P h o t o B l o g

Wednesday 30 July 2008

North Face


The north face of Ashton's Parish Church, seen from the direction of Stamford Street in interesting light conditions. Above the entrance to the north porch is a small statue of St Michael the Archangel, sometimes referred to as the patron saint of warriors, with his sword.

Tuesday 29 July 2008

Living It Up


Some residents in Ashton's West End are living the high life, looking down on the rest of the world from their elevated homes overlooking Stockport Road and West End Park.

The multi-coloured high-rise blocks, seen here from Park Parade, are Ellison House on the left, Grosvenor House on the right and Ryecroft House in the distance.

Sunday 27 July 2008

Parish Church


A striking view of Ashton's Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels on a Summer Sunday evening. The clock shows 5.20, so if it had been a weekday, the bypass in the foreground would have been solid with traffic! In the photo can be seen the floral display depicting Ashton Market seen here on July 15th.

Saturday 26 July 2008

Vintage Cars (3)


Yet another photo from the vintage car rally in June. Today's photo shows a 1952 Morris Oxford MO alongside a 1959 Mark 2 Ford Consul.

The Oxford was the big brother to the Morris Minor. The Consul was the cousin of the more powerful Zephyr and predecessor of the ubiquitous Cortina.

Friday 25 July 2008

Alphabet Friday - Fletcher Street


"F" is for "Fletcher Street" which runs between the old Market Hall and the temporary Phoenix Market Hall. It is now a pedestrianised street but at one time some of Ashton's local buses terminated here.

The sculpture to the left of the photo is "The Family" mentioned here in March.

Wednesday 23 July 2008

Vintage Cars (2)


Another photo today of the vintage car rally that took place in June. Along Bow Street, facing the market ground, is this line-up of Ford vehicles, all of which were such familiar sights in their time! Nearest the camera is a Ford Popular from the 1950s. Behind that is a selection of later Populars, Anglias or Prefects.

Tuesday 22 July 2008

Vintage Cars


In June there was a vintage car rally in the area around Ashton's market ground. This immaculate line-up in Warrington Street includes a 1930s Austin 7 and a Rolls Royce.

I think the Rolls Royce is a 1930s 20/25 or Wraith. Perhaps someone could confirm or correct this? Funny how it is the Austin that is getting all the attention!

Sunday 20 July 2008

The House That Isn't (2)


Yesterday's photo was of what seemed to be a house in Greenfield. Today's photo is a close-up of that building and straight away you can see what was odd about it - the windows are just pretend! The doors look rather utilitarian and the garden isn't up to much, either! The yellow warning signs on the doors are the clue here, warning of high voltages, for this is no house, but the Greenfield Electricity Substation. It was built as part of the small housing estate off Chew Valley Road in 2003 at a cost of around £300,000.

I hope the current neighbours aren't too shocked. At least it has its ohm entrance! As you can see from the tree, the photo was taken earlier in the year. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you live images... Oh, what revolting puns!

Saturday 19 July 2008

The House That Isn't


Situated on a small estate in the village of Greenfield, around 6 miles from Ashton, and a few yards from the banks of the River Tame, is this building, with the delightful backdrop of Pots and Pans. To the casual passer-by it appears to be a fairly normal 4 or 5 bedroomed house, similar to others nearby. But looking closer, there is something odd about it. All is not what is appears to be!

The mystery will be solved tomorrow!

Friday 18 July 2008

Alphabet Friday - Escalator


"E" is for "Escalator" and there are not many of those in Ashton. This one is in the Arcades shopping mall, between Katherine Street and Warrington Street. As you can see, it is a solitary escalator carrying shoppers up to the first floor level. They have to use the stairs or the lift to get back down again!

Amongst the other locations where escalators can be found in Ashton are Marks and Spencer and IKEA, although IKEA's are really sort of sloping moving walkways!

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Mossley in Bloom


Mossley also benfits from the Tameside in Bloom programme. This floral display, depicting one of Mossley's mills, is alongside Stockport Road, near the Butcher's Arms in Top Mossley.

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Ashton in Bloom


If drivers hurrying along the Ashton bypass happen to glance towards St Michael's Parish Church, they will be rewarded with a glimpse of this floral display, depicting Ashton Market Hall. This is part of the annual Tameside in Bloom effort to make the borough a cheerier place.

Photos of Tameside in Bloom in recent years can be seen here on Tameside's website.

Sunday 13 July 2008

Stamford Park Conservatory


Last week I showed you the cactus collection in the John Nield Conservatory in Stamford Park.
A sign over the entrance to the conservatory tells how it was "erected and furnished with plants from the legacy left to Stamford Park by the late John Nield Esq. J.P. Apsley House, Ashton under Lyne, Opened 3rd Oct 1907."

