White Horse

Today's glimpse at the world of Ashton under Lyne shows the White Horse pub at Cockbrook.

The White Horse opened in 1868 as a beer house but its licence was upgraded to allow it to sell wine four years later. It didn't get a full licence (i.e. to sell spirits as well) until 1956.

It would be an unremarkable building if it were not for the splendid glazed tiles that embellish the lower storey.

See Google Street View of this location.



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

I apologise to regular followers of this blog that I have not been able to post many images in recent weeks.

Hartshead Inn

Today's Sky Watch image shows the Hartshead Inn, situated off Mossley Road in Ashton, with Hartshead Pike on the skyline in the background. The pointed tower which sits atop the pike is echoed by the picture on the pub sign. The tower and the chimney both draw the eye to the cloudscape above.

For most of its life the building was known as Tongue Bottom Farm and this name is inscribed on the stone mill wheel seen below the sign. The original Hartshead Inn, on Lees Road, was always known as The Red House and changed its name to just that. Tongue Bottom Farm was converted into a pub with large dining areas and it is a popular place for Ashtonians to drive up to for a meal.

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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!

Bank Top

Followers of this blog may be surprised that today's photo is of a location in Ashton. Not only that, but the location is only a quarter of a mile from the Parish Church!

Bank Top is a little oasis of green sandwiched between the residential area of Currier Lane and the industrial area of Whitelands Road.

The area was known as Bank Top because to one side it dropped away steeply towards the River Tame. It was in between two sets of railway tracks (one of which is longer there) which separated it from developments on either side, so that the area was not built on. For some years the land was used as playing fields by the nearby Parochial School (the primary school of the Parish Church).

In recent years the area has been planted with trees and has completely changed in appearance.

It is hard to believe that this island of greenery is so close to the houses of Currier Lane and to Ashton's busy town centre.

See Bird's Eye View of this location.

(Click photo for larger version. Press Back button to return here.)

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