North Face

The north face of Ashton's Parish Church, seen from the direction of Stamford Street in interesting light conditions. Above the entrance to the north porch is a small statue of St Michael the Archangel, sometimes referred to as the patron saint of warriors, with his sword.

Living It Up

Some residents in Ashton's West End are living the high life, looking down on the rest of the world from their elevated homes overlooking Stockport Road and West End Park.

The multi-coloured high-rise blocks, seen here from Park Parade, are Ellison House on the left, Grosvenor House on the right and Ryecroft House in the distance.

Parish Church

A striking view of Ashton's Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels on a Summer Sunday evening. The clock shows 5.20, so if it had been a weekday, the bypass in the foreground would have been solid with traffic! In the photo can be seen the floral display depicting Ashton Market seen here on July 15th.

Vintage Cars (3)

Yet another photo from the vintage car rally in June. Today's photo shows a 1952 Morris Oxford MO alongside a 1959 Mark 2 Ford Consul.

The Oxford was the big brother to the Morris Minor. The Consul was the cousin of the more powerful Zephyr and predecessor of the ubiquitous Cortina.

Alphabet Friday - Fletcher Street

"F" is for "Fletcher Street" which runs between the old Market Hall and the temporary Phoenix Market Hall. It is now a pedestrianised street but at one time some of Ashton's local buses terminated here.

The sculpture to the left of the photo is "The Family" mentioned here in March.

Vintage Cars (2)

Another photo today of the vintage car rally that took place in June. Along Bow Street, facing the market ground, is this line-up of Ford vehicles, all of which were such familiar sights in their time! Nearest the camera is a Ford Popular from the 1950s. Behind that is a selection of later Populars, Anglias or Prefects.

Vintage Cars

In June there was a vintage car rally in the area around Ashton's market ground. This immaculate line-up in Warrington Street includes a 1930s Austin 7 and a Rolls Royce.

I think the Rolls Royce is a 1930s 20/25 or Wraith. Perhaps someone could confirm or correct this? Funny how it is the Austin that is getting all the attention!

The House That Isn't (2)

Yesterday's photo was of what seemed to be a house in Greenfield. Today's photo is a close-up of that building and straight away you can see what was odd about it - the windows are just pretend! The doors look rather utilitarian and the garden isn't up to much, either! The yellow warning signs on the doors are the clue here, warning of high voltages, for this is no house, but the Greenfield Electricity Substation. It was built as part of the small housing estate off Chew Valley Road in 2003 at a cost of around £300,000.

I hope the current neighbours aren't too shocked. At least it has its ohm entrance! As you can see from the tree, the photo was taken earlier in the year. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you live images... Oh, what revolting puns!

The House That Isn't

Situated on a small estate in the village of Greenfield, around 6 miles from Ashton, and a few yards from the banks of the River Tame, is this building, with the delightful backdrop of Pots and Pans. To the casual passer-by it appears to be a fairly normal 4 or 5 bedroomed house, similar to others nearby. But looking closer, there is something odd about it. All is not what is appears to be!

The mystery will be solved tomorrow!

Alphabet Friday - Escalator

"E" is for "Escalator" and there are not many of those in Ashton. This one is in the Arcades shopping mall, between Katherine Street and Warrington Street. As you can see, it is a solitary escalator carrying shoppers up to the first floor level. They have to use the stairs or the lift to get back down again!

Amongst the other locations where escalators can be found in Ashton are Marks and Spencer and IKEA, although IKEA's are really sort of sloping moving walkways!

Mossley in Bloom

Mossley also benfits from the Tameside in Bloom programme. This floral display, depicting one of Mossley's mills, is alongside Stockport Road, near the Butcher's Arms in Top Mossley.

Ashton in Bloom

If drivers hurrying along the Ashton bypass happen to glance towards St Michael's Parish Church, they will be rewarded with a glimpse of this floral display, depicting Ashton Market Hall. This is part of the annual Tameside in Bloom effort to make the borough a cheerier place.

Photos of Tameside in Bloom in recent years can be seen here on Tameside's website.

