Sunday Stroll: Over the Stile

When going for a walk in the country you should take care to keep to the public rights of way across private land, just as the landowner has a duty to keep the right of way open and walkable.

On this stroll I was following the footpath from Mossley Cross to Knott Hill Reservoir. Part of the route crosses a corner of Ashton golf club before going over this stile into woodland called New Covert. The path then continues through the woods to meet the path around the old reservoir.

It somehow feels naughty to be walking across the golf course without a set of clubs but, as long as you keep to the line of the path, you are okay. Of course, you have to keep an eye on what the golfers are doing as it would be unwise to walk across in front of someone about to take a shot!

The path into the woods looks very inviting and I will show you what lies ahead another week!
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Stalybridge Saturday: Town Hall

Today's photo is of Stalybridge Town Hall - or, at least, what's left of it!

The building, which dates from 1831, was demolished after it was found to require major repairs, but the portico surrounding the main entrance was left standing, looking like some sort of folly or monument.

There are two blue plaques on the structure. One commemorates the First General Strike or "Plug Riot" of 1842, which began in this area. The other remembers Joseph Rayner Stephens, a 19th Century philanthropist who lived in Stalybridge and campaigned against the Poor Law and for factory reforms.

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Sky Watch: Hartshead Pike

This week's Sky Watch sees a return to the magnetic location of Hartshead Pike. As the tower that stands on the summit of the pike points so dramatically skyward, it is inevitable that photographs taken here are going to feature plenty of sky!

There is something about this hilltop location that gives it qualities of light that don't seem to be present down in the town, as can be seen from several of the previous photos that have appeared here.

What would have been a dramatic evening sky is made even more striking by the addition in this photo of the stark silhouette of the tower.

Sky Watch is the new Friday feature on this photo blog. It will link 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!

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Dead Ringer

This is the old Market Hall bell. It was housed in the tower of the Market Hall. When the building was destroyed by fire in 2004, the bell crashed down to the ground through the burning floors of the tower.

As you can see from the large crack across the side of the bell, it is no longer in a state to be rung. It has been replaced by an electronic bell which sounds fairly convincing except the tone stops more abruptly than a real bell would - the sound of a real bell continues for quite a few seconds, getting quieter and quieter.

The old bell has been cleaned up and put on display inside the re-opened Market Hall. A plaque on the wall behind announces that it was unveiled on 26th January 2009 by Councillor Alan Whitehead.

Miserable Morning

A dull morning in Warrington Street - today's photo looks from the corner of Bow Street towards Old Street. The buildings fade into the mist as they stretch on past Stamford Street in the distance.

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Mossley on Monday: Mind the Steps!

A few weeks ago we saw a photo of a building known as "The Old School House". It was called that because the Baguley School was once situated in part of the building. But when it was built in the 1780s, there were four dwellings on the two lower floors and a large weaving room occupying the entire top floor.

I mentioned that this weaving room was accessed by steps at the back of the building, and here are those steps! This is a rear view of that building. I don't know whether there was originally some sort of handrail. Other similar weavers' cottages in the Pennines don't have handrails, but the external steps usually run up alongside a wall rather than at right angles! They certainly didn't have the same hang-ups about Health and Safety in the eighteenth century!

This is a significant building in Mossley's heritage as it reflects the time when the production of woollen cloth was an important cottage industry in the area.

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Sunday Stroll: Mossley

You haven't got to go far from the built-up areas around here to find pleasant countryside and stunning views. This photo was taken on a public footpath that runs from Mossley Cross, at the northern end of Luzley Road, towards Bottom Mossley. The path is not more than half a mile long but has amazing views all the way along.

This spot is nearly at the bottom of the path, not far from where it opens onto Barngate Drive.

I was not pleased to find that the landowner has recently erected a barbed wire fence, forcing walkers along the very edge of the field. At one point the two fences are less than 3 feet apart and the sloping ground has a tendency to make you walk close to the new fence, with a risk of catching clothing on the barbs!

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Saturday in Saddleworth - Saddleworth Church

This is the first of a series of visits to nearby Saddleworth.

Saddleworth is an area that is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and now forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. It is deep in the Pennine hills, around the headwaters of the River Tame, with stone being the main building material.

Although only around 4 to 8 miles from the centre of Ashton, parts of Saddleworth look as if they could be 50 miles away in the Yorkshire Dales!

The first photo shows Saddleworth parish church of St Chad's. The church dates from around 1200, although probably none of the building is original - the tower was rebuilt in 1746 and most of the rest in 1832! Although Saddleworth is made up of a number of villages, the church stands in near isolation high up on the hillside above Uppermill, although it does have the Church Inn to keep it company.

The church is the focus of the annual rush cart festival which takes place in August.

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If you were hoping to see a photo in the Stalybridge Saturday series, there will be one next week!

Sky Watch: Churchyard Tree

This tree stands in the grounds of St James' Church, Cowhill Lane. It is seen silhouetted against a wintry morning sky. The church is just visible on the left of the photo.

This tree also appeared in a previous Sky Watch photo, where the church itself was the main subject.

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Sky Watch is the regular Friday 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!

Market Street

With the Market Hall now re-opened, Market Street is getting back to normal. For over four years it was a building site, with site cabins situated there and metal fencing surrounding the whole construction site, leaving just a narrow pathway through to Fletcher Street and Penny Meadow.

In the distance, workers are putting the finishing touches to the new paving that has been laid to replace the paving damaged during the Market reconstruction work.

Bow Street runs off to the left of the Market Hall. Rising bollards prevent unauthorised vehicles from passing, keeping the area around the market for pedestrians only.

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