SJ8896 : Hyde Road, Gorton
taken 12 years ago, near to Gorton, Manchester, England
The grade II* listed building Link was commissioned and endowed by Richard Peacock, engineer and partner in locomotive-building firm of Beyer and Peacock. The cornerstone was laid on October 30th 1869. Replacing the former Gorton Chapel which was built in 1703, it was designed by Manchester architect Thomas Worthington, a prominent Manchester Unitarian, and opened in 1870.
The grounds contain many graves dating from the former chapel and a mausoleum for Richard Peacock and his son Ralph. Link The tower houses a peel of eight bells but they are only rarely rung. The adjacent grade II listed Link Sunday School was sold to a Housing Association and converted into retirement homes after becoming disused and derelict for a number of years.
Interesting accounts of the church can be found at the Gorton Local History Group Archives site: Archive Link and on Robert Siddall's memorabilia site: Archive Link