Lady Lavender

There is a new café by the market ground entrance to Clarendon Mall. The premises have been previously been occupied by a jewellers, a money-exchange office and a pawnbrokers.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Let's Talk Tripe

It's a shame about the missing apostrophe in the new sign over the tripe stall in the indoor market inside Clarendon Mall, but Lyndon is to be congratulated on taking over this long-standing business. He knows the trade well and will be a worthy successor to Jack Curvis.

I published the photo below in April 2006 and it went on to be voted 2006 Photo of the Year.

This post is another contribution to the CDPB Festival of the Belly Button where bloggers look at how they've changed over the years. In this case, whereas the photo of Jack was posed, the one of Lyndon was a candid shot.



Posted also for signs signs

Z is for Zone

The "Shoe Zone" store in Clarendon Mall had a sale on last week with a huge 50% off sign.

Look carefully though and you'll notice it actually says "Up to" 50%.

I did in fact buy a pair of shoes there on Saturday but I certainly didn't pay much less for them (if anything) than I'd have paid before the sale.

According to Wikipedia this is one of around 800 branches throughout the UK and Ireland and the Leicester based company sells approximately 30 million pairs of footwear per year, just under 1 pair a second.

For more takes on the letter "Z" visit ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday: Y is for Yew Tree Singers

I showed you the Yew Tree Singers from Dukinfield on Christmas Day singing in Clarendon Mall the previous Saturday.

Here is a look from the opposite side of the Mall.

A happy new year to all involved with ABC Wednesday.

Ruby Tuesday: Yew Tree Singers

The Yew Tree Singers from Dukinfield were singing carols in Clarendon Mall on Saturday.

For Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

A Merry Christmas to all our visitors.

Please visit Best of Hyde 2012. Just three days left to vote for your favourite photos.

Santa and some of his reindeer

Some of Santa's reindeer visited the Clarendon Mall in Hyde this Saturday.

Santa himself was there too outside Scallywag's which is closing down.

Another photo of the reindeer is on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Camera Critters.

Scallywag's closing down

The children's clothes shop, Scallywag Ltd, in Clarendon Mall was having a closing down sale last Saturday.

Please visit Best of Hyde 2012 and vote for your favourite three photographs.

ABC Wednesday: U is for Umbrella

This regular stall on Hyde Market outside the entrance to Clarendon Shopping Mall sells umbrellas, batteries, cigarette lighters and cuts keys.

For ABC Wednesday.

Handbags Anyone?

The handbag stall in Clarendon Mall.

Halloween at Mocha Joe's

Although we don't normally celebrate Halloween in the UK with same vigour as those in the USA, this year there seems to have been quite a few releted displays around the place.

This is Mocha Joe's coffee shop inside Clarendon Mall, duly decorated for the season.

For Our World Tuesday.

Up the Back Passage

This is the passageway at the back of the Clarendon Mall leading from the indoor market to the delivery bays and Reynold Street.

Compare the eighties' red brick of the Mall extension on the left to the fifties' red brick on the right and the noughtie's light red brick of "Cotton Tree Court" in the background.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

Jubilee Stiltwalker

As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Clarendon Mall on Saturday, this wonderfully skilled stiltwalker was parading around the shopping centre.

We've seen her before but I'm not sure whether she was Frosty or Sparkle then.

My son Craig posed for a photograph with the lady which you can see on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

The Cup Cake Queen of Hyde

The indoor market at Clarendon Mall organised a celebration for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on Saturday. All the stalls were decorated with union flags; there were tombolas; face-painting and more.

At the top of the upstairs ramp by the "Devon Eggs" stall cup cakes, scones and other delights were for sale, all in aid of Willow Wood Hospice.

How else would you celebrate 60 years on the throne?

A contribution to Mellow Yellow Monday.

Bakeries: Greggs in the Mall

The CDPB theme for Mayday is Bakeries.

The days of independant bakers is long gone and most bread comes from the supermarkets.

The popular franchise Greggs has a presence in Clarendon Mall. It took over the unit formerly occupied by Sylvio's restaurant and bakery which closed quite a few years ago.

Greggs' old position has been taken over by Poundland bakery.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants to the theme.

Waiting patiently

Outside the entrance to Clarendon Shopping Centre.

ABC Wednesday: G is for Gone

On Monday morning Hyde Market was as busy and bustling as usual but some things were gone.

Gone now is the Crown Pole and the old wooden benches between the HSBC bank and the open market. Their removal is part of the renovation of the market that is currently underway.

Gone also are Mr Griffin and his groupies who "graced" us with their presence on Saturday causing the closure of the market for the day.

For more G posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Shadows across Hyde Market

Mature trees cast their shadows across the cleared Northern half of Hyde Market last Sunday afternoon in a never to be repeated view.

The original renovation plans included removal of all the trees but after protests at least some of the more mature trees are to be retained.

On the left can be seen the greengrocer's "Strawberry Gardens" with solicitor's offices above. To the right is the White Lion public house, William Hill's betting shop (bookies) and the Santander (former Abbey) Bank. Far right is the children's carousel (roundabout) in front of the Clarendon shopping centre.

Compare with the scene in the opposite direction in heavy rain the previous day as shown on Hyde DP Xtra.

Since Sunday this part of the market has been cordoned off as renewal work gets under way. The small trees in front of the White Lion have already gone.

Yesterday shadows of different kind were cast over Hyde Market but of these I do not wish comment here.

This is a contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

21st Century Bubblegum

Are you old enough to remember the vending machines outside shops when you got bubble-gum delivered for a penny? Now bubble gum is 20p and other confectionery can be 50p or a £1 from these new style candy machines in Clarendon Shopping Centre.

End of the Crown Pole

In preparation for the refurbishment of Hyde Market the Crown Pole has been dug out of its foundations. As I said in my post of 20th January which shows the pole from the opposite direction, the pole is to be re-sited (but the plans do not say where) whilst the telephone box is to be retained.

The benches between the pole and Clarendon Shopping Centre (the other end to the entrance I showed yesterday) have already been removed.

A closer view of the base of the uprooted pole can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

See how it looked when newly erected on Old Hyde.

Welcome to Clarendon Square

The Market Place entrance to Clarendon Square. It is usually referred to as Clarendon Shopping Centre or Clarendon Mall. Locals will often just say something like - "I'll meet you outside Argos in Clarendon" or "I got it from Superdrug in the mall".

According to Wikipedia

"The centre was opened in 1963 by the Metropolitan Railway Surplus Land company as an open air precinct, but by 1980 it was in decline, with consistent vandalism combined with poor construction materials and appearance deterring retailers from locating within it. In 1990 the freeholders of the precinct, the local council (TMBC) and other organisations stepped in to sort out the centre and initiate a redevelopment strategy. In 1994 that plan was made a reality with the centre extended and made undercover, along with a new market hall and increased retail space. It is now extremely popular within the catchment area and it boasts a number of well-known chain stores such as B&M, O2, Argos and Gamestation.It is now owned by Manchester based property group, MCR Property Group"

.A contribution to Monday Doorways at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.