The Green Heart of Wilmslow
The “Boddington Arch” at the entrance to The Carrs on Chancel Lane tells us that the land was given to the people of Wilmslow for their enjoyment by Henry Boddington in 1925. So in 2010 it seems we are celebrating 85 years of the land in public ownership. But is this really true? The history of the Carrs (Norse for “a bog”) is in fact far more complex, and the area we know today as The Carrs did not actually come into being until many years later.
Originally, and with the exception of an area around the Parish Hall held as Glebeland by the Rector of St Bartholomew’s church, much of the land currently comprising The Carrs formed part of the Pownall Hall estate owned by Lord Stamford until he sold up in the years 1841–1859. After a succession of owners, Henry Boddington, of brewery fame, acquired the property and from that time the development of the area as a public open space began. Henry Boddington knew that the area was “a favourite resort with local residents” and had been in discussion with Wilmslow Urban District Council (WUDC) in 1925 regarding a grant of the land for public enjoyment. Sadly, and despite the inscription on the entrance arch, he died in the September of that year before any agreement was reached. It was left to his widow to carry out Henry Boddington’s wishes the following year, although it was not until 1930 that the official handover of “The Boddington Playing Fields” was completed. At that time the council paid the princely sum of £62.10s (£62.50) for the entrance gate now commonly known as the Boddington Arch, with its inscription that reads: “Given by Henry Boddington JP of Pownall Hall for the recreation health and pleasure of Wilmslow and her children for ever 1925”.
At the time of his death Henry Boddington was also negotiating with WUDC for the transfer of the area of land known as The Carrs to the Council. Again, however, this was left to his widow to complete, and it was not until 1935 that the Council’s records show the completion of the transfer of land between the old Hawthorn Hall/Pownall Hall boundary (roughly a line from the river up to Hawthorn Lane at the point where it becomes Broad Walk) and Pownall Bridge.
At about this time, land from Pownall Park was also being sold off for housing almost to the front of the Hall. In 1932, the land between Pownall Hall and Twinnies Bridge (the area at the far western end of The Carrs behind the current toilet block) was given by Ernest Greg of Norcliffe Hall, Styal, whose death followed just two years later.
The next piece of the jigsaw to be put into place was the land to the rear of Hawthorn Grove down to the river, an area known as Black Butts, which was purchased by WUDC in the early 1930s. The severe economic conditions of that time and the need to pay off a loan for the “old” Wilmslow bypass meant that little was done with the land. The approaching Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935, and the need for the council to show it was taking a lead in the celebrations, prompted action, and after extensive fund raising and much hard work “The Carrs Extension” was formally opened in May 1935 as part of the Jubilee celebrations. A great deal of effort had gone into making the extension of “The Boddington Playing Fields” and Jubilee celebrations a success, and for the first time — thanks to a new bridge over the river at a cost then of approximately £100 — the whole length of The Carrs from Chancel Lane to Twinnies Bridge was accessible for use by the public as a recreational facility.
But what of the area north of the river running up to Styal Road and Grange Park Avenue and adjoining the land given by Ernest Greg in 1932? It is unclear how or precisely when this land came into The Carrs, but we do know that in the early 1960s the land was still being used for farming even though it was by then owned by the local council, presumably acquired as local farmland was sold off. By the late 1960s, however, the plans of the Council for adding this area to The Carrs were being acted upon, and the final piece of the jigsaw that is The Carrs was put into place to give us the open, green area we enjoy today.
Since the land was first acquired by Henry Boddington, it has seen significant physical changes, with the wildness now tamed and the River Bollin running a much straighter course than the serpentine route of many years ago. Evidence of the former course is clearly visible between Chancel Lane and the first bridge. It is interesting to discover that the preparations for the Silver Jubilee celebrations included work to repair and strengthen the river banks that were being damaged and eroded — a problem that has not gone away! Most of the wild flowers have also disappeared, and aliens like Himalayan Balsam taken their place; the bird life will have changed and the fish population all but vanished (but is now, happily, recovering). After the first transfer of land by Henry Boddington, additional facilities were provided including a children’s playground (extant and still popular), a bowling green (now gone), tennis courts (moved next to the playground), etc, although proposals for an open air swimming pool (The Wilmslow Lido?) never came to fruition.
Today, as a “green lung” for the town, The Carrs is even more important, providing open space and recreational facilities for the residents of Wilmslow and well beyond. The forming of the Friends of The Carrs in 2004 also means that, after a number of years of relative neglect, the land is once again receiving some loving care and is slowly being brought back to its former glory, along with a much improved mix of plants and wildlife.
— Colin Shepherd, with thanks to Ray Acton, Paul Jabore and Terry Broadbent for their help in preparing this history of The Carrs
The Carrs Mill
Built sometime around 1800 as a cotton mill, by 1828 the mill was in the hands of Charles Barber, a silk throwster. In 1851, Barber’s Mill counted 80 staff. The mill changed hands several times before becoming the Wilmslow Laundry in 1903.
“We return everything but the dirt. Situated in the heart of this pretty country district… our motive power is WATER, so we make no smuts to fall on your linen whilst generating steam.”
The mill was reportedly storing gelatine when it burned down in 1923, and the new tenants — nettles, beeches, birches and rhododendrons — just didn’t look after the place.