Kingsway (6)
Kingsway/Post Office Street opposite to the Brooks Bank was originally called Hollow Bonc or Bank and in the early 19th century was described as very steep. It was a short cut from Higher Town down steps to Lower Town but was not accessible to traffic. The main traffic route was via Market Street and Shaw’s Road. Kingsway was built in the 1860s when Hollow Bank was filled in and the terms Lower Town and Higher Town were discontinued. The north side was redeveloped in 2002/6. A barn of about 1840 was revealed behind 6 Old Old Market Place, perhaps linked to the cattle market or used as stables. The remains of two cellar dwellings were also found.
Numbers 2, 4, 6 and part of 8 Kingsway are listed. Numbers 8/10 were Byrom’s drapery store, which was built in 1867 and closed about 1985. Byroms were previously in Old Market Place about 1850. Altrincham Garrick Society first met in Byrom’s cellar in 1913 with the entrance on Post Office Street at the back. Even in those early days the society was producing about 10 plays a year and used to perform at the Stamford Public Hall (demolished) and the Unitarian Chapel on the Dunham Road. Four generations of Ernill butchers have been at number 14 since the 19th century.
The shops and offices around the top of Post Office Street were again built by Brooks, complement the style of the Old Market Place bank and have weather vanes with Brook’s initials ‘WCB’ in them. Numbers 2, 2a, 4, 4a Old Market Place are listed.