HYDE CHESHIRE

Harry Rutherford's
Festival of Britain Mural




Friday 2 July 2010

Whit Walks

Some say the origin of the Whit Week processions of “Sunday school scholars” (which are still held to this day) date back to 19th July 1821 when there was a procession of the children of Manchester to commemorate the coronation of George IV. Other Scholars have traced the first “walks” back to around 1800, arising out of the Sunday School movement started in 1784. In Manchester, children were traditionally gathered in St Ann's Square to mark the anniversary of the Sunday School but the gathering was later moved to Albert Square.


Photobucket


Each Whit Friday, local churches or chapels in the region employed bands to lead traditional processions through the streets. Whit Friday was the "Scholars' Walk", when the girls would have a new dress and the boys would have new trousers, and neighbours, friends and relatives would give a penny for their new clothes.

Whit walks


Whit walks old co-op
St Georges Parade with their banner
just above Queen Street and the Co-op.

crowds market whit
During the 19th century Whitsuntide became an accepted holiday week for all, with the mills shutting down and the workers taking canal boat trips and later, with the coming of the railways, cheap rail excursions, mostly to Blackpool it seems!
whit walks hyde chapel

Hyde Chapel walking down past Enfield Street School.
Approx 1975

Zion Banner 1975

The Zion Congregation with their banner circa 1975.

Zion Congregational
Painting of the original Zion Congregational Church by my Dad.

19 comments:

Tom said...

I don't recall ever walking Nancy.. we never went to church.. yet mum always kept a bible n the house and an old one under her pillow.. I do recall the walks however and the 'new cloths'

Hydonian said...

I walked every year ,Tom with the Zion Congregational Church on Stockport Road. My Mum played the organ there so naturally I went to sunday school there. I used to love the occasion - new clothes and money were always a feature of the day! There used to be thousands walking. I believe the Zion had the honour of having the biggest banner :)

Tom said...

I remember the old church being there Nancy... have you got pictures of it? I think I've also got a poem from James Leigh that was wrote for a prize giving.. I'll have a look and let you know if I find it.

Hydonian said...

Yes , I've got a picture of it that my Dad painted, Tom. My Mum also wrote a book about the history of the Zion. I'll dig it out.There are some interesting pictures in it. The poem would be great to read ,too!

Tom said...

To have a painting by your dad, and a book by your mum must make you as proud as punch Nancy.. I've found the poem.. its called 'A Retrospect.
It says... Spoken At Zion Chapel Sunday School, On The Occasion Of The Young Men's Party, December 11th, 1897.

It is wrote in local dialect and there's 20 verses... I'll start writing it out next time I can't sleep and the house is quiet... ha!

Hydonian said...

Yes, Im very proud of both my parents ,Tom. As well as being the best Parents you could wish for they are also both very talented! :)

Tom said...

I have just come cross a picture of this water colour on the net... it's a stunner Nancy..

Hyde as so many talented people... I was just looking at that book of poems I mentioned and came across there words when reading the Introduction by Thomas Middleton.. he says:

"His motto is to make the best of life, and to put to good use the talents God has given him. He believes that every man may play his part well on the great stage of life..."

It ends with the following extract..

This world to me's a woodland fair;
I' every bush and tree
Aw hear some sort o' singing brid
Wi' sweeter song than me.

Yet there is just one sylvan spot,
One quiet snug retreat,
Wheer aw con twitter forth wi' joy
My feeble, faint pee-weet.

An' weel aw know mi humble song
To some great pleasure gives,
So thee bi' same as me, owd brid
An' twitter while theau lives.

................

Ha! well Nancy me might not 'Twitter while theau lives' ..... but we do blog...

Coy Hill said...

Popped over from good 'ol Wiggers World and what a treat! Even though I'm from the other side of the pond I simply love these old historical photos!

Carletta said...

So this is where you are hanging out now. :)
I've enjoyed the visit and must say this is a really wonderful endeavor.
Hope you're well and happy my friend. Tell Jane to give you a hug for me. :)

Tom said...

Coy.
Thanks for stopping by... I hope you will pop in now and then and see some of the other old items Nancy and I have in store. Keep up the great work you do with 'Country Captures' and don't worry I'll still be dropping in and catching up on your wildlife pictures.
Carletta:
Thank you for taking the time to follow the link over here.. I needed a rest from my other blog and have so for quitea while now. Doing this blog is very different as if really comes from the heart... and with my good friend Nancy a true Hydonian in every sense on board it just makes it such a pleasure bouncing stuff off each other and other Ex-Hydonians.
Don't worry though as I'll miss certain blogs and bloggers and will keep popping by and catching up... keep an eye on your comment section for my name .

Anonymous said...

Great article, totally what I wanted to find.

my website Cheap Ray Ban Sunglasses

Anonymous said...

I've been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours nowadays, yet I by no means found any fascinating article like yours. It's pretty worth enough for me.
In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the web will likely be much more useful than ever before.


my webpage コーチコピー

Anonymous said...

These Gallatin boot is considered styled on motorcycle boots.
Holidays is the best occasion to gift item such gifts.
Ugg boot look and think wonderful because of your sheepskin and constructed from wool used to achieve each pair.
During wet weather, use Repellent more frequently. http://islandclubhoa.
com/phpnuke/html/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=BrendanGo

Anonymous said...

Nixon was not discouraged when the huge businesses grew to
become bankrupt. three numerous dimensions ought to be fair
to pay back for your full stock of hats.

Look at my homepage: cheap snapbacks

Anonymous said...

あなた ルイヴィトン バッグ本当にすべきも快適と熱十分なにが裸足。歴史的オージー人々みなさシープスキン履物として日常生活essentials。これらバッグをまた控えめな 到着 で ゴージャスな カラー この種の 金属ゴールド、ピューターとして。 主要 驚き 待って あなたのため !

my web page :: エピ ヴィトン

Anonymous said...

They are often prepared to be delivered to your front doorway.
These mild wears are extremely preferable compared to the other readily
available headgears. When one decides to invest
in hat there is no will need to fear about whom it could be given.
This flawless source is recognized as on-line shopping retailers.


Feel free to surf to my page sunhaber.com

Anonymous said...

These ports are very important to the trade in the Pacific Rim.
Buyers are capable to carry on a phone dialogue even when upwards
of 30ft. Generally these are items that are offered at specially low cost price ranges.
Trust the other individual explicitly, with no uncertainties or
suspicions.

my site www.lowcostsunglasses.com

Anonymous said...

To be in a position to use the brand name in your substantially more affordable benefit was a distinctive picked by a wide vary of prospects.
You can check out out our journey luggage, our other types of oakley sun shades demonstrate.


Also visit my weblog ... Oakley Sunglasses

Anonymous said...

Leather has usually been linked with extremes.
Distressed hats have that worn out look or maybe the tea-stained feel.
We have built rocket ships, cars and trucks, and forts of all diverse shapes and measurements.
Of program, it retains masses of relevance when it golf.


Also visit my blog: cheap snapbacks