ABC Wednesday: D is for Driving Test Centre

UK driving tests are the responsibility of the DSA (Driving Standards Agency), one of the executive agencies of the Motoring and Freight Services group, part of the Department for Transport.

First you have to take a theory test for which, in these parts, you'll have to go to Stockport, Manchester or Oldham. Then you have to pass a practical test which you can take here at the Hyde Driving Test Centre on the corner of Henry Street and Perrin Street.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Market Place Slush

A blanket of snow had fallen overnight and though the roads were gritted and passable, the pavements in town on Saturday were icy and treacherous underfoot.

The Santander Bank on the corner of Market Place and Hamnett Street was formerly an Abbey branch.

On the right, £-stretcher, facing the bank, was formerly Woolworth's.

See how it looked in Clarendon Place on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

Another change of use

Formerly the Crown, a Robinson's pub, it closed in 2009.

It was converted in 2010 into commercial premises at the front on Market Street and flats behind on Nelson Street.

In 2012 it opened as a ladies only fitness centre but they have since moved to different premises lower down Market Street.

Now it is occupied by "Ta Tech Solutions".

Market Place before and after

Whilst work on the revamping of Hyde market ground was being undertaken, the area of Market Place in front of the White Lion, William Hills and Santander (formerly Abbey) Bank was used as a works site. Above is how it looked on the Saturday before Christmas. Below is how it looks three weeks later with everything finally cleared away.

A contribution to the CDPB theme Festival of the Belly Button.

Dunkirk Lane

With the wet weather predominating, I thought I'd delve into my archives and find an unpublished photo from September.

On the left is Frederick House,the Social Care & Health offices of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

On the right is Newton Hall.

Ahead is the steeple of St Stephen's Church (1891-2011).

Behind us the lane leads past the home of Starchaser Rockets down to the Peak Forest Canal.

For Our World Tuesday.

Signs on Market Street

The shop next door to the large road sign opened in September 2011 as the offices of the Just Help Foundation. See my photograph posted 21st March 2012. Since then it has closed and the website for the foundation is a "parked domain".

Now it is the offices of MPS Enterprises, a member of the Akeeda group who have moved from their previous offices in the former Nawabi Balti which is now vacant again. See my photograph posted 14th June 2012.

As for the curious sign on the gate next door - "Rent a Washer", I've no idea exactly what it refers to.

For signs, signs.

East Coast Hair & Beauty Internet Cafe Signs

These signs are on the wall above the "East Coast Hair & Beauty Internet Cafe".

The premises used to house a pawnbrokers but now there is a sign above the shop advertising a solicitor's business. Maybe they use the offices on the first floor.

See a wider view of the front of the shop on Hyde DP Xtra.

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

For signs, signs

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.

Yellow Scaffolding

Scaffolding is being erected around the Zeenath building on the corner of Market Street and Port Street. Not only are the scaffolders wearing high-visibility yellow jackets but so are the bottom pieces of scaffolding.

For Mellow Yellow Monday.

Skywatch Friday: A clear view of Corporation Street

I took this a few weeks ago following the end of the refurbishment work on Hyde Market.

There is a clear view from the market ground across the road and down Corporation Street.

See how it looked in January 2010 under a blanket of snow; in August 2009 with the sun shining, and in 2002 before and after the erection of the Crown Pole which was removed in January 2012 at the start of the renewal work.

Since I took this photograph a row of retractable metal bollards have been placed across the entrance so the view is already not as clear as seen here.

For Skywatch Friday.

Wharfinger's House

The three-storey Wharfinger's Warehouse was erected by the Peak Forest Canal Company in 1828. It is a Grade II listed building now used as offices by the Tameside & Glossop Primary Care Mental Health Service.

In the foreground two Canadian geese are resting in Moorfield Place, a housing estate built on the site of the former Automasters Engineering Works.

For Our World Tuesday.

A bit more blue on show

The blue in my post last Monday belonged to a betting shop and so does the blue this week.

This time it is bookies "William Hill" next door to the White Lion.

They've been hidden from view for many months by the site office for the construction workers who have been busy transforming the market ground.

It'll be a few more weeks yet before it's all finished but they've removed some of the fencing here and started on clearing up this section.

Another contribution to Blue Monday.

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.

Old Bank, Old Shelter, New Post

With phase 2 of the market renewal ongoing there is good view of the side of the HSBC bank. Previously it was the Midland Bank and the Bank Chambers are over 100 years old - see Old Hyde.

On the right is the canopy of the "Heritage Bus Shelter" as it is known, originally a tram shelter and itself a Grade II listed structure.

In the centre of the newly reflagged portion of the market ground is a round metal post. I wonder what it will turn out to be.

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.

Reflections around the new planter

The new planter next to the Baked Potato stall reflects the offices above Boot's pharmacy.

The windows of the NatWest bank next door to Boots reflects the roofs of the new market stalls.

See how the planter and market looked last Tuesday on Hyde DP Xtra.

For Weekend Reflections.

New Vets in Reynard Street

There's a new vet in town. The Tameside Veterinary Clinic has moved into these premises on Reynard Street that were formerly solicitors' offices.

I can't tell you much about them as we no longer have a pet. It is more than ten years since Penny took her last walk to the vets. Bob Butler retired several months ago and his surgery at the cutting edge of town has now closed.

It seems that the Tameside Veterinary Clinic opened in Waterloo, Ashton in 2000 and have now expanded into Hyde - see their website.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

ABC Wednesday: B is for Barclays Bank

Barclays Bank on Market Street was originally Martins Bank.

See how it looked in the 1960s on Old Hyde.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Signs of the times

This was originally the Borough Inn but in more modern times it was for many years the Nawabi Balti restaurant. Half of the sign for the restaurant is still showing.

Now the front part of the building has been converted into offices for the Akeeda Group. They seem to specialise in money transfers and travel tickets to the Indian subcontinent.

However there are still "To Let" signs up for the rear portion of the building.

And of course as Edna Street is a one-way street there is no-entry sign from Market Street.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Bottom of Norfolk Street

Two red no entry signs at the bottom of Norfolk Street by its junction with Reynold Street.

This is the opposite corner from the one I recently posted on Hyde DP Xtra.

The offices to rent were last in use by a company offering mortgage advice but like many such businesses it has come and gone.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

ABC Wednesday: E is for Empty Half of the Market Ground

Following the preparation work on Saturday, removing the remnants of the old market stalls, the Northern half of the market ground has now been cleared as part of the first phase of the planned renovation.

Across the empty ground is a clear view of Clarendon Street leading down to the Bus Station. 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. In the background is the "Job Centre" and far right is the children's carousel (roundabout).

So whilst the market ground may be temporarily empty it reveals a full scene.

See the view in the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more E posts visit ABC Wednesday.