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

The Roles of William and John Henry Royle in the
Development of Pool Plat, Flixton. Part Seven.
The development of Carrington Road ; The Whittaker and Heywood
families; Royles in the ‘Survey and Measurement of the Township of
Flixton;’ of 1818; Robert Langton, author and antiquarian.
‘Part Seven’ now discusses the influence of the Whittaker family on the development
of Pool Plat. Whilst Anne Heywood’s involvement in the sale of land in 1910
emphasises the intricate complexities of property ownership and development,
beginning with three land conveyances, which are discussed in more detail in ‘Part
Five,’ with her husband, Samuel Heywood, on the 2 nd August 1897 (E/18/30) on the
21 st September 1897 (E/18/31) and the 27 th September 1897 (E/18/32) which names the
land as Pool Plat and adjoining land, for a fee of £100. On the 28 th September 1897
(E/18/33) Samuel Heywood sells Pool Plat and adjoining land back to William Royle
for the same fee of £100. Samuel Heywood had married Anne, who was John Royle
Junior’s daughter and was also known as Ann, or Annie, Royle, in the September
quarter of 1894. Hence the ease with which this land transfer occurs, without any
noticeable increase in value! This flurry of activity regarding the sale and purchase of
Pool Plat shows how significant the Royles believed this plot to be, strategically and
financially, as its proximity to the River Mersey meant that it would be bound to figure
in any potential road widening scheme should a new bridge be planned. There had been
recent discussion of just such a development, although the new bridge was not to be
completed until 1907, replacing a steel bridge called Carrington Bridge, which had
been built in 1840, some distance downstream. Both William and John Henry Royle
appear to have been well aware that the new bridge would occupy a different position,
to the north of the original steel bridge and had used their local influence to become
substantial property developers on the basis of this knowledge. They appear to have
engaged in discussions with many local landowners, resulting in much economic and
legal activity, as detailed in the following property developments.
The first of these developments was listed on the 25 th November 1897, with an
agreement between Robert Selby Whittaker, Edward James Whittaker, Moses
Whittaker and William Royle, for the removal of a bridge over Nelly Brook whenever
required by William Royle, or Barton - Upon - Irwell Rural District Council (E/18/34)
On the 1881 Census (RG11 3889/68 No.20) there is listed a Robert Selby Whittaker,
aged 38, a bricklayer, who lived at Irlam Road with his wife Ellen, aged 39 and four
daughters, Emmin, aged 14, a cotton weaver; Eliza, aged 11, a scholar; Mary, aged 7, a
scholar; and Ellen, aged 4. All were born in Salford. Their son, Robert Selby
Whittaker, aged 12 months, was born in Flixton. There are three generations of Robert
Selby Whittakers - grandfather, son and grandson - buried on the east side of St.
Michael’s churchyard. The larger of their gravestones reads,
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