[janwhin]

One branch of my ancestors were coal miners living in Radcliffe. My 2 times grandfather's oldest brother was killed in the pit in 1885 by a fall of stone at age 64. He left a will, passing all his estate to his wife (£228 3s). His wife died 4 years later and also left a will (£188 0s 3d) and what interesting reading it makes. They had no children (all died before aged 10) and must have saved their money and bought property, perhaps using rents to buy more. She owned 4 cottages on the north side of Marks Row, from photographs that seems to be all the ones at that end apart from the one nearest Edwin Street. Unexpected and it shows it's worth looking for wills even when you think the ancestors would be too poor to make one!