Weekend Reflections: Waterside Wander

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Where better for a Weekend Wander with the Autumn colours reflected in the water than along the bank of the disused Fairbottom Branch Canal? The canal runs along the boundary of Ashton under Lyne with Oldham, between Bardsley and Daisy Nook Country Park, where it joins the Hollinwood Canal.

It never fails to surprise me just what a haven of tranquillity exists between these two nearby industrial towns. The canal, of course, owns its existence to the area's industrial history, being built to transport coal from the pits that lined the river valley down to the cotton mills of Ashton and Manchester.

As the coal mines closed, so did the canal and, cut off from the waterway network, its route remains as a delight for anglers, walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

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Number Nine

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"N" is for "Number Nine" and today's photo shows two buses outside Park Cakes at Hathershaw, on the historic Number Nine route between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton. The bus is the former Ashton under Lyne Corporation Transport bus no. 44, which was new in 1965. The bus behind is former Oldham Corporation Transport's bus no. 394, which was new in 1957.

The route started off as a a combination of tram or trolley bus routes, connecting at Hathershaw and Thornham. In 1939 the three towns of Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale replaced the trams and trolley buses on this route and started a through motor bus route - the 9, with buses from all three towns travelling the whole route on a joint running arrangement. In the 1970s the route was re-numbered 409 and this is still the number of the same bus route today.

The photograph, although showing a scene that might have been common in the 1960s, was in fact taken last Saturday, when the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport organised a special event remembering the Number Nine service. Four buses re-created the old Corporation bus days by running along the entire old Number 9 route, stopping for photos at several points.

The photo above was taken outside Park Cake Bakery on Ashton Road, Hathershaw. The photo below shows the four buses that took part in the re-enactment lined up outside the Museum of Transport. Ashton 44 is on the right and Oldham 394 on the left. Also in the photo are former Rochdale Corporation 280, new in 1956, with its distinctive swooping livery, and rear-engined former Oldham Corporation 163, new in 1967. This last bus is based at the transport museum in St Helens. The other three buses are part of the Manchester transport museum's collection.


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"Number Nine" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "N" posts from around the world please follow this link.
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Sky Watch: Oldham Skyline

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This was the evening sky a couple of nights ago, looking towards Oldham from the fields between Knott Hill and Lily Lanes, on the slopes above Ashton.

The tall building just right of centre is the Oldham Council office building. In the far distance are the hills to the north of Bolton and Bury.

I was totally fascinated by the extraordinary textures of cloud in the sky that night. It felt somewhat unworldly to be walking through the hills on such an evening. No doubt another photo from that evening will be appearing here before long!

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Sky Watch is a regular weekly feature on this photo blog. It links 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. You are most welcome!

Goose

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"G" is for "Goose" and this one is strutting its stuff at Daisy Nook Country Park, between Ashton and Oldham.

There are a number of the proper white geese at Daisy Nook, but this one appears to have a touch of Canada Goose in its feathers! Canada geese are no longer a rarity in this country and are becoming something of a pest. In many places they have ousted the traditional white geese.

There are also swans and mallards on the canal at Daisy Nook, adding interest to a pleasant spot for a relaxing stroll!

Today's location is the same one seen here last month, but looking in the opposite direction!

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"Goose" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "G" posts from around the world please follow this link.

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.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See Birds Eye View of this location.

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!

Sky Watch: Sunset over Oldham

Another sunset to add to the collection. Today's Sky Watch is a view from Hartshead Pike towards the sun setting over distant Winter Hill. The buildings appearing in silhouette are in the centre of Oldham, Ashton's hill-top neighbour to the north.

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!

Sunday Stroll: Daisy Nook Horse Ride

This is a view of Daisy Nook Country Park not seen by many walkers as I had to step a couple of metres off the normal footpath to take this photo!

A horse ride or bridle path runs right through the Country Park and is well used by customers of the several stables and riding schools in the area. These rides are mostly separated from the footpaths to avoid conflict of interests. However, while enjoying my stroll, I looked through a gap in the hedge alongside the towpath of the Fairbottom Branch Canal and saw this delightful scene.

Who would have thought that this rural setting is less than two miles from the busy town centre of Ashton and less than three miles from Oldham?

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Sunday Stroll: Knott Lanes

This delightful wooded scene was photographed from the towpath of the Fairbottom Branch Canal, part of an easy walking route through Daisy Nook Country Park.

The horses are leaving the bridle path onto Knott Lanes, just downhill of Valley Aqueduct. Knott Lanes, now a dead end for motor vehicles, was once the main route between Ashton and Oldham. The River Medlock can be seen through the trees on the right, at the foot of a steep bank.

I was standing on the Oldham boundary, so everything you see in the photo is within the boundary of Ashton, proving that it is not all mills and chimneys!

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Oldham Skyline

A dramatic evening view towards Oldham from Hartshead Pike. The tall building just right of centre is the Civic Centre - the offices of Oldham Council. To the right of the cranes can be seen the tower of Oldham Parish Church. Below that you can just make out the spire of the church at Glodwick.