Sky Watch: Seasonal Weather

To start of the New Year with a truly seasonal photo, here is a view looking down across Greenfield from Quick Edge, Mossley, about 5 miles from the centre of Ashton.

The whispy whiteness of the streaky sky is almost a continuation of the whiteness of the ground! What you can't see is that was a bitterly cold wind blowing!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

A  Happy New Year  to all readers of this photo blog - today's post marks the end of the blog's second year!

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!

Stamford Street

While the weather can't make its mind up whether to snow again, I have more photos to share with you of the snow in Ashton before Christmas. Today's photo is looking along Stamford Street from Old Square.

It was a Sunday, so most of the shops have their shutters down, as the Sunday opening of shops in other parts of the town centre has not generally reached Stamford Street.

The towers of the Old Baths and St Peters Church can be seen in the distance.

A view looking in the same direction a bit further along Stamford Street was seen here almost two years ago.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Christmas Market

I know that all the snow has now melted, but here is a reminder of how Ashton Market looked about a week ago when the snow was falling. The stalls were still selling Christmassy things.

In the background is Ashton Town Hall.

(Click photo for larger versions.)

"Christmas Market" 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.

Christmas in The Arcades

Today's photo shows the Christmas lighting in The Arcades, Ashton's indoor shopping mall.

The great Christmas Shopping Rush has only just finished and already the Great January Sales rush has started, even though it is not January yet!

If you compare with last year's photo, you will notice that the space previously occupied by Woolworths is now empty.

Last year The Arcades had a special Christmas display featuring a yeti and other creatures. Unfortunately they haven't bothered with anything like that this year.

Town Hall Christmas Tree

Here is a photograph of the Christmas Tree next to the Town Hall steps, facing the open market.

In case you are wondering where all the snow has gone, I should point out that this photo was taken before the arrival of the snow. There were several Christmassy photos that I intended to show you last week, but were postponed so that I could share the snow pics with you.

Snow on Lily Lanes

This week's Sky Watch image shows the snow at Lily Lanes, the popular walking route to Hartshead Pike and Broadcarr.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

A  Merry   Christmas  to all followers of this blog! Thank you for visiting.

Sky Watch is a regular weekly 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!

Hartshead Pike in the Snow

Yet another double-bill of snow photos! Today's photos were taken on Hartshead Pike. Six inches of snow did not stop people from making the journey up to this local landmark. Of course, the opportunity to have a go at tobogganing down the grassy slopes can make the journey even better.

See Birds Eye View of this location.


The second photo is looking south-eastwards from Hartshead Pike with the low sun lighting up the Pennine moors.

Photo of the year 2009?

Can you remember which photos that appeared on this blog during 2009 you liked most?

Here's your chance to vote for your favourites!

If you are a recent visitor to this blog, perhaps you might like to spend a while clicking the "Older Posts" links at the bottom of each page and looking back through the photos.

You can let me know by posting a comment below this message.

Alternatively, you can reply to the topic on the ashton-under-lyne.com discussion forum (you need to be registered), or you can contact me by email through this page: http://www.ashton-under-lyne.com/contact.htm

If you can't remember what a particular photo was called or what month it was in, just describe the photo in some way.

You can choose up to three photos! If you can, please give the titles and dates.

Please let me know by January 10th. The winning photo will be shown on January 15th, at the same time as "Photos of the Year" on other photo blogs around the world.

Wintry Waterside

Another double-bill of snow photos today - this time down by the canal. This is the scene at Portland Basin, looking across the Ashton Canal, past the historic wooden boats towards the stone bridge at the junction leading to the Peak Forest Canal.

See Birds Eye View of this location.


The second view is of the Peak Forest Canal from the entrance to Portland Basin Marina.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

White World

Ashton has turned white this week with several snowfalls over the weekend. The first picture, taken on Sunday afternoon, shows the busy Wellington Road that runs through the town centre. On the left of the picture is the Market Hall and in the centre the Town Hall.

The photo shows a bus heading out of town. Less than an hour later, First Bus recalled all its buses to the depot, leaving shoppers to get home as best as they could. Luckily for many the Stagecoach buses continued to run.

