King George Playing Fields in Autumn

King George V Playing Fields in Ashton not only has playing fields but is also a park. This tree-lined walk leading from the Alexander Road entrance makes a splendid sight at this time of year as the leaves fall to the ground.

I should have brought you this photo last week, shortly after it was taken, but this is one of the photos that I had to rescue from my old computer after it blew up!

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Damp Day in Ashton

A view of Ashton's Market Hall after a short downpour of rain. The dampness on the ground is now sparkling after the sun emerges between the clouds.

Some people have commented that all the photos on the blog seem to show sunny days. Well, of course, the sunshine is normal for Sunny Ashton and the rainy days are few and far apart, oh yes....

"Damp Day in Ashton" is my contribution to this week's "My World" feature. Please check out the other blogs participating in this week's My World.


By the way... Sorry for the lack of pictures since Thursday but I have had a bit of a computer disaster, Luckily it was all backed up apart from the last few days, but I can't get to all the lovely autumn photos I took last week. I am hoping to be able to retrieve them from the hard drive soon but I might have to go out and take some more...

Jogger

The Jogger is another of the seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

I think the figure may have looked better jogging towards the green verge in the background rather than towards the busy road!

The yellow block in the distance is part of the IKEA store in Ashton.

Market Street Clock

As part of the "My World" feature, we take another look today at the clock that stands in Market Street, Ashton under Lyne, last seen here in June.

Behind it is the Market Hall, re-opened last year after the disastrous fire of 2004.

Please check out the other blogs participating in this week's My World.

Sky Watch - Sky Walkers

What better time of day for a walk along the ridge at Hartshead Pike than when there's a glorious sunset to see?

If you think the two walkers silhouetted against the sky look familiar, they are the same two who appeared here a few weeks ago. This photo was taken shortly after that one, the pair having walked a little further along the skyline. I thought it was worth sharing both images with you!

Sky Watch is the regular Friday feature on this photo blog. It will link with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Cyclist

The Cyclist is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes. Lord Sheldon Way is the new western approach to Ashton from Manchester and will be the route of the Metrolink tram.

According to Tameside Council, the statues are designed to "enhance the visual environment" and "boost the first impressions of people visiting Ashton and create a lasting and positive image of the town".

Children's Roundabout

For many years there has been a corner of Ashton Market where there are children's roundabouts. These colourful rides keep up to date with modern-looking vehicles for the youngsters to ride on.

I suppose it is a sort of bargain between parents and children - I'll let you trail me around all the shops if you indulge me with a ride on the roundabout!

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7 Miles to ?

In yesterday's photo of cottages on Currier Lane, you might just have noticed this stone against the wall of one cottage. It is in fact a mile stone, for this was once the main highway eastwards from Ashton.

The wording originally read "7 Miles to Manchester" but the word Manchester was removed, apparently in a misguided attempt to confuse any invading Germans who might have wandered onto Currier Lane.

This wasn't the first official vandalism that this historic stone had suffered as it had previously had a surveying bench mark carved into it!

The plaque attached tells that the mile stone was probably erected in 1732 when Currier Lane became a turnpike road and explains that the word Manchester was removed as part of wartime security.

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Currier Lane (2)

A further visit to Currier Lane, after our look two weeks ago. These cottages are roughly half way along the lane, opposite the junction with Grafton Street.

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York House

York House Hotel was a feature of Richmond Street, Ashton, for many years. In recent years it has stood empty and boarded up. At one time it would have been an impressive and attractive building.

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Blandford Street

Blandford Street is typical of many of the streets of terraced brick houses in Ashton. The houses in this area were built in the late 19th Century on streets which formed a grid pattern.

The photo looks eastwards towards the town centre from close to the junction with Richmond Street. Assheton House, a block of flats, is prominent in the distance.

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Currier Lane

This is the view looking down the western end of Currier Lane towards Scotland Street, with the tower of Ashton's Parish Church in the background.

Now a quiet backwater, Currier Lane is an ancient highway and was the main route towards Stalybridge and Mottram before the present A635 Stamford Street East was built.

