In 1892, during excavation work in connection with the building of the Manchester-Sheffield-Lincoln railway line, a stone axe was found in the Gore Brook area. It probably dates from the Neolithic or New Stone Age (3500-2000 BC) and is an indication of how long this area has been settled by man.
Continued occupation of the area is evident as the line of Hyde Road is believed to be a Roman Road. It would have been constructed during the occupation from 79 AD until around 390 AD, after which it fell into disrepair until coming back into use in the 19th century.
It says so here.
Alas, I came too late – the Neolithic and Roman citizens having absented themselves sometime earlier, I assume. Gore Brook we are told was christened by the subsequent Danish inhabitants – filth they found to be the most apposite name for a brook.
Had I arrived in 1905 I would have found an area strewn with mature trees, picture book cottages and sylvan glades. Along with the emergent network of railways and attendant industries, hot on their heels.
The population increased from 3,000 in 1845 to 13,500 in 1890, and again to 27,000 in 1900. The Gorton Works of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln railway opened in 1848.
So the heady, carefree days of postwar expansionism, filled the area with industry, homes and people – a largely white working class population, with an Irish heritage.
I came in search of a pub The Garratt – alas again too late was the cry, this former Holt’s pub, with extensive decorative tile work and etched glass windows, depicting its railway connections was long gone – along with Beyer and Peacock and their enormous locomotive – now immobilised in the Museum of Science and Industry
So here we have Manchester’s History in microcosm, boom and almost bust, a short lived period of wealth that was never evenly distributed and eventually disappeared in a puff of locomotive steam. Hard working workers no longer slaking their thirsts, following a hard day’s work.
Lively atmosphere, and somehow it struggles on.
Ignore the Mild pump as they do not sell it.
The building is currently in use as a mosque
The Gorton Works of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln Railway closed in 1963, Gorton Foundary closed in 1966.
Archive material Manchester Local Image Collection
Manchester's Estate Pubs 
I knew that Stockport Road was a Roman Road running from a fortification near Buxton to Mamucium at the bottom of Deansgate, but was always led to believe that Hyde Road was a 19th century creation over fields, and did not follow the line of any Roman Road.
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Thanks John – I was simply quoting a source from Manchester Gov. Hyde Road could be a link from Melandra to Mamcumium
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/511/conservation_areas/1230/gore_brook_valley_conservation_area/3
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I used to be a proper regular in the Garrat most nights during the mid 70’s late 80’s along with Peter Dutton,Raymond Dodson,Chris Bowden,Gary Schofield,Johnny Carroll,Gary Cooper,Paul O’Reilly, Tommy Reagan,Paddy Joyce,and lots of other Gorton lads from over the border from the other end of the Red path. We used to frequent the ‘room’ mostly feeding the excellent jukebox one old regular Mrs Read would often ask us to put on the ‘clever bastards’ song There ain’t half been some clever Bastards by Ian Drury and the Blockheads. Yeah we had some great times in the Garrat it was a bit rough and ready butvit was full of old Long sight and Gorton characters that’s for sure.
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I have been in The Garrat and really liked the Holts bitter in there.
Yes it was a bit on the rough side,but that does not bother me.
I did it on a large pub crawl that started on Stockport Road and through the back streets to Hyde Road.
I have a nice photo of it when i did it many years ago.
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