Landed families of Britain and Ireland

This site, which was short-listed for the Society of Architectural Historians (GB) Colvin Prize in 2019, presents my research into the landowning families of the British Isles and the country houses which they owned. Comments, especially in the form of corrections, additional information or new illustrations, are very welcome. Please use the Contact Form in the right hand side bar to contact me privately or the comments facility at the bottom of the page to make a public comment.

Monday, 11 May 2026

(635) Birch of Failsworth Lodge and Broughton Lodge

It seems likely, as stated by Foster, that this mostly Presbyterian nonconformist family were kin to the Birches of Birch Hall (Lancs), since both lived in the large parish of Manchester, but I have not been able to demonstrate the connection. The genealogy below begins with Josiah Birch (1723-86), a successful yarn manufacturer, who was the eldest son of Thomas Birch (1698-1764) and the grandson of another Thomas Birch (c.1670-1713). Josiah and his children were closely associated with the Cross St. Presbyterian Church in Manchester, and until 1770, Josiah and his wife Elizabeth Scholes lived in the High Street of that city, presumably in the house which he later bequeathed to his unmarried daughters. He then built Failsworth Lodge, a few miles outside the 18th century city (but well within the modern conurbation), which if a villa rather than a true country house, still had ornamental gardens and extensive accommodation. Josiah had a large family of six sons and six daughters, but two of the daughters died young and three more remained unmarried. All six of the sons seem to have pursued mercantile careers, many of them within the cloth industry which formed such an important part of Manchester's regional economy. Josiah's eldest surviving son was John Birch (1756-1828), who moved to the Cartmel district of south Lakeland and established the Backbarrow Cotton Twist Co., from the profits of which he built Broughton Lodge in the 1780s. John, who was unmarried, seems to have shared this house with his brothers and their families, who perhaps all used it as a holiday home. However, in 1808 John and his partners became bankrupt, and the house was sold to help pay his debts.

On the death of Josiah Birch in 1786, Failsworth Lodge and his family business seem to have passed to his fourth son, Samuel Ogden Birch (1765-1804), who also acquired a home at Backbarrow, near his elder brother's business. In 1793 he bought out his father's partners and continued in business as a sole trader, but at some point around 1800 he moved to Sicily with his family, probably for health reasons. In 1804 he died of a fever, which also killed one of his daughters, and the rest of the family returned to England.

Stoney Dale, Field Broughton. Image: C.J.Wright/Historic England

Failsworth Lodge was put on the market soon after his death, but if it was sold it seems to have been bought by Samuel's younger brother, Scholes Birch (1769-1850), who made it his main home until it was finally sold out of the family in 1819. Scholes was brought up as a Presbyterian and his own children were mostly baptised at Cross St., but two of his sons became Anglican clergymen, and one of them was the first Archdeacon of Blackburn, 1877-85. Scholes, who like his brothers was in the cotton industry, spent part of his time at Broughton Lodge until it was sold in 1808, and soon afterwards built a comfortable but modest three-bay house nearby, which he called Stoney Dale. This seems to have become his main home after the sale of Failsworth Lodge in 1819, although shortly before his death he moved south, sharing a house at Leamington (Warks) with his daughter and after her death, living at Brighouse (Yorks WR) with his son. Stoney Dale passed to his eldest son, George Birch (1793-1869), but had apparently been sold by 1859. Charles Birch (1795-1842), the fourth son of Samuel Ogden Birch, settled at Litherland House, a two-storey, five-bay house near Liverpool, in which city he was a merchant and banker. After his death at a comparatively young age his widow moved first to Cheltenham (Glos), then to Heston (Middx), and finally to a house on Putney Hill (Surrey), which she called Broughton Lodge, and where she died in 1883. Her only son, Lt-Col. Charles Birch (1838-99), who qualified as a barrister but did not practice, and was a militia officer, settled at Lympstone Grange (Devon), which like so many of the houses the family were associated with, was a large house in the country, but not a 'country house'; it passed to his widow but had been sold before her death in 1920.

Failsworth Lodge, Lancashire

The remarkable survival of a plain but polite red brick house of five bays and three storeys, with lower two-bay wings set back on either side. The lintel of a doorway at the rear has the initials JEB (for Josiah and Elizabeth Birch), and the date 1770. The central doorway on the entrance front has a broken pediment. The interior has been much altered, but is said to retain the original dog-leg staircase and some doors and overmantels on the upper floors.

