Stamford Street (21)
Turn up Stamford Street. This first section was sometimes called Cinder Street
and was part of the Stockport Road, which was known as Turnpike Road in the mid 19th century.
The Railway pub on the right had a malthouse to its left and was originally a large private
house called The Gables. To the left of the pub is Spring Bank House (35), at one time the home of John Siddeley the chemist and brewer.
The seed merchant’s business was next door at number 33.
Spring Bank House was the site of the Hippodrome (1912-86) which was built in 1912 as a variety theatre with an orchestra but showed films from the start. It seated 1800 and Gracie Fields and Donald Peers performed there. There were also amateur nights when locals could demonstrate their skills, and the North Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society used to play there. By 1931 it was converted to a permanent cinema for talkies and Frank Randle and George Formby used to visit. To the left of that was the splendid Springfield House with steps up from both sides and originally a girls’ boarding school. The Springfield Road area was a farm in the 19th century.
The Malt Shovels opposite was originally a barn and Police Street behind was known as Back o’ th’ Barn. The houses and shops beyond The Malt Shovels further up Stamford Street date from the 1840s. This part of Stamford Street was called New Road when first cut in the 1820s.
However continue straight up Victoria Street towards the Old Town Hall.