Samuel Brooks (cotton manufacturer)
Samuel Brooks | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Great Harwood, Lancashire, England |
| Died | June 7, 1864 (aged 70) |
| Occupation(s) | Cotton manufacturer, banker, railway entrepreneur |
| Known for | Banking in Manchester; development of Whalley Range and Brooklands; deputy chairman of Manchester and Leeds Railway |
Samuel Brooks (12 August 1793 – 7 June 1864) was a prominent English figure in the cotton manufacturing industry and banking sector.
Life
Originating from Great Harwood, near Whalley, Lancashire, he was the second-born son of William Brooks. In 1815, Samuel joined his father’s Blackburn-based enterprise, Cunliffe Brooks & Co, as a partner. This company specialized in supplying cotton and textile machinery and operated a banking service alongside its primary business. By approximately 1819, his father included Samuel and his siblings as junior partners in three Manchester calico printing businesses. Samuel established a modest branch of the family bank within his warehouse; by 1826, banking had become his principal interest, leading to a move into dedicated banking premises. The institution quickly grew into one of Manchester’s foremost financial establishments and was eventually purchased by Lloyd's Bank in 1900 to strengthen their Manchester operations.
Brooks was also responsible for initiating the earliest residential developments in Whalley Range—a name he chose—and in Brooklands, which became known by popular usage.
He married Margaret Hall, daughter of Thomas Hall. Their son, William, later served as a Member of Parliament and was granted a baronetcy.
Manchester and Leeds Railway
In 1830, Brooks presided over the first meeting of the promoters behind the Manchester and Leeds Railway (M&LR) and held the position of its inaugural deputy chairman.
The initial terminus for M&LR in Manchester was located at Oldham Road, though there were intentions to establish a more centrally situated station. Brooks acquired land at Hunt's Bank and in August 1838 offered it to the railway company on favorable terms. This contribution enabled the construction of Manchester Victoria station several years later, significantly improving the railway’s strategic access.
Whalley Range
In 1836, he bought Jackson’s Moss—a marshy tract south of Manchester’s city centre—which he drained and converted into villa residences aimed at affluent businessmen. His own home, Whalley House, lent its name to the district now known as Whalley Range, presumably named after his childhood locality. This prestigious area was once protected by tollgates; one such location remains recognized as "Brooks’s Bar," locally pronounced as Brooks' Bar.
Brooklands
In 1856, Samuel secured large parcels of land in North Cheshire from the Earl of Stamford. He enhanced this property’s worth through drainage projects, clearing operations, and extensive tree planting. The land was traversed by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway, which had opened in 1849. His son, William, further expanded the estate to include territories stretching from Davenport Green to Warburton Green, encompassing much of Hale Barns and what eventually became known as Brooklands.
Railway station
A road crossing the railway line between Sale and Timperley stations led 45 local residents to petition for a station in 1855. After receiving no immediate response, Brooks negotiated terms in 1859 by offering an acre of land for £200 and pledging £300 if annual revenue fell below £100 after five years. The station named Brooklands commenced operations on 1 December 1859 and achieved annual receipts of £100 within two years.
Private road (Brooklands Road and others)
Following the example set by Whalley Range, Brooks initiated the construction of a private roadway in 1862, designed to accommodate high-end residential properties. This four-mile avenue, bordered by trees, provided a direct route to the station and intersected important thoroughfares such as the Stockport-Altrincham turnpike, currently designated as the A560. The route extended through Hale Road and Ashley Road, reaching Hale village, now part of the A538. Although Samuel passed away before its completion, his son William took charge and brought the project to fruition.
Development along this road beyond Brooklands remained minimal, likely functioning mainly as a convenient passage for estate traffic. Following World War II, planning regulations helped protect much of the adjacent greenbelt farmland from urban expansion.
Sources
- Brackenbury, Allan (1993) "The Road from Brooklands Station", in: Journal of the Railway and Canal History Society; Vol 31, Pt 4, No. 156, pp. 170–74 (Nov 1993)
Additional sources cited by Brackenbury
- Grindon, Leo (1877) Manchester Banks and Bankers. Manchester: Palmer & Howe
- Dixon, Frank (1973) The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway. Lingfield: Oakwood Press