Post Card Of Market St.

Ann and Bill Stones have kindly lent Dave some postcards to scan. This one of Market Street is a cracker, Dave says the postmark on the back is dated August 1907.

I was reminded of a picture that Dave sent me of work being done on the town hall buildings.. that roofer certainly had a great view, if you have any such pictures we'd love to show them.

I forgot that I had this picture waiting to be posted when the chance arrived, this is a similar shot that the post card... this was took in the 1990s by Grant..

Belgium Refugees

A while back we did a post about the Belgium Refugees who came to Hyde to escape the German's in WW1.  The post turned out to be of interest to many but one person in particular Geert Clerbout who is writing a book and the information was very helpful

Geert writes; "As promised, I send you a little information on Malines in the first days of the war. This was the reason why all those people fled. Some of them ended up in Hyde, as you know of course.

Malines is a Belgian city between Antwerp and the capital Brussels. In 1914 about 60.000 people lived in Malines. On August 4, 1914, Germany declared war to Belgium. The same day the army of the emperor invaded the country. The Belgian army had to pull back time after time and finally decided to defend the National Stronghold Antwerp. Antwerp was protected by two belts of forts. One belt in the outskirts of the city and one somewhat 20 km from the city. The two main forts of this belt were right north of Malines.

The Germans arrived on the outskirts of Malines on the 21st of August. On the 25th they launched the first bombardement. Two days later a new – much more heavy – followed. The Belgians were north of the city, the Germans south. Over a month, Malines was no-mans-land. Almost everyone fled. Some came back during the month of September, but a lot of them stayed away. The people followed the army to Antwerp, but they were not allowed to stay there. Because the government feared that the Germans would try to starve the city (they cut of all the lines to provide and the Schelde was closed because Holland was neutral), all the civilians who did not live in Antwerp, had to go. Therefore, most people of Malines continued there exodus to Ghent. The people there were very kind. Over 10.000 people of Malines could stay in Ghent. From there, the maire and a member of the council of Malines, arranged that the people could cross to England. And the rest of the story you know of course. Some came back after the installation of the German occupation, but most of the people did not come back until after the war.

The people were so afraid of the Germans. When refugees from Leuven (Louvain) came to Malines and talked about the murders, the raping and the burning of the university library  everybody was in complete panic. They took everything they could and left after the first bombs fell. It was really an exodus. It would take until the 28th of September before the Germans finally occupied the city.

 Malines was heavily damaged during the war. It was of course famous because of the Sint Rombout cathedral, but it dit not suffer that much. Malines was also the city of the archbishop of Belgium, cardinal Mercier. He played an important role during the war and is famous for his pastoral letters against in which he condemned the German occupation.

 The American journalist Alexander Powell visited Malines in September and described it as a ghost city:

 “I cannot imagine that I ever experienced a moment so eerie then my veiled visit to Malines. The city was so quiet and desolate as a graveyard. No man was to be seen and whilst we advanced carefully through the narrow windy streets, the beating of the engine echoed against the deserted houses”

It is estimated that about 250.000 Belgians crossed the Channel in 1914.

It is just a little information, but it gives you an idea why the people of Malines fled in August and September 1914. I hope it is interesting to you. If you can find any more information/pictures, I’ll be glad to hear from you.  Geert"


If you have anything to add, pictures, or information I would gladly pass it on to Geert.

Postcards of Mottram Road

 Below are a couple of postcards depicting Mottram Road - I love how tranquil it is.  I believe, at one time, it was a popular walk along there and up to Godley Arches . 

Be very difficult to have a quiet walk down Mottram Road nowadays with all the traffic !

Mystery Photograph.

The photo below was given to us by Angela Robinson.

I have no idea what the men are doing or where they are. We just know it is in the Hyde area.

Any ideas would be very helpful!

Thanks Angela,as always !

The opening of Theatre Royal 2

We were recently sent this newspaper article by Steve Hill.

It is reporting when the Royal 2 cinema opened in Hyde , giving us two different cinemas and double the choice of films to watch. Arthur Wild tells us that it was in either 1972 or 1973. Arthur was the projectionist at the Theatre Royal for 45 years and after that became the caretaker of the building!

Many of us would like to thank Arthur for the great work he did there. I, myself, have many happy memories of evenings spent in this wonderful old building.

Putting finishing touches to the theatre before the opening !

Some blockbuster films there!


Adverts wishing the theatre good luck from Pearl and Dean and the Unity amongst others!

Thanks Steve ,as always! :)

Our Beautiful Town Hall

After yesterdays post about the Robinson family, and the fact it was they that built the town hall it felt right to carry the theme on with these great pictures provided by Dave Williams.  

The Town Hall was erected in 1883-4 at a cost of £10,000. The foundation stone was laid by Mr Thomas. Ashton, the first mayor, and the building was opened by the second mayor, Mr. Edward Hibbert. The Town Hall Clock and Bells were generously presented by Mr. Joshua Bradley, a retired spinner, who for some years occupied a seat on the Council.

