Windblown Tree at Newton

A windblown tree on grassland between Markham Street and Ashton Road, Newton.

Photograph was taken on May 2nd, 2012 and I've been waiting for a suitable time to post it. Well it isn't seasonal but perhaps its day has come.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday and Green Days on Raindrops & Daisies.

ABC Wednesday: V is for Voting

The time has come to vote for the best of Hyde DP 2012.

View the twelve contenders at Best of Hyde 2012 and vote for your favourite three photographs.

Voting closes 12 noon GMT, 28th December 2012.

For ABC Wednesday.

Friday Fences: Cotton Mills Development

Yesterday I took a look at the Cotton Mills Development which will see around 300 houses built on the site of the former Hyde Mill, which was demolished in 2009.

See how it looked in June 2010.

So far a third of the site has been developed and many of the new houses are already occupied. Behind the fences here, building work continues.

See some of the new houses on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

The Weekend in Black & White: Muslin Road, Newton

A monochrome view of Muslin Road, or Talbot Road as it is now called.

See the coloured view on Geograph.

For The Weekend in Black and White.

Sign of the Clarence

The writing on the side wall of the Clarence on Talbot Road is long-standing but the sign is relatively new. It wasn't there in 2010 when the pub was closed and looking for a new landlord. Unlike other pubs in the area it found one and is still open.

I don't know for sure but it seems possible that the Clarence referred to is the Duke who became King William IV after whom the pub across the road is named - see my post of two weeks ago.

See the pub itself on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Opening Hours at Newton Library

This week's contribution to signs, signs features the opening hours at Newton Library.

Alas, as from October 12th, every day will be a Wednesday.

Why? See the view of the library on Hyde DP Xtra.

Two takeaways in Newton

There are two takeaways together on Talbot Road in Newton. The Mandarin does Chinese and fish-and-chips while the Redfood offers Bangladeshi cuisine. The entrance to the latter is via the framework of an old red telephone kiosk.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Newton Hall after the dig

This photograph shows the grounds of Newton Hall restored after the archaeological dig in April and was taken at the recent Heritage Open Day where some of the finds were on show. Behind the fence lies the main road from Hyde to Ashton.

See the hall itself on Hyde DP Xtra.

Newton Hall, a Grade II listed building and one of Britain's earliest cruck-framed buildings, stands on the corner of Dukinfield Road and Dunkirk Lane in Hyde, Cheshire. It eventually became used as a barn for the farm that occupied part of the site. It was encased in a brick building having a blue slate roof. When the farm buildings were being demolished in the 1960s, to make way for industrial buildings, the contractor saw the ancient cruck-framed construction and, realising it was an important ancient building, stopped demolition immediately. The other farm buildings were later demolished but the original medieval hall was preserved. Sir George Kenyon, the Chairman of William Kenyon & Sons Ltd of Dukinfield, rescued it. Browns of Wilmslow undertook the restoration work and this was completed in 1970.

During the restoration work, a large glass panel was inserted into one side the purpose of this being twofold. It allows sufficient light into the hall so that it can be used for modern purposes such as holding conferences, seminars and meetings and it also allows the construction of the building to be viewed from the outside. It now has a stone flag floor with under-floor heating, whereas originally it would have had an earthen floor.

More information at http://www.pittdixon.go-plus.net/newton-hall/newton-hall.htm

In April 2012 Tameside History Forum in conjunction with Salford University undertook an archaeological dig at the site. Over 500 photographs of the excavation can be found on their Photobucket gallery.

A contribution to Friday Fences and Green Days on Raindrops & Daisies.

King Bill's sign

The King William IV on Talbot Road, Newton is affectionately known by locals as The King Bill.

The landlord in the 1980s was Derek Quinn who was the guitarist in the 1960s group, Freddie and the Dreamers.

View the whole pub on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs.

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.

Answer to last Thursday's question

Last Thursday I asked readers to tell me what was on Charles's Terrace.

Lucy wrote

Does Bennett Street / Ashton Road count as 'Where'? (You had it in a previous photo.) It's a 'Betfred' now. (Also one of your photos!) I expect,if you had a 'search this site' option, we'd be able to find out what it used to be too!

Now there is actually a "search this site" option - there is blogger's own on the very top left of the page. Also, if you scroll down to the very bottom of the page there is a search box which will search across all my blogs.

Neither of them though would have brought you the answer as the only place I've published the photo before is on the Geograph website.

Betfred is what is locally known as a "bookies" or more properly as a "betting shop" or "turf accountant" although the latter name stems from the time when about the only thing people bet on was horse-racing. Not being a gambler I've never been in one so don't what goes on inside.

No-one has told me what the premises were originally. I don't know but suspect it was probably another pub.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

ABC Wednesday: G is for the George & Dragon

The George & Dragon is probably the oldest pub in Newton. Records date the licence back to around 1756. It wasn't the large public house there today; probably just a small cottage.

Before 1756 it is thought that the premises were a shop before it gained a licence. The first recorded landlord was James Harrison, who kept the house for over twenty years.

The next landlord, Jonathan Smith the elder, kept the George and Dragon from 1778 to 1826, a grand total of 48 years. When he died in 1826 his wife Elizabeth carried on for a further eight years and then Thomas Smith, thought to be a son carried on until 1850. It seemed to be a family tradition to be in the licensed trade as Jonathan had another son known as Jonathan The Younger who kept the Shoulder Of Mutton Inn on Talbot Road (1819-1823) and also the Bay Horse (1825-1834).

