Town Ln, c.1900.

View from near the Acre St corner which is off the picture on the right. Stockport Rd is behind the viewpoint.

The Court House, with steps, is on the right and in the yard at the back there is a Lock Up where offenders could be temporarily held. By the mid-19th century this part of Denton was the administrative centre known as 'The City'. Afterwards local government moved to the town hall and other public buildings around Crown Point but the area retained its name.

In the distance on the centre right the terraced houses stand on Melbourne St and the building behind them is the Vinery Hat Works. By 1931 this was occupied by the Denton Hat Co Ltd who later moved into Victoria Hat Works on Wilton St.

The Court House, c.1900.

This was located on the north side of Town Ln and it was entered by a flight of steps to give it a more imposing appearance. At the rear of the building there was a building with a cellar that was used for the purpose of a lock up.

This court house and lock up superseded the village stocks.

The Lock Up, c.1900.

This building behind the court house was once used as an overnight holding place for anyone arrested by the parish constables. Prisoners would then be brought before the local Justice of the Peace for trial. Punishments usually consisted of clearing ditches, unblocking drains and removing rubbish.

It is understood that it was seldom used by the parish constables who kept the peace; Constable Grimshaw for Denton and Constable Bowcock for Haughton.

Town Ln, c.1900.

Jolly Hatters, 1890s.

This public house is situated on the south side of Town Ln, about 195 yards before the lane turns sharply southwards. This view shows the original building after it had been acquired by Chesters Brewery Co Ltd of Ardwick, Manchester, in 1892.

The Jolly Hatters was originally a beerhouse that was opened in a converted cottage, set back from the lane, and associated with a farm. It was granted its first licence in 1857. It is understood that the first landlord was Alfred Moss whose father occupied the farm and also brewed beer.

By 1901 the landlord was Samuel William Hibbert and following his death in 1906 his widow, Mary Ann née Robinson, took over and she remained there until the early 1920s. In 1929 the original beerhouse was demolished and rebuilt much larger and in alignment with Town Ln.

Town Lane House, c.1900.

This house was situated on the south side of Town Ln just before the Tom Croft corner. By 1851 it was the residence of the Cooke family and at this time William Walker Cooke was a commercial hat traveller and his brother, Edward, was a silk hat body maker. Prior to this William Walker Cooke was trading as a hat manufacturer, dealer and chapman (pedlar) under the style of William and Edward Cooke but on the 25 Oct 1847 he was declared bankrupt.

William Walker Cooke was born at Denton in 1823/24 to William Goddard Cooke, a hat manufacturer, and Mary Walker who were married at St Michael’s Church, Ashton-under-Lyne, on the 5 Sep 1822.