See Birds Eye View of this location.



The second photo shows nearby Cowhill Lane and St James Church. There is plenty of room to park but you might have a problem knowing where the yellow lines are!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

(Click photos for larger versions.)

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

Snowmen

Sunday saw several inches of snow fall on Ashton much to the delight of many youngsters.

These two splendid snowmen made their appearance in the gardens on Alexandra Road.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Meanwhile, on nearby King George's Playing Field, another group made a giant snowball!

(Click on images to see larger versions.)

Dusting of Snow over Greenfield

The area around Ashton woke up to a light dusting of snow on Friday, which quickly started to disappear at lower levels, so I took a walk over Quick Edge, near Mossley, to survey the surrounding landscape.

This view looks eastwards, over one of the many dry stone walls in the area, across the Tame Valley towards Greenfield and the Pennine moors beyond.

The snow wasn't deep enough to hide the grass completely. In spite of the winter sunshine there was a penetrating cold wind blowing! The forecasters are suggesting that we may see some more snow over the weekend.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch: Pike Puddle

This week's Sky Watch image shows my favourite subject of Hartshead Pike once again, but seen in a completely different light. Th erecently-set sun is still shining onto the wintry clouds behind the tower, and the whole is reflected in the puddles on Broadcarr Lane.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

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!

Western Approach

This is the new western approach to Ashton along Lord Sheldon Way. This new route leaves the A635 from Manchester at The Snipe Inn and crosses Ashton Moss, connecting with Wellington Road close to the town centre.

There is plenty of green in the middle of the road but it is blue and yellow that rather catch the eye, with Manchester's IKEA store being located here.

To the right of IKEA can be seen the Tameside Council offices, the modern New Charter offices and the spire of Albion Church.

The wide grass reservation along the centre of Lord Sheldon Way will, in a few years' time, become the route of the Metrolink tram into Ashton.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Ashton Market in December

Today's photo shows Ashton's open market on a cold December afternoon.

The sun is already low in the sky, bathing the Market Hall in a warm light, but the market ground itself is now in shadow and the temperature is dropping!

To the right of the Market Hall can be seen the tower of Ashton Parish Church.

(Click photo for larger version.)

"Ashton Market in December" 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.

Mossley on Monday: Bin City

Mossley sometimes seems to be the last part of Tameside for things to happen and that was certainly true for re-cycling collections. Until very recently many houses in Mossley just had the one black wheelie bin for putting rubbish in. However, Tameside Council, like other councils, has to meet targets for recycling as much rubbish as possible and reducing the amount that goes to landfill.

That is a very worthwhile objective but it causes problems in some parts of Mossley. One reason for Mossley being the last to get the extra bins is because many areas of Mossley are built on steep hillsides with lots of steps or with limited access to the backs of the houses. This means that wheelie bins sometimes live at the front of houses, even on the pavement, as there is often nowhere else to put them.

Now, in addition to the standard black bin, the council has issued green bins for plastics and glass, blue bins for paper and, on request, brown bins for garden refuse. Many of the smaller properties do not have enough garden to make a brown bin worthwhile but that still leaves a lot of bins with homes to find.

Today's photo shows the pretty terrace aptly named Vale Side, half way down Old Brow. This location illustrates the problem well with the attractive scene being somewhat spoilt by the colourful array of bins. This can be seen in other parts of Mossley as well and in recent months Mossley has become a sort of bin city!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Stalybridge Saturday - Cheese Shop

One of the things that Stalybridge can boast is a cheese shop! The town has had a specialist cheese shop for quite a few years. I seem to remember it being on Market Street some years ago, but it is now on the pedestrianised part of Melbourne Street.

As well as cheese, it sells cooked meats and other delicatessen products, along with a whole range of fresh sandwiches.

Unfortunately, when I went in to ask for my favourite, Sage Derby, I was told that they don't sell it, which was disappointing as it is a fairly well-known cheese.. For one moment I thought I had stepped into a Monty Python sketch!

