History sought for furniture store
AGE UK Cheshire East has celebrated the third anniversary of taking over Newbridge House on Henderson Street, Macclesfield, where it houses its secondhand furniture business.
The business, which collects and sells quality and used furniture and house accessories across four floors, enables the charity to raise vital funds to support the charity’s work with local older people.
To mark its third anniversary, the charity wants to learn a little bit more about the history of this local landmark.
It is believed that the building was originally built as a mill back in the mid-19th century, and since that time has been used for a wide variety of functions, believed to include a clothes shop and a college.
The Macclesfield Express itself published a photo of the building back in April which showed women and young girls at work in what was then Clapham’s Shirt Factory somewhere between 1910 and 1919.
Nowadays, the four storey building houses a wide range of furniture which has been donated by local residents and collected for free, the proceeds of which all go to help fund the local charity’s services – including Men in Sheds, which is located directly behind the mill building.
David Rahman, showroom manager, said: “It’s amazing to think that we are using a building today to sell furniture that was originally built over 150 years ago to make shirts.
“Since that time, many different businesses have used the building and we would love to feature some pictures in our showroom entrance which chart the amazing and varied history of this place.
“We often get customers asking about what the building was used for, or telling us that they have a relative or friend who once worked here, and we therefore thought that it would be a great idea to find out a little more.
“There is even reputedly a ghost of a girl who used to work in the mill who walks up and down the stone staircase in her clogs, but none of us have ever seen her.”
If you can help the charity find out a little more about the history of its building, have photographs that could be used in the buildings entrance, or would just like to donate some furniture, please get in touch on 01625 440776.