HYDE CHESHIRE

Harry Rutherford's
Festival of Britain Mural




Thursday 31 March 2011

Name That Car

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This fantastic picture as been sent in by Janet Davis, remember it was Janet who also shared the pictures of Turbine Garage. This car belonged to the founder of F.Knowles and Sons Solicitors and is seen here parked outside their office..  Janet would like to know about this car.... any information would be much appreciated and a fitting way to say thank you to Janet for once again making a posting possible. If you can't name the car.. can you name the street.?  

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Close up of badge and mascot 

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It may well have look similar to this


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Our friend Eric Downs as sent in the above picture and he thinks it is a 1930s Morris Cowley as well.. thank you Eric for the picture.

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Views around Hyde (2)

One of my favourite places in Gee Cross - Gower Hey Woods. I am fortunate to live on the edge of it ,too.
Lots of lovely memories of this place.


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Gower Hey Woods in winter.


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Gower Hey Woods in Spring

Tuesday 29 March 2011

1147930 Sgt Horace Wigley

I was contacted recently by David Hamilton and what he told me solved a bit of my own personal family history jigsaw. Not just that but the story that unfolded was very moving....  I will now hand the post over to  David to tell the story his Uncle Horace

Your Grandfather, Tom, was the brother of my grandfather, Harry, which makes us 2nd cousins. I noticed that you have a photo of the ICI memorial tablet which bears the names of several employees who lost their lives during WW11, including Horace Wigley, and you say that he may have been related to your father.  Horace and your father,Harold, were in fact cousins, making you and Horace 1st cousins once removed, and Horace my uncle.


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I too heard the story about Horace when I was a child, but there wasn't much detail, also looking back it must have still been too painful for the family to talk about. Later on, I gained a keen interest in the RAF generally, and Bomber Command in particular, so it made perfect sense for me to find out more about Horace and his time in the RAF.

1147930 Sgt Horace Wigley Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve


Horace was born on 28th May 1921, the third child of Harry and Sarah Wigley. Their other children were Tom, Albert, Ivy, Hilda, and Brian. The family lived in Tanner Street, Hyde, before moving to St Mary’s Road in 1935.


Horace attended Greenfield Street School, and was a bright pupil. Due partly to the limited educational opportunities at the time, and also the need to get a job, Horace left school at the age of 14 to work for Mitchell, the coal merchant, putting coal into sacks and chopping firewood.
After this, he started work at I.C.I. in Newton as a calender feeder in a rubber processing plant.



Horace was an enthusiastic sportsman and, despite the heavy work and his slim 5 foot 6 inch frame, he still found the energy to pursue his passion for cricket, at which he was exceptionally talented. He was a member of the Talbot Road Methodist Church Cricket Club, and was also a keen harmonica player. He and other members of the team called themselves “The Harmonica Rogues” and performed in various church halls in the local area.

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Horace aged 17 

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Horace aged 18

On 15th March 1941, 19-year-old Horace signed up for the RAF at No.3 Reception Centre in Manchester, and was placed on reserve, to be recalled on 1st May 1941 and posted to No.4 Reception Centre at Bridgenorth for basic training. His next posting was to No. 6 School of Technical Training where he qualified as an engine fitter on 29th December 1941. He was then sent to RAF Ayr, a Fighter Command station, where he was later recommended for training as a Flight Engineer and sent to No. 4 School of Technical Training. He obtained his brevet on 29th July 1942 and was promoted to Sergeant. Flight Training began at No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, where he teamed up with F/Sgt W.J. Hannah and his crew fresh from a Bomber Command Operational Training unit. After they converted onto the Short Stirling four-engined bomber, they were posted to 15 Squadron at Bourn, Cambridgeshire on 23rd September 1942.


Three days later, on 26th September 9 1942, Horace married his childhood sweetheart, Monica Foley, who also lived in St Mary’s Road.

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 Horace and Monica at St. Mary’s Road 


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Horace and Monica’s wedding day                              


Horace’s first operation with 15 Squadron was around the French coast, “gardening” (dropping sea mines) in the Gironde estuary on the night of 27th October 1942 in Stirling Mk.1 R9201 coded LS-U. The operation was both successful and uneventful.


His second, fateful, gardening operation was on 6th November 1942 with the same crew and aircraft. That evening, LS-U was the last of three Stirlings detailed for operations over French coastal waters to take off from Bourn, lifting its wheels for the last time at 6pm. 
At 9.45pm local time, still on its outward journey over France, the Stirling was hit by flak whilst flying at low level. According to locals, the aircraft appeared to be attempting a crash landing on the marshes near St Andre-des Eaux, making a gradual descent until it hit a row of trees and cartwheeled into the ground, disintegrating but not catching fire. The crew of eight, four English and four New Zealanders, was killed instantly.
Because the aircraft crashed at a shallow angle, most of the wreckage was left on the surface of the soft ground and was easily recovered, but the four Bristol Hercules XI engines carried on across the marsh, the furthest one was found 500 metres from the main impact point.

