The fascinating story of the flower house everyone drives past on the A56

For the thousands of motorists who use the A56 in and out of Altrincham each day it is a familiar sight.

A white cottage behind a hedge with a wealth of colourful blooms for sale outside.

It's a place where motorists can pull into the lay-by conveniently located outside on the highway, just off the M56, and buy fresh bouquets, lilies and roses from early in the morning til 8pm at night.

But few may know the extraordinary history of this flower house first started almost 100 years ago at Streethead Cottage, and continued on by the same family to this day.

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Today, the business is run by Robert Corby, 62, and his son Paul - who are carrying on the flower-selling tradition first started by Robert's nana, May Ellen Corby back in August 1926.

Back then Streethead Cottage was the "tithe cottage" for the gardener of the local Lord and Lady of the manor at the bottom of the hill, where the Bowdon roundabout off the M56 now sits.

Robert's granddad Bob was the head gardener of the estate back in the 1920s, and kept his own garden at the cottage just as immaculate.

Back then, the A56 was the main road from Chester to Manchester.

Bob's wife May Ellen would put flowers on the hedge for people walking and driving past to buy - and it swiftly took off as a small business.

Their son, Tony, would continue the tradition, and they bought the attached cottage to live in, while the flower house became the business side.

And stepping into the flower house today is like stepping back in time - for it has barely been touched in the past 100 years aside from modern electrics and double glazing, with the original old stone floors and old fireplaces but no heating.

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