The New Scout Hut

Back in 2007 I reported on the campaign to Save our Scout Group after the 3rd Gee Cross Scout hut was destroyed by storms.

The building work on the new hut is being spread over two phases. The first has been completed giving them a hall, kitchen. toilets and upper storey storage.

The second phase of building will provide a larger hall and bigger kitchen.

More information can be found on their new website.

Two further pictures can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

Cotton Mills

"Cotton Mills" (in the plural for some reason) is the name that has been given to the development of new houses being built on the site of "Hyde Mill" (in the singular).

At this stage the back of houses on Cheetham Hill Road are visible as is Hartshead Pike in the far distance.

Site of the Wellington Hotel

Following the demolition of the Wellington Hotel and the houses on Rhodes Street North there is a clear view through to the new houses on the old Automaster's site.

The Lad's Rubble

This is all that is left of Hyde Lad's Club. Opened in 1930 by Prince Henry, third son of George V.

The Club was on Beeley Street - see photos on Hyde Cheshire.

In the earlier 1990s it was demolished to make way for a car park - see photos of the demolition on Hyde Cheshire.

All that was left was a memorial stone - see our post from September 2007 to see it, together with an account of its history.

Sometime on Tuesday night the memorial was reduced to rubble. Accident, vandalism, weather decay or what is not known.

I was told by two council workers whom I saw yesterday that although the plaque has been cracked the rubble is going to be taken away for restoration and should be back in place sometime next week.

Site of the Wellington Hotel

The Wellington Hotel has finally been demolished.

The white building in the background is Pitfield Cottages built in 1869.

White Gates Inn and the Wellington

As I walked down Manchester Road a few weeks ago workmen were busy erecting scaffolding outside the Wellington Hotel. I presume it is a prelude to its final demolition.

Meanwhile on the other side of the road the White Gates Inn appears to be still thriving.

Bus Station repairs

After last weeks surreal view of Hyde Bus Station, an all too real view from last week.

The carriage-ways are being repaired forcing all services to use one side of the bus station only. With only one way through, many routes (the 330 in particular) have been diverted and no longer stop on Market Street to the inconvenience of many users.

See the notice on Hyde DP Xtra.

Hyde Holidays: Day Trip to Cleveleys

Whilst I am away on holiday, Rune from Visual Norway is minding the blog for me. I have scheduled some special posts for the period taking readers on day trips to the West.


A few miles South of Fleetwood lies Cleveleys.

This how the beach looked on a late afternoon in 2004. Somewhere in the distance lies Barrow in Furness.


In 2007 the North Promenade was closed as work began on much needed sea defences.


By 2008 the promenade had been completely transformed.

It made an excellent vantage point for watching the Wreck of the Riverdance.

Weekend Reflections Canal Turn near Automasters

This is a followup to my earlier photograph of the Peak Forest Canal turning East having passed under the M67 motorway.

Here it turns South again opposite the old Automasters site, now busily being turned into a housing estate.

Compare it with Stephen McKay's photograph taken from the canal a few weeks earlier which can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more Weekend Reflections visit Newtown Area Photo.

Hyde Mill Wasted

Hyde Mill was demolished last year and now the site has been cleared.

The trees in the background hide from view three schools off Yew Tree Lane in Dukinfield.

Another photo of this wasteland can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

A New View Revealed

As can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra, JCBs are busy clearing the remains of what was once Hyde Mill 1906-2009.

I zoomed in on the machines and took a closer view. It wasn't until I downloaded the photograph that I discovered a view of a landmark previously hidden behind the mill.

Demolition has opened up a new vista all the way to Hartshead Pike.

For more views of the sky around the globe, visit SkyWatch Friday.

Toray Mill Demolition

Yesterday I showed you the sofa in the canal.

In the background, further up the Peak Forest Canal, is the Toray Mill undergoing demolition. Debris is floating on the ice.

Compare it with photos I took last year and posted on Hyde DP Xtra.

New Homes Going Up

Another look at the new homes that are going up on the site formerly occupied by Automasters.

Last Days of Hyde Mill

The demolition of Hyde Mill which started in September 2009 is nearing completion. Just a few walls remain standing.

You can see this gaping hole from a little further away on Hyde DP Xtra.

Caxton Really Has Gone Now

The last time we looked across the motorway from the Western Clark Road bridge, the Mary Street facade of the Caxton Works was still to be seen.

Now that most of the rubble on the inside has been cleared, the remaining outer walls have been demolished and you can see right across to Dukinfield Road.

Caxton Works: Earlier Posts

• 080225: Caxton Works
• 080314: Door to Caxton Works
• 080331: Top of Caxton Works
• 081003: Sky Over Edward Street
• 081016: Corner of Caxton Works
• 090706: Action at Caxton Works
• 090706: Caxton Top
• 090715: Demolition of Caxton Works
• 090715: Caxton Works Demolition
• 090727: Caxton Demolition Update
• 090727: Carved Lintel on Caxton Works
• 090810: Caxton Door No More
• 090810: Caxton Demolition Continued
• 090924: Mary Street and the M67
• 091025: Caxton Works Cleared

Peak Forest Canal in Winter

Yet another view of the Peak Forest Canal North of the Manchester Road Bridge.

The willow tree on the right is all bare, whilst on the left, the construction of new housing on the old Automasters site continues apace.

Beyond the shelter of the bridge, thick ice covers the surface of the canal.

Up ahead the canal bends West towards the bridge under the M67. An abandoned supermarket shopping trolley stands waiting for the ice to melt before it sinks.

You can see the trolley more closely on Hyde DP Xtra.

Previous views of the Peak Forest Canal from Manchester Road:

• circa 1980
• December 14th 2007
• October 22nd 2008
• March 20th 2009
• April 10th 2009
• August 12th 2009

Hyde Mill Demolition Continues

The demolition of Hyde Mill which started in September continues apace.

I have post-processed this image to highlight the edges. You can view the original photograph on Geograph.

There are two more photographs on Hyde DP Xtra.

The Old Bricklayers

The Bricklayers Arms on Reynold Street closed over three years ago.

I showed you how it looked in January 2007 after conversion to a residence.

It hadn't changed much until recently. Now the outside has been re-plastered.

Homes by the Canal Turn

The new estate of houses on the Automasters site is going to be called Moorside Place.

An access road seems to be being built alongside the Peak Forest Canal. On the other side of the wall on the right is the sluicegate.

You can see more progress on Hyde DP Xtra.

Drystone Waller at Dunkirk Farm

As I was walking from Dunkirk Bridge down to Dunkirk Farm a few weeks ago, I came across this busy chap who was repairing the dry stone wall.

I had a nice chat with him before proceeding on my way.