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Stirling R9201 crashed in the centre foreground of this photograph.

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A piece of wreckage from Stirling R9201.


The airmen were gathered for burial by local people, and they were laid to rest together at Escoublac-La Baule War Cemetery on 9th November 1942, Father Robin Moyon conducting the funeral.

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Horace’s grave taken in 1948


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Horace’s grave in 2000

Horace lies in grave 17, Row D, Plot 2.

The inscription on his headstone reads:

“A silent thought
brings many a tear
for one we lost
and loved so dear”


Horace and Monica had been married for just 41 days.

Having served in the RAF for 1 year and 237 days and paying the supreme sacrifice, Horace was awarded the War Medal 1939-45, Aircrew Europe Star, and the 1939-45 Star.



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Horace’s Medals: 
(L-R) War Medal 1939-45, Air Crew Europe Star, 1939-45 Star



The crew of Stirling R9201 LS-U.


NZ412683            F/Sgt W.J. Hannah            Pilot                        Age 24
NZ411369            F/Sgt K.D. Chapman          Pilot                        Age 24
1147930               Sgt H. Wigley                   Flight Engineer        Age 21
1177718              Sgt J.C. Brookes                Observer                 Age 27
1255407              F/Sgt R.H. Drew                Air Bomber              Age 31
NZ411761            Sgt A.W. Jarvis        Wireless Op/Air Gunner     Age 22
NZ41140              Sgt J.M. Burgess                Air Gunner              Age 31
1318591              Sgt S.J Butcher                  Air Gunner              Age 20

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Crew graves (R-L): Jarvis, Wigley, Chapman, Hannah, Brookes, Butcher, Burges, Drew.


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Escoublac-La-Baule War Cemetery




Thank you David

Monday 28 March 2011

Inside Gee Cross Mill

Up-Dated 30th July 2011...  it seems these great pictures are copyright protected.... and should not have been used without permission..   I am however very happy to report that once having my wrist slapped we have been allowed to keep showing them here.   

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Warehouse 

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Testing Room

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Scutching Room

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Reeling Department

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Engine

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Cotton Mixing Room

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Cardroom


I'm informed the originals of the above 7 pictures can be seen at: http://www.uniqueorrare.com/uor-1953.htm where they are offered for sale together with details of their history and full copyrights.
I'd like to thank Michael Cole for allowing these pictures to remain on view in this posting.
UK booktrade information and services for 120 years http://www.UKBookInfo.comItems for collectors and museums you won't find elsewhere http://www.UniqueOrRare.com Reprints of historical photographs and images http://www.clique.co.uk/coloptics/index.htm

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Gee Cross Mill shown reflected in the canal.

Thanks to Jack and Doreen Morris for the fabulous photo
(...and I've added a bit of artistic license) :)




If you can add any information about these rooms or what it was like to work in such a mill ,please do so ... we would love to hear you memories. Also, I would like to add a picture of the mill itself to this post, so if  have one and would like to share it... please do.

Saturday 26 March 2011

Old Hyde

We have John and his friend Mark to thank for these two pictures I have seen the first one but the second I'm not sure if I have or haven't... anyway both are perfect to show here.

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John says "The photo of Hyde Market is a great shot; I wonder what the policeman was saying to the children on the right where the present bus shelter would be. It's just typical of the two trams, you wait ages for one then two come at once! Nothing's changed has it? It looks as though the first tram is going to Edgeley, was this the forerunner of the old 30 bus route?"

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John says "This photo of Market Street is a fantastic snapshot of life, I presume around the First World War. It looks as though there is a parade march past of troops marching down the street. Note that there is a Union Jack hanging off what was the Co-op. Also note the group of people outside the bakers; I’ve assumed that it is a bakers shop because I think there may be a Turog sign on the wall above the shop, please correct me if I’m wrong. It’s interesting to note that there doesn’t appear to be any overhead cables for the trams. The house to the left are still there but those on the right have since been demolished."

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Same view of above photo taken 2011

I noticed Hepworths shop in the top picture..... I showed a view of Hepworths with my Grandma marching past with the British Legion. The other buildings to catch my eye are the old supermarket and the main Co-op on Greenfield Street, that must have been a 'newish' building when the picture was taken. 


