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.

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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.

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!

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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.

Ugly Face

"U" is for "Ugly Face" and today's photo shows a stone carved with an ugly face, which can be found in the Dingle in Stamford Park (see photo below).

Ashton Parish Church was partly rebuilt several times in the Victorian period and it is thought that some of the old stones that were not re-used found their way here and were used to build rustic walls in the valley known as the Dingle when Stamford Park was being created.



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"Ugly Face" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "U" posts from around the world please follow this link.
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Sky Watch: Blue Sky and White Branches

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This is a rather snowy "Sky Watch" image, but there is plenty of clear blue sky to be seen - through the snow-laden branches of the trees.

The photo is in complete contrast to the scenes of just a few days ago when a carpet of autumn leaves still lay on the ground. It was taken on Thursday and shows the unusual sight of snow in November here in Ashton!

The little park at the top of Penny Meadow features quite a lot on this blog as it a good indicator of the characteristics of each season, from golden daffodils to golden leaves!

See Google Aerial View of this location. 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!

Carpet of Leaves

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Today's photo shows the carpet of leaves that surrounded this bench in King George's Park in Ashton. You can almost hear the crunch of the crisp leaves would make if you walked through them!

The park is more accurately called King George V Playing Field, but it is a park in the normal sense of the word in an urban setting, with children's play area, bowling greens and an all-weather sports court as well as football pitches and areas of grass and trees.

It is a pity that the seat is deserted but I haven't got the nerve to creep up and take a picture of someone sitting on a bench!

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

Shadows: Bowling Green

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The spectators on the benches watching the game of bowls cast their shadows onto the ground behind them.

The bowling green is in Stamford Park, straddling the border between Ashton under Lyne and Stalybridge.

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"Bowling Green" is a contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday. Please click the link to Hey Harriet to see more Shadow Shot Sunday posts.

Stamford Park Flower Beds

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For this week's My World feature we pay another visit to the splendid flower beds in Stamford Park, on the border of Ashton and Stalybridge.

The colours have completely changed since I posted the photo of primroses in these beds in May. This photo was taken on Sunday during a history walk around the park as part of the Heritage weekend. I was amazed at how much colour these still is in the park half-way through September!

"Stamford Park Flower Beds" 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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Stamford Park

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Today's photo shows the duck pond in Stamford Park, on the border between Ashton and Stalybridge.

The park was originally the grounds of Highfield Hall, which was situated at the top of the grassy slope, just left of the centre of the picture. In 1873 the grounds were opened as a municipal park shared between Ashton and Stalybridge. Highfield House itself was demolished in the 1950s. The park is shortly to have a major facelift.

"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.


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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.

Just Fishing

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"Just Fishing" is a picture of a couple of gentlemen enjoying the lovely summer weather with a spot of angling in the fishing lake at Chadwick's Dams.

Popularly known as "Chaddy Dams" (also seen here) the fishing and boating lakes, now part of Stamford Park, were originally constructed to supply Park Hall Mill, which was on Mellor Road.

What could be nicer on a warm, sunny day, than sitting beside the lake and fishing? Well, a lot of things as far as I'm concerned, as I have never seen the appeal of it myself! I get bored sitting around doing nothing! However, it is certainly a popular occupation for many people and this is one of the most pleasant locations near Ashton to come and do it!

"Just Fishing" 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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Sunday Stroll: Chaddy Dams

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One of the most popular short strolls on the outskirts of Ashton is the picturesque walk around Chadwick's Dams, between Ashton and Stalybridge. Commonly known as "Chaddy Dams", these two reservoirs in the shallow valley of the Cock Brook were built to supply Chadwick's factory at Park Hall Mill.

The land containing these two reservoirs passed into the ownership of Ashton and Stalybridge Corporations in 1891. The lower reservoir became Stamford Park boating lake while the higher one (the one in today's photograph) was stocked as a fishing lake.

119 years later, the land remains in local council ownership. The boating lake still exists although it has suffered a drop in its popularity. The upper reservoir remains pretty much the same other than the valley sides have become wooded.

Beyond the trees can be seen the buildings of the appropriately called Lakes Hospital, now part of Tameside Hospital.

A photo of "Chaddy Dams" appeared on this blog two years ago.

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Sky Watch: The Old Gatehouse

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The Old Gatehouse stands guard alongside the entrance to Mossley Hall. Originally built as Whitehall, the home of wealthy mill owner George Mayall, Whitehall became Mossley's Town Hall. It is now known as Mossley Hall and is a private residence again, although the grounds form Mossley Park.

This is the grander of the two gate houses, the other being at the Old Brow entrance. This gate house stands on Stamford Road, looking out across the valley, with the entrance to the hall being on the left. (Check out the view by following the Google Street View link below!)

The building is interesting in its own right but the photo is made all the more interesting by the unusual cloud formation that appears behind it, neatly framing the shape of the roof!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

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. You are most welcome!

Duck Pond

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Another visit this week to Stamford Park, on the border of Ashton and Stalybridge, where today's photo shows the duck pond.

Just three mallards to be seen in this picture, I'm afraid. There are more around, as well as a number of geese, but they were being camera shy on this occasion.

"Duck Pond" 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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Primroses

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My World at the moment is filled with lovely flowers, like this marvellous bed of primroses in Stamford Park, on the border of Ashton and Stalybridge.

It's a shame I couldn't get to the park on Sunday to see the Tulip Sunday display, but, as you can see, the usual formal flower beds were glorious in the park a few days before the tulip event.

"Primroses" 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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More Daffs

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Here is another photo of some of the daffodils at the top of Penny Meadow Ashton. A photo of the daffodils appeared here on Monday.

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Daffs

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You know that Summer is not far away when the daffodils come out!

Each year there is a host of golden daffodils in the triangular gardens between Mossley Road, Penny Meadow and Cricket's Lane, just east of Ashton town centre.

It draws me each year at this time! I will probably post another photo of this spot in a few days. Here is last year's photo.

"Daffs" 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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Sunday Stroll: The Dingle

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As we got the first really warm days this year, people enjoying a stroll around Stamford Park, between Ashton and Stalybridge, were able to enjoy the partial shade of a stroll through The Dingle.

This is a small wooded valley running along the western side of the park.

Many of the trees are still bare but later in the summer the leaf cover on the trees will stop much of the sunlight from reaching the path here.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch: Play Park

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Here is a wintry view of the children's play park at King George V Playing Field in Ashton.

Sadly, the only time you can photograph a play park these days is when there are no children there! Anyway, the various items of play equipment were not the subject of this photo, but the interaction between the trees, the sky and the vapour trails.

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!

Snowmen

Sunday saw several inches of snow fall on Ashton much to the delight of many youngsters.

These two splendid snowmen made their appearance in the gardens on Alexandra Road.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Meanwhile, on nearby King George's Playing Field, another group made a giant snowball!

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Sunday Stroll: Stamford Park

You don't have to go far to enjoy a pleasant stroll. Stamford Park is a favourite for many people. It is sandwiched between the houses of Ashton and Stalybridge but provides a tranquil oasis where you can slow down from the world outside!

This leafy path runs up the east side of the park, alongside Astley Road, leading towards the play park.

See Birds Eye View of this location.