blue plaque scheme

Blue Plaque Scheme

In 2015 the Town Council established a Blue Plaque Scheme to help visitors and residents identify with the history of the town.   The aim being to promote recognition and awareness of people, places and events which have a lasting significance in the life of Knutsford. There are 15 blue plaques in Knutsford:

Blue Plaque Scheme: Knutsford Sessions House

The Blue Plaque outside the Sessions House

Knutsford Sessions House (Toft Road)
“Built in 1818 and designed by George Moneypenny. The Quarter Sessions (later the Crown Court) was held in Knutsford since 1575 to 2010. Knutsford Gaol, behind the Sessions House closed in 1914 and was demolished in 1934.”

Henry Royce (Legh Road)
“Co-founder of Rolls-Royce motor cars lived here 1898-1908”

Gaskell Memorial Tower (King Street)
“Built in 1907 designed for Richard Harding Watt. Dedicated to Elizabeth Gaskell the famous 19th century author”

The Royal George (King Street)
“An ancient hostelry and later coaching inn. Became ‘Royal’ following visit by Princess Victoria in 1832. Princess Victoria (later Queen) and Winston Churchill stayed there.”

Edward Penny RA (Silk Mill Street)
“Born and lived in Silk Mill Street 1714-1768. Founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts”

Miss Matty’s Tea Shop (WH Smith, Princess Street)
“This property built in the reign of George I is reputed to have been the fictional home of Miss Matty the principal character in Mrs. Gaskell’s ‘Cranford’ and was also the home of Miss Elizabeth Harker upon whom Mrs Gaskell based her ‘Cranford’ character Batty Barker”

Brook Street Chapel (Unitarian Chapel, Brook Street)
“This was built following the Act of Toleration of 1689, which allowed Protestant dissenters to worship in their own Chapels. Elizabeth Gaskell, the Novelist, is buried in the graveyard.”

The Old Vicarage  (King Street / Drury Lane)
“This house was donated by will in 1718 to be used as a vicarage. Around 1910 Alison Uttley, countrywoman and children’s writer lived here.”

Sir Henry Holland (King Street)
“Sir Henry Holland, noted physician, traveller and writer was born here in 1788. He was doctor to two women important to George IV, Queen Caroline and Mrs Fitzherbert, to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and to six Prime Ministers”

Hollingford House (Arthur Lee, Toft Road)
“Hollingford House, formerly Church House – home of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Uncle, Dr. Peter Holland and his daughters, Lucy and Mary, thought to be the models for Miss Matty and Miss Jenkyns characters in Mrs Gaskell’s ‘Cranford’.”

Old Police Station (County Terrace, Bexton Road)
” 1848 County Terrace was erected “for the occupation of the warders and discipline officers” of Knutsford Gaol, which stood behind the Law Courts on Toft Road. This house served as a police station. Its cell block, now converted to domestic accommodation, survives in the yard.”

Marble Arch (King Street)
“This was once a coaching inn, thought to have been known as The Mermaid. It then became The Angel before the inn’s removal to the opposite side of the street in the early Eighteenth Century.”

Ruskin Rooms (Drury Lane)
“A ‘Welcome Club’ for officers of the American Third Army was opening in this building by General George S Patton Commanding Officer on 25th April 1944 prior to participation in the Liberation of Europe June 1944 to May 1945″

Old Chapel and Grammar School (King Street)
“A Chapel of Ease stood here from the 14th century until the Parish Church was built in 1744. A Grammar School was also here until 1887.”

Martin Bell MP (Longview Hotel, Manchester Road)
“The Independent MP for the Tatton Constituency commenced his political life here on Monday April 7th 1997. From the depths of ‘Bell’s Bunker’ he started a political campaign that was to capture the hearts and minds of fairminded local people, returning him with a significant historical majority to the Palace of Westminster”

For more information on Knutsford Town Councils Blue Plaque Scheme visit the Council’s website.

