Sky Watch: Away Day

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The sharper-eyed among you will notice that today's photo was not taken in Ashton under Lyne!

I wasn't able to post a photo last week, because I was away from Ashton enjoying the delights of the Somerset coast. I thought I would share with you this photo taken on my travels, showing the sunset over the Bristol Channel. If you click the image to see the larger version, you can see part of the South Wales coast on the horizon.

Normal service will be resumed next week!

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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. You are most welcome!

Boulder

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"B" is for "Boulder" and today's photo shows the a large boulder which is situated in the grounds of St Peter's Church, Ashton.

The inscription reads "This bowlder was placed here by Alderman Isaac Watt Boulton J.P. of Stamford House Ashton under Lyne in affectionate remembrance of his eldest son Thomas Boulton who was for 9 years a warden of this church born November 5th 1844 and died at sea February 5th 1880 on board the H.M.S.S. Kinfauns Castle whilst on a voyage to the Cape of Good Hope to recruit his health. His remains were committed to the deep in Lat 11° 30' south Long 2° 30' west February 6th 1880. Lord have mercy on my soul and take me to thee."

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"Boulder" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "B" posts from around the world please follow this link.

Ashton Market

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Since the weather has gone a little damp and dreary I have dug out a nice sunny image of Ashton's market ground.

This view looks across towards the Town Hall from the pedestrianised Warrington Street. I remember when cars and buses ran along Warrington Street and there was a car parking area alongside the market. It is a more pleasant environment nowadays!

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


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Alley Way

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"A" is for "Alley Way" and today's photo shows the a back alley typical of those that run behind the streets of terraced houses in Ashton.

At one time many of these "backs" would have had an earth surface, getting muddy in wet weather. The posher streets might have cobbled back alleys!

Nowadays many of the alleys have concrete flagged surfaces and are enclosed within lockable gates to keep out unwelcome visitors.

The back alleys were needed to provide rear access to the houses which were built in continuous terraces.

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"Alley Way" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "A" posts from around the world please follow this link.

Police Station

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This is Ashton under Lyne Police Station on Manchester Road.

The first police station in Ashton was a converted cottage in Dungeon Street (now Market Street). When the Town Hall was built it included a new police station at street level below the splendour of the civic accommodation.

The present police station, on Manchester Road, was built in recent years to replace a police station on the same site built around the 1960s.

Don't look now, but someone's stolen three of the letters from the name of the building, right under the eye of the CCTV camera!

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


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Sky Watch: Pointing Skyward

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A little further afield than usual today, as this Sky Watch photo was taken on an evening visit a couple of days ago to Manchester, around 6 miles west of Ashton.

The vibrant city centre is a mixture of old and new, as seen in this picture looking towards Deansgate outside the former Great Northern Railway Warehouse.

My attention was drawn to the modern structure and the dome of the older building pointing towards the moody evening clouds.

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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. You are most welcome!

Zebra Crossing

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"Z" is for "Zebra Crossing" and today's photo shows the zebra crossing outside the Best of Brass pub on Manchester Road in Mossley.

For those unfamiliar with British street etiquette, a zebra crossing is a place where pedestrians can cross a busy road. Its path is marked by black and white stripes painted on the road surface, hence the name "zebra"! There are also posts topped with flashing orange globes, known as Belisha beacons, to warn drivers that they are approaching a zebra crossing. The beacons in this photo are cowled to prevent them flashing into bedroom windows at night!

A pedestrian who is crossing the road on a zebra crossing has priority over vehicular traffic, although it is always wise to ensure that approaching traffic is going to stop before stepping into the road!

Perhaps the most famous zebra crossing is in Abbey Road, in London, which featured on the sleeve cover of the Beatles' Abbey Road record album.

Many zebra crossings have now been replaced with Pelican and Puffin crossings, where pedestrians push a button to operate red stop lights.

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"Zebra Crossing" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "Z" posts from around the world please follow this link.

Wisps and Trails

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An evening walk along the side of Luzley Brow showed this dramatic view towards Mossley Parish Church (St George's) on the skyline, below a veil of wispy aircraft trails.

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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. You are most welcome!

Yellow

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"Y" is for "Yellow" and there is certainly plenty of yellow to be seen in today's photo.

This is one of the flower beds in the formal part of Stamford Park, on the border between Ashton and Stalybridge

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"Yellow" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "Y" posts from around the world please follow this link.

Albion Church

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This is a view of the Albion Church from the Memorial Gardens at the bottom of Cricket's Lane.

The Albion Church is the largest congregational church in the North of England and was deliberately built with a spire slightly higher than the tower of the nearby Parish Church.

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


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Sky Watch: Hartshead Pike

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A striking photo of Hartshead Pike, my favourite location, taken last week on the same walk as last week's Sky Watch photo.

The setting sun lit up the silky wisps of wafer-thin cloud that was making extraordinary patterns and textures. I'm sure I'll be able to find yet another photo from that evening for you soon...

See Birds Eye View of this location.

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. You are most welcome!