Archive on Barcroft acquired

Edgar Wood Society has acquired a small archive of original material on Barcroft, 193 Bolton Road, Marland. This is an Edgar Wood designed Arts and Crafts house of 1894. Today, it is listed grade II, and although altered, is in good condition. It can be seen from the main road between Heywood and Rochdale.

It was built for an artist friend, Benjamin C. Brierley who, like Wood, was a member of the Rochdale Art Society. He is remembered for a series of paintings of local old halls and for being an important member of the Co-operative Movement. After Barcroft, Brierley helped to fund Marland Church, one of Wood’s radical church designs, now sadly demolished. Then, in 1911, he and his family emigrated to Western Australia and became a pioneer farmer.

The house is interesting for its vernacular inspiration and having an open plan layout, something quite advanced in 1894. It has a large central chimney and, originally, big stone roofing flags (now replaced). Inside, the vernacular informs the planning with just two multi-purpose rooms accounting for all the non-service ground-floor functions. A  ‘hall’ combines the functions of  entrance hall, staircase and sitting room, while a large living space containing an inglenook and a square corner bay window serves as dining room, study and drawing room. The authentic-looking inglenook closely resembles that at Tonge Hall, Middleton, with a fire-window and a heavy bressummer supporting two large farmhouse-style beams.

Anthony Cosgrove showed the archive to society members after a successful committee meeting.