Closing down sale

This shop in Clarendon Shopping Centre seems to have been having a closing-down sale since at least January!

Just how long is a few?

Stained Glass in Hyde Bus Station

This piece of stained glass is one of two panels incorporated into the new bus station.

One of the central features of this pane is the Chartist Monument.

The panels were created by Jo Ann Eisenberg with help from pupils of Dale Grove Primary School.

The winner of last Sunday's caption competition is Pamela. A small prize is in the post to her. Runners-up were Sally and Carol. Go to http://www.geraldengland.co.uk/cc01.htm to see their captions in full glory.

Photographic Exhibition

A couple of Saturdays ago, Hyde Photographic Society held an exhibition in the Clarendon Shopping Centre.

My favourite photograph was one of the underside of Concorde, but my son prefered the one of a steam engine.

The information leaflet they gave out listed a series of meetings but no venue nor contact details!

Village Green Well

I previously posted a photograph of Booth's Well, one of the six stops on the Gee Cross Well Dressing.

This one by the Village Green was created by the local Brownies.

Hyde North Station

Hyde has several railway stations but none of them are very grand.

Hyde North is tucked away by an industrial estate in a rather non-descript part of town. It lies on the line from Marple and Hyde Central to Manchester Piccadilly.

At the top of the picture you can see where the busier line from Glossop (via Broadbottom, Hattersley, Godley, Newton for Hyde and Flowery Field) comes in from the East.

I would have waited and taken a picture of a train, but I had a bus to catch.

Hanging Basket

One of the hanging baskets of flowers in the pedestrianised part of town.

Hare and Hounds

The Hare and Hounds is a large pub near Werneth Low and next to Hyde Cricket Club.

River Tame

Here we have the River Tame as it flows under the busy M67 Motorway. This is the other direction from my earlier picture of Broomstair Bridge.

A footpath on the right hand side goes to Jet Amber Fields and leads to Newton Hall.

Cats - caption competition

I've been meaning to post a picture of cats ever since I saw one on the Trier DP.

Taking a leaf out of Mark's Sainte Maxime DP this is a caption competition. It is open for a week. Please send your caption by adding a Comment. There will be a small prize for the winner which I'll announce next Sunday.

Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal stands next to Hyde Festival Theatre and has alas seen better days.

According the website of Hyde Theatre Royal Onward, a trust set up to save the theatre, the building has been sold to a developer.

Treacle Brow

This very steep cobbled street is known as Treacle Brow. It joins Stockport Road, by the Werneth Hotel, with Mottram Old Road. On the other side is Higham Lane leading to Holy Trinity Church.

Stonepit Reservoir

Stonepit Reservoir was a private hidden gem on Back Bower Lane. Almost totally surrounded by trees, it was practically impossible to see. You could get a glimpse of it if you peered through these gates.

According to a small notice the land was lost to the Tameside Federation of Anglers in February. Over 6000 fish were transferred to a reservoir at Dinting near Glossop and paid-up members can now go there to fish.

The land was a haven for wildlife. I dread to think how it will look in six months time.



[Later edit - early suspicions that the land had been sold for development were without foundation as later posts reveal]

Werneth Low from the South

Werneth Low as seen from the North.

The monolith you can see is the War Memorial

The Queens

I've finally managed to take a shot of The Queens.

Previously when I've wanted to take a picture of this large town centre pub there has always been a delivery lorry or something parked in front.

Now it has been denued of all its world-cup posters and paraphenalia you can see it in all its glory!

Broomstair Bridge

Broomstair Bridge crosses the River Tame which forms the boundary between Hyde, Cheshire and Denton, Lancashire.

From here the river heads south towards Haughton Green to join the Mersey near Stockport.

Gee Cross Singpost

This old signpost seems to have had a bit of a spit-and-polish since I posted this earlier picture a few months ago.

Newton Hall

This 14th century building is surrounded by an iron fence and is situated next to a light industrial estate on the road to Dukinfield.

Walking the Dog

I've posted a picture of the old railway line before. This section is about half a mile west of the previous picture. In the present heatwave, this deep cutting lined with vegetation offers welcome shade.

A path on the left leads into Gower Head Wood, while one on the right leads back towards town.

