Goose Green (18)
Some of the houses date before 1835 and the locals from Lower Town took their geese on to Hale Moss through here. It would also have been one of the main routes out of town across Hale Moss. In the 18th and 19th century the area was fairly densely populated and in the 1850s cottages were occupied by a market gardener, wheelwright, weaver, bobbin-turner, blacking maker and a cobbler. Isaac Garner was a shoemaker and bred geese. James Smith was a bobbin-turner and grew early Bowdon Downs potatoes. In the late 18th century these potatoes were very expensive and are said to have been sold at the Manchester market for 16/- (80p) and 20/- (£1) for a score (20). Another version says 1/- (5p) per pound, either way expensive. For comparison, in 1817 potato prices generally were 1/6 (7.5p) for 90 pounds, before the potato famine of the 1840s.
Standing on the bridge beyond, the old Bowdon Station was to the south, the area redeveloped in 2003. There used to be a cockpit on Denmark Street just past Goose Green until about 1850 when fights were held on Shrove Tuesday and at Easter.
Retracing our steps to Stamford New Road there is a Blue Plaque to Ronald Gow, the dramatist on the bank on the right. Barclays Bank was built in 1883 and Gow’s father became the manager. The family lived over the bank from 1900 until 1910. Gow’s father also managed several of the local banks and used to transfer gold and silver coins between them. One day the cab collapsed with the weight but all of the cash was recovered. Gow was a pupil and later teacher at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and married Dame Wendy Hiller.