Flowery Field Church

Flowery Field Church, on Newton Street, was constructed between 1876 and 1878. The building is in the Perpendicular or Tudor Gothic style of architecture and is cruciform in shape. The connected tower rises 81 feet above street level. Flowery Field Church is an independent non-denominational Church affiliated to the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.

For more information visit the church website.

ABC Wednesday: N is for Newton Street

Newton Street was the main road out of Hyde towards Ashton before Dukinfield Road was built. Alongside is Carrfield Mill which was the home of "Christy Towels". It used to stand under the shadow of the adjacent Ashton Brothers Mill until that was demolished in 2007.

See how it looked in 2002 on Old Hyde.

Founded in 1851, Christy is the world's oldest towel manufacturer and is the UK's leading towel brand. Christy invented the first loom to mechanically weave what remains today the basis of the modern towel and is the exclusive supplier of the towels to the world famous Wimbledon Tennis Championship.

The 1 billion USD Welspun Group acquired an 85% interest in Christy for a business valuation of GBP 15.6 m, in July 2006.

In 2008 they closed the dyehouse and making-up departments at Hyde and transferred the machinery to a specially designed site at Welspun's Anjar facility in India.

Their UK HQ and sales office remained at Carrfield Mill until 2012 when they took over 12,000 sq ft of offices and showroom facilities at Orbit Developments' Park Square complex in Cheadle.

The old mill is now in the process of being demolished.

More photos of the area behind Carrfield Mill can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday: H is for Hyde's Heritage

Next weekend is when the Heritage Open Days take place. Five places in Hyde are particpating and details of when they are open can be on found the Heritage Open Day website.

Top left is Newton Hall.

Top right is Mottram Parish Church.

Bottom left is St George's Church.

Bottom right is St Thomas the Apostle.

In the centre is Flowery Field Church.

The only problem is with everything taking place mostly on the same day, it isn't easy to get to more than one or two. I'll probably only have time to visit St George's late on Saturday afternoon.

For ABC Wednesday.

The Sign at St Stephen's

St Stephen's, the parish church of Flowery Field was consecrated in 1891, the foundation stone having been laid nearly two years earlier. The present building was the outcome of a Mission Church (an offshoot from St. Mary's, Newton, started about 1883), and was erected through the munificence of Colonel Ashton, of Newton, and Little Onn, Staffordshire. It is a fine stone building, in the 13th century style of architecture, containing nave and chancel, and boasting a handsome tower and spire of about 120 feet high. The first vicar was the Rev. T. M. Tozer.

The Church closed in July 2011 and worshippers must now attend St Mary's, Newton.

It has been deconsecrated and is for sale at around £180,000.

More photographs of the church are on Hyde DP Xtra.

For signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: F is for Flowery Field Free House

On the corner of Well Meadow and Spring Gardens is a public house called the Flowery Field. It is a "free house" but that doesn't mean they give the drink away. The term is used to distinguish it from a "tied house" which is owned by a brewery. Landlords of tied houses are only allowed to sell beer brewed or approved by the brewery. Free house landlords are free to to buy and sell the wares of different producers.



As a non-drinker myself I cannot tell you anything more specific about what you might find inside.



For more F posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Sepia Scene: Gair Street

Gair Street is a typical cobble-stoned terraced street off Old Road in the Flowery Field area.



While similar streets have been demolished this one has survived.



More sepia views at Sepia Scenes.