Together Trust Archive

This year marks some important anniversaries with regards to the Charity's presence in Cheadle.  After the purchase of over 23 acres of land the first of the Charity's children moved into Cheadle in 1920 to a building that already existed known as Belmont House, which in 2023 is currently being partially demolished. The Charity however began constructing their own buildings soon after, the first completed was known as Crossley/Gaddum now home to Inscape House School. The building officially opened almost 100 years ago in July 1923 with 40 boys from the Charity's orphan homes in George Street, Cheetham Hill moving in soon after. Stone Laying Ceremony for Crossley/Gaddum building, Cheadle 1922 Two years later in 1925 later Hayes/Shaw now home to Ashcroft School opened and 20 girls and 20 boys again moved from the George Street homes to Cheadle, meaning all together over 120 children were accommodated on the Cheadle site. The Charity's ambition was however even greater. Th...

 I've recently been exploring some of the Trust's records relating to Bethesda, a home for children with disabilities and long-term health conditions which was opened in 1890 and closed in 1999. The Bethesda service demonstrates how the Charity adapted to changing times and the work carried out at Bethesda had a long-term impact, influencing subsequent services provided by the Charity. The Bethesda service existed in a number of different locations throughout its history. Between 1890 and 1958 it was located in George Street, Cheetham Hill providing a home for orphaned children with disabilities or those whose health conditions meant their parents could not care for them. The terminology used to describe the service at this time, 'Bethesda Home for Crippled and Incurable Children' would certainly not be used today but was reflective of attitudes of the time. Emotive language was used to encourage donations as seen in the 1891 Annual Report's description of Bethesda ...

It's local and community history month, so we are looking at some of the communities across Greater Manchester and Cheshire that have helped us change lives over the past 150 years.

Tuesday saw the culmination of many months work with the hosting of our ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ event.  The commemorative garden at our Central Offices

While we rejoice at the advent of peace and the vindication of righteousness, we remember with awe the price. How many homes in our beloved land will mourn some who will never return! The end of the war has even renewed the sense of loss to many. We have our own sad yet proud record as an Institution. There was a ready response to our country’s need in the early days of the war from officers and boys alike, and we have had the sad tidings time by time of those who have fallen – a member of Committee, three officers in charge of the boys, and 29 of the boys themselves. It is indeed true of these, as of so many others that they, 'Died for us'. - The Children’s Haven (1918) On the 11th November 1918 , the country celebrated the end of World War One. Four long years of fighting had finally come to an end and people spilled out onto the streets, flag waving, rejoicing and singing. But peace had come at a great cost and for many, including our great charity, there were those who ...

It’s that time of the year again when quiet descends upon the Together Trust’s head offices in Cheadle. As its two schools, Ashcroft and Inscape shut up shop for the summer, only the main central administration building now remains open. Crossley Gaddum The summer usually signals the exchange of children’s voices for the sounds of drills and hammering. The six weeks of the school holidays allows a chance for building work on the now empty buildings. As both Ashcroft and Inscape use buildings built by the charity in the 1920s, it is perhaps not surprising that work often needs doing. The buildings now contain classrooms for the education of those who attend the schools, but 100 years ago they were built as children’s homes. Then known as Hayes, Shaw, Crossley and Gaddum, they housed both boys and girls, catering for around 20 in each. To those who lived there the buildings today still look familiar from the outside. There are still however, some features that remain on the inside o...