One of the earliest events to which "The Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Hyde " lent the dignity of their presence " in state " was the-

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE TOWN HALL

This important function took place on Saturday, June 30th, 1883, when, in the presence of a large and enthusiastic assembly and in beautiful weather, Mr. Thomas Ashton (then Mayor), discharged the principal duties of the ceremony. The event was hailed as a red-letter incident in the affairs of Hyde, and the actual laying of the stone was preceded by a procession in which bands of music, the various friendly societies, the Sunday schools, the members of the Corporation, and other representative bodies took part. Practically all Hyde turned out to assist in the demonstration and the town presented a lively appearance. The streets were thronged with people, every business place displayed flags and bannerets, and the front of the platform where the main event of the day was enacted, was lavishly decorated with over 500 flags and streamers of every conceivable hue. The various public bodies taking part in the procession, amounting altogether to some 3,000 people, assembled in Crook's Square, off" Union Street, at 3 o'clock. The procession was led by the Borough Band and the Hyde Corps of the 4th Cheshire Rifle Volunteers. The Mayor, who wore his gold chain and badge, brought up the rear. At the principal scene of operations the Mayor was presented, by Mr. Alderman John Thornely on behalf of the Town Council, with a handsome silver trowel, with which his Worship proceeded to lay the memorial stone. Before finally adjusting the stone the Mayor placed in the cavity underneath it, a tin box containing a copy of the Charter, an abstract of the accounts for the previous year, a list of the Councillors and officers of the borough, copies of the local newspapers, and a few of the current coins of the realm. The conclusion of the ceremony was marked by the firing of cannon at the back of the platform and the playing of the Hallelujah Chorus by the united bands.

In due course the laying of the foundation stone was followed by the formal

OPENING OF THE TOWN HALL.

This ceremony was described by the newspapers as " the most gorgeous pageant that the town had ever witnessed. Not even the oldest inhabitant could call to mind a ceremony of such magnitude, calling together in one mass so vast a concourse of people."

The new municipal buildings were formally opened for the transaction of public business on Saturday, June 27th, 1885. For some weeks previous to the opening, the Town Council had been making preparations for a demonstration upon a scale worthy of so important an event. The efforts put forth resulted in a procession which more than trebled anything of its kind before in point of numbers. It was comprised of the following :

Fourth Cheshire Rifle Volunteers   100

Hyde and Ashton Fire Brigades   20

Primitive Methodists, Hyde   420

New Connexion School, Hyde   320

Grand United Order of Oddfellows   350

St. George's Church Sunday School   775

St. Thomas' Church Sunday School, and St. Andrew's   738

Hyde Independent Sick and Funeral Society   100

Zion Congregational Sunday School   440

Flowery Field Sunday School   290

Independent Order of Oddfellows   350

Baptist Sunday School   120

Rosemount Sunday School  340

Union Street Sunday School   431

Ancient Order of Foresters   454

Hyde Chapel Sunday School   230

Wesleyan (Newton) Sunday School   218

National and United Free Gardeners   672

St. Mary's and St. Stephen's   400

St. Paul's, Roman Catholic   400

Wesleyan (Hyde) Sunday School   274

Methodist Free Church Sunday School   207

Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds   399

Newton New Connexion   127

Trades Council, Freemasons, Gentlemen of the Borough, Town Council and Officers 200

There were, however, considerable additions to these numbers and as eight bands also took part in the march, it was computed that at least 10,000 persons joined in the popular demonstration. A sum of £250 was subscribed to meet the expenses, and out of this sum the Corporation were enabled to present each child with 6d. towards a treat in commemoration of the event, whilst 6,000 medals were struck, containing on one side an admirable representation of the Town Hall, and on the reverse, this inscription, "In commemoration of the opening of the Hyde Town Hall by the Mayor, Edward Hibbert, Esq., June 27th, 1885." Prizes were offered by the Weavers' Association for the " handsomest print dresses worn in the procession," and various other inducements to contribute to the successful issue of the proceedings were held out.

The decorations were on a most elaborate and extensive scale. Venetian masts, flags and streamers without number, made the reserved square in front of the building gay with colour and the tradesmen and others throughout the town decorated the streets with bunting, floral designs, and mottoes. At least 20,000 people from the surrounding towns and villages pouredinto Hyde to witness to opening ceremony.

The processionists met in Crook's Square, whence they marched through the borough in the order above given. The Sunday Schools were headed by their banners, and the various members of the secret orders were resplendent in their regalia, whilst some of the orders were further represented by "tableaux" of an attractive kind. The Foresters were headed by members in costume as " Robin Hood " and " Little John," with various attendants in Lincoln green, bearing the old style " English bow of yew." The Shepherds, too, were represented by emblems of

their craft.

In the rear of the procession marched the Corporation, represented on this occasion by the following Councillors and Aldermen in their respective places :

—
TOWN COUNCILLORS

NEWTON WARD
J. Broadbent. E. Hollingworth. H. Booth.
J. Alcock. J. Hall. W. Chatterton.

