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Sharing our memories of Heald Green
Last Updated 9th Feb 2025
Mercury House
By Helen Morgan
First Published on Facebook 08/10/2023
Last Updated 09/02/2025
A varied history over time. From fields to semi-detached houses to estate agents before dentists, dry cleaners, launderette and who can forget True Value.
Fig. 1 Mercury House September 2023
© Helen Morgan
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A building seen everyday as you go down Finney Lane, although few will remember it as Mercury House and now only the M remains.
The name Mercury is a recurring theme within the village and goes back to 1958 when our telephone exchange arrived. The prefix HEA had already been taken for our new telephone numbers. Hg is the name for mercury in the periodic table and so MER became ours.
Let’s go back to when the area around the tanyard and bark mill (now where the Co-op stands) was just fields and ponds. In 1839 alongside it was a large five acre field of pasture land owned by the Executors of Isaac Worthington and occupied by John Worthington. The plot name was Near Long Flatt; flatt being a medieval word for fertile cultivated areas. The Worthington family owned the tanyard and the house and outbuildings next door called Brook House. This would become Beech House later and was a private school with Mr Spoonley as the feared Headmaster.
During the war it was the air raid precaution post. It would eventually be knocked down for the parade of shops. The family also owned many acres of land at this end of the village. By 1888 two semi-detached houses had been built. There was also a building in their back gardens, that may well have been the outside toilets.
Fig. 2 Map of the site of Mercury House 1888-1913
© National Library of Scotland
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The semi nearest the tanyard would become 138 Finney Lane and the other one 140.
It has been really difficult, looking back through the censuses, to ascertain who lived there at this time without just making a guess. As there were so few houses and cottages the censuses just say either Finney Lane or just Heald Green! I cannot say for certain until 1921.
Fig. 3 Mary Rogerson at the garage 1925
© Peter Watson
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This photo is of Mary Rogerson at the petrol pumps of Rogerson’s garage in 1925. The Rogersons had taken over and converted the tanyard buildings. The 2 semi-detached houses are behind her and is where Mercury House stands today. At this time there was nothing in between the houses and the District Bank on the corner of Neal Avenue. You can see the bank, on the corner of Neal Avenue, through the trees.
In 1921 there were Clarkes living side by side in these two houses, father and son. In number 138 lived Samuel Clarke and his family. They had been farmers at Heald Green Farm (behind Heald Green House on what is now Irvin Drive). In 1913 the farm had been put up for sale and Samuel sold what he owned and moved on in 1914. The family may well have been in this house since then.
The census shows Samuel lived with his wife Ann who was also 67 years of age. Samuel still classed his occupation as a farm labourer. Their sons lived there. Joseph Booth was a 32 year old salesman and John George aged 24 was an engineer. Also living at the house was Bessie Clarke, noted as their daughter in law and a boarder James Newsholme.
By 1939 the Worthington family lived there. James, Lizzie, Ernest and Annie. They did have another son Richard. Oddly their address on the census says 138 Lock up garage Finney Lane. James was a plumber aged 57. Lizzie was 54 and doing unpaid domestic duties. Ernest aged 34 was a shipping textile merchants warehouseman. 32 year old Annie was a milliner.
This family had been in the village for many years. On the 1911 and 1921 censuses they had been in a cottage on the old Styal Road. James Worthington died on 30th November 1955 and probate was granted to his sons Ernest and Richard. From the electoral rolls, Lizzie remained in the house up to 1965/66. She would now be in her 80s. On 14th April 1967 she died and probate was granted to her sons. Richard was now a commercial traveller and had therefore survived the war if he had been enlisted. Peter Watson, the grandson of Mary Rogerson, remembered Lizzie well.
“I can remember the house next to the garage where old Mrs Worthington lived. She was probably in her 80s which was considered a great age then. I was often taken there by my grandmother, Mary Rogerson. There were pigs at the bottom of the back garden. We always went in the back way through the wash house, into the kitchen which contained the bath. From there into the back parlour where there was a range, the kettle on the hob and a clock with a pendulum ticking away the minutes. All very Victorian. I don’t think I ever saw the front parlour but maybe that was where old Mrs Worthington slept.”
- Peter Watson in conversation, 2021
Fig. 4 Drawing of window at house on Finney Lane next to Heald Green Garage c. 1965 67
© Peter Watson done for his O level Art
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In the 1960s the numbers of the houses changed and 138 Finney Lane disappeared from the electoral roll in 1967 and became 244 Finney Lane. It’s hard to say precisely when this house was demolished as there are no records for 1969 at Stockport’s Heritage Library.
