Ryecroft Hall is a Grade II listed building in Audenshaw, Tameside, Greater Manchester. Originally a home to several prominent local residents, the hall was ultimately donated to the people of Audenshaw by

Austin Hopkinson Austin Hopkinson JP (24 June 1879 – 2 September 1962) was a British industrialist and Member of Parliament (MP) who represented Mossley as an Independent from 1918 to 1929 and 1931 to 1945. He was also a noted benefactor to local causes, and ...

in 1922 and still serves the local community to the present day.

History

The land that Ryecroft Hall sits on was once owned by the Earl of Stamford and Warrington and was sold to prominent mill owner James Smith Buckley. Upon his death in 1885 the house was passed to his nephew

Abel Buckley Abel Buckley (1835 – 23 December 1908) was a British cotton manufacturer and Liberal politician of Irish descent.''Obituary: Mr Abel Buckley'', The Times, 24 December 1908, p.9 He was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, the younger son of A ...

the same year he became MP for

Prestwich Prestwich ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury. Historically part of Lancashire, Prestwich was the seat of the ancient parish o ...

living there until his death in 1908. Ryecroft Hall would ultimately be sold to

in 1913. During the first world war the hall was used as a voluntary hospital with over 100 beds, fitting in with his generous nature he donated the hall to the people of Audenshaw in 1920.

Present Day

Audenshaw council would ultimately be subsumed by Tameside Council and they currently own the hall which is used by the local community to this very day, as a testament to its history there are two blue plaques on the side of the building. One is of Austin Hopkinson who donated the hall and the other is of

Harry Norton Schofield Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Norton Schofield, VC (29 January 1865 – 10 October 1931) was an English British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can ...

who was awarded the Victoria Cross in the Boer War.

References

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Grade II listed buildings in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside Audenshaw