Failsworth Lodge

Failsworth Lodge: the setting of the house in 1849.

The house was already in multiple occupation by the early 19th century, and part of it was in use as a school by 1830. In 1849 it still retained ornamental grounds and an avenue flanking the approach drive, but a dyeworks had been built by the river west of the house, which cannot have improved the amenities of the location. In the 20th century the house became a club for workers at the Avro engineering company, but after this closed it fell into disuse. The surrounding land was developed as a housing estate in the early 21st century and the house, which is now known as Lancaster Lodge, was converted into flats after 2022.

Descent: built 1770 for Josiah Birch (1723-86); to son, Samuel Ogden Birch (1765-1804); sold? to brother, Scholes Birch (1769-1850); sold 1819 to John Heywood (b. 1803).. sold 1936 to Sir Roy Hardy Dobson (1891-1968), who established the Avro Engine Works Club (aka the Lancaster Club) in the house... sold to Bellview Homes.

Broughton Lodge, Field Broughton, Lancashire

The house is said to have been built around 1780 for John Birch (1756-1828), the eldest surviving son of Josiah Birch of Failsworth Lodge, and there is a superficial resemblance to the slightly earlier Failsworth house: this is again a five bay, three-storey block with a hipped roof and lower wings.

Broughton Lodge: entrance front in 2012. Image: Karl and Ali. Some rights reserved.

However, at Broughton Lodge, the scale is slightly smaller and the wings have a more sophisticated Palladian treatment, with links leading to pavilions with pediments and Venetian windows under super-arches. There is also a central porch with unfluted Ionic columns. Inside, there is said to be a fine drawing room, with Adam-style plasterwork, fireplaces and doorcases, and an original staircase with stick balusters. When the house was sold in 1808, the accommodation comprised dining and drawing rooms (both 24 x 17.5 ft), a breakfast room, music room (30 x 19 ft) and study, with a billiard room in the west wing and ten principal bedrooms. The house is now in multiple occupation.

Descent: built for John Birch (1756-1828); sold after his bankruptcy in 1808... John Wakefield (fl. 1831-51); sold 1851 to the sitting tenant, John Barker (1797-1869); to son, John Daye Barker, who sold 1901 to C.E.J. Knowles...

Birch family of Failsworth Lodge

Birch, Josiah (1723-86). Eldest son of Thomas Birch (1698-1764) and his wife Susannah (1702-40), daughter of Josiah Jesse of Manchester, born 18 January 1723. Yarn merchant, in partnership with John Rigby as John Birch & Sons. He rose high in Manchester society, serving as Constable, 1763-64, honorary treasurer of the Manchester Infirmary, 1776-83, Vice President of the Manchester Agricultural Society, 1783, and Treasurer of the Manchester Academy. A nonconformist in religion. He married, 27 October 1748 at Prestwich (Lancs), Elizabeth (1725-83), daughter of Thomas Scholes of Prestwich, and had issue:

(1) Thomas Birch (1749-74), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 28 August 1749; probably a partner in his father's business; died unmarried in the lifetime of his father, 14 September 1774;
(2) Susannah Birch (1751-1823), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 27 February 1750/1; lived latterly at Liverpool; died unmarried, 30 January 1823, and was buried at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester;
(3) Ann Birch (1752-56?), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 1 January 1753; perhaps the person of this name buried at Manchester Collegiate Church (now Cathedral), 1 December 1756;
(4) Elizabeth Birch (1754-1820), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 24 July 1754; married, 23 February 1773 at Manchester Collegiate Church (now Cathedral), John Kennion (c.1748-1827) of Liverpool and London, merchant, and had issue at least two sons and one daughter; lived latterly at Amersham (Bucks); buried at Bunhill Fields Burial Ground, London, 14 January 1820;
(5) John Birch (1756-1828) (q.v.);
(6) Sarah Birch (1758-1833), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 4 July 1758; lived with her elder sister at Liverpool; died unmarried, 20 May, and was buried at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 23 May 1833;
(7) Mary Birch (b. & d. 1760), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 24 April 1760; died in infancy, 22 May 1760;
(8) Charlotte Birch (1761-91), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 12 November 1761; died unmarried, 16 April and was buried at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 22 April 1791;
(9) Josiah Birch (d. 1792), of Leyland (Lancs), said to have been born in 1755 or 1763, but no baptism traced; married, 30 April 1789 at Chorley (Lancs), Anne Dawson, but had no issue; buried at Leyland, 20 July 1792;
(10) Samuel Ogden Birch (1765-1804) (q.v.);
(11) George Birch (b. 1768), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 14 February 1768; merchant in St. Petersburg (Russia); married, 7 December 1804 at the British chaplaincy in St Petersburg, Jane Cramp but had no issue; death not traced;
(12) Scholes Birch (1769-1850) (q.v.).

