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.

Telecom Workers

Two yellow jacketed workers from BT are working at the telephone cabinet opposite Wild's Cards.

One is doing the required wireing whilst the other guards their blue tool box.

A blue car is parked outside the Jolly Carter.

For Mellow Yellow Monday and Blue Monday.

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

Wash & Go

Behind the "Leading Edge" hair and beauty salon on the corner of Dowson Road and Markland Street is the "Spa" hand car-wash. Maps of the early 20th century show this as the site of the Hyde Steam Laundry.

For Mellow Yellow Monday.

Ruby Tuesday: New bollards

I recently showed you a clear view of Corporation Street and noted that new retractable bollards had been erected since.

Several things have gone in the revamp of Hyde Market but the red telephone kiosks have remained.

Across the road a red car is passing the red-brick Town Hall.

See the scene from the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

For Ruby Tuesday.

Ruby Tuesday: Red Brick Substation by Clock Tower Close

The houses behind the wall are in Clock Tower Close, part of an estate of new houses built on the site of Slack Mills, home to James North whose firm patented the PVC glove in 1947.

The factory was demolished in 1998. To service the new houses an electricity sub-station was built using the same red brick design but on outside of the wall.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

The planter and the phone box.

I showed you the new planter when it was still under construction in July.

Here it is now with a tree in the middle and seedlings sprouting.

For Scenic Sunday.

Market Renewal Phase 2

Compare if you will with my posts of 7th February 2012 and of 29th February 2012.

The telephone box is still where it was but the "Crown Pole" has gone as have the market stalls along the front. Traders have moved into the Northern half of the market ground while this half is renewed. Much of the area has been repaved and new stalls have been partially erected outside the Clarendon Mall.

In the background is the dome of what was original Brownson's and is now £-stretcher but which everyone remembers as Woolworths.

The scene is probably already a bit different as this was taken before my recent holiday and I've not been down into town since my return as yet.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and also Our World Tuesday.

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.

A planter planted

As work on the renewal of Hyde Market continues, a "planter" has now been planted in front of the red telephone box on the corner of Market Street and Clarendon Street.

As I was taking this photograph a passer-by remarked that it looked like a giant ashtray.

I'm not sure where the red bricks on the pallet are destined to go.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

H & V signs

These two signs, white letters on a blue diamond, are on the side of the building at the corner of Norfolk Street and Reynold Street.

The only other instance of a similar sign I've come across is a V sign on the former Gee Cross Post Office.

I can only think that they refer to "hydrant" and "valve" for the benefit of the fire service, but I can find no information anywhere about signs with this particular design.

The old shop is now an extension of the Tameside Animal Shelter charity shop which can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Ruby Tuesday: That Telephone Box Again

Last week I showed you the isolated telephone box.

Well here it is again a week later. Flags have been lain around it and there is pedestrian access here again.

Whilst mobile phones may have taken over for a lot of people there are no plans to remove either of the phone boxes by the market.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

Telephone Box Isolated Again

As work continues on the renewal of Hyde Market, the telephone box on the corner of Market Street and Clarendon Street has been isolated behind the barriers again. Compare with the similar view two months previously.

Behind it flagstones have been extended to the road edge and the Sheffield stands removed as can seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

On the right, stopping at the heritage bus stop is a Stagecoach bus on the #344 Back Bower circular route, recently operated by Stotts who took on the route when previous operator Speedwells went bust.

This was on Saturday. Passing by on Monday workmen were laying tarmac down on the ground around the telephone box.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

ABC Wednesday: N is for New Phone Masts

A couple of month's back I showed you the men fitting new phone masts on the Redfern Industrial Estate.

Here is how they look now.

See the ones round the corner on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more "N" posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Sheffield stands on Market Street

Last week I showed you the isolated phone-box on Hyde Market.

Today's photograph was taken a week later (last Saturday) looking in the opposite direction down Market Street. The cycle-racks (Sheffield stands, I think they are termed) which were on the other side of the phonebox have been relocated here.

The week after follow up photograph to my post about the men at work on Clarendon Street can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

This post is a contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

Abseiling Workmen

One Sunday, some weeks ago, I noticed a crane over the roofs of nearby houses and it kept moving up and down, so after breakfast I went to investigate. I found they were busy fixing new phone masts on the sides of this building on Dawson Street.

Two more photographs of the work can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

Phone-box isolated

Last Tuesday work on the Hyde Market Renewal scheme was in progress near the Market Street crossing as can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

On Saturday morning as pedestrians were diverted around it, the telephone box was temporarily isolated within the work area.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

Utilitarian

Usually the way I work the blog is to choose a photo and let it dictate what I write. Not always, but usually.

I don't know what these meters measure--water or power use, I'm pretty sure. I can't think what else it could be. But they inspire me to write about purses.

I carry a purse because I must have my stuff with me at all times, in case of, uh...in case. It's easy to grab and take the whole shebang wherever I go. But I don't like purses--aesthetically, I mean. To me they're unattractive objects.

This may be one of those times when I need to think outside the box (or the purse) and find a stand-in. Not a water meter, but--I don't know, a shoe bag? Do you have any ideas? Do you carry a purse?

Electricity Substation

The CDPB theme today is Electricity so I thought I'd show you our nearby Electricity Substation. There isn't much to see as it's locked safely away in a brick shed. Basically it is a big transformer but if you want more technical details you'll have to look elsewhere.

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

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.

Yellow on Green Street

Two men were digging up the pavement on Green Street a while back. I thought it might have been for cable-laying but I'm informed that it is part of the ongoing gas mains replacement programme.

A contribution to