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 Greenfield Street/Market Street Co-op

In the second picture my eyes are drawn to the posts for the overhead lines... they look very ornate... but those scrolls and fancy curves mask the strength wrought iron work can take. The Co-op on the corner of Market Street and Queen Street is a nice building... the round corner is a pleasure to look at still. 


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Queen Street/Market Street Co-op


Thank you John for this post... and thanks for the recent pictures that Dave as supplied 

Friday 25 March 2011

Update on Eclipse Brewery location

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Barbara Berrys Jug .
UPDATE
It appears that the Eclipse Brewery stood around the junction of Fernally Street and Mottram Road - where the corner of Morrisons is.

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The middle of this map appears to be the approximate site of Eclipse Brewery.

Thursday 24 March 2011

Views Around Hyde (1)

We show such a lot from Hyde's past, yet forget that what we see today could one day be lost for future generations and with that in mind I'd like to start a collection of photographs on here to show off Hyde at it's best.  Digital cameras and mobile phones have opened up many people to the joy of photography and I'm sure that many of you will have pictures they have taken and would like to share them on here. If so please send them to us at hydonian@gmail.com stating where the view is, and from where taken.  


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Werneth Low and Hacking Knife
From Harrop Edge

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In the distance can be seen Shutlingslow, often refered to as Cheshire's Matterhorn
From Harrop Edge

I know that Nancy and Dave will enjoy this section... I have seen pictures from them both that shows the true beauty that can be found in Hyde if only we take the time to look... I look forward to seeing your pictures. 

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Mosques of Hyde

The Hyde Jamia Mosque and Islamic Centre stands at 16-18 Greenfield Street and 21 Jackson Street but fronts onto Corporation Street. It holds a capacity of 500 men. It is one of two Mosques that are in Hyde , the other being Muhammadiyah House of Wisdom which stands at 33 Ridling Lane in what used to be the Oddfellows Public House.

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Hyde Jamia Mosque and Islamic Centre

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Muhammadiyah House of Wisdom

The Muhammadiyah House of Wisdom is not used for all 5 prayers.
The gathering of rememberance of Allah takes place every Monday at the centre, at around 7.30pm.

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Turbine Service Station

Mottram Road And Fernally Street

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We were sent these in a few weeks back and I was thrilled to see them... I was hoping to find out some information about this garage that seems to be remembered by quite a few of our readers. Please let us know as much about it as possible.... it was in business for many years let there is so little wrote down about it.  Check out those prices by the way... and I wonder how much petrol was back then...  If you can name the cars please do so.

I would have liked to have mentioned who sent these great pictures in... but we seem to have lost quite a few 'Saved' emails... most likely my fault tidying up at 'Daft O-Clock' at night. Please let me know who you are and I of course will update the post to thank you.

UPDATE

Thanks to Janet Davies for the wonderful photos - Very welcomed as always ! :)

Sunday 20 March 2011

The "Waterboard" Building.

The Waterboard building stands at the top of Lumn Road behind the Playgroup "Rainbow Corner". You can also see it from Mansfield Road. I don't know anything about it ,when it was built and for what purpose etc so if anyone out there has any information I would be very happy to hear it.
It has remained unchanged throughout my lifetime and has always been a secretive building....maybe this is because it was inaccessible.


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The building as seen from Mansfield Road.

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Seen from a birdseye view.
Lumn Road is to the left and Rainbow Corner playgroup is the white building in the bottom lefthand corner.


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I took these January after seeing Gerald England post on it and thought it was an old pumping station but wasn't sure, so I decided to go and have a look what I could find. The gate off Lumn Road was open so I was able to get inside and take these two pictures...of the building.
           

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I also took a shot of a notice by the side of the door you can see on the left-hand side of the building in the first photo. It's not very clear, but the notice reads:

               NORTH WEST WATER
  CHEMICAL AND FUEL DELIVERIES
ONLY ACCEPTED WHEN SUPERVISED
           BY A DESIGNATED N.W.W.
                        EMPLOYEE
Dave

Saturday 19 March 2011

What Grafton Street used to look like.

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Some of the rough land has now been replaced  with the part of Clarke Way that runs past Illingworth  and Inghams Wood Yard... 




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I've updated Tom's post and attached this photo which is pretty close to the viewpoint of the photo he posted on Saturday. You can see that it's the other side of Clarke Way which according to the A-Z is now part of John Street, but I notice from the agenda for the Hyde District Assembly meeting last night (I didn't go, but it's on the Tameside website) that they're seeking approval to rename that little bit from Grafton Street to John Street because Cheshire Car Centre, who are in that little bit, have complained that the Grafton Street address which they currently have is causing confusion to their (potential) customers. Fair enough, I suppose - but it appears it may be the A-Z which is leading people astray.


Dave (22/03/11)