AFTER a chequered history Heaton Grove, the once-stately mansion on Manchester Road, Bury, has risen like a phoenix from the ashes and will go into the 20th century with a new role in the community.

Fairclough Homes are well on with work which has included the rebuilding of the imposing structure and its conversion into up-market flats.

Heaton Grove was built around 1840 for Thomas Heaton who was Governor of Redvales Workhouse.

It later passed to Richard Hacking, a local JP who died in 1862 when it was put up for auction.

Subsequent famous owners included Thomas Lomax Openshaw and builder James Byrom.

William Whewhell was the last occupant, a man famous for breeding Shire horses.

His animals, all with the prefix Heaton, won over 1,000 first prizes and hundreds of championship awards.

He was awarded the MBE for services for the conservation of the gentle giants.

When the house fell empty various schemes were put forward and a Manchester business man wanted to pull it down and develop the site with houses.

Local people objected and various arguments rumbled on about the grade two listed building and its future.

Early in 1988 a fierce blaze all but gutted Heaton Grove and the property developer faced rebuilding it, even though it had almost been demolished.

In 1995 Fairclough Homes applied to build homes but locals were against this and demanded that the Palladian fronted building should be restored to its former glory.

Local civic crusader Munroe Hall campaigned to have it rebuilt and converted into flats but there were still complaints about access.

Eventually a compromise was reached to turn the hall into flats and build some houses in the grounds.

Now a new access road has been created and 16 detached homes have also been built in the grounds.

The final scheme included the preservation of trees ensuring that the original outlook of the Grove will remain much as it has been for many years.

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