As part of the Jubilee celebrations in 1931 Thomas Middleton wrote a script for a pageant which included scenes from Hyde's past introduced by Father Time. This scene seems to be connected with the first section of the pageant which showed the conquest of the Ancient Britons by the Romans.
Another scene from the pageant of 1931. The pageant was performed on Hyde United football ground which was decorated for the occasion by a mock-up of a medieval castle.
Photos and information taken from the book Hyde in Old Photographs by Alice Lock.
Many Thanks.
If I'm not mistaken by the angles, the tall chimney in the bottom photo belongs to Boston Mills.
ReplyDeleteThe chimney was still standing up until the mid-seventies, then it was reduced to a 10 foot high stump, which is still there to this day.
If I'm not mistaken Thomas Middleton rode the white horse which was loaned for the occasion by Charlie Barnett a farmer from Godley. Two of the Roman soldiers were Jimmy Timperley and Albert Taylor, and a lady known locally as Russian Annie played an ancient British Queen.
ReplyDeleteHi.
ReplyDeleteYou are almost certainly aware of Thomas Middleton's position as the jubilee mayor of Hyde in 1931, but he was a remarkable gentleman who, amongst other things,wrote the book The History of Hyde and it's Neighbourhood.
According to the book he also wrote;
Legends of Longdendale
Poets, poems, and Rhymes of East Cheshire
Old Godley
The History of Hyde Chapel
Denton, Ancient and modern
and more.
The copy I have is from 1932, published by the Higham Press, Hamnett Street.
If this is of interest, I am currently experimenting with the recognition of script from photos. (photo the page - convert to adobe - edit or send) there are wonderful stories from times gone by which I am happy to share
rgds
Phil Leech