Six Day Walk (6):Peak Forest Canal

This is the sixth post of some photographs of a walk I took some weeks ago. I've been sharing this walk with you over six days.

We started by walking down steps to Church Brow and took the path by Gower Bank which leads to the junction of Clough Fold Road and Fawley Avenue.

We then followed a footpath between fences, before entering a valley crossed by a pipeline and finding a bridge with a stile.

The reason for the barrier and the stile is that it leads to grazing land by the Peak Forest Canal. It wasn't until I'd climbed the stile and turned the corner that I knew where I was.

We have been here before but then the path led across a muddy field so I didn't go exploring it.

On that occasion I'd walked down Woodend Lane as far as Captain Clarke's Bridge and along the towpath to Bridge #8.

On this occasion I crossed the bridge as narrowboat Edith passed through. I then walked on down the towpath to the site of Gee Cross Mill.

There is another photograph of the grazing field on Hyde DP Xtra.

Six Day Walk (5):Bridge with Stile

This is the fifth post of some photographs of a walk I took some weeks ago. I'm sharing this walk with you over six days.

We started by walking down steps to Church Brow and took the path by Gower Bank which leads to the junction of Clough Fold Road and Fawley Avenue.

We then followed a footpath between fences, before entering a valley crossed by a pipeline.

We come now to a bridge under the railway line from Manchester via Hyde Central to Woodley, Romiley and Rose Hill.

Under the bridge is a stile that we shall need to climb over. I don't think I've encountered a stile under a bridge before. Why is it there? Come back tomorrow for the answer.

Meanwhile see the view from the other side with a train on Hyde DP Xtra.

Six Day Walk (4):Pipeline over Clough Fold

This is the fourth post of some photographs of a walk I took some weeks ago. I'm sharing this walk with you over six days.

We started by walking down steps to Church Brow and took the path by Gower Bank which leads to the junction of Clough Fold Road and Fawley Avenue.

We then followed a footpath between fences.

We are now in a little wooded valley through which a thin stream weaves its way. A pipeline bridges the valley on brick piers. What it carries I have no idea.

Six Day Walk (3):Clough Fold

This is the third post of some photographs of a walk I took some weeks ago. I'm sharing this walk with you over six days.

We started by walking down steps to Church Brow and took the path by Gower Bank which leads to the junction of Clough Fold Road and Fawley Avenue.

The footpath continues across what was once the boundary between Fawley Farm and Clough Fold Farm. Neither farm exists any longer and the land has been used for modern housing. As a result the footpath is a narrow way between suburban fences.

Six Day Walk (2): Woodend Lane from Gower Bank

This is the second post of some photographs of a walk I took some weeks ago. I'm sharing this walk with you over six days.

Yesterday we climbed down the steps from Woodend Lane and I hope you carefully stepped over the cats at the bottom.

Church Brow curves back from the bottom of the steps up to Woodend Lane. We cross the valley of the Gower Hey Brook to the bottom of Gower Road.

Our track continues on the other side of valley. This is the view from there over the trees to the houses on Woodend Lane.

To see how it looked a hundred years ago visit Old Hyde.

You can see the view in the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

Come back tomorrow for the next step in our walk.

Six Day Walk (1):Steps to Church Brow

This is the first post of some photographs of a walk I took some weeks ago. I'm sharing this walk with you over six days. Come and see where it leads.

We start at these steps which descend from Wood End Lane towards Church Brow.

In the opposite direction is a cobbled path to Edna Street.

See what lies at the bottom of these steps on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more S posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Grilled Cheese

There used to be three pubs in Hyde called the Cheshire Cheese.

Now there are only two. I reported last September that the one on Market Street was for sale.

It has recently reopened as the Cheshire Grill.

Sorted!

Regular visitors will recall the quandry we were in recently when the council had placed a litter bin on an access ramp.

Well I posted a complaint about it on the council website but didn't get a response other than that the post had been "logged".

So anyway about a week later I telephoned the council and was put through to a lady who said she'd look into it. She phoned back in about twenty minutes to say the "lads" were busy but get on to it today or tomorrow. I went out and on my return found a message on my answer phone to say the lads had been and shifted it. That was about three hours after my initial phone call.

On Saturday morning we went round to look. You can tell the area where the bin was as it is surrounded by fag ends.

If you are wondering about the shutters. The upper storeys of the multi-storey car park (which has free parking) don't open until 9.30am - the idea being so it can be used by shoppers rather than commuters.

