Views from Holy Trinity Church Tower

Below are a few photographs taken from the top of the tower of Holy Trinity Church back in the mid 1990's.

Hyde in Lights

 I finally timed my shopping trip to take in the christmas lights...
Well worth the wait, I think !




 

Hyde Seal Swimming and Polo Club.

Here is a photograph showing Hyde Seal Swimming Club circa 1970.

I recognise a few faces on here but the only name I can come up with is Ruth Grantham who is on the front row, 5th left.

If anyone knows any more names please let us know so we can add them.

HISTORY OF THE CLUB

Hyde Seal Swimming Club was established in 1895.
They were World Water Polo Champions in 1904,1905 and 1906 and English Water Polo Champions 1903/04/05/08/11/12/13/20/24.

The club used to be based at Hyde Baths but since their demolition it now uses Denton baths and Copley Recreation Centre.



The following article can be found on Hyde Seals website... hydeseal


"A stunning statue of a seal was revealed at Hyde Town Hall on Friday 25th May 2007 to commemorate one of Britain's least known but most impressive sporting achievements.


The statue recognises Hyde Seal's treble in the world water polo championships between 1904 and 1906.


Hyde Seal's men's team travelled to Paris in 1904 as English champions. They took part in a competition organised by the French newspaper L'Auto and defeated the defending champions, Brussels, 14-2 in a match which was played in the River Marne.


The team included George Wilkinson who went on to captain Great Britain to the Olympic water polo gold at the 1908 games in London and at Stockholm in 1912.  Hyde Seal returned to Paris in 1905 and 1906 to retain their title but the club's achievements did not end then.

In the ensuing years it has produced swimmers such as Lillian Preece and Sylvia Platt-Rogers.


Counciller Jackie Lane said: "Hyde's Seal's achievement cannot be understated. Hyde Seal has continued to do the people of Hyde, and indeed Tameside, proud in the 100 years since those victories in Paris. It is only right that the borough should regognise that through our ongoing and innovative street art project."


The unveiling took place at Hyde Town Hall Olive Bowker who won Leadbitter Knott Challenge Cup as schoolgirl champion of Hyde in 1932 and 1933 was there.


The group's championship trophy, the Spirit of the Whirlpool designed by Max Blondat, was at the unveiling as well as a ball from one of the finals and several medals". 

George Wilkinson

George Wilkinson, like many sportsmen of his day, went on to be a publican and was the landlord at the Wheatsheaf pub.

Werneth Low In The Snow

What a stunning photograph this is. I'd like to thank Tony Husband for this great view. I've had the pleasure of seeing many of Tony's photographs now.. he might be better known for his cartoons but the artist shows through in his photography work as well.. 

Thank to Paul Brooks for sending this in.

Stockport Road View ( Again)

This is a view from Stockport Road... but can you tell just where from?  as I'm not 100% sure.

Hyde "Grand Prix" Cycle Race

Here we have some photos of Hydes "Grand Prix" Cycle Race taken in 1952.
I have to admit that I know nothing of this race and hope someone can fill in some history on it, in particular, who won that year and who presented the trophy.


Corner of Mottram Road and Lumn Road. Brook Street is in the background ,to the left.


The same view in 2010

Same view today courtesy of Google maps.


Just turning up the corner of Lumn Road from Mottram Road. The Co-op building is to the right of the picture.I love the cobbled road although I bet it wasn't very comfortable to cycle over !!


...and we have a winner...!!



The winner is presented with the cup !!

Fantastic photos loaned to us by Tony Downend and taken by his Father.
Thanks very Much Tony, much appreciated ! :)

Old Isaac's or Cloughfold Farm

Clough Fold Farm

Old Isaac's

On the Cheshire Tithe map of 1836-51 the area is shown as 'Old Isaac's', alas I've not been able to find out any more about the name or if a man called Isaac once lived there.. the date stone below might hold the answer. The area was owned by  Thomas Howard according to the plot details, but the farm was occupied by a Betty Clough, maybe this is when the farm became came known as Clough Fold Farm.

Whilst looking at the Tithe map I checked out some of the plot names which I found interesting.

 Old Isaac’s, 14 Perches. Described as a Garden

Ben Meadow, 1 acre 2 rods and 37 perches. Described as a Meadow

Ben Croft, 25 perches. Described as a Orchard

Cow Lane Field, 4 acre’s 3 rods 31 perches.Described as a Pasture

Butty Meadow, 1 acre’s 2rod’s 10 perches. Described as a Meadow

The Ordnance Survey map of 1910 now shows the area named as Cloughfold Farm.  My dad and my grandfather before him had a series of allotments on land belonging to Cloughfold farm. Eventually this land and more like it was sold for development. I have very fond memories of how the allotments looked and the comradeship of the men who worked them.. Dads had it's own well which was well used by all the allotments until a standpipe was made available.

    

The map now shows a modern view of the area and the development of housing, The 'Clough' name still lives on in the road Clough Fold Road.. and the farm is still standing in the same place but was rebuilt in 1905 after a fire.