Saturday 12 July 2008

Gleaves


This is Gleaves biscuit stall in the temporary Phoenix Market Hall in Ashton.

It looks very inviting but somehow doesn't quite have the character of the stall as it was in the old Market Hall, as seen in Meg's photo, the third one down on this page. Let's wait and see what the stall will be like when the Market Hall re-opens.

Friday 11 July 2008

Alphabet Friday - The Dingle


"D" is for "Dingle" and The Dingle is the name of the wooded valley that forms part of Stamford Park, on the boundary between Ashton and Stalybridge. The valley is the course of the Cock Brook between Darnton Road and Stamford Street. These steps lead down into the Dingle from near the tennis courts and Darnton Road entrance.

Wednesday 9 July 2008

Hartshead Pike again


Another dramatic image of Hartshead Pike on Monday evening. A cyclist has propped up his bike against the protective cage of a floodlight while he sits and enjoys the view.

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Hartshead Pike


Hartshead Pike bathed in late evening sunshine on Monday evening.
The photo is exactly as it came out of the camera and is not enhanced or manipulated in any way. It had been a fairly dull evening up up until then, with a few spots of rain, but then, at around 9 o'clock, the clouds shifted and the sun appeared, low in the sky over Winter Hill, casting an eerie and almost magical light.
[Large version, suitable for desktop wallpaper, here.]

Sunday 6 July 2008

The Twelve Apostles


The grand Victorian terrace of 12 houses is known as "The Twelve Apostles". The houses stand on the southern side of Trafalgar Square in Ashton's West End. The statue is of Hugh Mason, a local mill owner, who built the houses and many facilities in this area.

Saturday 5 July 2008

Not The Station


Yes, it might be called "The Station" but anyone looking to catch a train has come to the wrong place, for The Station pub is at the opposite end of the town centre from Ashton's railway station.

The reason, of course, is historical. When the pub opened in 1849, Warrington Street continued a little further to Park Parade station, which was situated on the far side of what is now the Ashton Bypass. The railway line is still there but the station has been gone since 1956. Not that it would have helped if it was still there, as the line is now used by the frequent TransPennine Express trains, which don't even stop at Guide Bridge station.

Guide Bridge was Ashton's first railway station, originally having the catchy name of Ashton and Hooley Hill. When the lines from Guide Bridge to Stalybridge and Victoria to Stalybridge were built, the stations at Park Parade and Charlestown were opened. Ashton also had a further station at Oldham Road on the line to Park Bridge and Oldham. Charlestown station is the present Ashton under Lyne station.

Friday 4 July 2008

Alphabet Friday - Cactus


"C" is for "Cactus" but where would you find a cactus in the Ashton area?
Well, there are plenty of attractively coloured cactuses (or is it cacti?) on display in the John Nield Conservatory in Stamford Park, between Ashton and Stalybridge, and it is these that appear in today's colourful photo!

Wednesday 2 July 2008

No More Queues


This location will have been very familiar to generations of Ashton's residents, who probably spent quite a lot of time queuing here over the years.

For this is the interior of the former Post Office on Warrington Street, which is currently undergoing a complete renovation. All of the Post Office paraphernalia has been removed and the space will eventually be home to retail units and a coffee bar. The doorway on the right led to one of the porches and entrance doors.

The large object in the foreground on the left is the safe that was once housed in a strong room at the back of the Post Office. The photo below shows where the strong room was. The steel-reinforced walls took 4 days to demolish!

Tuesday 1 July 2008

No Ball Games


July's theme day is about prohibitive signs.

"No Ball Games" proclaims the unfriendly notice above the doors of numbers 5 and 7 Trafalgar Square in Ashton's West End.

These houses form part of the splendid Victorian brick terrace known as "The Twelve Apostles".

The busy location alongside Stockport Road seems an unlikely place for anyone to want to play ball games!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in the July theme day
Check out these other blogs participating in the "No" Sign Theme Day:
American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brantford (ON), Canada by Nancy, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chesapeake (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Cincinnati, USA by Erik Laursen, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Delta (CO), USA by Bill, Duluth (MN), USA by Sun Dog Press, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Folkestone, UK by Piskie, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gaia, Portugal by m+p, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Lynchburg (VA), USA by Timothy, Mainz, Germany by JB, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Munich, Germany by Troy, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newcastle, Australia by Julia, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Poplar Bluff (MO), USA by Tricia, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Pretoria, South Africa by Sam Ruth, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by , Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Norma, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Stratford, Canada by Barb, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trujillo, Peru by Giulianna, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine,

Related Posts with Thumbnails
 
Add to Technorati Favorites