Photo of the Year 2011

During the year, many of you have been rating the photos that have appeared on this blog using the 5-star system below each post. Having now looked at the ratings for all of 2011's posts, I have found that the clear winner was this atmospheric evening view of Hartshead Pike:



Just for a change, this is the first time that the Photo of the Year has not been a snow scene! However, Hartshead Pike is always a popular subject and last year's Photo of the Year was a snow scene that included Hartshead Pike!

Sorry, but I didn't have time to draw up a short list of photos this year and had to rely entirely on the 5-star rating system, so please don't forget to rate the photos during 2012!

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View the Photos of the Year on other photo blogs by visiting City Daily Photos.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Thank you for visiting this blog during 2011. I wish you all the best for 2012 and hope to have the pleasure of your company here during the year.

A  Happy New Year  to you all!

Old Railway Line

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows this bridge that carries Cranbourne Road across an old railway line.

The railway line was the Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway which opened in 1861 with stations at Ashton, Oldham Road (where Monk's Garage is) and at Park Bridge, where a 12-arch viaduct carried the line high above the Medlock Valley.

Passenger trains ceased in 1959 but the railway carried freight until 1967, after which it was dismantled. In recent years the trackbed has been given a good surface and is now a cycle way and foot path from Ashton to Park Bridge. The path starts at Turner Lane, not far from the town centre, and is a good and easy route out into the countryside.

Few of the people who drive or walk across the bridge on Cranbourne Road realise that they are crossing such a smart 3-arch brick viaduct.

I showed you a view of this bridge from the other side in 2008.

See Bird's Eye View of this location.

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

Ashton Town Hall at Christmas

Today's photo shows Ashton's Town Hall at Christmas, complete with tree and decorative lights. It is seen looking from the front of the Market Hall.

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

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Next week I will show the Photo of the Year for 2011, which will be decided by you, the visitors, according to which photos have received the most support from the 5-star rating gizmo at the very bottom of each post (just above 'Add your comment'). Please don't forget to rate the photos, especially if it is one that you like! If you are bored over the Christmas holiday, you could always browse back through the photos and rate those that you like, if you have not been doing this at the time!

Heyrod and Millbrook

Today's Sky Watch photo shows the scene looking across the Tame Valley at from Heyrod. Above the rooftops of houses in Heyrod, we see Millbrook on the other side of the valley, near the entrance to the Brushes Valley.

Near the centre of the photo is the chimney of Oakwood Mill, seen here in 2009. To the right of that, beside a pylon, Staley Hall can just be seen.

The rounded outlines of Harridge Piker and Hollingworthall Moor shape the boundary between land and sky in a satisfying way.

Heyrod is on the fringe of Stalybridge about four miles east of Ashton.

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See Google Street 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!

Snow Angel

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows you a Snow Angel, or rather, an Angel in the Snow. However, this is no angel shape made in the snow by someone lying on the ground, but Ashton's Angel Hotel on a snowy day!

Yesterday began with an unexpected thin covering of snow, which quickly disappeared from the town centre although, away from the roads, the white covering lingered on through the day. Today saw a thaw and most of the snow has now gone, except on the higher ground.

The Angel Hotel, seen here in more detail, was built in 1868, but this replaced an earlier inn nearby. To the left is St Michael's Square, built on the site of Ashton's original Market Place and the heart of the old town. In the background, silhouetted against the low winter sun, is the Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Winter is coming!

If today's Sky Watch image doesn't make you feel chilly....

Yes, it's a reminder that Winter really is upon us. A small number of hardy leaves still cling forlornly to the trees as we look out across the damp and chilly landscape of the Tame Valley in Mossley. Although Mossley is only 4 miles from the centre of Ashton, it is surrounded by hills, with a thin coating of snow on the higher slopes.

Just add a thin, miserable sleet falling and a chill wind and the warm days of Summer are nothing but a distant memory!

It seems to be such a short time ago that this same view was so very different. Such is the turning of the seasons....

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See Google Street 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!

Roxy Shops

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows you this row of shops on Queens Road at Hurst Cross.

They are known as the Roxy Shops because they stood opposite the Roxy Cinema. The cinema has long-since gone and a small Asda store now stands on the site. However, the name of the cinema lives on with Roxy Angling Supplies.

The shops were built with a surprisingly attractive frontage, featuring mock timbered gables. However, this is marred by the metal roller shutters that are probably a necessity for shops all over the country these days.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Brick Wall

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows you a brick wall. However, Ashton being an interesting town, you would expect this brick wall to be rather interesting.

It is the front wall of the former Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School on Mill Lane, which we saw back in October, and of which I promised to show you more.