By 1970 Mercury House had been built and new business tenants began trading as number 246. The Cleaning Centre opened up as a launderette on the right, and a dry cleaners next door.
By 1979 however they were separated and the launderette became the well-remembered True Value shop. You could buy just about anything in there and for me after payday I would in buying things for my “bottom drawer” ready for my wedding. From wooden spoons, egg slicer and glass juicer to pyrex dishes and earthenware. Indeed, I still have my brown, pot chicken that used to have our eggs in it. It is now in the garage full of bits and bobs, resembling Michael McIntyre’s “man drawer”, full of receipts, long forgotten keys, picture hooks, US coins, fuses you name it!!
The shop owners regularly gave prizes for village fundraisers and the Ratepayer’s charter train excursion.
“I remember True Value. Absolute treasure trove and to be honest they had the best black eyeliners ever. They didn’t smudge and lasted for ages. I was going through my black phase, hair, clothes and makeup, so a good eyeliner was essential. It was a treat to go in then, just as it’s a treat to go into The Village Saver, Wynors now (that’s the one closest to me) and the one at the end of the village. Immediate dopamine rush!”
- Rebecca Blu Facebook, 2023
“My mum made me go for a trial at True Value around 1982 but I couldn’t count the change back, so didn’t get the job.”
- Gill Crossley, Facebook 2022
“Next to the Dry Cleaners was True Value. I used to work there. I think it was 1980/81.”
- Jules Control Driving, Facebook 2021
“I worked as a Saturday girl at True Value on the cigarette counter for two years. I worked there 1984 to 1986 while I was doing my “A” levels. You used to get some right characters at the cigarette counter. One old chap who would come in wheezing and then buy 100 Capstan Full Strength. An old lady who had all her money loose in a pink crocheted bag. She’d hand the bag over for you to get the money out for her. There’d be hundreds of pounds in there. There was a lovely lady who used to buy a packet of Hamlet (cigars) for her husband. I remember her popping in to ask how my “A” levels went. I recall that her and her sister had married brothers. Mr and Mrs Brown owned True Value. They opened it in the late 70s but I don’t remember which year.”
- Kathy Simpson, Facebook 2023
“Lovely family that owned True Value, could get everything there. The lady moved to Tesco at Handforth Dean and still remembers us, although her family are all grown up.”
- Lynda Wagstaff, Facebook 2023
“True Value the jewel of Heald Green in its day! Used to get all my rubbers (erasers) there for my collection in the early 80s and then they stocked really good hair toners! Loved that shop!”
- Janette Bianchi, Facebook 2023
“Ha, but you could get the non-eraser type too.”
- Gareth J Bond, Facebook 2023
“I used to get wash in wash out colours.”
- Rebecca Blu, Facebook 2023
“Constance Carroll make up for me.”
- Cheryl Cable, Facebook 2023
“Constance Carroll for me too. I remember mum’s warning “Don’t touch anything!” A sign on the wall saying breakages must be paid for. All the ornaments and china shook on the left wall as you walked down the back.”
- Victoria Clark, Facebook 2023
“Oh Yes! The cola roller ball lip gloss!!!”
- Janette Bianchi, Facebook 2023
“Omg yes! Me too – had to be the translucent powder and roller lip gloss which stuck your lips together!”
- Sarah Jtr, Facebook 2023
“True Value was the place you could get anything (albeit not the best made). Having said that I genuinely still have some things in my garden shed with True Value price stickers on them. It was very useful when first setting out on buying your first house, as you could always get something there that was not expensive but also what you wanted!”
- Andrew Lee, Facebook 2023
Fig. 5 Advert in Heald Green Methodist Church Magazine December 1994
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Next came a string of charity shops starting with Age Concern by 1999.
Fig. 6 April 2009
© Google Maps
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Age Concern became Age UK.
Fig. 7 August 2011
© Google Maps
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I was told only recently that the rent on the property became too high for Age UK and they moved out. The building now houses the charity Mind.
Fig. 8 April 2015
© Google Maps
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Here are some of the staff who volunteer there now.
Fig. 9 Taken 7.9.2023
© H Morgan
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Back now to the history of the other house, numbered 140 Finney Lane. The Clarke family who lived there also have a fantastic history.
