Urmston - House and Shop, Talbot Road

Talbot Road was originally a section of Crofts Bank Road leading into Davyhulme Circle, it was given its name in 1929 when the Circle was established. However, to avoid confusion, it was renamed in 1933 as an extension of Crofts Bank Road. This road was an early example of a concrete-paved street in the district.

As noted by David Smith in his book An Alphabetical History for the Urmston Urban District the Davyhulme Circle shops were constructed in the early 1930s using various architectural styles. The house and shop at number 8 were commissioned by draperer Harold Daykin. In the 1939 register Harold Daykin is still living at the address with his wife Lily but their occupation is recorded as Sugar Confection. 

Over the years other businesses that have traded from the premises include Atkinson’s Sweet Shop, Bon Fabrics and the building is currently occupied by “Made Studio Manchester.”

The house and shop are an example of the domestic revival movement in architecture that began in the 1870s. This style became synonymous with suburban development with estates on the outskirts of cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester built to cater for the expanding, aspirational middle classes, looking to move away from congested urban areas to live in more charming, picturesque homes. 

Mock Tudor homes were particularly popular, featuring steeply pitched gable roofs, half-timbering (decorative wood beams against a brick or stucco wall), leaded windows with diamond panes, and large chimneys.   Unlike authentic Tudor homes, which were often built with timber frames, mock Tudor houses used modern building materials such as brick, stone, and plaster, with timber accents purely for decorative effect.

The style left an indelible mark on the UK’s suburban development and remains a cherished part of the architectural heritage of the early 20th century.

The building was designed by architect Alfred Edward Johnston McCutcheon (1876–1952), who was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1876. By 1901, he had relocated to Manchester, where he lived in Raby Street, Moss Side and worked as a joiner. By 1911, he was employed as a clerk of works. The earliest records of A. E. McCutcheon as an architect and civil engineer date back to 1928, when he was in his early fifties, with his architectural practice at 4 Chorlton Street.

By 1936 McCutcheon was living at 2 Sandy Lane in Stretford. He passed away on October 20, 1952, in Stretford. Most of his known projects were small-scale residential and retail buildings. However, his final work, the golf house at Davyhulme Park Golf Club, demonstrated a strong understanding of contemporary Modernist architecture.

The house was built by Joseph Spark & Son Ltd, an eminent firm of local builders founded in Urmston in 1880.

The company traces its origins back to 1880 when Joseph Spark (1847–1923) established a timber mill. Over time, it evolved into a timber merchant and contracting business, becoming a longstanding presence in Urmston. The company was carried forward by Joseph’s sons—George, Joseph, and Donald—who continued its expansion.

Initially, the business operated alongside Greenfield Farm and at the corner of Station Road, where shops now stand. In 1928, it relocated to its more well-known site on Higher Road. Spark & Sons became a Limited Company in 1948. One of their notable local projects was the construction of the English Martyrs Church on Roseneath Road, along with many homes on Church Road.

The company contributed significantly to the area's architecture, including the addition of a tower to St. Clement’s Church, the Cottage Hospital, and the brick chimney at Simpson’s Food Factory. If a comprehensive list of their completed projects were ever compiled, the scale and impact of their work would surely astonish the public.

Further research

You can find more building plans and archival records using the Trafford Local Studies catalogue

Sources

https://www.urmston.net/urmston_a-z.pdf

Some History of Davyhulme Circle by N Wolden (1991, updated 1995)

The 1930s House Explained by Trevor Yorke

Alfred McCutcheon - Architect | Architects of Greater Manchester

Talbot Road Davyhulme aerial photograph. Trafford Local Studies Collection cat.ref. TP11376

Plans for house and shop, Talbot Road, 1928. Trafford Local Studies Collection cat.ref. PLA/2/BAR/1928/1/1709

Ordnance Suvey Maps