Bankfield Hotel

Thomas Middleton in his book The History Of Hyde said that most of the inns of Hyde had been either rebuilt, or had new fronts fitted, and were quite different in appearance to the old inns of his generations forefathers. One such inn was the Bankfield. The old Bankfield on Mottram New Road was a much less pretentious structure than the modern hotel standing on the same site and shown above. It was famous for its pleasure gardens which were known as Bowker’s Gardens, from the fact that Joshua Bowker was the proprietor. The gardens became a popular resort for the people of Hyde and surrounding townships. A band pavilion stood in the gardens, and in front of it was a spacious platform for dancing. At nights there were balloon ascents and illuminations, and the place was run as a sort of miniature Belle Vue.

On the brook side behind the Bankfield Hotal and Bankfield Terrace, there stood for about an hundred years a Bone Mill, this mill was erected about the end of the 18th century, by Mr. Randal Hibbert; it had a picturesque appearance, which was enhanced by the lake-like reservoir behind it; and at one time it was a very busy place. It was demolished by the Calico Printers’ Association, about the year 1903. Randal Hibbert built Boston Mills, and it was at these mills that the Ashton’s first began cotton spinning.

Alas this is another of Hydes lost inns now... it is such a shame but Hyde just cannot support the pub trade like it once did. There's two terracotta panels on the side of this building one on each of the chimney supporting walls..... these relate to the now defunct 'Kays' Atlas Brewery of Ardwick.