A Short History of the Township of Tyldesley

M. Ormerod, then the living link bridging the great past and the uncertain fate of the future. He spoke of his ancestor, Thomas Johnson, and the great antiquarian, George Ormerod, who himself was present at the dedication in 1825. This same descendant in 1936 donated the chain of office to be worn by chairmen of the Tyldesley Council. He died the same year and the formal presentation was made by his son, George, who was killed in the battle of Normandy, 1944.

The Colossal Failure of 1926

     In the post-war boom of 1919 and 1920 a set of unscrupulous promoters refloated the firm of James Burton and Sons. Only six years later this spurious company was completely bankrupt. The once prosperous mills, which had brought such increase of wealth and population to the township of Tyldesley were sold for scrap and razed brick by brick to the ground. The deficiency proved by the creditors was £545,000. In 1913 Fred Burton had died a virtual millionaire; only 13 years later, these mills, vast memorials to the sagacity of his father, had ceased for ever to hum and spin.

A Tea Planter Dies at Marseilles, 1934

     Caleb Wright's son, Frank Thurlow, did not follow his father into the cotton trade; in contrast he emigrated to Ceylon, where at Wattegama he managed the tea and rubber plantations of the Gaphele Company. In 1934 he was on the return voyage home, when he took ill and died at Marseilles.

Jubilee Bungalows, 1935

     Fulwell, that home of the great industrial magnates, became the property of a local mining company, the Manchester Collieries, and to commemorate in a practical way the jubilee accession of King George V, the old house was demolished and in its place were built eight bungalows. These were to be reserved for the veterans of the mining industry, who must at least have had 30 years' service and whose circumstances would justify the granting of a tenancy. Only a nominal rent of 6d. per week is charged.

Garratt Hall Boys' School, 1935

     A new school built at a cost of £23,000 was first ready in 1935. Sir William Ray, M.P., for Richmond, was, in view of his local associations with Tyldesley accorded the honour of declaring the building open. Herbert Leather was the first headteacher, who came from the Lower Elliott Street School. Since 1946 R. South-worth has been headmaster.

A Scientist Dies on Pillar Rock, June 12, 1935

     One of the many scholars of Tyldesley who went to the universities was Frank Roberts of Elliott Street. He became master of science at Manchester University and was an assistant lecturer there. He