56 - The Swindells Family (Samuel and Ellen)

Household 56 was next door to the Friendship Inn and housed James Swindells' son Samuel and his second wife Ellen, who was born Ellen Walsh.

You can read the full story of this family in my book The Residents of Romiley Road but here are some key facts.

Samuel was a Mechanic's Apprentice at 15 (possibly earlier) and worked as a mechanic at the mill for his whole life.

Samuel's first wife was Mary Ann Swindells. They had a son in 1860 who died in infancy and Mary Ann passed away around the same time, suggesting that she died in childbirth.

Samuel then returned to the house of his parents before marrying Ellen. They had 8 children together.

Tragically, their young son William drowned in a pool in the back garden in 1869.

When Samuel Swindells died in 1903, Ellen went to live with her daughter Margaret who had married William Mostyn. Ellen passed away in 1912.