I thought that the more affluent area's of Hyde should get a mention in the Blog, so I've found a bit of info and a few photos of Bowlacre Lane in Gee Cross.
The History of Hyde by Tom Middleton has the following to say on the subject:-
Bowlacre Lane, which branches from Stockport Road, above the Gerrards, leads to Bowlacre Farm, and a path through the farmyard wanders through the fields in a westerly direction, and ultimately emerges in a lane near the cluster of stone houses known as "Back-o-th-hill", Here there are two farms--Higher Back-o-th-hill, and Lower Back-o-th-hill. The path continues to a third farm known as Hillside, which is almost on the boundary line of the borough. This farm has an ornamental lintel stone dated 1746.
The Tithe map below shows the area in the mid 1800's, when the whole area was farmland. Bowlacre Lane itself seems to have been started around the 1880-1890's. The "Croft" and "White Gates" showing first on the 1900 map. The Lane was later extended up to it's present end near to Bowlacre farm.
The construction of the large house at No 18 Bowlacre known as "Rusland" probably in the 1940's.
