Best of Hyde Daily 2014

It is that time of the year again.

Hyde Daily Photo is one of more than 400 websites worldwide that post a daily picture of their home town or city. On 1st January 2015 members of the City Daily Photobloggers community will be revealing their Photo of the Year.

I have selected twelve contenders for Best of Hyde 2014 and am asking readers to vote for their favourites.

These thumbnails are only a taster. To vote for your three favourites please visit Best of Hyde Daily 2014 and use the form on the page.

Deadline for voting is 12 noon GMT on Monday 29th December 2014.

Mottram Old Grammar School

Behind St Michaels and All Angels Church at Mottram can be found the Old Grammar School, now a private house.

It is a Grade II listed building and you can view the official description on Old Hyde.

Mottram Schoolhouse

The Old School House at Mottram is now part of the Community Centre.

It is a listed building. For the official description see Old Hyde.

Width Restrictions on Henry Street

Henry Street used to be what is known as a "rat-run".

To deter motorists using it as a shortcut to and from Dowson Road, some roads in the area were made one-way in a confusing rather than straightforward way.

Here at the corner with Church Street the roadway width was reduced to prevent HGVs from using the road.

On the right is part of St George's Church of England Primary School.

From tomorrow I'll be away on holiday. In the meantime Rune from Visual Norway will be minding the blog for me. I have scheduled some special posts for the period taking readers on day trips to the West.

St George's School

St George's Church of England Primary School lies on Church Street.

When school is out it looks like Fort Knox with all the steel shutters and the high fence. Strong security around schools is alas a feature of the times we live in.

Path to Mona Street

This footpath leads from Douglas Street to Mona Street and Vernon Street.

On the left is Greenfield Primary School built on the site of the former James North factory.

On the right is a recreation ground of which you can see more on Hyde DP Xtra.

With all the strewn leaves it looks a bit like autumn but in fact the photograph was taken in July.

The Beautiful Game Brings The World Together

Well Dressing is not confined to Derbyshire but takes place in a few surrounding counties too.

It was Gee Cross Well Dressing ceremony a few weeks ago. I've already shown you Booth's Well.

A walk is taken to six sites around the village and the wells are blessed. After Booth's Well the parade goes to two wells up Joel Lane. I didn't get up there this year. The fourth and fifth stops I'll show you at a later date.

The final blessing takes place outside Hyde Chapel where the display this year was The Beautiful Game Brings The World Together produced by year 7 students from Alder Community High School.

Their theme for 2010 was the World Cup. The display, made out of recycled materials, tries to show that saving the world's resources is everyone's responsibility and that the World Cup is a way of bringing people together to celebrate all the different nations of the world.

Cycle for Life

The "Dowson Trail" is a series of footpaths around the playing fields of Dowson Primary School. This is by the Balmoral road entrance.

Gower Hey Woods are in the background.

Another view of the playing fields from the York Road entrance can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

Werneth Low over Alder School

Looking from Grange Road South over Alder School towards Mottram Old Road and Werneth Low.

The original photograph has been post-processed as a pencil sketch.

Dale Grove School

Dale Grove School is on Grange Road South.

When I knew this school well it was Oakdale, a special school for children with learning disabilities. My son Craig went there for several years and the teachers did a wonderful job.

Oakdale is now part of a larger school complex in Dukinfield.

Dowson Primary School Playing Fields

The playing fields of Dowson Primary School stretch towards Gower Hey Woods and the footpath between the two is a nature trail.

Why there is an amount of litter in one corner, I cannot say.

Hyde Grammar School 1877

Now housing a sheet-metal factory, in 1877 this building on the corner of Henry Street and Edna Street was originally Hyde Grammar School.

Laurel Bank

Built in 1889 as Enfield Street School, this building on the corner of Knott Lane is now a residential care home.

Some weeks ago I showed you a slightly more distant view.

Footpath from Hinton Grove

Some weeks ago I showed you the Steps to the Grange.

This is the footpath in the opposite direction from the end of Hinton Grove.

On the left hand side is the valley of the infant Werneth Brook, whilst above the banking on the right lie the playing fields of Alder School.

Around the corner are those steps.

Please Pass Wide & Slow

Another picture from the snowy times of a few weeks ago.

This is Mottram Old Road approaching the entrance to Alder School.

Horses, cyclists and cars all use this road and hopefully most drivers heed the notice on the horsewoman's back to Please pass wide and slow.

Path behind Alder School again

Some of you may remember my post of the flooded footpath behind Alder School.


This is how it looked a few weeks ago when the ground was somewhat firmer.


Here is the view in the opposite direction.

The path leads past the school towards a football pitch from where I took this earlier-posted picture of the Sky over Hyde Hospital.

Closed College

The Hyde campus of Tameside College on Stockport Road at Gee Cross closed last year.

Don't ask me why as I don't know.

Flooded Path

This was a dry gravel footpath when Alder High School was built alongside.

In the photograph on that earlier post it can be seen clearly on the left.

This was taken a few weeks ago after several days of heavy rain. The low bright autumn sun reflects the railings across the path and the puddles.

Queen Street

Until a few years ago traffic from Dowson Road could cross Market Street into Queen Street at the traffic lights.

It led down past the James North factory, and came out on Lumn Road.

An estate of new housing has been built on the James North site and a school playground lies across the old route.

The printing works has closed down and plans are afoot to change it into a gymnasium run by boxing champion Ricky Hatton.

Muhammadiyah House of Worship

This house on Ridling Lane is now a centre for Muslim teaching.

According to their website

The Grand Master of the Tareeq, Syiduna Abdul Azeez Dabbaagh (rhu) lived and died in the blessed city of Fez, Morocco (Maghrib). He had Illuminated himself with Quran and Sunnah. He was a complete embodiment of Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saw). His method of Self-Purification is unique in the sense that the wayfarer becomes close to Allah the Exalted day by day of which he himself witnesses. The individual is not required to abandon lawful activities of this life.

It is currently taught by the present Master of the Tareeq, Hazrat Ahmad Dabbaagh (db). He is the spiritual heir and the representative of Syiduna Abdul Azeez Dabbaagh (rhu). His blessed guidance and teachings is illuminating the heart and soul of those who are under his supervision. Many seek his advice for both their spiritual and physical well-being in this life and the hereafter.