GODLEY WARD

T. Shepley. G. Brownson. A. Haughton.
J. Higginbotham . E. Shaw, F. Drinkwater.

WERNETH WARD

W. Hibbert. R. Hibbert. H. Barlow.
J. Mycock. J. Higginbotham. J. Oldham.
Aldermen Cheetham, T. Thornely, J. Thornely, C. Swindells.

The route, which was most lengthy, extended from Crook's Square, down Foundry Street, Market Place, Market Street, Newton Street, Flowery Field, Bennett Street, to Cheshire Cheese, Ashton Road, Commercial Brow, Commercial Street, up Cheapside, Lumn Street, Back Lane, to Clarke's Arms, Hyde Lane, to Town Hall. It was found that the procession itself was of such magnitude that the last files were only just leaving the front of the Town Hall, when the head of the procession had arrived at the foot of Commercial Brow.

At the conclusion of the walk the whole body of processionists and sightseers were massed in front of the Town Hall. Here a handsome presentation key was handed to the Mayor by Mr. Thomas Ashton. The key contained the following inscription :—" This key was presented to Edward Hibbert, Esq., Mayor, at the opening of the Hyde Town Hall, June 27th, 1885."

The Mayor, having unlocked the door, entered the building, and in a few moments re-appeared upon the balcony in front, from which he addressed the crowd. After several speeches had been delivered the great concourse of people united in singing the " Old Hundredth," with which the day's proceedings (as far as the general public were concerned) terminated. A luncheon was given by the Mayor, in the Town Hall, during the evening, at which most of the local notabilities were present.

The rejoicings and excitement, however, did not die down until a late hour, and the streets continued to be thronged with people. Ballad mongers, with specially composed and printed ballads, did a roaring trade, singing their wares to the accompaniment of the banjo and other minstrel instruments. The chorus of one of these ballads ran thus, and was not altogether an inappropriate description of the occasion :

Flags and banners gaily fly

Shout, boys, hurrah !

Young and old for miles around

They're here today.

To join the grand procession,

And in the ranks to fall,

To march away to the opening

Of the Hyde Town Hall.

Many thank to Dave for all the time and effort in getting these pictures over the last year. The texts is from Thomas Middletons Annals Of Hyde... 

I hope you don't mind the size of this post, but I really thought the pictures deserved  to be kept together.. if you look at the detailing on some of the brickwork and stonework it is now showing signs of wear. I hope the powers that be are aware of this. 

The Robinson Family of Hyde.

The following was sent into us by email by Angela Robinson. It concerns her husband's family who were well known in Hyde, most famously for building Hyde Town Hall.

"JOSEPH ROBINSON was born in Litton near Tideswell in Derbyshire in 1804.   According to the obituary of his grandson John Robinson (in the North Cheshire Herald of 18 December 1925 page 8) and another article from the Herald about the building firm :

"Joseph Robinson came to work as a joiner at Slack Mills and ... afterwards built his first works where Messrs Berry and Sons still carry out cork manufacturing at Gee Cross.  There is evidence of the building of a row of cottages at Mount Pleasant, Gee Cross, in 1838.

After some years, another yard was taken, in Norfolk-street Hyde, which was placed in the charge of the late Mr. Samuel Robinson.  In 1850, Samuel, in conjunction with his elder brother William, obtained the land in Union-street and Travis-street, then known as Shepley Fields.  Then the present works were built and the business was continued with increasing success under the title of Joseph Robinson and Company until 1882 when it was taken over by the late Samuel Robinson who continued it till his death in 1893.  

It was then taken over by his sons John, Joseph and William, - Joseph withdrawing in 1897 and William in 1905 leaving John as the sole proprietor.

Tithe maps of 1836-51 shows the area where Shepley fields stood - The grey building ,top right,is possibly the Robinsons building works.

Samuel Robinson

"JOSEPH ROBINSON married Alice Whitehead in 1824. They had 9 (possibly 10) children including  Samuel (1827) pictured above and William (1824) mentioned above, plus Thomas (1829) who was my husband's gt gt grandfather.   Most of them are buried at Hyde Chapel.  Samuel's gravestone is a fancy tall one not far from the path round the church on the Stockport Rd side. 

The building firm (and the money) went down Samuel's line!  He lived in Kensington House, Thomas's descendants were on Albion Street! "

Samuel Robinson built and lived at Kensington House and was a friend of Joshua Bradley whom the bells in Hyde town Hall were named after - "Owd Joss"

An invoice from Samuel Robinson & Sons builders Merchants to the Rev H E Dowson of Hyde Chapel.
December 3rd 1894.

Thank you so much for sharing these with us, Angela and also Mike, for the photograph of Hyde Town Hall.
Without your generosity, and everyone else's, the site would be a poorer place

View from Captain Clarkes

Looking Back

I do like this view, looking from Captain Clarkes Bridge... on the left is a railway bridge that led to Fox Holes. The buildings to the right of the bridge are known as Thistley Fields.. 
I have spent many happy hours around here. The area where Fox Holes Estate is now was once my play ground... along with Thistley Fields, and of course the canal. 

Adverts from the 1970's

 The following Adverts are taken from a Tameside guide circa 1976.
So many of the firms advertising in there are now sadly defunct.