The school was built in 1877 as indicated by the date stone and, as you would expect from a Victorian building, includes some fanciful decoration, which is in the form of inlaid stone bands, window pillars and keystones, along with arches formed from tapering bricks and stone hoodmoulds above to direct dripping rain away from the windows. The lettering "Wesleyan Methodist Schools" is carved into the stone band.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Getting Dark

Today's Sky Watch image looks towards Mossley Library across the former Market Ground.

The gathering darkness of a late Autumn evening is highlighted by the lights shining from the windows of the library and from the three bus shelters.

To the right are the near-silhouettes of the towers of the fire station tower and of St George's Church.

One of the street bights has come on but the Christmas lights attached to the lamp posts have not yet sprung into action.

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See Google Street 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!

Old and New

Today's view shows the changing world of Ashton under Lyne.

The recently-completed Tameside Centre for Enterprise building sits on the corner of Old Street and Bentinck Street, in the St Petersfield re-generation area.

To the left of it can be seen Good Hope Mill, built in 1824, the oldest cotton spinning mill in Ashton to survive intact.

To the right, behind the trees, is the Witchwood pub. This was built some time before 1850 and has previously been named the Painters Arms, the Rifle Brigade, the Globe and the Gamecock. The Witchwood now has a widespread reputation as a music venue.

Beyond the pub, to the right, can be seen The Armoury and the Central Library. Old Street, as the name suggests, was the original main throughfare through the town of Ashton.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Reach For The Sky

Today's Sky Watch image shows the view across Manchester Road in Mossley towards the steep slopes of Noonsun Hill.

Reaching for the sky in the foreground is a council workman who is taking a break from his normal job of replacing street light bulbs and is attaching Christmas lights to the lamp posts. They may only be humble Christmas lights in comparison with other towns but they add a touch of cheer and jollity.

If you click the image to see the larger version, you will just see on the far skyline, to the left of the lamp post, the tall shape of the Saddleworth war memorial at Pots and Pans Rocks.

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See Google Street 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!

Former Bank

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows a building that was once a bank on Stamford Street in Ashton.

There is lettering on the walls saying "County Bank". It later became the Trustee Savings Bank until a newer building was opened on Old Street (now Lloyds TSB).

Since ceasing to be a bank, this attractive building has had a number of uses, including a bar, as was seen when I last showed a photo of this building.

It appears to have been divided into two units, with a new door below the window on the front of the building. Signs show that sunbeds and a tattoo parlour are to be found within. A notice over the corner door announces the "Amazing Good News Gospel Church".

Stamford Street was once the main shopping and commerce street in Ashton but, as the shops have migrated northwards into the Ladysmith Centre and the "Arcades" mall, the street has had to re-invent itself as the buildings find new purposes.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Hartshead Pike Again

For today's Sky Watch image we pay a return visit to Hartshead Pike.

This photo was taken on the same evening as last week's photo, but looking in the other direction, away from the setting sun. The only tree anywhere near the summit of Hartshead Pike bends its barren branches towards the sky and the pointed tower.

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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!

A New Supermarket

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows the newest supermarket to open in Ashton.

This is a mini-Asda store that has opened a week ago on Queens Road, Hurst Cross. The building was originally a Co-op supermarket and I showed this picture of it in 2008.

The Co-op kept it's "Late Shop" open round the corner on Kings Road, which may have reduced the profitability of the store on Queens Road. The store was bought by Netto just before Asda took over all of Netto's UK stores, which is why it has now become an Asda, even though Asda have a large superstore on Cavendish Street.

When I took this photo last week the car park was pretty full suggesting that the new store is attracting a lot of interest. I have a feeling the Co-op may regret having sold the shop, as the Late Shop seemed pretty quiet that day.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Hartshead Pike

Today's Sky Watch image shows the tower on the summit of Hartshead Pike.

It is a long time since I included a photo of this well-known local landmark, which stands on the hill between Ashton and Mossley. Hartshead Pike commands a wide view westwards and is a wonderful spot for watching sunsets.

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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!


P.S. Apology to last week's visitors: I am sorry to say that there was a broken link to the larger version of last week's photo. The link is now mended but, if you missed it, the larger image can be viewed here. Sorry if this spoiled your enjoyment of last week's Sky Watch contribution from this blog.

Stamford Park Conservatory

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows the "Conservatory" in Stamford Park, on the border between Ashton and Stalybridge.

This is not your average conservatory added on to the back of a house. This is the John Nield Conservatory, which is effectively a hothouse in which exotic plants grow. A sign over the entrance 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."

I showed you a photo looking up at the roof structure inside the conservatory three years ago.

See Bird's Eye View of this location.

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

Golden Evening

Today's Sky Watch image shows the view along Argyle Street in Mossley on Thursday evening.

The golden sky was made more striking by the glowing clouds reflecting the sun, which had already set below the hill. The cupola and spire of St Joseph's Church add interest to the silhouette of the buildings.

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See Google Street 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!