I found Robert Percy Clarke in 1901, aged 17, living at Waterfall Farm in Gatley as a farm labourer. His father Samuel aged 46 was the farm bailiff and his mum was called Ann. The oldest son was James Alfred aged 19 and a groom. Robert had two younger brothers, Joseph Booth aged 12 and John George aged 4.
By 1911 the family had moved to Heald Green Farm (that was off the old Styal Road, now Irvin Drive, behind Heald Green House). The family of six there had a 29 year old servant called James Webster from Manchester. They also had two boarders. George Thomas Joseph Taylor, a single man who was a station master, aged 28 and had been born in Gatley. The other was a retired 88 year old lady from Oldham called Sophia Augustus Dixon. It must have been a tight squeeze with only seven rooms counted upstairs and downstairs! Farmer Samuel was assisted in the business by wife Ann and his older sons James and Robert. Joseph was a house painter and John a gardener.
By 1921 Robert had married Florence and they had an 8 year old son, George Percy. They now lived in 140 Finney Lane, next door to the rest of his family. Robert was working for a Mr Brown of Wilmslow as a yardman. Florence was doing home duties. They also had a lodger. He was 67 year old Joshua Charles Whitney. He was an estate agent working at 11 Blackfield Street in Manchester.
In the Kelly’s Directory of 1929, Percy Clarke (Robert) is noted as the foreman for Brothers W. grocers. This was the new shop next to their house in what is now Nafees. By 1935 Percy was a coal agent, perhaps using Rogerson’s garage next door for his lorry? However, on the 1939 register Robert was noted as a manure carter and George a heavy vehicle builder. Florence was doing unpaid domestic duties (housewife).
The Clarke family remained on the electoral roll, as a home dwelling until 1959. In 1960 the house became a business, G S Burling & Sons Estate Agents. Also, the house number changed in the 1960s to 246 Finney Lane.
This is the latter 1960s and the front garden has gone from 246.
Fig. 10 Finney Lane postcard
sent 1967
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Fig. 11 Ratepayers Contact Magazine.
February 1963
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The houses were demolished, perhaps in 1969 and Mercury House was built by 1970. The Cleaning Centre moved in. The unit has had different names like Deluxe Dry Cleaners in 1990 but has been Heald Green Dry Cleaners for a long time now. Their sign states that they have served Heald Green since 1961, but I am not sure from where and have asked for clarification.
“Like all the houses on Finney Lane, the 2 houses next to the garage lost all or part of their front gardens due to the road widening, which was a great talking point in the village. I’m not sure of the date, perhaps late 50s, but it could have been early 60s. The paternal grandparents of a girl I was at school with, Katherine Clarke, lived in the other semi-detached house. I’m not sure when the houses next to the garage were demolished but it was probably after I had gone to Leeds University in 1969, otherwise I might have remembered it.”
- Peter Watson, in conversation, 2021
“I had a Saturday job at the dry cleaners, around 1976/77. They initially had both units.”
- Alison Aspinall, Facebook 2023
In 1970, upstairs became the dental practice of GF Schultz. Prior to this Mr Schultz senior, Leslie, operated a house practice over the road at 209 Finney Lane.
“My father started the practice in 1958 in our dining room, before having a purpose built surgery on the side. The photo with the vans is the men coming to fit out the new surgery, probably 1961/2. He was a keen cine enthusiast and belonged to Cheadle and Gatley Cine Club, who met at Gatley Hill House. When dad retired on 20th March 1970, and moved down to Cornwall, I opened up my practice on the first floor of Mercury House on March 31st 1970. I left there in 2009 and it continued under the same name, Ringway Dental Practice, before it eventually moved over into a house on the other side of Finney Lane.”
- Gary Schultz via email, 2023
Fig. 12 Leslie outside 209 Finney Lane house Practice.
© Gary Schultz
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Fig. 13 Vans queuing up to fit out the new surgery at 209 Finney Lane c.1961/62.
© Gary Schultz
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“When I was a small boy, we had no dentist in Heald Green and I had to go one in Wilmslow, to a big Victorian house down unadopted roads. Then Mr Schultz opened the dentist surgery in one of the houses on Finney Lane, in the same row where my grandparents lived.”
- Peter Watson, in conversation, 2021
Fig. 14 Mr Leslie Schultz
© Gary Schultz
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Fig. 14a Leslie Schultz life membership of Cine Club
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Fig. 15 Advert in the Rose Queen Programme, 1986
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“I worked at the Dental Hospital when Gary Schultz was a student, about 1962. Once qualified he practised in his father’s surgery over the road. I remember seeing him at Mercury House around 1971. When he was a student, we often travelled by train together from Heald Green.”
