Newton Mill Journal Spring 1939

Thanks to Maria​ Slater who loaned me a Newton Mill Journal for this weeks post. If you have one of these Journals knocking about at the back of a draw I would like to scan it and add to a collection of these which are available online for all to view.

Unapealing Ring O` Bells

I was contacted by Dave Lambert yesterday and thought it worth sharing his picture and his message as I'm sure others will find what Dave is doing of interest.. 

I am currently putting together a gallery of closed pubs in the North West of England and photographed the above pub this morning to add to my records. Please feel free to use the photograph if you wish and you can also visit my record of photographs of closed pubs on Flickr using this link:-       Dave's Closed Pubs                                                         
.

A Visual Feast Celebrating The Beauty of Werneth Low

The new Facebook group is certainly doing well. over 200 members now. I asked for your pictures of Werneth Low and I was not disappointed.  Today we share the beauty of Werneth Low, it's had poets reaching for their pens and artists for their brushes and now photographers for their camera.  No wonder it does so.

ABOVE BY PAUL WILLIAMS

This is to the left of the footpath up towards the Low from the car park at Lower Higham.

ABOVE BY DARREN JONES

ABOVE BY DARREN JONES

Taken from Harrop Edge

ABOVE BY TOM WIGLEY

Mark say's he's walk around here for over 30 years and never tires of it

ABOVE BY MARK PRIVETT

Taken c 1990's

ABOVE BY GERALD ENGLAND

Taken 28th May 2006

ABOVE BY GERALD ENGLAND

Taken 28th August 1993

ABOVE BY GERALD ENGLAND

Taken 31st January 2009
ABOVE BY GERALD ENGLAND




Taken 28th May 2006
ABOVE BY GERALD ENGLAND

THE ABOVE 3 BY TOM WIGLEY

BY HARRY SCHOFIELD

THE ABOVE 16 FROM SUSAN JALEEL

Wesleyan School Hyde Workbook

This weeks post comes from Jayne Hulme who contacted me a few weeks back now,

Jayne writes:

I have an old geography work book which belonged to my great grandmother. It is dated 1880. One of the pages says Wesleyan School, and another says Hyde. I was wondering if you had any information about the school, it's a very interesting book and I would love to share it.

Wesleyan School Water Street. 

I think this is the school from which the school book was worked in, buy then I have not been able to find a date for the school building above being built, I came across reference to an older Wesleyan School that is mentioned in The Annals of Hyde, 

From The Annals Of Hyde And District
By
Thomas Middleton 
Printed 1899

WESLEYAN METHODISTS.

An old building, now pulled down and replaced by the well-built Jubilee Schools, was long the centre of Wesleyanism in Hyde. The first trustees of this building were appointed in 1822, and consisted of Thomas Ashton, John Howard, Charles Howard, and Thomas Howard, Esquire., cotton spinners ; John Clarke, Esquire., S. Ashton, the younger, John Ashton, the younger, and Thomas Bridges, cotton spinners; Thomas Davis, minister; John Goodfellow and Aaron Newall, mechanics; J. Rowland, over-looker; J. Chippendale, exciseman; J. Rydings, cabinet maker; and J. Waterhouse, slater.
A structure two storeys high was built, "the upper storey to be used as a preaching house

by the Wesleyans and the lower room for Sunday and day school." The expenses of the building were to be borne as under: " T. Ashton on behalf of self and brother, and J. C. and T. Howard will at their own private expense erect, complete, and finish the lower storey, and the said trustees shall at the expense of the Wesleyan Methodist Society erect the second storey except the roof, which the said T. Ashton, his brothers, and J. C. and T.

Howard shall complete at their own private cost." The trustees decided that the lower room should be under the management of the Wesleyan Methodist Society, and that if ever the Society became extinct they should have power to sell the preaching room and school, and after paying all debts apply the money for the spread of religion among the Wesleyans, as the trustees should direct. This old building rendered good service to Hyde, for in the language of Mr. Robert Bell's report (1886), "it was here for many years the main business of the town was transacted; our children were educated, our friends worshipped, our births and deaths were recorded, and our poor relieved." The growth of Wesleyanism was met in 1850 by the erection of the large chapel in Norfolk Street, and yet again when the Jubilee Schools were built to replace the original building just referred to. There are

also fine chapels, with Sunday schools attached, in connection with the Wesleyan body in Newton and Gee Cross.

