Alphabet Friday - Biscuit Factory

It's Alphabet Friday once again and time for the second letter! "B" is for "Biscuit Factory" and Tudno Mill (or Ryecroft Mill no. 3) has for many years been the home of Hills Biscuits. The visitor approaching Ashton is often greeted by the mouth-watering smell of baking biscuits!

R A Barrett

This small factory in Blandford Street was built in 1894 for R A Barrett.

I believe that this was the R A Barrett who made ginger beer and other mineral waters. I can find a reference to them having an earlier factory in 1873 just around the corner in Berkeley Street, so perhaps they moved here to larger premises?

In 1910, Barrett's were on e of the first companies in the town to use a motor vehicle for deliveries. R A Barrett eventually ceased production in 1977.

As you can see in the photo below, the Victorians couldn't resist getting a certain amount of ornamentation into even a fairly plain building!

Small Bang

Another piece of sculpture to appear recently in Ashton is this stainless steel work in Henry Square by Paul Margetts, creator of The Family and Glory of the Garden, situated elsewhere in Ashton.

This creation is intended to be a memorial to those who lost their lives in the 1917 Munitions Explosion in Ashton's West End and is said to be inspired by drawings by local children.

When I arrived at Henry Square I looked all around without seeing the sculpture. Then I noticed it right over in one corner, easily overlooked by those passing by. I have to confess to being a little disappointed in it and thought that something a little more grand should commemorate what was probably Ashton's biggest tragedy. "B-of-the-Bang" this isn't!

Reading Between the Lines

Ashton's newest sculpture appeared this week outside the Central Library in Old Street. The skeletal scuplture appears to be of a gentleman reading a book or a newspaper, with with briefcase at his side. He would need to read between the lines as the pages don't have a lot of substance!

I couldn't find anyone in the library who knew who the artist is but someone might be letting me know if they find out!

Market Tower

The Clock Tower of Ashton Market Hall has had most of the smoke blackening cleaned off from the fire in 2004. There are still gaping black holes where the clock faces should be. I have been assured that the clock is to be replaced and is being made in Scotland.
The tower crane that loomed over the Market Hall has now gone and most of the work currently taking place is on fitting out the inside in preparation for an opening in the Autumn.

Alphabet Friday - Albion Church

Following the example of some other photo blogs, I am starting a series of photos following the alphabet. This being the first, where better to start than "A"?

"A" is for "Albion Church" - the largest congregational church in the North of England. Built with a spire to rival the height of the nearby Parish Church. This photo shows the church looking from the Memorial Gardens.

Chaddy Dams again

A different shot of Chadwick Dams, as seen last Wednesday. The chimney visible behind the trees is at Tameside Hospital. The path leads to the junction of Mossley Road and Rosehill Road.

Goose Lake

Not "Swan Lake" but more like "Goose Lake" as the only things to be seen moving on the Stamford Park Boating Lake are dozens of Canada Geese.
The boathouse is open for business, but there are no takers, even on a bright and sunny day.

More Walk Pictures

More pictures from yesterday's Walk of Witness in Ashton. These two photos were taken in Stamford Street.
Several people commented to me that at one time you had to fight to get a place at the front of the crowd to get a good view of the Walk. Former Ashtonians seeing these pictures might feel like crying at the small number of spectators gathered on Stamford Street. Someone else remarked to me that there were more people walking than watching and this was undoubtedly true, even though there were fewer walkers than there would have been a few years ago.
I suspect that, as a result of the Walk moving away from the traditional Whit period, many people not involved with one of the churches no longer know when they take place.
However, at least Ashton still has its Walk, unlike a number of other places!

Walk of Witness

The Ashton churches' united walk of witness now takes place on the third Sunday in June, rather than on Trinity Sunday (the Sunday following Whit Sunday). Therefore we can't really call it a "Whit Walk" any more!

In the photo above, Mossley Hollins High School Band walks with the contingent from Charlestown Mission.

Below is a view of some of the crowds at the united service that took place at Cowhill Lane.