The Residents of Romiley Road

When I began this project on 15th June 2024 I had no idea if I would be able to research enough information to create a whole book about the street. I had no idea if I would be capable of collating all of the data. I had no idea if my writing skills would be sufficient to do the book justice. 

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It has been a mammoth task but one that I have relished throughout. Telling the stories of these largely unknown people has been such a joy and although I don't doubt that there are people better qualified for the task, I feel I have done a solid job. 

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The second edit is now complete and I shall soon be beginning a final (possibly) edit before formatting it and deciding on artwork and other things that I am not qualified to do. I hope to get it published soon. A combination of perfectionism and ill-health have somewhat slowed down proceedings but I have now made a solid decision to self-publish.

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The book centres on around 30 of the 83 households that I researched, sharing the residents' happiest and saddest moments. The context of Romiley in the Victorian Era is also explored, covering parts of daily life such as Friendly Societies, where so many of the men found camaraderie as well as financial support, and the importance of the public houses. I hope that you will enjoy immersing yourself in their lives as much as I did.

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If you would like to learn more details about the residents whilst you wait for the book to be published, I have made over 80 videos using the hashtag #romileyroad mostly on TikTok. Whilst some of the videos focus on individuals, most cover wider topics at the time. And in one I attempt to do the Romiley accent from the 1870s...