Milk's Royal Garage
204 Wilmslow Road

On the 1921 census of Long Lane, for the even numbered side, there was Bruckshaw’s farm, where Outwood Primary now stands, the Long Lane chapel and then Edwardian villas and Victorian cottages up to the Griffin pub. Where the garage and shops would be built in the 1930s, were two meadows both owned by John Cross, aptly named Little Turnpike Road field and Big Turnpike Road field.

Located on Long Lane, Wilmslow Road, (an original turnpike road) this garage would be ideally situated on the only main road that led into Manchester, via School’s Hill. By the 1939 register an array of shops serving the community had been built and the garage was alongside them.

Cyril and Doris Milk lived at 204. He was a self-employed motor engineer aged 36 and his 39 year old wife was doing unpaid domestic duties. Here I am assuming was the Royal Garage, perhaps only one or two petrol pumps back then, with a place for Cyril to mend cars too.

Alongside it were two cottages called Royal Garage cottages 1 and 2. In number one lived retired coppersmith Thomas Taylor aged 75 and his wife Mary aged 67. In number two lived 30 year old gardener Henry Hewitt and his wife Edith, also 30. Both ladies were doing unpaid domestic duties (housewife).