Stalybridge

A view along Market Street in Stalybridge from the site of the old Town Hall. This street has not changed as much as other parts of Stalybridge. Some of the scenes in the film "Yanks" were filmed around here, because it was comparatively easy to make the streets look like a town in the 1940s!

Hindu Temple

The Hindu Temple adjoining the Shree Bharatiya Mandal on Union Road, Ashton. The mandal (left) is a social centre for many members of Ashton's Indian community.

Lych Gate

The Lych Gate on the Oldham Road side of Christ Church, Ashton.

A Lych Gate is a gate covered by a roof at the entrance to a churchyard. Traditionally it was where a corpse awaited burial and the priest would come out to the Lych Gate to conduct the first part of the burial ceremony.

The Price of Muffins

Someone asked how much muffins cost these days. Well, the going rate in Stalybridge is 19p each or 6 for £1.10!
Other delicacies on display for the delight of discerning shoppers include vanilla buns and slices, home-made scones, meat and potato pies, mince and onion pies, cheese and onion pies, winberry pies and apple pies.
And what's that lurking at the back? That's right - fresh tripe!

It's a Long Way to Stalybridge

An interesting public sculpture outside the former Market Hall in Stalybridge, entitled "Jack Judge accompanied by a WW1 soldier".

The plaque reads:
"Inspired to compose the famous marching song 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'. He was the first to sing it publicly in 1912 at the Grand Theatre in Stalybridge, the town of its conception. Unveiled 16th December 2005 by Councillor Frank Robinson."

The plaque is carefully worded to avoid controversy by saying that the song was conceived in Stalybridge, rather than composed there, as is widely believed. This is because there is a rival claim from Oldbury, Staffordshire, which is where Jack Judge lived.

However, there is a story that while Judge was staying in Stalybridge, performing at the Grand Theatre, someone bet him that he couldn't write a song and perform it that night. He went off and wrote it and won the bet. [Read more]

Another story about the song is that it was originally going to be "It's a Long Way to Connemara" but Judge changed this to Tipperary just before the performance, because he thought more people would have heard of Tipperary!

Making Brass

The former Borough Brass Works on Blandford Street.
These days, the occupants (one of whom was watching me from a window) make their brass from supplying "Superior Ornamental Steelwork, Fabrication and Welding Services".

The Nag's Head

The Nag's Head, on Bow Street opposite the Market Hall, dates back to 1835. It became "Sloans" in 1985 and more recently became the "Chute Bar". The front window has been replaced with folding doors.

Across Market Street is "The Bedroom", the former "Pitt and Nelson" pub that featured in yesterday's photo. In the background can be seen the tower of the Parish Church. There is a legend that a secret tunnel ran between the Pitt and Nelson and the Parish Church.

Pitt and Nelson

The former "Pitt and Nelson" pub on the corner of Market Street and Old Street.

It was one of the oldest pubs in Ashton, dating from 1685, when this corner was the junction of the roads from Manchester and Oldham.

It has had a few changes of name over the years, originally being "The Smithies Arms", then "The Grapes" and "The White Hart". It became the "Pitt and Nelson" in 1807, shortly after the deaths of Admiral Lord Nelson and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger.

The "Pitt and Nelson" closed its doors in 1989 but has since been re-born as "The Bedroom" night club.

Aldi

Another change on the fringe of Ashton Town Centre, with the construction of this new Aldi store between Dean Street and Wellington Road.

As seen in the photo, it is just across the road from the massive Ikea store. It seems to be one more step towards making Ashton look just like everywhere else!

I don't know whether this replaces the Aldi store at Waterloo or whether that one is still open.

What with Aldi, Ikea, Lidl and Asda it seems that modern stores in Ashton have got to have names 4 letters long!

Blandford Street

Yesterday's photo showed how old houses at the junction of Blandford Street and Bentinck Street have been knocked down and replaced with a new building.

However, turning and facing the other way, a whole terrace of houses on Blandford Street have been given a new lease of life, with the brick fronts of the houses having been re-faced.

The site opposite the houses, which had been a school playing field, is now a community open space.