Pretty Hot and Tempting

I was walking down Market Street a week ago and noticed the sign that said PHAT "Pretty Hot and Tempting".

At first I thought it was referring to the food on offer at the "Desi Chill" but whilst the sign for the former takeaway is still hung on the outside of the building, it is in fact now a ladies only gymnasium, sauna and fitness centre.

It used to be the Cheshire Cheese public house (2007) before it was closed in 2009 after which it first became the Cheshire Grill (2010) and then the Desi Chill (2011)

It isn't the first place in Hyde that has gone from pulling pints to pulling iron.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Market Street Shadows

Tha shadows are falling across the bottom of Market Street as yet another business bites the dust.

Waterways bathroom and tiles showroom has now closed down and the premises are up for rent. On the left is the Donnybrook Medical Centre by the bus station. The shuttered shop on the right was once the surgery of Dr Shipman.

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

For Shadow Shot Sunday.

Hyde Hospital Lodge

The Lodge at Hyde Hospital on Grange Road South.

Hyde Hospital was built in 1886 as a "Fever Hospital". By 1929 it was known as Hyde Infectious Diseases Hospital. From 1948-1955 it was known again as Hyde Isolation Hospital. In the late 1980s, wards 1 to 3 were converted into Hyde Nursing Home operated by Meridian Healthcare Ltd. See the Nursing Home on Hyde DP Xtra.

Ward 4, known as the TB ward and some smaller buildings continued to be used by some ancillary service until 1996. They are now being demolished - see my post of 27th November.

I believe the Lodge is used by Meridian as offices.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

Ruby Tuesday: Fever ward awaits demolition

Hyde Hospital was built in 1886 as a "Fever Hospital". By 1929 it was known as Hyde Infectious Diseases Hospital. From 1948-1955 it was known again as Hyde Isolation Hospital. In the late 1980s, wards 1 to 3 were demolished to make way for Hyde Nursing Home.

This red-brick building, Ward 4, known to many as the TB ward, continued to be used by some ancillary services until 1996. It is now being demolished.

More photos of the demolition can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

For Ruby Tuesday.

Northwest Blood Bikes Manchester

Blood Bikes fund-raising on Hyde Market.

Northwest Blood Bikes Manchester is a registered charity, which offers an out of hours and free of charge urgent medical courier service to the NHS. They volunteer to play their part in saving peoples lives and save the NHS money that would otherwise be wasted on taxis or expensive couriers, but more than anything else they do it because they love it. More information on the Northwest Blood Bikes website.

For Ruby Tuesday and
Our World Tuesday.

ABC Wednesday: Q is for Queen Street

At one time Queen Street was a busy thoroughfare that went through Slack Mill to Lumn Road.

Now a school and new houses have been built on the site of the mill so now it only leads to the school gates and the car park for the gymnasium belonging to Ricky (Hitman) Hatton.

Note the 20mph sign on the road.

For more Qs visit ABC Wednesday.

For more signs visit signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: L is for Long Meadow Car Park

Car park on the site of Long Meadow Mill (demolished 1900). On the left with the tree in front is the Donnybrook Medical Centre. On the right behind the back of shops on Clarendon Street is the Job Centre. In the centre of the background is the now closed Astoria Bingo Hall.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Weekend Reflections: No Mirrors

"No Mirrors, No Lycra, No Men" so it says on the window of the new ladies only fitness and toning salon on Market Street.

I'm not certain, but I think it may be the same business that had recently moved into the former Crown Inn. Now they've re-located into premises on the corner of Edna Street previously occupied by a bathroom showroom.

There may be no mirrors on the inside but the plate-glass frontage acts like a mirror reflecting the buildings opposite.

You can see the whole building on Hyde DP Xtra.

You can see other reflections at Weekend Reflections.

Yellow and Blue

The Powerhouse Gym is located in part of what was originally the Hippodrome Theatre and cinema. Below it is now M G Electrics Extra. The domestic appliance retailer formerly occupied Woodhead House, now Cash Converters, across the road. They moved to premises higher up Market Street some years ago. I presume from the word "Extra" that this is an additional outlet for them. They have moved into the shop previously occupied by "Let's Celebrate" who specialise in party balloons and the like. They have moved into smaller premises next door on the corner of Borough Arcade. Those were previously "Sew & Sews" which offered a seamstress service as well as craft sundries.