Stamford Park Conservatory

Last week I showed you the cactus collection in the John Nield Conservatory in Stamford Park.
A sign over the entrance to the conservatory tells how it was "erected and furnished with plants from the legacy left to Stamford Park by the late John Nield Esq. J.P. Apsley House, Ashton under Lyne, Opened 3rd Oct 1907."

Gleaves

This is Gleaves biscuit stall in the temporary Phoenix Market Hall in Ashton.

It looks very inviting but somehow doesn't quite have the character of the stall as it was in the old Market Hall, as seen in Meg's photo, the third one down on this page. Let's wait and see what the stall will be like when the Market Hall re-opens.

Alphabet Friday - The Dingle

"D" is for "Dingle" and The Dingle is the name of the wooded valley that forms part of Stamford Park, on the boundary between Ashton and Stalybridge. The valley is the course of the Cock Brook between Darnton Road and Stamford Street. These steps lead down into the Dingle from near the tennis courts and Darnton Road entrance.

Hartshead Pike again

Another dramatic image of Hartshead Pike on Monday evening. A cyclist has propped up his bike against the protective cage of a floodlight while he sits and enjoys the view.

Hartshead Pike

Hartshead Pike bathed in late evening sunshine on Monday evening.
The photo is exactly as it came out of the camera and is not enhanced or manipulated in any way. It had been a fairly dull evening up up until then, with a few spots of rain, but then, at around 9 o'clock, the clouds shifted and the sun appeared, low in the sky over Winter Hill, casting an eerie and almost magical light.
[Large version, suitable for desktop wallpaper, here.]

The Twelve Apostles

The grand Victorian terrace of 12 houses is known as "The Twelve Apostles". The houses stand on the southern side of Trafalgar Square in Ashton's West End. The statue is of Hugh Mason, a local mill owner, who built the houses and many facilities in this area.

Not The Station

Yes, it might be called "The Station" but anyone looking to catch a train has come to the wrong place, for The Station pub is at the opposite end of the town centre from Ashton's railway station.

The reason, of course, is historical. When the pub opened in 1849, Warrington Street continued a little further to Park Parade station, which was situated on the far side of what is now the Ashton Bypass. The railway line is still there but the station has been gone since 1956. Not that it would have helped if it was still there, as the line is now used by the frequent TransPennine Express trains, which don't even stop at Guide Bridge station.

Guide Bridge was Ashton's first railway station, originally having the catchy name of Ashton and Hooley Hill. When the lines from Guide Bridge to Stalybridge and Victoria to Stalybridge were built, the stations at Park Parade and Charlestown were opened. Ashton also had a further station at Oldham Road on the line to Park Bridge and Oldham. Charlestown station is the present Ashton under Lyne station.

Alphabet Friday - Cactus

"C" is for "Cactus" but where would you find a cactus in the Ashton area?
Well, there are plenty of attractively coloured cactuses (or is it cacti?) on display in the John Nield Conservatory in Stamford Park, between Ashton and Stalybridge, and it is these that appear in today's colourful photo!

No More Queues

This location will have been very familiar to generations of Ashton's residents, who probably spent quite a lot of time queuing here over the years.

For this is the interior of the former Post Office on Warrington Street, which is currently undergoing a complete renovation. All of the Post Office paraphernalia has been removed and the space will eventually be home to retail units and a coffee bar. The doorway on the right led to one of the porches and entrance doors.

The large object in the foreground on the left is the safe that was once housed in a strong room at the back of the Post Office. The photo below shows where the strong room was. The steel-reinforced walls took 4 days to demolish!

No Ball Games

July's theme day is about prohibitive signs.

"No Ball Games" proclaims the unfriendly notice above the doors of numbers 5 and 7 Trafalgar Square in Ashton's West End.

These houses form part of the splendid Victorian brick terrace known as "The Twelve Apostles".

The busy location alongside Stockport Road seems an unlikely place for anyone to want to play ball games!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in the July theme day
Check out these other blogs participating in the "No" Sign Theme Day:
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