I think this is a wonderful book, and shows the standard of Education this school taught at the time. I think the work, drawings and handwriting is a joy to see. I think the whole book deserves scanning and putting on line, and very worthy piece of social history. 

M. Hitchen's Cafe, Market Place

This post came about when I was contacted on Facebook by Alison Hayton, who's Great 'Nan' kept the cafe pictured below. Alison's Great Nan was Mary Ellen Hitchen who lived at 187 Lumn Road Hyde, Mary died in 1961 when she was aged 71.  She was the widow of Job Hitchen.  They were originally from York.

Alison's Grandad Bill Hitchen and his sister Jessie were the children of Mary and Job, Bill married his wife Ethel and lived at 39 Lumb Road.

Jessie was working as a Midwife whilst helping out at the cafe, she met her husband Les Chapman who apparently worked at the butcher’s near to the cafe. Alison was wondering about the name of the butchers shop.. and members of our Facebook group commented on a request for information and Walter Ashworth's Butchers was being mentioned, Paul Taylor confirmed this by checking a local trade directory which stated the said butchers address as 6a Market Place and the cafe  number as 10 Market Place.

Alison has alway been pleased to see her Great Nan's cafe in the a painting by local artist Harry Rutherford

Harry Rutherford's view of Hyde market was originally called Saturday Afternoon, but is now known as Northern Saturday. I have not been able to find out the reason behind the name change or who or when it changed. If you know please let me know. Date painted 1948, Oil on board. 24" x 29.5"

This pictures is described by many as his most famous, it was acquired by Hyde Corporation in 1948  

Back to the cafe, again the cafe on show in this postcard, there's two chaps stood on the corner putting the world to right, and the shop that has the canopy down could well be 6a where Walter Ashworth traded as a butcher.

Harry's painting and this postcard are a glimpse  of a very busy market day, with many buildings any town would have been proud of, but alas now gone.

Another of the market painted by Harry Rutherford, c1970 titled as The Square, Hyde. It is Oil on Canvas 15.5" x 19.5" owned by Tameside Council. A big difference in views.

Alison also sent in the picture below of a fairground speedway ride that was nearby her Great Nan's cafe on Hyde Market and can be seen on Harry Rutherford's Northern Saturday.

This is how things can fall into place... just by chance a comment came into the blog on a different post showing rides on Hyde Market, The writer was Ross Jones, and his great interests are the fairs of the area.. in fact Ross tells me he intends to compile a book regarding the three Wake fairs or one covering all the Lancashire/Cheshire Fairs. I wish Ross all the best with this project and I'll put my name down now for a copy.

Back to Hibberts Speedway.. Ross tells me that Hibberts over wintered The Ark on Hyde Market and when it was acquired by E.L. Morley he built up quite a following among the local teenagers by playing record requests for them. Ross has many pictures of Hyde Wakes but the majority of them the copyright belongs elsewhere, and whilst he as never infringed on the copyright did receive dire warnings of the consequences for doing so when buying the photographs .   

How's this for tieing in some of the information, The above picture shows another of Harry Rutherford's paintings of Hyde. This one is called The Red Caravan, and is from c1957, it is again oil on board and measures 12" by 17.5".

My mother whose maiden name was Eileen Collins daughter of John Collins known to all as Jack, told me a number of times later in her life that at one time her paternal grandparents, were from Irish travelling stock, and lived around Crook St or Crook Square in a Gypsy caravan, She also told me that part of the Collins fairground family were related in some way as well. The above picture could quite possibly be that caravan. The John Collins fairground family are still going and many folks will have rode on their Waltzers. Long before I found this information out I got to know John Collins junior and we instantly became good friends. I have not seen him since finding this information out so if you know John Junior let him know to look at this.

I'd like to thank everyone involved for their input in putting this post together, I do not think it would have been so interesting or informative if help from our H.C.Blog Facebook Group had not been freely given

Team work at it's very best, for this the first posting fed down from the Facebook group.

WE ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK

GREAT NEWS

Our Hyde Cheshire Blog as now got it's own facebook page, it will run alongside our blog, and will hopefully work in a number of ways.

It can be a feeder of information, pictures and articles.
Request can be made directly to all the group members.
A list of recommended local businesses can be made.
The town's History can be celebrated and be made available to all.
Hydonians from all corners of the earth can get news on what's is happening now.
Past friends and relation can hopefully be put back in touch.

And so much more.

Hyde Cheshire Blog FACEBOOK Group


HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE SOON