Red Railings

November's Theme Day is on the subject of "Fences". I imagine that railings count as fences? I do hope so, as I want to share this rather neat square of red railings around the War Memorial in Globe Square, in Ashton's neighbouring town of Dukinfield.

The railings, like the flower planters and the street lights, are painted in the distinctive browny-red with which all Dukinfield's street furniture is painted.

In a few days time the memorial will be adorned with wreaths of poppies to commemorate the men and women of Dukinfield who have fallen in the service of their country.

See Google Street View of this location.

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"Red Railings" is my contribution to this month's City Daily Photo Theme Day of "Fences". Please check out the other blogs taking part. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Leaves in Stamford Park

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows autumn leaves in Stamford Park, on the border between Ashton and Stalybridge.
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Is it really Autumn? The leaves have certainly been falling but then the temperature rises again and plants continue to grow. We have seen some of the warmest October days on record this year. It must be confusing for the animals and plants!

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Dawn over Buckton Moor

Today's Sky Watch image shows the golden dawn lighting up the sky over Buckton Moor, as seen from Mossley.

The view is eastwards across the Tame Valley and just right of centre is the prominent outline of the hill atop which lie the remains of Buckton Castle. It is possible to make out the silhouette of the earthworks that formed the ramparts of the castle.

The castle was probably built in the 12th Century but was in ruins by 1360. Excavations show that it had stone walls 10 feet thick, with a tower and gateway. Little can be seen these days apart from the earthworks. The prominent hilltop on which the castle stood makes an interesting silhouette skyline.

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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!

War Memorial

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows Ashton's War Memorial which commemorates those who have given their lives for their country in various conflicts in the last hundred years. It is situated in the Memorial Gardens beside Crickets Lane.

The Memorial is built of 50 tonnes of Portland Stone, topped with a bronze statue showing a wounded soldier and an angel of peace. On each side are statues of lions. The two simple blocks on each side of the path in the foreground commemorate those who have fallen in recent conflicts.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

Rainbow

Today's Sky Watch image shows a rainbow over Mossley, about 4 miles from Ashton, earlier in the week.

Because Mossley is the steep-sided valley of the River Tame, you can see the hills and houses through the rainbow! Even though it was the middle of the afternoon, the sky appears darker than the hillside!

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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!

Decorative Window Surround

As promised, here is a close-up of some of the detail of the former Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School seen earlier this week..

These are the central windows on the ground floor of the western end of the building. Even with the windows boarded up, the decorative stonework and tapering brickwork look magnificent in the sunshine.

More to follow.

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Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School

Today's view of the world of Ashton under Lyne shows one of Ashton's splendid old buildings. Sadly it is one that has been disused for some years.

This is the former Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School on Mill Lane, just off Stamford Street, in Ashton town centre.

The school was built in 1877 but there just isn't the same demand for Sunday Schools these days. It is understood that the building has planning permission to be turned into apartments, which would be a good use of the building, as long as the attractive exterior is retained.

The building actually appears to be in a better state than when I photographed it in 2008. There is less foliage sprouting from the roof and many of the boards covering the windows have been renewed.

I will show some close-ups of some of the decorative brickwork in future posts.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

St Michael's Church

Today's Sky Watch image shows Church of St Michael and All Angels, the Parish Church of Ashton under Lyne.

There has been a church on this site before the Norman Conquest, as the Domesday Book of 1088 mentions a St Michael's Church in the east of the ancient parish of Manchester. Parts of the present building date from the fifteenth century but most of the structure was re-built in Victorian times.

The church is seen from the other side of Ashton town centre's bypass. The shiny pointed obelisk is a sort of sculpture to indicate that the building behind me (the former Labour Exchange) is now an apartment block known as The Point.

The obelisk and the points on the church tower all draw the eye to the sky with its thin, wispy clouds.

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See Google Street 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!

Old Street

Today's photo shows Old Street in the centre of Ashton under Lyne. Old Street is appropriately named as it follows the line of the original road that ran through the town from Manchester towards the Pennines for at least 800 years.

The buildings along Old Street are not that old but some of them are several hundred years old. One of the buildings, just out of sight around the corner, has a date of 1744 on it. [See this post from last year.]

Old Street may not be the hub of the town's activity any more but is still fairly busy and the central section is pedestrianised, creating a more relaxing environment for shoppers.

See Bird's Eye View of this location. (The Google Street View car has not managed to cover this pedestrianised street!)

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

Albion Church

Today's Sky Watch image shows the roof and spire of Albion Church, near the town centre of Ashton.

The church was built as the largest Congregationalist church in the north of England. The Earl of Stamford had refused to sell the Congregationalists land to build their new church, so a Congregationalist member sold them this land which faced St Michael's C of E Parish Church across a slight dip. The spire was deliberately built to be 2 feet taller than the tower of the nearby Parish Church as a gesture of defiance!

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See Google Street 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!