after my decease the same to be equally divided between them on the terms of my father’s will.” William Royle’s will named, as executors, his son, William Stansfield Royle, of Lady Croft, Brown Edge, Buxton, a banker. However, by the time that probate had been granted on the 16 th February 1939, he was of ‘Arley,’ Macclesfield Road, Buxton, Derbyshire and a bank manager. William’s daughter, Fannie Royle, of The Knolls, Cornhill Road, Davyhulme, a music teacher, is of the same address in 1939, although she is now described as a spinster; and William’s son, Walter Fielden Royle, of The Knolls, Cornhill Road, Davyhulme, a designer, is of 19 Sidmouth Avenue, Flixton, in 1939 and described as a textile designer. William’s wife is also mentioned, William stating that, “I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Ada all my furniture and other household effects and my articles of personal use for her own use absolutely.” Correctly, of course, William is considering the security and financial future of his family. However, the will also considers the long term investments, in the shape of property and there is a significant paragraph in relation to this, which reads thus, “…and I also declare that as regards my real or leasehold property remaining unsold my Trustees shall be at liberty to let or lease the same either from year to year or for any term of years at such rents and subject to such covenants and conditions as they shall think fit to expend money in repairs or improvements and generally to manage the property according to their own discretion and I also declare that any monies required for repairs or improvements may be raised either out of income or capital of my estate as my Trustees shall under the circumstances think fair and equitable.” This paragraph gave the Trustees of William’s will the freedom, therefore, to manage the remainder of the estate as they saw fit, with property and land continuing to be rented and sold, at Flixton Village and in neighbouring areas, well into the 1950s. William Royle signs this will, witnessed by A. V. Michaelis, of 1 Corne Road, Fallowfield, a designer and W. Andrews, of 50 Church Road, Urmston, a finisher. The gross value of the estate amounted to £2703. 19. 09, with the net value of the personal estate amounting to £1974. 17. 09. However, the extent of the Royle’s business interests did not stop at Flixton, with branches of the family engaging in trade into Stretford, Pendleton and Salford, which are now discussed in ‘Part Four,’ together with the Bent family of Flixton. The Bent family are of significance, as they were amongst the first families in Flixton to engage in conveyance with John Royle Junior, in relation to Pool Plat , as early as 1876 (E/18/25) ‘Part Four’ will show how these business relationships were to transform Carrington Road by 1910. 19
Page 1 and 2: The Roles of William and John Henry
Page 3 and 4: Carrington Road, Flixton (Pool Plat
Page 5 and 6: 9; Fanny, aged 7; and John Henry, a
Page 7 and 8: The Role of William and John Henry
Page 9 and 10: family at Holly Bank, a neighbourin
Page 11 and 12: 1755; Thomas was born on the 18 th
Page 13 and 14: engage in land and property conveya
Page 15 and 16: for process and sale to the local c
Page 17: In short, irrespective of the allot
Page 23 and 24: Corporation’s increased desire to
Page 25 and 26: There is a reference to Pool Plat i
Page 27 and 28: Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane,
Page 29 and 30: as a consequence. A pavement in fro
Page 31 and 32: significant when we remember that b
Page 33 and 34: “Here resteth the body of John Ro
Page 35 and 36: (E/18/1 - E/18/63) The Papers of Wi
Page 37 and 38: manifested through the ownership of
Page 39 and 40: gardener; Ann is single, aged 14 an
Page 41 and 42: Royle(s). Their rental payments con
Page 45 and 46: Royle and others re the purchase of
Page 47 and 48: much reduced and their acreage conc
Page 49 and 50: Bibliography. Bayliss, Don. Histori
Page 51 and 52: gardens. Mr. and Mrs. Duckworth cou
Page 53 and 54: George Royle and the occupation of
Page 55 and 56: contribution to the history of Flix

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