Back Yard

Yes, I know you can't actually see the back yard itself - it is behind the wall - as I wouldn't want to invade anyone's privacy!

There are many streets of red brick terraced houses in Ashton, of many different styles and designs. Many of the larger terraced houses have rear extensions, such as the one in the photo, at right angles to the house. Such extensions are sometimes called "outriggers".

I took this photo because I found the composition of the house, extension, neighbouring house and wall visually interesting. Adding to the interest are the clutter of chimneys, aerials, satellite dishes, cables and pipes. It may not be pretty, but I like it!

This is not quite typical of terraces in Ashton, since the outrigger extensions of the houses in Melville Street and just feet away from those of the houses behind in Henrietta Street, with just a narrow passage between! This can be seen in the "Bird's Eye View" link below. However, because the outriggers are fairly large, there are adequately sized yards alongside them.

See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

A Pyramid of Shoes

The members of Soroptimist International's Ashton under Lyne group decided to build a pyramid of shoes on Ashton Market. They invited people to donate shoes that were still wearable to add to the pyramid.

Each pair of shoes represented two people, often women or children, who have lost their lives or limbs as a result of the accidental encounter with landmines or cluster bombs left behind after conflict.

Some of the group's members are pictured above, with Ashton's MP David Heyes and Dukinfield Councillor Jackie Lane, who both brought shoes to add to the pyramid.

The photo was taken mid morning. I am told that by the time the pyramid was dismantled at 3.00 pm, it was considerably higher!

The British Red Cross came to collect the shoes after the event, to be sold through their retail outlets or recycled. There was a staggering total of 650 pairs of shoes by the time they were collected!

Fortunately the organisers of the event fastened each pair of shoes together with rubber bands as they were received, so there was no need to spend hours trying to match up 650 pairs of shoes!

Mossley on Monday: Bottom Mossley

This late wintry scene shows junction of the A635 Manchester Road with Stamford Road in Bottom Mossley. The unusual thing about this photo is that there is no traffic in sight! This is normally a very busy junction with Stamford Road being the link from Top Mossley, joining the two parts of the town.

At times there are long queues of traffic tailing back from this junction. Traffic lights are going to be installed here before long.

Behind the pedestrian crossing, the steep and narrow Mill Street is a popular short cut towards Micklehurst.

On the left of the photo you can just see the corner of Mossley's railway station building.

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

Sunday Stroll: Longdendale

A short bus ride from Ashton under Lyne will take you to Mottram Road cutting, from where there are many field paths and lanes running along the slopes of Longdendale, giving far ranging views towards Glossop, Bleaklow and Kinder Scout.

To get the best views you need to do a little climbing but the slopes are easier on this side of the moorland than they are over on the steeper Mossley side (see yesterday's photo showing the moors looking from Millbrook).

A group of walkers queues to climb over a stile near Moorside Farm, on the slopes below Hobson Moor, just 5 miles from the centre of Ashton. In the background are Arnfield Reservoir and Bottoms Reservoir. The Longdendale Valley continues past the reservoirs towards the Woodhead Pass that leads to Sheffield.

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

Stalybridge Saturday: Brushes Valley

Today's photo looks down Huddersfield Road towards the Royal Oak and the junction with Grove Road in Millbrook. The road curves to the left at the bottom of the hill before heading uphill through Millbrook village towards Carrbrook and Mossley.

Straight ahead we are looking up the steep-sided Brushes Valley towards Walkerwood Reservoir (see Google or Live views below).

The traffic lights at the bottom of the hill have recently been installed because of the extra traffic emerging from Grove Road since the building of houses and apartments there.

In 1908 a single deck tram car ran away down this hill and crashed through a wall before plunging down a bank into a stream [see photo].

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

Sky Watch: Chester Square

Chester Square is virtually unrecognisable as a square these days as it is the location of a busy traffic-light-controlled junction which which traffic going to and from the M60 motorway and Manchester pours day and night.

Chester Square was the western gateway to Ashton and, until the opening of Lord Sheldon Way, all traffic approaching from the west had to pass through this junction. The pedestrian route crosses the intersection with the aid of signal-controlled crossings like the ones seen in the photo.

The three blocks of flats in the photo (Margaret House, Portland House and Bentinck House) have been spruced up and have new, colourful facades.

If you drag the "bird's eye view" (below) to the right, you will come to Henry Square and the old swimming baths that featured in last week's Sky Watch.

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

Sky Watch is the regular Friday 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!

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.

Mossley on Monday: Squire's Mill

Tucked away behind Ivy Bank Cottages off Micklehurst Road in Mossley is the remaining part of Squires Mill. Its location is due to the mill originally being water powered and so built alongside the fast-flowing Micklehurst Brook.

It was built around 1816 as a woollen mill, although it was later used for cotton spinning. Like most of Mossley's mills, it was built of stone rather than brick. It was called Squire's Mill because the first occupant was Squire Andrew, who was not a squire, but a member of a prominent local family with a penchant for unusual names.

The neighbouring mill, a short distance upstream, was called Doctor's Mill, after Doctor Andrew, who was likewise not a doctor!

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

Stained Glass Windows

March's Theme Day is "Glass" and today's photo shows some of the historic stained glass windows in Ashton's Parish Church.

The picture shows some of the eighteen panels of stained glass that depict the life of St Helena, and these are reckoned to be some of the finest examples of 15th century stained glass in England.

The glass was was re-located to its present positions when the outside of the church was re-built in the Victorian period.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in the "Glass" theme day.

Our usual Sunday Stroll will be back next week!