Sunflowers

This lovely bed of flowers is to be found at the side of the Town Hall on Greenfield St on the way towards Asda.

Actually they are situated adjacent to the Public Toilets.

Ring o' Bells

The Ring of Bells is about a mile out of Hyde and stands facing the recently erected James North Clock.

Crown Pole

This must be the most useless signpost in Hyde.

It is called the "Crown Pole" and the arms point in the direction of the other towns in Tameside: Audenshaw, Stalybridge, Dukinfield, Denton (almost hidden from sight here), Ashton under Lyne, Mossley, Longdendale and Droylsden. At the bottom an arm, presumably added for balance, points "South".

It was erected in 2002 to commemorate the Queen's golden jubilee.

The pole is situated on a corner of the Market Ground opposite Corporation Street. For pedestrians who have just crossed the zebra crossing and are rounding the corner by the HSBC Bank, its presence causes a bottleneck!

Booth's Well

Well dressing is usually associated with Derbyshire, but you will find it practiced in adjacent counties too.

Yesterday was Gee Cross Well Dressing. Booth's Well is one of six in Gee Cross. This year's theme was the Mad Hatter.

You can view Booth's Well 2004 on my Out and About site.

There was procession around the six sites led by a military band. My photos of that can be found at Gee Cross Well Dressing 2006

20 is plenty

A lot of the residential side-streets have a 20mph speed limit.

To emphasise the fact, you'll find a lot of wheelie-bins plastered with these "20 is plenty" signs. If you were a motorist, would you take in this message and slow down?

As can be seen from this shot of Edna Street at its junction with Market Street, a lot of problems are also caused by people who park on double-yellow lines and on the pavement.

Unsafe monuments

Walking through Hyde Cemetery recently I noticed several gravestones had been flattened. Others had been secured by metal posts and carried this grim message.

"WARNING. This memorial is UNSAFE. Do not tamper with temporary support."

I've deliberately faded out most of the inscription on the stone itself.

The Albion

Here is another inn-sign; this time The Albion.

This town centre pub is situated about halfway between the Jolly Carter and the White Lion.

Kissing Gate

There used to be a stile one had to climb over here. However it has now been replaced by this Kissing Gate.

It lies just above the Peace Garden on the footpath from Lower Higham to Hacking Knife.

Mutual Life Philanthropic Assurance Collecting Society

This building on Market Street was once the offices of the Mutual Life Philanthropic Assurance Collecting Society.

For the first half of the last century and at least a couple of decades either side, most towns had offices belonging to numerous Insurance Companies and Friendly Societies. Agents of these companies used to visit people in their homes collecting weekly insurance premiums.

Gradually many of the small firms were taken over leaving a core of about twelve companies. As the economic climate changed, smaller offices were closed. The collectors became first salesmen and finally financial advisors. With more and more business being conducted by banks and premiums being paid by direct debit, many Insurance Companies stopped issuing new policies.

This building is now home to an off-licence and grocery store.

Crooked Cottage

One of the highlights of Sunday's "Fun Day" would seem to have been this "Crooked Cottage".

Exactly what was inside this inflatable two-story building, I've no idea, but judging from the faces of the kids appearing at the balcony and emerging from the place it must be plenty of fun!

Fun Day

This year there was no Gee Cross Fete. Instead there was a "Fun Day".

It was geared up to attract the children mainly. Entrance was £2 for adults (up 50p from last year) though children were allowed in free (or for 50p if unaccompanied!).

There were no vintage-cars nor falconry display, few craft stalls. But there was a "bucking bronco" and lots of hot sunshine. It was only later that the sky darkened and we had an almighty thunderstorm.

Lost on penalties

Most of the shops in town closed early yesterday including our local Cash Generator store.

As you'll know from a previous post I am not a big footie fan myself.

I only watched a few snippets of the match and did switch over for the penalty shoot-out but changed channels to watch "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" as soon as the result was definite.

Good luck to Portugal for the remaining matches.

Asda supermarket

The DP theme for today is local supermarkets.

Hyde's Asda is built on the site of the former Greenfield Street School.

25 DPs are linking into this theme today; select a number to find another.

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