A Walk up Pudding Lane:Longlands to Hattersley

Pudding Lane is an ancient route from Godley to Mottram.

What exists of it now leaves the present A57 Mottram Road opposite Longlands Lodge.


As we climb past some large private houses, looking to the left we see a row of tall trees lining Mottram Road. One of them has taken a mighty fall.


As we come out of the wood we can see the edge of Hattersley housing estate ahead. The estate was built in the 1950s to house Manchester's "overspill".


The lane is now paved as we approach Bridestowe Avenue. Behind the fence on the right is the site of Harehills Primary School. It closed in 2002 and pupils moved to a newer school.


This section now has houses on it. When Hattersley was built few people had cars and so many areas of the estate have rows of houses without direct road access. Many of these "walks" are being replaced with more provision for car parking.


This is where Pudding Lane peters out. The houses on this section have been demolished as part of the regeneration of the area.

For the return walk visit Hyde DP Xtra.

Post #1500

This our 1500th post.

Today's photograph was taken from the top deck of a bus at the Market Place heritage bus stop with its fine finial.

Over the market stall roofs is the entrance to the Clarendon Mall, or "Clarendon Square Shopping Centre" as it calls itself.

Meanwhile shoppers by the HSBC Bank are busy buying their burgers at Sizzler's.

Cherry Blossom on Wardle Brook Avenue

I was on Hattersley estate about a week ago and found this cherry tree in full blossom.

Come back on Sunday and I'll take you for a walk up and down Pudding Lane.

Wellington Hotel Not Yet Gone

When I posted a photo of Manchester road last October I thought the Wellington Hotel would be gone within a week or so.

Here is how it still looks from the top deck of a bus. The roof has been stripped and the inside gutted. The building of new houses on the old Automasters site continues apace. Maybe they intend to retain the hotel facade but I doubt it.

Railway Relics

Recently I took you to the end of the line at Godley.

In the undergrowth I found these relics of the old line.

The "Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC)" route from Godley Junction to Apethorn opened in 1866. Following the electrification of the Woodhead line in 1954 and until 1981 when the through route to Sheffield closed, Godley was where trains to and from the Liverpool district changed from diesel or steam to electric traction. The main traffic on the line consisted of trains from the Yorkshire coalfield to the Fiddlers Ferry power station.

More railway remnants can be see on Hyde DP Xtra.

See more R posts at ABC Wednesday.

342 in Hyde Bus Station

I was on the top deck of the 330 bus to Ashton and took this of the 342 Speedwell bus which does the Back Bower circular route.

I showed you the 342 two years ago in May 2008.

I also showed it you parked in the bus station in February 2007.

You saw it first though in April 2006 at the temporary stop it was using while the new bus station was still under construction.

Gee Cross Old Dairy

The old dairy on the corner of Enfield Street and Stockport Road has been converted into a private house.

Shadow Shot Sunday:St George's Burial Ground

The burial ground at the side of St George's church was full of shadows the day I took this photograph.

It looks as if some of the gravestones are falling down into the valley of Gower Hey Brook as you can see on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more shadow shots visit Hey Harriet.

The Cutting Edge of Market Street

Just above Nelson Street is the cutting edge of Market Street.

The Lawnmower shop has been here as long as I've known Hyde although I've never had the occasion to visit its premises.

Select Cuts is a relatively new enterprise (two or three years) run by one of the new breed of gentleman's hairdressers who prides himself on doing a thorough professional job.

Next door is another well established business, Bob Butler's veterinary surgery. I wonder how many dogs and cats have had a snip here over the years.

Where have all the Flowers Gone?

Four years ago I showed you this railway cutting wall where the Trans Pennine Trail passes under Stockport Road.

Since then the wall along with the rest of the trail has been "tidied up".

I wonder how long it will take for the flora to regain its grip on the wall.

The Last Order's Chimney

On St George's Day I showed you the Last Orders.

Here is closeup of the chimney.

It looks very static but that round cowl thing (or whatever it is called) is actually spinning round at some speed.

It is certainly very different from the ones across the road that were voted the Best of Hyde Daily 2009.

Q is for Quandry

Last Saturday we found ourselves in a Quandry when we came out of the car park entrance to the Clarendon Mall intending to go through the loading bay area to Clarendon Place.

We discovered that a litter bin had recently appeared next to the stairwell entrance to the multi-storey car park. It blocks access to the kerb leading round the side of the car park. Vehicular access between the ground level car park adjacent to the Mall and the loading area/taxi pick-up point is blocked by a steel fence. Whilst wheelchair access from Clarendon Place wasn't ideal, involving a right angle turn onto the dropped kerb and off again by the stairwell exit, it is now impossible.

