For the purpose of this project, the Ford  Bank estate is defined by the roads in this table – Ford Lane; Fordbank Road; Deneford Road; Harefield Drive; Whitehaven Gardens; Woodford Gardens; Granville Gardens; Westmorland Road; Dene Road, as far as Westmorland Road; Spring (later Springdale) Gardens, but only the houses built by Roy; Victoria Avenue, but only the six houses built by Roy; and Spath Road, but only the eight houses built by Roy.

Origin/significance of the names of two new post-war roads

Granville Gardens – likely named after a person or family of that name with links to Didsbury or Manchester but, in the absence of historical documents, difficult to confirm.

Westmorland Road – likely gets its name from the historic county of Westmorland, which is now part of Cumbria. The name “Westmorland” is itself derived from Old English words meaning “land of the West Moors”. Given the area’s history and development, it’s plausible that the road was named to evoke a sense of the English countryside.

Over many years I have asked original residents of these two roads the significance of the names but to no avail. In recent times enquiries have been made with the city council and others but, again, without success. The information may well be lost in the mists of time. 

Other building

In 1952, permission was granted for 18 houses and garages to be erected on Sandiway Drive, Spath Road, Dene Road and Westmorland Road.