12 - The Ridgway Family
Household 12 is the first of a number of Ridgway homes on Romiley Road, being one of the oldest families in the area. In this particular household lived Andrew and Mary Ridgway with their 7 children aged between 2 and 20 years.
Whilst Andrew's family had resided in Romiley for many years, Mary Eyre was the daughter of a Hyde butcher. The couple lived with her family in their crowded terraced house before eventually returning to Romiley Road.
Andrew worked for the family plant nursery business as a gardener and continued in this role throughout his life. He was always available and happy to talk to his customers about growing plants and continued to run the stall at Ashton Market well into old age. His 2 eldest children, Susan Harrison and Sarah, worked at the hat factory as hat binders. The younger children were all in full time education apart from little Bertha.
When they weren't working, the Ridgways were committed members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The first Wesleyan chapel built on the street (see above picture) had been deemed too small and in 1866 a new chapel was built opposite. The old chapel, built in 1840, was then used as a Sunday School. Today it is the Signol Community Centre. Andrew Ridgway played a key role in the chapel and often led meetings and made speeches. He organised the annual Christmas dinner and get-together. His children played musical instruments and sang in the choir. Daughter Sarah was a leader at the Band of Hope, which aimed to deter children from consuming alcohol.
Thomas Ridgway was 4 years old in 1871 and we know by the age of 14 that he, along with his brothers, was working at the nursery with his father. He would grow up to be an incredibly hard working man who somehow fitted multiple roles into his life.
Of course one of those roles was in the business, which he ran after Andrew's death in 1901. The picture on the right is from The Stockport County Express on 2nd Apr 1931. The first in a series of "Market Sketches" of regulars at Stockport Market, the description mentions the "nursery at Romiley", which "furnishes local gardens with so many things that are bright and beautiful". The article says that the name of Ridgway has been associated with horticulture for over a century and that without them there would be a sense of loss.
The article also mentioned Thomas' important role in the community. He became a Liberal councillor at the Bredbury and Romiley District Council, fighting for people's rights to clean air and safe roads. He was made Chairman of the council in 1912 then in 1924 he was made Justice of the Peace. He held so many roles, including Chairman of the Public Health Committee and the Housing, Buildings and Town Planning Commitee, that he was endearingly known as "Father of the Council".
Unbelievably, Thomas' community minded deeds did not end there. He was an active member of Hatherlow Congregational Chapel (where his parents married) throughout his life. He worked as a Sunday School teacher for a staggering 60 years, became Deacon of the Sunday School and then Superintendent. He also held the post of Chapel Warden.
All of these commitments would be more than enough for most but Thomas also had a family. He married Lizzie Hill in 1900 and they had 4 children, though sadly their first child died in infancy. His sons continued to run the business after Thomas' death in 1963 aged 96.
The Ridgway Nursery was moved from Romiley Road to Otterspool in 1973 and was then sold to new owners who kept the name Ridgways. It was later bought by Wyevale and more recently, Dobbies.
You can find out more about the Ridgway family in the book "Residents of Romiley Road" which will be coming soon.