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Henrietta Street

Looking north up Henrietta Street at Lees Field, with Lord Street to the left and Canterbury Street a short way ahead on the right.

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Stamford Street West

Stamford Street West looks very different today than it did when I first saw it nearly 40 years ago. At that time the main A635 road from Barnsley to Manchester ran down Stamford Street westwards, with eastbound traffic going up up Old Street. The building on the right was Ashton's swimming baths and the street was lined with shops that were still quite busy, although fading a little.

In today's view, looking eastwards from Henry Square, this section of the street is nearly deserted. The shops are gone and replaced by the area's health offices on one side and car parking on the other. The old swimming baths has stood empty for over 30 years. The area is still in the process of being regenerated and life brought back to it.

In the distance the tower of the Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels can be seen, with the Pennine hills in the distance.


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Town Hall Steps

One of Ashton's landmarks is its Town Hall with its grand steps running down to the Market ground.

The original part of the building, seen here with its Corinthian columns, was opened in 1840. Inside the main entrance was the Mayor's Parlour to the left and the Committee Room to the right. Upstairs was the large hall for formal occasions such as banquets. There was originally a Police Station in the back of the building.

Parts of the building now accommodate the Museum of the Manchesters.

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Highland Laddie

The Highland Laddie pub on Old Street started life in 1813 and was the Spinners Arms until 1820.

It was re-built in 1900, along with the neighbouring properties, to form a terrace with the present rather grand frontage.

In recent years it has been known as the Camel Bar.

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Methodist New Connexion Chapel

On the corner of Stamford Street and Warrington Street is this building, one time the Methodist New Connexion Chapel.

The New Connexion, formed in 1797, was a breakaway movement from the main Methodist church and had a large number of followers in Lancashire. Many of Ashton's Methodists took part in the dissent movement, taking over Ashton's Methodist chapel that had been founded in 1794, leaving the 25 remaining loyal Weslyan followers with nowhere to worship until they built a new chapel in 1824.

The New Connexion movement was strong in Ashton and, in 1832 they opened this grand chapel to replace the earlier one.

Sadly, it has been empty in recent years, as can be seen from the photo. It is currently undergoing building work to convert it to another use. The New Connexion congregation now worships at nearby Hurst Methodist Church.

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Warrington Street

Another visit to Warrington Street, seen last week outside the old Post Office, further along. The last time this part of Warrington Street appeared here, five weeks ago, the weather was a complete contrast to the pleasant sunshine of today's photo.

Some of the shops that were familiar here years ago have gone to make way for newer businesses. It is a sign of the times that the 02 phone shop sits opposite the Vodafone shop! Out of shot to the right is Ashton's branch of McDonald's.

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Bow Street

Bow Streets runs alongside Ashton's Open Market from Warrington Street to Market Street. In the distance is the restored Market Hall. On the right is the Iceland store which at one time was a Tesco Home and Wear. Next to that is Oliver's Bar, at one time the Cavern.

At one time the trolleybuses from Manchester to Stalybridge stopped in Bow Street. Now it is part of Ashton's pedestrianised zone.

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Sky Watch: Crime Lake

You wouldn't think that this scene is just a few miles from the centres of Ashton and Oldham - it is such an oasis of rural tranquility, with plenty of sky to add perfection to the photo!

Crime Lake is an unusual feature in Britain of being a lake that is part of a canal. The canal came into the lake bottom right and then curved round to the right, behind the tall trees. The towing path follows the edge of the water. The lake extends to the left and was formed when a small valley became flooded when a culvert under the canal embankment collapsed. Rather than re-build the culvert, the canal company bought the land in the valley and allowed it to flood.

In Victorian and Edwardian days Crime Lake was a popular destination for Sunday outings, with rowing boats and a steam launch offering visitors to chance to get afloat. Nowadays the lake is part of Daisy Nook Country Park and is popular with walkers and anglers.

The canal is now disused but the Hollinwood Canal Society have been carrying out work to preserve what is left and have ambitious plans to re-open the canal eventually.

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Sky Watch is the regular Friday feature on this photo blog. It will link with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!