I had a Quiet word with the Markets Manager who eQuipped me with the appropriate contact at the council. I have sent a Query Questioning the positioning of the bin. Will they Quibble or act Quickly?

I await a reply

For more Q posts visit ABC Wednesday.

The George closed

When I posted a photograph of The George last October, Kaz said

Now that's what I call a proper pub. Doors, windows and a Robinson's sign.

and B SQUARED said

The windows are amazing. Must be a popular place.

Alas, here is how it looked a couple of months ago, being converted into a private house.

Since then the old windows have been taken out, presumably to be replaced by plastic double-glazed units.

As yet its old clock is still hung outside as can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

End of the line at Godley

Last year I showed you the end of the line at Apethorn.

For non-regular readers, the line I refer to is the former Godley to Apethorn railway line which ran from Godley Junction to Woodley carrying mainly coal trains from the Yorkshire coalfields to Fiddler's Ferry Power Station on the Mersey.

It has all gone now and this footpath from the Brookfold Lane bridge is a dead end.



I walked up to the fence and poked my lens through. Ahead is the current electrified line from Manchester to Glossop. To the left is the remains of Godley Junction station.

Edith Approaching

Several weeks ago I showed the view of the Peak Forest Canal looking South from bridge #8 on Hyde DP Xtra.

This is that view just a few weeks ago with the narrowboat "Edith" approaching.

You can see her on the other side of the bridge on Hyde DP Xtra.

Weekend Reflections:Peak Forest Canal at Apethorn

Reflections in the Peak Forest Canal South of Apethorn Lane.

On the left hand side is the site of Gee X Mill.

See how Gee X Mill and the canal looked in 1984 on Old Hyde.

See more of how the site appears now on sithenah.

See the view North on Ackworth born, gone West.

Check out more weekend reflections at Newtown Area Photos.

At the Polling Station

I nearly didn't vote as I was very unwell on Thursday morning and the rain was teeming down.

I felt a bit better after lunch and the rain had stopped so we wrapped up well and went off to do our "constitutional duty" as my father used to put it.

"Polling Station" signs pointed to the rear entrance of St George's Church at the end of Tower Street. With no ramp up the kerb and a rough stone path through the churchyard, wheelchair access was only possible by going all the way round by Henry Street and Church Road to the lychgate.

The ramp up to the entrance is around the back of these steps.

By the time you read this the results of the General Election 2010 will probably be common knowledge. Whatever it is, I won't have stayed up all night waiting for it.

Footpath to the Shops

Behind: Iceland.
Left: Clarendon Mall.
Ahead: Multi-story carpark.
Right: Carpark on the site of Beeley Street.

Make your choice - I'll be making mine today at a nearby polling booth.

Pole Bank Garden

When I visited Pole Bank several weeks ago to look at the Pool Renovations I also took this photograph of the sunken garden.

For more P posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Rails to Flowery Field

Some time ago I showed you the railway line to Glossop from the Lodge Lane bridge.

I've also shown you the footpath to Flowery Field station that leads from Lodge Lane.

Here now is a look over the bridge in the direction of Flowery Field.

Brook in the Woods

Gower Hey Brook flowing through Gower Hey Woods.

On the left is the footpath junction I showed you last October from the opposite direction.

Then the trees were still full of leaves.

Bowlacre Home

Bowlacre is a residental care home off Stockport Road in Gee Cross.

The home's own website states

We are an Industrial and Provident society managed by a voluntary committee for the benefit of the old people of Hyde and have been established for over 50 years. We have a staff team that is committed to looking after our residents, supported by the committee & friends & relatives of both present & past residents. We also have 12 properties in the grounds which are rented to people who are able to look after themselves; these are for people who live within 5 miles of Bowlacre and are over 65 years old.

Foreign readers of this blog are (not surprisingly) very confused about the difference between three very different types of property

1. Retirement homes
2. Residential care homes
3. Nursing homes

In a future post I may try and elaborate the essential differences but not today.

Chartists Waving Balloons

The Chartist Statue by Stephen Broadbent, unveiled outside Hyde Town Hall on 28th November 2002, commemorates and celebrates the achievements of the Chartists.

For more information about this follow the links on my earlier post for 19th October 2009.

At the end of March someone had tied a bunch of balloons around the hand of one of the figures.

You can see the full photograph from which this was cropped on Geograph.

The CDPB theme for today is Statues. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.