Knutsford.Net – Blue Plaque Scheme

Blue Plaque Scheme

In 2015 the Town Council established a Blue Plaque Scheme to help visitors and residents identify with the history of the town.   The aim being to promote recognition and awareness of people, places and events which have a lasting significance in the life of Knutsford. There are 15 blue plaques in Knutsford:

Blue Plaque Scheme: Knutsford Sessions House

The Blue Plaque outside the Sessions House

Knutsford Sessions House (Toft Road)
“Built in 1818 and designed by George Moneypenny. The Quarter Sessions (later the Crown Court) was held in Knutsford since 1575 to 2010. Knutsford Gaol, behind the Sessions House closed in 1914 and was demolished in 1934.”

Henry Royce (Legh Road)
“Co-founder of Rolls-Royce motor cars lived here 1898-1908”

Gaskell Memorial Tower (King Street)
“Built in 1907 designed for Richard Harding Watt. Dedicated to Elizabeth Gaskell the famous 19th century author”

The Royal George (King Street)
“An ancient hostelry and later coaching inn. Became ‘Royal’ following visit by Princess Victoria in 1832. Princess Victoria (later Queen) and Winston Churchill stayed there.”

Edward Penny RA (Silk Mill Street)
“Born and lived in Silk Mill Street 1714-1768. Founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts”

Miss Matty’s Tea Shop (WH Smith, Princess Street)
“This property built in the reign of George I is reputed to have been the fictional home of Miss Matty the principal character in Mrs. Gaskell’s ‘Cranford’ and was also the home of Miss Elizabeth Harker upon whom Mrs Gaskell based her ‘Cranford’ character Batty Barker”

Brook Street Chapel (Unitarian Chapel, Brook Street)
“This was built following the Act of Toleration of 1689, which allowed Protestant dissenters to worship in their own Chapels. Elizabeth Gaskell, the Novelist, is buried in the graveyard.”

The Old Vicarage  (King Street / Drury Lane)
“This house was donated by will in 1718 to be used as a vicarage. Around 1910 Alison Uttley, countrywoman and children’s writer lived here.”

Sir Henry Holland (King Street)
“Sir Henry Holland, noted physician, traveller and writer was born here in 1788. He was doctor to two women important to George IV, Queen Caroline and Mrs Fitzherbert, to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and to six Prime Ministers”

Hollingford House (Arthur Lee, Toft Road)
“Hollingford House, formerly Church House – home of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Uncle, Dr. Peter Holland and his daughters, Lucy and Mary, thought to be the models for Miss Matty and Miss Jenkyns characters in Mrs Gaskell’s ‘Cranford’.”

Old Police Station (County Terrace, Bexton Road)
” 1848 County Terrace was erected “for the occupation of the warders and discipline officers” of Knutsford Gaol, which stood behind the Law Courts on Toft Road. This house served as a police station. Its cell block, now converted to domestic accommodation, survives in the yard.”

Marble Arch (King Street)
“This was once a coaching inn, thought to have been known as The Mermaid. It then became The Angel before the inn’s removal to the opposite side of the street in the early Eighteenth Century.”

Ruskin Rooms (Drury Lane)
“A ‘Welcome Club’ for officers of the American Third Army was opening in this building by General George S Patton Commanding Officer on 25th April 1944 prior to participation in the Liberation of Europe June 1944 to May 1945″

Old Chapel and Grammar School (King Street)
“A Chapel of Ease stood here from the 14th century until the Parish Church was built in 1744. A Grammar School was also here until 1887.”

Martin Bell MP (Longview Hotel, Manchester Road)
“The Independent MP for the Tatton Constituency commenced his political life here on Monday April 7th 1997. From the depths of ‘Bell’s Bunker’ he started a political campaign that was to capture the hearts and minds of fairminded local people, returning him with a significant historical majority to the Palace of Westminster”

For more information on Knutsford Town Councils Blue Plaque Scheme visit the Council’s website.

Knutsford.Net – Blue Plaque Scheme