The date stone shows this building dates back to 1717, and was indeed rebuilt in 1905... what is interesting is the initials I. A. Could this be the Old Isaac's initials, and if so could the A be for Ashton.... The Ashton's have farmed in Werneth and Gerrards and hereabouts for donkeys years.. and if it was the Ashton's maybe the plots named Ben Meadow and Ben Croft are named after an Ashton also, as Benjamin was a family name that shows up in future generations.

I am more than pleased to be able to show this post today as I thought the farm building had been demolished around the time Clough Fold Road was built. I have to thank our Dave for the pictures and for bringing back so many memories of happy times spent in this area in the early 1960s. Cheer Dave

View of Hattersley

Here's a nice shot of Hattersley as seen from Werneth Low. 



Mottram church can be seen middle/top of the photograph. 
It's such a beautiful area.

Thanks to John Hopwood for the photo ! 

All but one of the Tower blocks were demolished around ten years ago.  Waterside, Underwood, Hattersley,Chapman, Sandybank, Fields and Honiton Courts were built in the early 1960's . The 14 storey building were 110 ft high so, after demolition, the difference to the landscape was major!
Tameside Court is the only one now remaining. 

The following is taken from an Advertiser article published in 2003...


Farms lose out to vast housing estate

"THE swinging sixties saw great changes in the physical appearance of the towns of Tameside.
At Hattersley, the farms and scattered cottages gave place to a vast estate to house Manchester's overspill.
Hyde's boundaries were extended to include the area, although all the costs were met by Manchester. Building began early in the sixties and the first families moved onto the estate in May 1963.
They were welcomed by the Mayor of Hyde and received free milk and sausages from Wall's factory at Godley.
By August 1964 there were 4,000 people in Hattersley, served by just one doctor !!"




Mottram Church

Views around the 'Gib'

We have Nick Folwell to thank for these pictures... he was inspired to send them in after seeing some of the pictures Dave as shown on Gibraltar. 

Gatepost to what was the 'Big House'



Remnants of one the Air Raid Shelters 

A great view of the weir from the Haughton side

Great picture Nick... all of which bought happy memories from my childhood flooding back... keep your picture coming in everybody, it's always a pleasure showing them here.

Views from Werneth Low

The following pictures were sent in by our regular contributor and reader Susan Jaleel.. Susan took these on Werneth Low on 22nd May 2010 - the evening of which, she says,  had been the hottest Spring day for a long time .

Thank you Susan... always a pleasure to open an email and find pictures attached... feel free to send in any you have that we could show.

Hyde's Local Artist

 I thought it was about time we celebrated Hyde's very own Artist !
  
So, todays post is about the life and times of Harry Rutherford.
A very talented man, indeed.


 





 

 






This leaflet was given to us by John and Doreen Morris.  
 Many Thanks for sharing !!

Ridling Lane

 As we were discussing Ridling Lane and Harolds Shop the other day I thought I'd show this photo today. Harolds, or Matts, depending on which generation you come from is the shop on the corner of Ridling Lane whilst George and Kathleen Bennetts newsagent shop is next door but one going down the hill (you can see the awning ). Sadly the paper shop is no longer there but the corner shop is still going strong.
Deal Street is just past the parked car.


Ridling Lane


A recent shot courtesy of Google maps.


The site of Hiltons sweet shop on the opposite corner of Ridling Lane - The best penny tray in the world, now a house.

Photo's Sent From New Zealand

We do enjoy checking the emails that you send in... more so when pictures are sent as well... We were very pleased to have been contacted from New Zealand by Bren and Al Maddocks. I'll turn the post over to Al.

"I found some 6 x 6 slides but unfortunately they have deteriorated over time and are in very bad condition.  I have tried to restore the slides but with not much success, these are the best so far.

Werneth Low War Memorial and a youngster interested in what Bren and I were doing. As you can see the colours are fading leaving a pink cast.

September 1966 to december 1969 I worked at Godley Footwear. There were 2 factories, Bottom Street and at Douglas Street.  The following 2 photographs where taken on a sunny day in 1967. at the Bottom Street Factory.

Janet and John. Janet was a machinist I think and John a sewing machine mechanic.  John was Irish a great feller with a great sense of humour.

Phyllis and Pauline both were machinists. They are sat on the wall at the main gate. Sorry I cannot remember any surnames.

There must be plenty of old employees of Godley Footwear still around and  just to help them remember me, I looked a lot like this feller, only with dark hair and more of it.

Cheerio for now, Best wishes from Bren and Al Maddocks.

Thank you for them post Al.... I hope some folks stop by and read this who recall you and Bren.... or maybe others will send in some pictures like these of past work mates... would be nice if you could make contact with friends past.

Fox Holes Farm and Thistley Fields Farm

A couple of pictures of old Hyde Farms.


Fox Holes Farm


Thistley Fields Farm


 Circa 1910


Circa 2009