The Charlestown Estate

by Phil Machen

In today’s blog, we’re taking a little detour and looking at the history of the area neighbouring the woods, specifically the Charlestown estate. We’re joined by Phil Machen, who has written a short introduction to the history of the estate for us.

This is a picture of Charlestown before the housing estate was constructed. The white building is Clough Top Farm (now Clough Top Road). The tree-lined Charlestown Road lies in the centre. This road was installed by the Corporation Highways Department in 1910 in anticipation of the coming estate. In the top right is a pond (retained as the Northlands Road circle), and to the left is a smaller pond which became the Quadrant green. Bailey’s Wood is off the picture to the left.

The official opening of the Charlestown estate was in June 1939. The 30,000^th Corporation house was opened by the Minister of Health Walter Elliot on 30^th June. The house is still standing, and it’s opposite the health centre on Charlestown Road. Today, you can see fresh brickwork on its wall, which marks the spot where a plaque celebrating Manchester’s 30,000^th council house was fixed.

British Minister of Health Walter Elliot opening the 30000^th Corporation house at the White Moss Estate, Blackley, Manchester, June 30, 1939 (Image: Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The Charlestown estate was designed by Barry Parker, a Quaker socialist who had previously designed the ‘Garden City’ of Wythenshawe. Our estate is a scaled down and improved version of Brownley Green, Wythenshawe, based on the idea of ‘cottages around a green’. Parker argued that decent housing for the working classes would improve their moral and physical health, and he had previously been famous for building the workers’ estate for Rowntrees Chocolate at New Earswick, York.

Mitchell Gardens, Hollyhedge Road, Wythenshawe

This is Mitchell Gardens in Wythenshawe. It was built in 1938 by the Corporation’s Housing Director, Leonard Heywood. Our version is White Moss Gardens on Charlestown Road.

White Moss Gardens, Charlestown Road (Image: Hannah Priest)

When the houses were first built, they were for widows, and they had a community room off the main entrance. There was a fishpond in the courtyard and a mortuary at the rear.

This is Chamberlain House, Brownley Green Wythenshawe, which was also built in 1938 by Leonard Heywood. Our version is Clough House on Charlestown Road.

Clough House, Charlestown Road (Image: Hannah Priest)

Clough House, Charlestown Road (Image: Hannah Priest)

Clough House was originally built as housing for respectable spinsters. The original plan was for another block opposite, but this foiled by the war. However, with the building of the shops on Charlestown Road, Parker had now created a village green to fit his dream of ‘cottages around a green’ for the working classes.

Phil Machen is a local lad who grew up in a council house on the Charlestown estate and whose Dad worked for Direct Works (Manchester City Council) as a plasterer for forty years.