William Stewart Memorial Hall

Ashton Road, Denton
Dr William Stewart MD MCh KStJ was born in County Down, Ireland, on the 18 Jan 1865. He was a physician and surgeon and he came to England where he established a medical practice in Denton. He was appointed as the Medical Officer of Health for Denton and during World War Two he was the Medical Practitioner for the Air Raid Precautions (ARP). He was a Knight of the Order of St John and founder of the Denton St John Ambulance.

Left: Dr William Stewart.
Right: The Order of St John.
Saint John Ambulance This charity traces its origins to the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem) in the 11th century. In more modern times, the Saint John Ambulance Brigade was founded in June 1887 and on the 14 May 1888 the English Order of St John was granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria.

Census records show that his surgery and residence were both on Ashton Rd. He had two domestic housekeepers, Hannah and Helena Wolstencroft, who were a mother and daughter from Oldham.

In 1945, Denton Urban District Council presented Dr Stewart with an illuminated address in recognition of his 57 years of service (1888-1945) to the people of Denton. Dr Stewart died in 1949, aged 84 years, and in his memory the William Stewart Memorial Hall was built on Ashton Rd.

William Stewart Memorial Hall, early 1970s.
Grave of Dr William Stewart,
Denton Cemetery, May 2009.
In Affectionate Remembrance of WILLIAM STEWART M.D. M.Ch. K.St.J. OF DENTON WHO PASSED AWAY 3rd SEPTEMBER 1949. LIFE'S WORK WELL DONE.

Following construction of the Crown Point North Shopping Park a replacement memorial hall was built in a cul-de-sac on the east side of Taylor Ln.