December Theme Day: Waiting

The photo for December's Theme Day of "Waiting" shows people queing at a stall in Ashton Market Hall. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in the Theme Day.

One of the things that Britain is famous for abroad is queuing up, or waiting in line. So what better subject for the "Waiting" theme than a queue? And what better place than Ashton's Market Hall, the heart of Ashton under Lyne's shopping area? The queue waiting at this butcher's stall inside the market is a sign that the stall's products are popular with the shoppers!

Those of you unfamiliar with Ashton may be interested to know that Ashton has had a market for over 700 years. A royal charter to hold a market in Ashton was granted in 1284. The Market Hall was built in 1829 with several later extensions.

In May 2004, the historic Market Hall was destroyed by fire. A brand new market was built within the exterior walls of the old market, which re-opened twelve months ago.

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

Sunday Stroll: Quick Edge

Today's photo is a view of Quick Edge rather than a view from it. The photo is taken from Brown Edge, the highest part of the hill behind Hartshead Pike. It is looking eastwards across Quick Edge towards the mass of Alphin Pike. Brown Edge is a fairly easy walk along grassy paths from the centre of Mossley. Good views are also to be had from Quick Edge, although the walk from Mossley is up a surfaced lane.

To the left of Alphin Pike can be seen Dovestones Reservoir which is beyond Greenfield.

Brown Edge is 308 metres (1010ft) above sea level, the part of Quickedge in the photo around 280 metres (918 ft) and the summit of Alphin Pike is 469 metres (1538 ft).

It may seem surprising that such a dramatic highland view can be found from a viewpoint less than 4 miles from the centre of Ashton.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Saturday in Saddleworth - Diggle Hotel

The Diggle Hotel is off the main road through Diggle - up Sam Lane and across the railway. It is close to the original settlement of Diglea or Diggle Lee, which is older than Diggle itself and appeared on this blog in May.

The pub stands close to the entrance of the Standedge railway tunnels and the site of the former Diggle railway station.

The pub is also at the foot of Boat Lane, which was used by the boat horses on their way over the moors between Diggle and Marsden while the boat they normally towed was being legged through Standedge Canal Tunnel, the longest canal tunnel in Britain.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sky Watch: In the Spotlight

Another photo looking down from Hartshead Pike, but very different from last week's image from nearly the same spot.

On a very overcast day, a pocket of sunlight highlights an area around Lees Road and Lily Lanes. On the left side of the highlight is St Damians School and Playing Field.

Further back and to the left can be seen the silhouettes of the blocks of flats in Ashton, with Audenshaw Reservoirs gleaming beyond.

In the far distance, on the extreme right of the picture, the tall buildings in the centre of Manchester can just be made out. (Click to see larger version of photo.)

In the foreground is one of the dry stone walls that march across the hills in this area.

Sky Watch is a regular weekly 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!

Footballer

The Footballer is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

Many people in the town follow football teams, especially the two big local teams, Manchester United and Manchester City. However, Ashton has two football teams of its own - Ashton United, with a ground at Hurst Cross, and Curzon Ashton, with a new ground at Richmond Street.

Of course, a lot of people take part themselves, with local amateur teams, school teams and impromptu games in parks, playgrounds and other places. Lots of boys (of all ages) and quite a few girls are the proud owners of replica football club kits. However, the player depicted heading the ball in the sculpture is not wearing the normal sort of attire you would expect of a footballer! He seems to be clad in some sort of jacket and trousers.

This is the last of the seven sculptures to appear here. You can see the other sculptures along Lord Sheldon Way here.

Napoleon Inn

The Napoleon Inn is on Botany Lane in the Hurst Brook area of Ashton. It is a fairly typical English "local" - a homely back street pub (public house) serving a local area of a town.

Botany was originally a small area of miners' houses, separated from Ashton and Hurst by farmland. By the 1850s it had become merged with the growing Hillgate area.

The earliest records of the Napoleon Inn are from 1861, at which time it was licensed as a beer house (meaning it could sell beer, but not wines and spirits). The records show that James Hague and then his widow and two sons were the licensees for 74 years. The dirt road that runs alongside the pub is called Hague Street, but I don't know whether that is just co-incidence.

James was also a grocer but it is not clear whether he operated that business from the same premises. His elder son worked as a hatter before taking over the pub. I will say some more about hatting in the Hurst Brook area in a couple of weeks.

The pub acquired a wine licence in 1888 and became fully licensed in 1961.

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


See Birds Eye View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Dry Stone Walls

Taking a stroll in the hills near Ashton, you are quite likely to see dry stone walls.

Dry stone walls are a common feature of the upland farming areas of the North of England. Miles and miles of these walls stretch across the hills, marking the boundaries of fields, many of which were created following the 18th century Enclosures Acts.

There is great skill in making these walls which, as you can see, are made of carefully placed stones using no cement or mortar. The walls are able to withstand strong winds and the extremes of temperature that are found in the Pennines.

These particular walls are close to my favourite photographic location of Hartshead Pike, on the hill between Ashton and Mossley, looking northwards towards Lees.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch: Golden Haze

This week's photo shows a super sunset glow seen from the slopes of Hartshead Pike, rising above Ashton. The view is looking across Rocher Vale and Park Bridge towards Fitton Hill and Hathershaw, to the north of Ashton.

The setting sun has been swallowed by a golden haze of distant clouds.

Sky Watch is a regular weekly 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!

Night Lights

As Winter draws on, the nights are getting longer. However, Ashton was brightened up recently by the Divali lights around the Market and Penny Meadow.

Penny Meadow is on the left of the photo. with the Bowling Green pub behind the taxi rank. To the right is the Market Street Clock, with Fletcher Street behind. On the extreme right is the edge of the Market Hall.

There will be even more lights in the area shortly as the Christmas lights are being switched on this week - on Thursday 19th November - in an event on the Town Hall Steps between 6.00 and 7.00 pm, with entertainment starting at 5.00 pm.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Walkers

The Walkers is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

Walking is a popular hobby with local countryside on the doorstep and the Pennine moors only a bus ride away.

It's tempting to wonder whether the walkers depicted here are contemplating hopping onto the next bus!