Irene Preston's Historical Writing
HISTORY OF PICKFORD OF POYNTON
Matthew Pickford of Adlington, a farmer and timber merchant, had
premises in Wood Street, Manchester. He died in 1740 and left them
to his elder sons John and Matthew to be sold, and everything to be
shared between his four sons. An advert was placed in the Manchester
Mercury newspaper, July, 1742.
John was married in Poynton parish and was a tenant in 1770. He set up a
carrying business, as many farmers did, along the Manchester to London
route.
James, son of John, was described as a Manchester and London wagoner
with a base in London, and a bookkeeper. He had six broad-wheeled
wagons each pulled by eight horses with a ninth as a reserve. Wagons
were worth £180 and especially bred horses worth £540. His vehicles
took nine days to reach London and eight to return on his twice weekly
service, which also included passengers.
James took up a further tenancy from Sir George Warren in 1741 and
with his son Matthew rented larger and larger areas of land. James died
in 1768 aged 59.
During the 1790s Sir George Warren enlisted the help of Matthew to try
to secure a canal link to Stockport.
Matthew was the largest land owner, second to Sir George, and by the
time
of Matthew's death in 1799, aged 58, the family had the largest single
tenancy, with ground rented from both Sir George Warren and Peter Legh
of Lyme in Norbury. In 1803 Matthew had 20 horses at Poynton, 30 at
Leicester, 60 at Stoneystratford and 100 at London. Brother Thomas was
in London and eventually retired from the business and took up farming.
Matthew had used canal boats where possible and he owned 28 boats and 50
wagons. He had offices in Fountain Street, Manchester and at Castle Quay
the terminus of the Bridgewater Canal.
There were sons of Thomas in London and sons of Matthew in Poynton
but financial problems forced the head office to be situated in London.
The last of the family connection was the death of Thomas II who died in
1846. The Pickford name was kept for removals, storage and carriers for
the railways.
For over a hundred years Poynton transport had provided work for grooms,
drivers, blacksmiths, shoesmiths, saddlers and innkeepers.