57 - The Swindells Family at the Friendship Inn

The full story of the Swindells family and the Friendship Inn can be found in my book The Residents of Romiley Road, but here are some of their key details.

James Swindells was born in Romiley and married Mary Rowbotham who grew up at Greave Fold. James, like many of the Swindells family, trained as a mechanic and the couple had 8 children.

They bought The Friendship Inn and became innkeepers. The inn became the home of The Lily of the Valley Lodge of United Free Gardeners, which was formed in 1862. This was a Friendly Society. Men would pay in a small regular amount, which meant they were then entitled to financial support should they become unwell or need to pay for a burial. The Friendly Societies also had regular meetings (usually in pubs), which provided social and emotional support.

When James passed away in 1878 his funeral was well attended by his fellow lodge members, as well as the Bredbury and Romiley Brass Band, which often played at the pub.

Mary continued to run the pub after her husband's death until her own death in 1893. Despite being the landlady of the Friendship Inn, her obituary focused on how many grandchildren she had.

Also living at the pub in 1871 were Eliza (their daughter) and her husband James Ferns (son of Joseph and Anne from Household 30). James worked as a machine smith but having a good solid job didn't help this family when it came to tragedy.

Four of their seven children passed away before the age of 5, John Arthur passing away from Typhoid fever aged 3. There were signs of domestic violence towards Eliza and James was taken to court for blacking her eye. It seems he didn't get on well with her family and they moved to Stockport. Then in 1885 James died, leaving Eliza widowed with her 3 surviving children. She moved back to Romiley, living opposite the pub, and worked as a charwoman. Eliza died aged 46.

Finally, on the 1871 census we have James Henry Howe, the son of Margaret Swindells (James and Mary's daughter) and Samuel Howe, a farmer and horse breeder based at High Lane Farm. Samuel Howe was involved in a huge court case when it was discovered that he had forged a cheque for £1375 in the name of Benjamin Ashton of Pole Bank. This was worth around £150,000 in today's money. Samuel was sentenced to 8 years penal servitude.

James Henry Howe also had many encounters with the law. He married Sarah Jane Arundale (daughter of Joseph Arundale of the Queen's Hotel in Bredbury) and effectively gambled away Sarah Jane's entire inheritance. He also lost money dealing horses and failed to keep his books in order.