The George & Dragon is supposed to be haunted by a ghost affectionately known as Ferdinand who seems to have been around since the 1950s. Nobody knows his origin; he is described as of average height with long, bushy beard, side whiskers, and wearing a long frock coat.

The pub boasts a fine bowling green at the rear and over the years a consistently good bowling team have won many prizes in local leagues.

More information can be found on Hyde, Chehsire.

The pub sign can be viewed on Hyde DP Xtra.

In front of the pub is Bennett Street War Memorial which was paid for by money raised for the George and Dragon Soldier's Comfort Fund.

More "G" posts can be found at ABC Wednesday.

Bus Stop Yellow

Yellow lines delineate the bus stop at the end of Talbot Road, Newton.

The house across the roundabout at the end of Talbot Road is called Chapel Hill and has a date stone reading 1912. I beleive it was formerly a Wesleyan Chapel. To the left on Matley Road are modern terraces dating (I think) from the 1970s or 1980s. To the right the cottages on Victoria street are probably late Victorian.

Behind the bus stop on the left is the Bay Horse. The public house is currently boarded up as you can see on Hyde DP Xtra.

For Mellow Yellow Monday.

Note: I'll be away in St Annes all this week and probably without internet access so will not be tweeting.

I've scheduled a post each day to go live at midnight BST and Julie Storry of Sydney Eye will be posting a notice to the CDPB Facebook page which is also where CDPB members can go to vote for September's theme day.

Bennett Street War Memorial

The Bennett Street War Memorial sits in front of the George & Dragon public house, surrounded by railings. It was designed by J.H. Wood, the borough surveyor and sculpted by J.J. Hirst of Denton, the memorial - a stone column - is 16ft 3ins high. The main shaft is 10ft high and 2ft square. It is made of a solid block of the best white selected Windaway stone from Bollington - chosen for its weathering qualities.

At the top across is the word "Honour" and the town coat of arms. Inscribed on the plinth is "to the glory of God and in affectionate memory of the men of Newton who gave their lives for their country and the cause of liberty in the Great War 1914-1919".

To the right below a cross are crossed swords and the inscription "In thanksgiving for the sacrifice of parents, wives, and relatives of the fallen for the safe return of those who have been spared".

On the back are wings and the inscription "Subscribed for and erected by the inhabitants of Newton".

On the left is an anchor and the inscription "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends".

The memorial was paid for by money raised for the George and Dragon Soldier's Comfort Fund. Originally, the plan was for a small scroll of honour, but £329 was raised, allowing for a grander scheme eventually costing £450. It was unveiled on August 15, 1925, by Mr EWH Wood, the M.P. for Stalybridge and Hyde, in front of a crowd of 1,500 people.

Earlier a procession headed by the Chief Constable of Hyde, Mr J.W. Danby, left the town hall, accompanied by Kingston Mills Band and featuring many members of the British Legion. After the hymn "O God Our Help in Ages Past", prayers were led by Pastor Black of Muslin Street (now Talbot Road) and Daisyfield United Methodist churches. A passage from Scripture was then read by the Rev. T.E. Lee of St. Stephen's. Speeches followed by Mr B. Winterbottom, chairman of the memorial committee, and Mr Wood M.P.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

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.

Weekend in Black & White: Lower Bennett Street Gatespost

Just by a footpath that cuts the corner between Lower Bennett Street and Dukinfield Road is a little bench and this castellated gatepost. I've so far been unable to discover its origin.

The coloured version can be viewed on Geograph.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White.

Shadow Shot Sunday: Wheelers Traditional Fish & Chips

Shadows by Wheelers Traditional Fish & Chips on Westbury Street off Junction Road near Hyde North station.

For more shadows visit Shadow Shot Sunday.

ABC Wednesday: U is for Uppercut

Barber's shop on Bennett Street, Newton. It advertises "Custom Tattoos & Body Art" and seems to have a vacancy for a barber.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday:S is for a Student from Salford University

The student from Salford University is taking part in an archaeological dig at Newton Hall.

Newton Hall, a Grade II listed building and one of Britain's earliest cruck-framed buildings, stands on the corner of Dukinfield Road and Dunkirk Lane in Hyde, Cheshire. It eventually became used as a barn for the farm that occupied part of the site. It was encased in a brick building having a blue slate roof. When the farm buildings were being demolished in the 1960s, to make way for industrial buildings, the contractor saw the ancient cruck-framed construction and, realising it was an important ancient building, stopped demolition immediately. The other farm buildings were later demolished but the original medieval hall was preserved. Sir George Kenyon, the Chairman of William Kenyon & Sons Ltd of Dukinfield, rescued it. Browns of Wilmslow undertook the restoration work and this was completed in 1970.

More information at http://www.pittdixon.go-plus.net/newton-hall/newton-hall.htm

In April 2012 Tameside History Forum in conjunction with Salford University undertook an archaeological dig at the site. Over 500 photographs of the excavation can be found on their Photobucket gallery.

More photographs of the dig are on Hyde DP Xtra and some of their finds and more information about the Hall can be found on Old Hyde.

More "S" posts can be found on ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday: A Civil War Cannon

Last weekend Colonel Edward Montagu's Regiment of Foote were performing at Newton Hall. It was part of the Open Days organised by Tameside History Forum who in conjunction with Salford University had undertaken an archaeological dig at the site.

They brought with them a cannon which they fired on several occasions.

You can see more photographs of the regiment on Hyde DP Xtra.

I'll be posting photographs and information on the dig at a later date.

This post is a contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.