They did have an interesting range of other cheeses, though.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Water Street Hat Works

Today's photo is of Water Street Hat Works.

Pardon? Many people who are familiar with Ashton will look and the photo and say "But that's Hurst Laundry in Holden Street!" And they would be right, for this is indeed the building that for many years has been home to Hurst Linen Services, now Tibard Laundry Services.

However, a closer look at the building will reveal a clue to its past. High on the wall, above the taking-in doors, is this stone plaque bearing the words "Water Street Hat Works".

This may seem rather mysterious but the section of what is now called Holden Street between Union Road and Hillgate Street was at one time called Water Street, while the part between Hillgate Street and Whiteacre Road was called Church Street. They were re-named to avoid confusion with the streets of the same name in central Ashton.

The hat making part is still a bit of a mystery as hat making was generally carried out in Denton and Stockport. I can't find any mention in any of the local history book that I have of a hatting industry in Ashton, but clearly hats were made here! Also, you may recall in a post here a couple of weeks ago that the son of the landlord of the Napoleon Inn, around the corner in Botany Lane, worked as a hatter before taking over the job of landlord.

The funny thing is that I have walked past here hundreds of times and had never noticed this plaque before!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Night Shelter

This night-time view shows the seats below the Victorian-style shelter on Wellington Road in the centre of Ashton. On the left, behind the red Royal Mail pillar box is the side of Ashton Town Hall.

The building on the right was originally the town's Fire Station but is now an estate agent and pub.

The line of lights in the distance are on the platform of Ashton's railway station.

On the opposite side of the road a solitary passenger waits for the bus home.

(Click photo for larger version.)

"Night Shelter" 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: Delph Donkey

The Delph Donkey was the nickname of the branch railway that ran from Uppermill to Delph. The line was closed in 1963 and the track has since been made into a cycle track and walkway. It can be accessed from Uppermill or from Brownhill Visitor Centre around 7 miles from Ashton and, once the short climb to the track has been made, provides a level walk right through to the old Delph Station.

The walk is particularly suitable on a weekend like this, when there has been a lot of rain recently, as the track does not become as muddy as many field paths do. Yet there are views of the fields and hills between the trees that line the track.

Trains ran from Delph to Greenfield, then through Lees to Oldham. One of the stations on the line, not far from the location of the photograph, was called Measurements Halt, named after the factory it was built to serve.

Some have suggested that the line was so-named because the carriage was originally pulled by a horse. However, this was not the case, as this would not have been allowed because the track joins on to the busy main line.

The photo shows the bridge where Wall Hill Road crosses the track. This bridge was built on a skew, with interesting angled stonework forming the arch.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sky Watch: Pylon

Even though I was standing in the sunshine when I took this photo, the area behind the electricity pylon is definitely below an overcast sky!

The view is from Luzley Lane, between Ashton and Mossley, with the buildings in the centre of Manchester visible beyond the gloom.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

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!

Sheldon Arms

The Sheldon Arms is a new pub near the boundary between Ashton and Audenshaw. It is situated, appropriately enough, on Lord Sheldon Way, the new road between the Snipe and IKEA.

The building is very traditional in design and from the front could be mistaken for a village pub at first glance.

The Sheldon Arms and Lord Sheldon Way are named after Robert Sheldon, now Baron Sheldon, who served as MP for Ashton under Lyne for 37 years. In Parliament he was the respected chairman of the Public Accounts Committee for 14 years, having previously been Financial Secretary to the Treasury for 5 years.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

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!

St Michael's Square

St Michael's Square is where the heart of Ashton under Lyne's old town once stood. In the background is the Parish Church of Ashton, St Michael's and All Angels, which dates from the 15th century but stands on the site of a pre-Norman church.

Before the Market Hall was built this was where the town's market was held. Just a few metres away is the site of the old market cross (at the bottom of Old Cross Street). In the first half of the 20th century the square was the terminus for buses going to Dukinfield and Stalybridge.

These days the area comes to life in the evenings, with several pubs and clubs nearby

"St Michael's Square" 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.