He lived at Failsworth Lodge from 1763 and rebuilt it in 1770.

He died 29 September 1786 and was presumably buried at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, since he was commemorated by a memorial there; his will was proved in the PCC, 14 February 1787. His wife died 26 May 1783 and was also buried at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester.

Birch, John (1756-1828). Second, but eldest surviving, son of Josiah Birch (1723-86) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scholes of Prestwich (Lancs), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 13 October 1756. Educated at Manchester Grammar School. A director of Backbarrow Cotton Twist Co., in partnership with Robert Robinson, Dave Barker and others, but became bankrupt, 1808; the partners were discharged in 1809. He was unmarried and without issue.

He built Broughton Lodge in Cartmel (Lancs) in the 1780s, but it was sold in 1808 after he became bankrupt.

He died 9 March and was buried at Cartmel, 13 March 1828.

Birch, Samuel Ogden (1765-1804). Fourth son of Josiah Birch (1723-86) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scholes of Prestwich (Lancs), baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 9 June 1765. Educated at Warrington Academy. Yarn merchant in partnership with his father; he took over the debts of the partnership to trade on his own account in 1793, but went to live in Sicily (probably for his health) around 1800. He was a Steward of the Manchester Royal Infirmary and a supporter of the Lancashire Humane Society. A nonconformist in religion. He married, 16 August 1787 at Manchester Collegiate Church (now Cathedral), Mary (1766-97), daughter of Rev. Humphrey Owen, chaplain of the Manchester Collegiate Church, and had issue:

(1) Elizabeth Birch (1788-1819), born 21 May and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 4 June 1788; married, 23 February 1808 at Acomb (Yorks), Capt. Thomas Gajitan Ragland (d. 1816) of Gibraltar, and had issue two sons (one of whom became a noted missionary in India) and one daughter; died in Gibraltar, 1819; will proved in the PCC, 10 November 1819;
(2) Josiah Birch (1789-1867), born 8 July and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 28 July 1789; merchant in St Petersburg (Russia); married, 14 November 1814 at the British chaplaincy in St Petersburg, Maria (d. 1867), daughter of Noah Cazelet, and had issue three sons and two daughters; died in St Petersburg, 11 April 1868;
(3) John Birch (1791-1806), born 2 February and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 2 March 1791; died young at Broughton Lodge, 25 November 1806;
(4) Thomas Birch (1792-1806?), born 21 February and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 19 March 1792; said to have died in 1806 but burial not traced;
(5) Mary Birch (1793-1804), born 15 September and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 7 November 1793; died young at Messina, Sicily, of the same fever as her father, March 1804;
(6) Charlotte Birch (1794-1812), born 2 November 1794 and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 23 January 1795; died unmarried at Backbarrow (Lancs, now Cumbria), 29 March 1812 and was buried at Cartmel (Lancs), 1 April 1812;
(7) Charles Birch (1795-1842) (q.v.).

He inherited Failsworth Lodge from his father in 1786, and also had a home at Backbarrow. Failsworth Lodge was advertised for sale after his death, and was probably sold to his brother, Scholes Birch (1769-1850).

He died at Messina in Sicily (Italy), 7 March 1804; his will was proved in the PCC, 6 September 1806. His wife is said to have died 1 September 1797, but no corresponding burial can be traced, and a 'Mary Ogden Birch', who was named in Samuel's nuncupative will as his wife, was granted administration of his goods in 1806.

