Old and New

Today's view shows the changing world of Ashton under Lyne.

The recently-completed Tameside Centre for Enterprise building sits on the corner of Old Street and Bentinck Street, in the St Petersfield re-generation area.

To the left of it can be seen Good Hope Mill, built in 1824, the oldest cotton spinning mill in Ashton to survive intact.

To the right, behind the trees, is the Witchwood pub. This was built some time before 1850 and has previously been named the Painters Arms, the Rifle Brigade, the Globe and the Gamecock. The Witchwood now has a widespread reputation as a music venue.

Beyond the pub, to the right, can be seen The Armoury and the Central Library. Old Street, as the name suggests, was the original main throughfare through the town of Ashton.

See Google Street View of this location.

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"Old and New" is my contribution to this week's "My World" feature. Please check out the other blogs participating in this week's My World.

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.


See Birds Eye View of this location.

Stalybridge Saturday: Canalside Apartments

These newly-built apartments are alongside the canal behind Knowl Street, overlooking Lock 7 on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Mottram Road bridge.

Compare and contrast with Wednesday's photo of apartments overlooking the canal in Ashton. Those who have been away from England for a few years may be surprised that the canal is now the place to be! It has attracted a lot of development along through Ashton, Stalybridge and Mossley.

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

Canalside Apartments

These attractive new apartments overlook the Ashton Canal close to Portland Basin in Ashton.

Forty years ago the canal here was an overgrown rubbish-filled eyesore and the idea of building homes looking over it would have been unthinkable! Fortunately our canal heritage is now appreciated far more and there are people passing by on boats they have hired for their holiday.

The neat homes in turn help to improve the appearance of the area which had previously had a run-down feel.

The apartments stand on the site of the old Junction Mill, but its unusual octagonal chimney has been retained for posterity.

See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Clarence Arcade

At one time a prestigious shopping arcade, off Stamford Street, the whole building that houses Clarence Arcade has undergone refurbishment. While the building itself looks well, it is a pity that the entrance to Arcade is now a closed gate, even in the middle of the day.

See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Old Swimming Baths

Here is a photo of the iconic Old Baths in Henry Square, Ashton, opened in 1870. We saw this building in last week's Sky Watch, but it is seen here from a different angle.

This is a side view of the building. This eastern end of the building contained private bathrooms, Turkish baths and a small pool for the use of female bathers. During the winter months, when the main pool was closed, the smaller pool was used by men and women at different times.

The 120 foot high tower can be seen in the background.

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

Sky Watch: Fade to Grey

Sky Watch? Where's the sky? It's disappeared in the fog!

Or, put it another way - the sky has come down to earth and engulfed Ashton in clouds!

Ashton is not often foggy so this view makes the tower of the Old Baths look mysterious as it fades away pointing to where the sky should be.

The photo is looking westwards along Stamford Street towards Henry Square from the junction with Bentinck Street. The scene is completely different from how it would have been a few years ago, when both sides of the street were lined with small shops. The Old Baths is the only feature that will be familiar to anyone who has not been to Ashton for a while!

See Google Aerial View of this location before the redevelopment.
See recent LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch is the new 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!

Oddfellows Hall

The Oddfellows Hall, on the corner of Booth Street and Stamford Street, in Ashton, was the Ashton Civic Society "Building of the Year" for 2007. The hall was built in 1855 as a meeting place for the Oddfellows organisation. The Grade 2 Listed building was empty for a long time and part of it collapsed in 1998. Fortunately it was brought back to life by Rockpark Ltd, who have re-designed the interior to accommodate retail space and 16 apartments and duplexes within the original Victorian shell. The same developer is planning to build new apartments on the adjoining site.