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

Royle(s). Their rental payments contributed greatly to the functioning of the local
economy, especially with the slow and steady decline of the handloom weaving
industry due to the Napoleonic Wars. This factor and the onset of the effects of
enclosure, which denied many access to the land on a large scale, meant that there was
now an economic ‘gap,’ which rapid industrialisation filled in the latter part of the 19 th
century. Flixton Mill came to the area in 1851, providing a new outlet for the now
outmoded handloom weavers and those whose access to smallholding land was now
much restricted. Land owning, occupation and conveyance, together with the properties
that occupied them, were confined to those who had the financial means to afford this
undertaking. Essentially, this was the larger landowners, or those whose families had
traditionally farmed larger properties for centuries - the Wright family of Flixton
House, for example. Others involved were akin to the Royles, who had established
themselves successfully in business and could use their new found affluence to acquire
property interests, such as Pool Plat. The increasing rate of urbanisation and the
establishment of relatively large - scale industries in villages like Flixton, with little
previous history of industrial development, meant that the population increased
significantly. This was to the benefit of trades people like the Royles, whose businesses
thrived through the increased demand that urbanisation brought with it. However,
despite the rapid economic changes of the 19 th century the close business, land dealing
and family links of the Royles continue in Flixton with further interest shown in Pool
Plat into the latter years of the 19 th century and the first decade of the 20 th century.
The landed, property and business interests of William Harper in the Green Lane
area of Flixton and his connection to George Royle’s occupation of property in the
vicinity, gives us an insight into the development of these families influence in the
area. The fact that Royles occupied Harper property and were there at the time of
William Harper’s death meant that they were able to benefit from the property
connection, occupying Rocksavage from approximately the 1850s, until 1937. In regard
to George Royle, there are several with this name in Flixton, all engaging in trades
which could be connected to William and John Henry’s occupations of grocer and
baker. There would appear to be a very well established network of extended family
business concerns, stretching into the influence of other business and trade connected
Flixton families, of equal standing. Many owned land, as well as property and a
business, showing the duel skills required to maintain a successful reputation in the
community. These smallholders were an important part of the village economy, both
living in close proximity and trading with one another; they were also an important
element in the social fabric of villages like Flixton. The question of how this relates to
the ownership and development of smallholdings like Pool Plat remains. As
mentioned, there was an element of retaining a successful reputation, important to any
business. Also, in terms of raw materials, rental returns and profits from conveyance, it
was necessary to integrate several entrepreneurial skills to be an efficient businessman
and the dealings around the ownership and building developments on Pool Plat would
satisfy this necessity. The ownership of several properties in Flixton and beyond, to
include numbers 1 - 8 Vine Cottages, Bowdon (E/18/60) would point to rental profits
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