A contribution to Mellow Yellow Monday and Blue Monday.

ABC Wednesday: F is for Fitness for Females

The former Crown public house at the corner of Market Street and Nelson Street is now a Ladies only fitness and toning salon.

For more F posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Skywatch Friday: Hatton Grange

Hatton Grange is a residential care home on the site of the former Hyde Police Station. It occupies the land bounded by Oldham Street, Croft Street, Henry Street and Onward Street. It is named after local boxer Ricky Hatton.

On the day in question a bright winter sun was shining in the afternoon but storm clouds were gathering in the East.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Back entrance to HBS Pharmacy

A new pharmacy opened on Market Street recently. HBS have taken over a former furniture store.

There are already two pharmacies (Lloyds and a Co-op) in the same block. This makes three now and there are a another three (two Boots [one ex-Nupharm] and another Co-op) within the town centre.

Like the other two they have a main entrance on the front of Market Street and a rear entrance onto the Long Meadow car park.

You can view the front entrance on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more Monday Doorways visit San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Tameside Hospital

I expect to be in Tameside Hospital today having my gall-bladder removed.

I recounted the tale of my earlier hospital stay in Another Week, Another Hospital. I should have gone in two weeks ago but the operation was cancelled as a result of the industrial action the day before.

So the operation has been rescheduled for today. Nil by mouth from midnight Wednesday and be at the hospital for 8 a.m.

If all goes according to plan I should be home tomorrow.

See follow-up post Onward.

ABC Wednesday: U is for Union Street (looking East)

The tower block is Chartist House. On the left is Union Street Clinic.

For the view looking West see Hyde DP Xtra.

For more "U" posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Artingstall Optometrist

D.J. Artingstall's opticians (or more precisley, optometrists) is on Clarendon Street. I went to see him yesterday for an examination. I am pleased to say I don't need new glasses and furthermore my glacuoma is under control with the pressure in my left eye down to 19.

Afterwards I decided to photograph his shop front.

I'm due to have my gall-bladder out on December 5th and need to watch my diet in the meantime. I'm still going to be posting spasmodically for a while.

Stepping into Stepping Hill

I'm going into Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport this week. I was going to pre-schedule a series of photographs to cover my time away but have decided against the idea.

I have a few photographs in my files for use when I return but it may be a little while before I can get out with the camera and take new pictures. So the blog will be on hiatus for a couple of weeks or so.

I'll be going into theatre on Wednesday. Meanwhile on Heritage Open Day last weekend, there was a queue outside the Theatre Royal in Hyde but alas no going in. You can see the video on Hyde DP Xtra.

Market Street from the 206 bus

A view of Market Street from outside the Brook Surgery.



We are on the 206 service from Gee Cross to Manchester Piccadilly. A new half-hourly daytime service was introduced recently. Originally it was routed directly down Market Street, stopping at the EE stop last used during the construction of the new bus station. Due to passenger demand the 206 has since been routed through the bus station so this view won't be repeated.



Coming up the road from the bus station is the 304 service to Marple. That service operates twice a day, three times a week and used to go over Werneth Low Road but now it travels via Woodley.



You can view all the photographs and a slide-show of my journey on the 206 all the way to Piccadilly on Geo-trips.

ABC Wednesday: Z is for Zumba

I'd never heard of Zumba until I saw this banner on the side of the Town Hall.

"Get Bikini Fit for Summer" it says which suggested it was something to do with aerobics. Since then I've discovered that it is a combination of dancing and excercise - very energetic and exhausting according to people who've told me they've tried it.

I keep hearing about everywhere now so it must be the latest craZe.

For more Z posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Brookbank Nursery

Brookbank Nursery on Mottram Road is based in a grade II listed house that was built in 1837 by the local Hibbert family.

Parsonage Street Clinc

Built in the 1920s as a Child Welfare Centre and known as Parsonage Street clinic. It specialised in post-operative physiotherapy with patients referred for treatment via their GPs. It is now known as Hyde Physiotherapy Centre and treats private as well as NHS patients.