William Henry Ayrton

[Guest akademik]

I am interested in some aspects of the history of the building industries in Sheffield.

In 1920, the first 'President' of Wadsley House Social Club Ltd. was William Henry Ayrton. Among the other earliest Presidents of this club, at least two were more or less prominent local builders and/or contractors: W.J. Patchett (1924), J.H.S. Randall (1929).

In the DIRECTORIES, I first found Ayrton in 1898, as an "architect"; then, 1901-1935, he is an "architect's assistant"; and 1928-1931, "surveyor (Fowler & Marshall)". From the report of the funeral of Reginald William Fowler, of Fowler & Marshall (TELEGRAPH, 25.03.1925, p. 6), it appears that Ayrton already worked for Fowler & Marshall at least by 1925. My notes are unclear as to whether Ayrton lived at 80 Airedale Rd all those years; but certainly so latterly.

I wonder whether, and if so to what extent, Ayrton was able to use Wadsley House Social Club professionally, as a network for distributing projects, either his own and/or those of Fowler & Marshall; or rather, whether, and if so to what extent, it may be possible to ferret something like that out after so many years.

So far, I have found Ayrton – ostensibly in his own name, rather than as employee of Fowler & Marshall - associated with the following building projects (I may have miscopied some names of streets and/or numbers of houses …):

1899: house, shop & workshop, Sheepcote Lane (for B. Glaswell)

1900: 12 houses, Sheepcote Lane (for W. Finch)

1900: 3 houses & stabling, Wentworth Rd (for Hy. Keay)

1902: 5 houses, Town St (for G.H. Johnson)

1903: 17 houses, Town St (for G.H. Johnson)

1905: 28 houses, Town St (new street off) (for T. Gray & Sons)

1905: 8 houses, Town St (road off) (for G.H. Johnson)

1906: 5 houses, Milton Rd (for W. Coxon)

1906: 2 houses, Sheffield Rd (for Chas. Roberts)

1906: 2 houses, Sheffield Rd (for Mr. Bennett)

1907: 4 houses, Town St (road off) (for J. Bailey)

1907: 10 houses, off Stafford + Town Sts (for J.W. Bailey)

1907: 4 houses, Milton Rd (off) (for W. Coxon)

1907: 30 houses, Stafford St (for T. Gray & Sons)

1907: shops, Sheffield Rd (for G.H. Johnson)

1907: 28 houses, Lifford St (for T. Gray & Sons)

1907: 12 houses, Ruby St (for W. Coxon)

1908: 17 houses, Sheffield Rd (for G.H. Jonhson)

1908: 36 houses, Ruby St (for T. Gray & Sons)

1908: 17 houses, Harrowden Rd (for Smith & Bailey)

1909: 8 houses, Nowbourough Rd (for W. Coxon)

1909: laundry addition, Milton Rd (for G.H. Johnson)

1910: 138 houses, Oversleigh Rd – St Lawrence Rd – etc. (for T. Gray & Sons)

1910: 12 houses Milton Rd – St. Lawrence Rd (for E. Bilbrough)

1910: 20 houses, St Lawrence Rd (for J.W. Bailey)

1911: workhouse, Bawtry Rd (off) (for H. Justice)

1912: 9 houses, St. Lawrence Rd (for J.W. Bailey)

1925: 20 houses, Middlewood Rd (for W.J. Patchett) (these are the houses on MIddelwood Rd between Stockarth Lane and Middlewood Tavern (except for the last two))

That's all I know, so far. Is there anyone out there who knows more? Any information is welcome.

[RichardB]

Anyone knows more than that deserves a Medal !