The Roost Pt.2

Read Part 1 of The history of the Roost here

With thanks to Paula Bush for additional family info & photos.

After Walter Barratt's death in 1936, the Roost was purchased by Sidney Bradshaw.

Sidney Bradshaw (b:1894) was the grandson of John (b:1837 in Preston) and Lydia (b:1867 in Accrington). John and his family of 8 children had moved from Wigan (1871) to live on Albion Terrace, just off Bury New Road in Prestwich by 1881. John and two of his sons Arthur (b:1865) and Thomas (b:1859) were all listed as painters in the census of that year. By 1891 Arthur his wife Martha and their first son Walter had moved to 30 Rectory Lane, which stood opposite what is now the St Mary's Primary School playing field.

In 1901 Arthur, was recorded as a Master Painter and was living with his wife Martha and two sons Walter (b:1890), Sidney (b:1894) at 40 Bury New Road (today opposite the Sainsburys Local in Sedgely Park)

Arthur incorporated the family business, Arthur Bradshaw Ltd (ABL) in 1906. ABL was based on Bury New Road, Prestwich in a building that was originally named Brennan/Brennand fold which was originally owned by Rev. James Brennand.

Rev. Brennand was curate of Ringley Chapel from 1767 and St Mary's in Prestwich (which he resigned in 1773). James Brennand lived in five bayed house on the Poppythorn glebeland which also had a barn and a cowhouse. He was married twice, fathering seven sons and 3 daughters and died in the pulpit at Ringley in 1787 aged 60. He is buried just West of St Mary's Church Tower.

Arthur's father died in 1910 and was buried in St Mary's Churchyard with his wife Lydia who had died in 1891.

In the census of 1911 the family are recorded as living at Brennand Fold on Bury New Road. However by 1911 Arthur had changed his occupation to Master Builder, his son Walter was now a Master Decorator and Sidney was a clerk at his father's building firm. A third son, Arthur Leslie had come along in 1909. The firm also had a builders yard on Longfield, across the street from Bunting’s Bakery.

During WWI Sidney served with the 2/7th Manchester Regiment as Sergeant. The second line batallions were formed in 1914, but did not arrive on the continent until 1917. Sidney's Regiment then saw action in The Third Battles of the Ypres, Battle of Poelcapelle, Paschendaele, The Battle of St Quentin, The Actions at the Somme Crossings and The Battle of Rosieres (26/27th March 1918). In May 1918 the Regiment was reduced to cadre due to severe losses during the German Spring Offensives, and he transferred to the 5th Manchesters, serving until 1923. Sidney achievied the rank of Second lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in April 1918 for Gallantry during the German "Operation Michael".

Along with the British and Victory Medals, he also received the The Territorial Force War Medal. The TFM was a campaign medal awarded to members of the British Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service who served overseas in World War I. It is the rarest of the five British Great War medals. Sidney's medals are on loan to Broughton House Veteran Care Village.

Sidney retired to 6 Mountfield after the war, but he and his brother Walter had 48 & 50 Rectory Lane built for them to live in. Their father Arthur lived at 46.

It seems that Sidney enjoyed his new house and in particular the view which it gave him, looking over the road to The Roost, and it's large garden. He liked it so much that he bought The Roost in about 1938 and started the construction of The Roost Estate with semi-detatched houses first built in the garden and a new road to lead to the field at the rear. This road was at first mapped as Rectory Drive, and is currently called The Drive.

Sidney's brother Walter passed away in 1938 and is buried in St Mary's Churchyard

The family made their contributions to WWII as so many did. Sidney's daughter moved in for the duration while her husband served abroad. Their son Gordon joined the RAF, earning his wings serving in South Africa.

Gordon managed to visit The Roost whilst on leave, drawing some sketches while he was back home.

Martha died in 1945 and Arthur in 1947, both joined Arthur's parents in the family plot at St Mary's.

After the war Sidney moved to Southport where he died in 1959, and he is buried with his parents at St Mary's. His son Gordon married my Eveline Shaw in 1947, and they moved into 16 The Drive, with other family members buying houses on The Drive too.

Leslie Bradshaw a son of Arthur who set up ABL, married Dorothy Grimshaw and lived on Deyne Avenue. The Roost still stands today on Rectory Lane.

Mabel Bradshaw lived until 1981 when she died aged 85, and was buried in a new plot in St Mary's Churchyard.

After World War II the Bassnett family moved into the right hand side of the house, which was believed to have been vacant for 10 years, and completed the split into two dwellings in 1948. Their child recalls that there was a ballroom with a springed floor constructed in the basement of one of the properties.

Your kind donation will go towards tools, or employing professional stone masons to reinstate stonework damaged by time, trees, animals or humans.