Birch, Scholes (1769-1850). Sixth and youngest son of Josiah Birch (1723-86) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scholes of Prestwich (Lancs), born 28 October 1769 and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 1 March 1770. Twist merchant and spinner in Manchester, in partnership with Maurice de Jongh and others, as Scholes, Birch & Co. He was an officer in the Newton and Failsworth Volunteers (Maj. and commanding officer, 1803). He was elected a member of the exclusive Manchester Billiard Club in 1800, and largely paid for the building of St Saviour's church, Chorlton-on-Medlock (Lancs), where his son became the first rector, 1835. He married, 2 April 1792 at Halifax (Yorks WR), Caroline (1774-1840), second daughter of Joseph Priestley, merchant, of White Windows, Sowerby, Halifax, and had issue:

(1) George Birch (1793-1869), born 16 November 1793 and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 6 February 1794; an officer in the army (Ensign, 1811; Lt., 1812; retired on half-pay, 1817); married, 10 February 1825 at Rotherham (Yorks WR), Eleanor Lucy (1804-90), daughter of Capt. Thomas Butler HEICS, and had issue five sons and four daughters; died at Cheltenham (Glos), 12 August, and was buried at Leckhampton (Glos), 17 August 1869; will proved 3 September 1869 (effects under £14,000);
(2) Harriet Euphemia Birch (1795-1849), born 26 July and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 14 November 1795; died unmarried at Leamington (Warks), 26 August, and was buried at St Saviour, Chorlton-on-Medlock, 30 August 1849; will proved at York, November 1849 (effects under £3,000);
(3) Henry Birch (1796-1843), born 19 October and baptised at Upper Brook St. Unitarian Church, Manchester, 18 December 1796; in partnership (dissolved 1827) with Maurice de Jongh and his brother Lea Birch, as Birch, de Jongh & Co., merchants and cotton spinners and later a partner in Atkinson, Birch & Saunders of Manchester, attornies (retired 1841); married, 8 February 1832 at St Michael, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, Charlotte (c.1796-1839), daughter of Thomas Downward of Liverpool, and had issue two sons and two daughters; also had an illegitimate son (Edward George Birch of Hamburg (Germany)), who was mentioned in his will; died at Leamington (Warks), 20 October 1843; will proved in the PCC, 14 February 1844;
(4) Lea Birch (1798-1868), born 18 October 1798; in partnership (dissolved 1827) with Maurice de Jongh and his brother Henry Birch, as Birch, de Jongh & Co., merchants and cotton spinners; a trustee of the Cross Street Presbyterian Church, 1840; a leading amateur cricketer with the Lancashire Gentlemen; married, 31 March 1824 at St Philip, Liverpool, Amy (c.1801-68), daughter of Thomas Downward of Liverpool, and had issue four sons and five daughters; lived latterly at Loxley Park, Uttoxeter (Staffs) and Gatcombe House (Devon); died 3 June 1868; will proved 2 September 1868 (effects under £30,000);
(5) Maria Birch (1800-01), born 20 July and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 28 November 1800; died in infancy and was buried at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, 18 May 1801;
(6) Rev. Joseph Birch (1807-71), born 31 March and baptised at Cross St. Presbyterian Church, Manchester, 29 September 1807; educated at Pembroke College, Oxford (matriculated 1827; BA 1831; MA 1837); ordained deacon, 1831, and priest, 1832; vicar of Bywell St Andrew (Northbld), 1841-42; perpetual curate of Brighouse (Yorks WR), 1842-62; chaplain to Mayor of Bristol, 1860-61; vicar of West Teignmouth (Devon), 1862-71; married, 22 May 1833 at Rotherham (Yorks WR), Fanny Lea (1810-68), daughter of Capt. Thomas Butler of Thurcroft Hall (Yorks WR), and had issue three daughters; died 4 May 1871; will proved 16 May 1871 (effects under £4,000);
(7) Ven. Edward Birch (1809-86), born at Broughton Lodge, 17 May 1809 and baptised at St Nicholas Street Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, 1 July 1810; educated at Eton and St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1827; BA 1831; MA 1844) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1827); ordained deacon, 1832, and priest, 1833; rector of St Saviour, Chorlton-on-Medlock, 1836-68; canon of Manchester Cathedral, 1862-78; vicar of Blackburn, 1868-86, and first archdeacon of Blackburn, 1877-85; married 1st, 29 December 1836 at Manchester Collegiate Church (now Cathedral), Marianne (1817-44), eldest daughter of John Lees of Skircoat, Halifax (Yorks WR), and had issue three sons; married 2nd, 8 January 1846 at St Saviour, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Caroline Isabella (1821-52), eldest surviving daughter of John Sharp JP of Barnfield, Manchester, iron merchant, and had issue one son; married 3rd, 1 March 1855 at St Saviour, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Eliza Maria (1825-1906), eldest daughter of William James Wilson MD, of Clairville, Manchester, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 9 August 1866 and was buried at St Saviour, Chorlton-on-Medlock; will proved 30 September 1886 (effects £18,108);
(8) Thomas Birch (b. & d. 1813), baptised at Laughton-en-le-Morthern (Yorks WR), 15 May 1813; died in infancy and was buried at Laughton-en-le-Morthern, 17 May 1813.