- Jean Brown Facebook, 2022
A trip to the dentist was not the best experience for many back then and although dentistry has come on leaps and bounds since then, it still isn’t!
“Schultz was my dentist as a child, he scared the life out of us and pulled teeth a lot!”
- Sean Ingham, Facebook 2021
“Mr Schultz was our family dentist for many, many years. Was really sorry when the practice finished.”
- Gillian Hollingworth, Facebook 2021
“I think that the original practice in the residence opposite to Mercury House was commenced by Mr Schultz senior. His son eventually took over. He always played unusual music in his surgery and he liked to talk about it whilst your mouth was wide open and inoperative! He was also very fond of eating ice cream and visiting the Tatton Cinema!”
- Michael Gorman, Facebook 2021
“I remember having my first ever dentist appointment with Schultz and went with my gran. He was over Finney Lane in a yellow painted house with the surgery at the rear. I must have been about 3? When he moved over the road to the new place, I remember he told me that I had to have 6 teeth out (at c.7 yrs old) as I had too many of them (wish I had them now!) There was a lot of blood believe me and he did it in 2 sessions, 3 at a time. Still, he seemed to have good holidays after that bit of work!”
- Andrew Lee, Facebook 2023
“He had 4 of mine within 2 weeks, when I was about 11 in 1988. 2 one week and then 2 the next! Looking back on it and having to have quite a few teeth pulled since, it was very traumatic compared to the later experiences. How I’m not scared of the dentist as a 44 year old, I’ll never know!”
- Dave Jones, Facebook 2021
“I remember my mum taking me to Mr Schultz dentist when I was a child. If I knew then what I know now, I would have listened to my mum!”
- Sue Woods Derby, Facebook 2021
“My dad went to that dentist. He was told he was the longest standing patient there. Even when he moved to Cornwall, he came back for his dentist appointments!”
- Michelle Fleming, Facebook 2021
“You were my family dentist for many years. Never since had one as good as you.”
- Clare Read, Facebook 2023
“Mr Schultz was my dentist for 38 years and was brilliant!”
- Janet Negus, Facebook 2023
“I’m just at dentist now, having one of my silver fillings replaced....one that you possibly filled.”
- Gill Crossley, Facebook 2023
Fig. 16 Gary Schultz’s photo of himself working at his practice in Mercury House
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I spoke to Gary via email and this is what he told me.
“Yes, I do love ice cream, especially coffee and we were avid cinema goers to the Tatton in Gatley. I do have one anecdote that springs to mind regarding Alan, who worked at the Dry Cleaners. One afternoon, one of the staff from the Dry Cleaners, came upstairs to my surgery in a panic. She said Alan had been stung by a bee and the bee sting was still in his arm. So, I went downstairs, tweezers in hand and very carefully removed the sting. Job done! He was a happy bunny. That’s one I will always remember.”
There wasn’t only a dentist upstairs though.
“My dad, Larry Henshaw, was an osteopath in one of the offices at the same time as Mr Schultz was there. I’m not sure how long it was for but probably only about a year. He then moved to offices above the shops in civic because the parking was easier for everyone!”
- Gill Russ Facebook, 2023
“I used to go to the dentist and a girl in my class, Nina Hargreaves’ dad had offices up there next to the dentist.”
- Sadie Jones Facebook, 2023
“The upstairs rooms at the front left were used by a chiropodist practice in the early to mid ‘70s. I think the chiropodist’s name was Mrs Roche.”
- Jonathan Waterworth Facebook, 2025
Fig. 17 Chiropodist Advert
Contact 1973
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Gary again,
“I do remember Mr Hargreaves. He was a really nice guy and a good neighbour. I think he was Peter Hargreaves and I think it was finance or insurance that he did.”
Gary Schultz practised from there until 2009. The next dentist kept the name, Ringway Dental Practice and by 2015 it had become Ringway Dental Care. In June 2016 the practice moved over the road to 187 Finney Lane, only a few doors down from where it all began!
Upstairs now is home to the Stockport Muslim Foundation. They moved in in 2016, after the dentist moved out. The first floor at Mercury House is used as a community hub for Muslims of various ethnic backgrounds living in Heald Green.
It is not affiliated to the Mosque on Wilmslow Road.
Fig. 18 Sign in the window above the dry cleaners, September 2023
© Helen Morgan
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Thanks again to everyone who has contributed their memories through our heritage Facebook page or personally.
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