Sky Watch: Hartshead Pike

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I can't stay away from Hartshead Pike, especially when there's a fine sunset. I have taken many photos here, each one markedly different.

This hilltop, just within Ashton's eastern boundary, with its dramatic pointed tower, attracts many visitors, as can be seen from this photo taken a couple of days ago. It is not very often that you get the place to yourself!

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!

Ashton Moss

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"A" is for Ashton Moss. This was a large area of peat moss that extended almost to the centre of Ashton. Since Victorian times much of the Moss was used for market gardening, with many smallholdings.

In recent years the M60 motorway cut through the middle of the Moss and huge areas have been developed as retail, business and leisure areas. Yesterday's post shows the new hotel that has been built.

Today's photo was taken only a short distance from yesterday's, looking north across an area of derelict land and a few of the smallholdings that survive. Beyond the radio masts, a train can be seen heading from Ashton to Manchester.

On the extreme right of the photo you can see the signal box that appeared in this post. I wonder if that is the same train?

Ashton Moss was like a big sponge that would soak up water. Apparently, the residents of Littlemoss had a clear view of the buildings in Ashton across the Moss, except after heavy rain, when the saturated ground would rise and hide Ashton from view!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

"Ashton Moss" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "A" posts please follow this link.

Black Box

After all the whiteness of recent weeks, here, for a change, is something black. Or is it grey?

It's the new Village Hotel on Ashton Moss, just off Lord Sheldon Way and almost alongside the motorway.

I'm sure it is really nice inside but I can't help thinking it looks rather grim from the outside.

If anyone staying at the hotel gets bored in the evening, it is only a few yards walk to Cine World, Hollywood Bowl and assorted eateries. Or they could always go and look at the statues that line Lord Sheldon Way!

In the background, to the left of the hotel, you can see the tower of St Peter's Church in the West End of Ashton.

See Birds Eye View of this location. It doesn't look quite as black from the air.

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 Moss North Junction

This is a view of Ashton Moss North Junction, seen from Richmond Street, on the western edge of Ashton. The photo is looking westwards, with the high-rise buildings in the centre of Manchester visible in the distance. The train is heading from Ashton towards Victoria Station in Manchester.

The signal box stands in the middle of the junction, with one of the tracks branching off to the left in front of the box and the other line passing behind it. The line to the left goes to Stockport and is used by freight trains.

To the right of the picture is a corner of Richmond Street Playing Fields. Ashton Cricket Club's ground is out of sight to the left.

"Ashton Moss North Junction" 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.

Gardener

The Gardener is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

The Gardener is taking a break from digging or hoeing and is sweeping up the autumn leaves!

In spite of being an industrial town, Ashton under Lyne has a long association with gardening. Not far from this statue was the market garden run by Bill Sowerbutts, a regular panellist for many years on BBC radio's "Gardeners' Question Time" programme.

Indeed, the very first edition of the programme was broadcast from the Broadoak Hotel in 1947, with Bill as one of the panellists. The programme was broadcast under its original, less-catchy name of "How Does Your Garden Grow? - A Gardeners' Question Time".

Behind the statue can be seen some of the few market garden plots remaining on Ashton Moss.

B & Q at the Snipe

The entrance to the B & Q store on the Snipe retail park between Ashton and Audenshaw. This was one of the first of B & Q's larger "Warehouse" stores and replaced the earlier B & Q store nearby, which is now Staples. In the distance, behind the Give Way sign, you can just see the recently-closed MFI store - another victim of the "downturn".

The Snipe retail park was built on the site of Ashton Moss Colliery (the "Snipe Pit"). The colliery was opened in 1875 and its second shaft, sunk in 1882, at 2,850 feet was the deepest in the world at that time. The Snipe retail park takes its name from the nearby Snipe Inn on Manchester Road.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Ashton Moss

If you haven't been to Ashton for a long time you might be forgiven for not recognising this as a scene on Ashton Moss. Gone are the market gardens to be replaced by Hollywood Bowl and Cine World along with various chain eateries.