He lived at Failsworth Lodge and later at Broughton Lodge and Stony Dale (built in 1811) in Field Broughton (Lancs).

He died at Brighouse (Yorks WR), 22 January, and was buried at St Saviour, Chorlton-on-Medlock, 28 January 1850; his will was proved at York, 6 May 1850. His wife died 22 June and was buried at St Saviour, Chorlton-on-Medlock, 27 June 1840.

Birch, Charles (1795-1842). Fourth son of Samuel Ogden Birch (1765-1804) and his wife Mary (1766-97), daughter of Rev. Humphrey Owen, chaplain of the Manchester Collegiate Church, born 27 December 1795 and baptised at Cross Street Presbyterian Chapel, Manchester, 23 May 1796. Educated at Manchester Grammar School. Merchant and director of the Liverpool Royal Bank. JP for Lancashire. He married, 25 March 1837 at Sefton (Lancs), Ellen (c.1801-83), daughter of Francis Rockliff of Liverpool and widow of Robert Blanchard (1781-1834) of Seaforth Vale, Litherland, and had issue:

(1) Lt-Col. Charles Birch (1838-99), of Lympstone Grange (Devon), born 13 March and baptised at Sefton, 11 October 1838; educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1856; BA 1860) and Inner Temple (admitted 1860; called, 1864); barrister-at-law, but did not practise; an officer in 3rd battn, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (Lt., 1860; Capt., 1865; Maj., 1880; hon. Lt-Col., 1885); married, 13 December 1864, Emma Edith Malet (1842-1920), daughter of James Grant Lumsden, and had issue one son (killed in the Boer War, 1900); died 7 July and was buried at Lympstone, 11 July 1899; will proved 26 August 1899 (estate £43,371);
(2) Frances Birch (1840-1919?), baptised at Sefton, 13 February 1840; living, unmarried, in 1902 and probably the woman of this name who died at the Hotel Schweitzerhof, Lucerne (Switzerland), 31 March 1919; her will was proved 10 July 1919 (estate £19,576).

He lived at Litherland House (Lancs); his widow lived for a time in Cheltenham (Glos) and Heston (Middx), but latterly at a house called Broughton Lodge on Putney Hill (Surrey).

He died 2 March, and was buried at St Mary, Edge Hill, Liverpool, 8 March 1842; his will was proved at Lancaster, 22 April 1842. His widow died at Folkestone (Kent), 18 October 1883; her will was proved 7 January 1884 (effects £4,394).

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1925, pp. 140-41; J. Foster, The royal lineage of our noble and gentle families, together with their paternal ancestry, 1887, pp. 17-18;

https://100hallsaroundmanchester.wordpress.com/2021/06/26/100-halls-around-manchester-part-51-failsworth-lodge-failsworth/;

https://www.mueller-humphreys.de/Humphreys/DicksonElizabeth/DicksonGeorge2/BarkerHarriet/BarkerJohn/BarkerJohnE.html

Location of archives

No significant accumulation is known to survive.

Coat of arms

None recorded.

Can you help?

Can anyone show how this family were related to the Birchs of Birch Hall?
Can anyone provide fuller ownership information for Failsworth Lodge or Broughton Lodge, after their sale by the Birch family?
Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 11 May 2026.