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

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“ Robert Selby Whittaker who died July 28 th 1921 aged 78 years, Also Ellen his
beloved wife who died May 2 nd 1921 aged 79 years. Their end was peace. Also Mary,
the dearly beloved daughter of Robert S. and Ellen Whittaker died Sep 23 rd 1899. Aged
26 years. Also Elizabeth, beloved wife of Robert Selby Whittaker Junr. Who passed
away July 24 th 1930, Aged 24 years. “Thy will be done.” Also Robert (Bob) her
beloved husband who died Jan. 8 th 1932, Aged 26 years. “Re - united.”
The father of Robert Selby Whittaker Junior can also be found on the east side of
the churchyard at St. Michael’s Parish Church and from the second gravestone we
know that his death occurred on the 28 th October 1940, at the age of 59. With him are
his wife, Annie, who died on the 14 th May 1940, aged 58 and Florence, his daughter,
who died on the 27 th November 1994, aged 78. Robert Selby Whittaker Senior was
born in the September quarter of 1843, registered at Salford and married Ellen Jones, at
Manchester, in the September quarter of 1864. His son, ‘Robert Whittaker,’ was born
in the June quarter of 1881, registered at Barton - Upon - Irwell, with the marriage of
‘Robert Selby Whittaker’ and Annie Morgan taking place in the September quarter of
1899, registered at Barton - Upon - Irwell. Their son, Robert Selby Whittaker, was born
in the June quarter of 1905, registered at Barton - Upon - Irwell, with the marriage of
Robert S. Whittaker and Elizabeth Thorley taking place at St. Michael’s Parish Church,
Flixton, in the December quarter of 1928.Robert and Annie’s daughter, Florence
Whittaker, was born in the March quarter of 1916 and registered at Barton - Upon -
Irwell. It is apparent from the Whittakers’ land dealings that it was commonplace for
trades people like them and the Royles to do business in the form of land conveyance,
although admittedly on a relatively small scale.
The agreement between William Royle and the Whittakers was an important
development regarding access to Pool Plat and adjoining land and the later
developments of this stretch of Carrington Road, as the bridge was the only real access
to both Pool Plat and the adjoining Whatcroft. Its removal was the precursor for a total
overhaul of this stretch of Carrington Road, especially now that the flood prevention
measures pre - 1894 had undergone modification and improvement. Flood sluices
collected rainfall from a watershed of 500, 000 acres, formed by the basins of the
Rivers Irwell and Mersey (Farnie. 1980 p. 87) and at Carrington Road there was a
floodgate leading from the River Mersey into a channel, which would drain away any
excessive amounts of water during times of potential flooding. This area of Carrington
Road and Church Road further east, as stated by Donald W. Lee in The Flixton
Footpath Battle (1976 pp. 8 - 9) was prone to such flooding, particularly in the winter
months. However, since the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 and the
draining of the River Mersey, via a weir, into the canal at the Irlam and Cadishead
railway viaducts where they crossed, the potential for flooding was much diminished,
hence the agreement of 25 th November 1897 to remove the bridge for road widening
and development.
These agreements continued with more land purchases from the 26 th August to the
2 nd September 1908 and an agreement between Barton - Upon - Irwell RDC, William