ABC Wednesday: Dukinfield

Today's post for ABC Wednesday is D for Dukinfield.

Dukinfield is Ashton's nearest neighbour, standing on the hill just across the River Tame. This photo is looking down towards Ashton from the top of Crescent Road and Chapel Street. IKEA is clearly seen on the other side of Ashton town centre. The snow-covered hills visible in the distance are 14 miles away, to the north of Rochdale.

See Google Street View of this location.

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

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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.

Dukinfield Old Chapel

"D" is for "Dukinfield Old Chapel" and today's photo shows this magnificent building situated at the top of Crescent Road in Dukinfield, less than a mile from Ashton under Lyne Parish Church.

Constructed in 1840 as a re-building of Dukinfield's older Unitarian chapel, the building is strikingly tall for its footprint. Built at the highest point in the central part of Dukinfield the chapel made a landmark clearly visible on the skyline from Ashton and is in a far more prominent position than the nearby St John's Church of England church. This reflects the competition and politics that went on between the established and non-conformist denominations at that time.

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"Dukinfield Old Chapel" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "D" posts from around the world please follow this link.
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Portland Basin

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"P" is for "Portland Basin" and today's photo shows the canal at Portland Basin, on the border between Ashton and Dukinfield.

The view looks from the Peak Forest Canal, across the aqueduct over the River Tame, towards the Ashton Canal, with Portland Basin Museum in the background.

A closer view of the canal basin and museum can be seen in this post that appeared almost a year ago.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

"Portland Basin" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "P" posts from around the world please follow this link.

Monochrome Moment: Dukinfield Town Hall

Only a mile away from the centre of Ashton is the Town Hall of Ashton's near neighbour Dukinfield.

Dukinfield, across the old county boundary in what was Cheshire, developed much later than Ashton. Its late Victorian Town Hall was opened in 1901. The tower has five bells from the famous bell-makers Taylors of Loughborough and the clock was made by Joyce of Whitchurch, the same manufacturer that made the clock at Stalybridge Station.

The Town Hall is built of Accrington Brick with stone banding, the colours of which can be seen in this photo which appeared earlier.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

This image is a contribution to Monochrome Weekend. Please follow the link to visit other sites taking part.

All lit up!

Although the Christmas lights in Dukinfield may be modest by comparison with those in some places, I think the scene in front of Dukinfield Town Hall looks rather attractive as darkness falls.

There are twin Christmas trees there and lights in all the trees on the forecourt.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
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Colonel Duckenfield

This statue of Colonel Robert Duckenfield stands outside the entrance to Dukinfield Town Hall, King Street, was erected in 2007.

Colonel Duckenfield lived from 1619 to 1689 and was High Sherrif of Cheshire. He was Lord of the Manor of Dukinfield, living at the now-demolished Dukinfield Hall, where he established up the first independent chapel in England (Old Hall Chapel - the oldest Nonconformist chapel). He fought for the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War and led thew forces that captured the Isle of Man.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Dukinfield Town Hall

Less than a mile from the centre of Ashton is Dukinfield Town Hall, and it is here that the stone carved rooftop figure (shown yesterday) can be seen.

Dukinfield is Ashton's very near neighbour, just across the River Tame, as well as across the former county boundary in the historic county of Cheshire.

The Town Hall was built in 1901, 2 years after Dukinfield became an urban council. It is built in bands of Accrington brick and cream stonework and boasts an imposing clock tower.