Stalybridge Saturday: Sheep Dog

"Sheep Dog" is the title of this post, and that's what the photo shows - sheep and a dog!

They kept very still while I took the photo. In fact, they didn't move all day, for a closer inspection shows that they are not real!

They stand guard at the entrance to Old Forge furniture shop on Waterloo Road in Stalybridge, just around the corner from the railway station. I wonder whether you can buy one to stand in the corner of your lounge?

It's amazing what you see on the way to Tesco!

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sky Watch: Fade to Grey

Sky Watch? Where's the sky? It's disappeared in the fog!

Or, put it another way - the sky has come down to earth and engulfed Ashton in clouds!

Ashton is not often foggy so this view makes the tower of the Old Baths look mysterious as it fades away pointing to where the sky should be.

The photo is looking westwards along Stamford Street towards Henry Square from the junction with Bentinck Street. The scene is completely different from how it would have been a few years ago, when both sides of the street were lined with small shops. The Old Baths is the only feature that will be familiar to anyone who has not been to Ashton for a while!

See Google Aerial View of this location before the redevelopment.
See recent LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

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!

Building of the Year!

Ashton under Lyne Civic Society has awarded its coveted "Building of the Year" award for 2008 to Ashton Market Hall.

The aim of the Civic Society's award is primarily to draw public attention to developments that are making a positive contribution to the town's built environment. The award is often given to buildings that have not been in the spotlight but on this occasion it was felt that the Market Hall plays such an important part in the life of the town that this imaginative reconstruction deserved the accolade.

The photo shows Councillor Jackie Lane (Heritage) and Councillor Keiran Quinn (Economic Services) receiving a plaque commemorating the award from Civic Society Chairman Susan Knight (on the right). Looking on are members of the Civic Society and representatives from Tameside Council.

The Market Hall was re-opened on November 28th 2008 after being gutted by fire in May 2004.

Previous winners of the award include the Oddfellows Hall on Stamford Street, Harper Mill on Mossley Road, Wellington Court on Adam Street and 225 Old Street in the St Petersfield development.

Trafalgar Street

This is part of Trafalgar Street in Ashton's West End. The houses were part of a renewal scheme to re-furbish properties and give the area a new lease of life. The new tiles and outer brickwork make the houses look new.

Today's photo was taken very close to where last week's picture of Hamilton Street and Ryecroft Mill was taken. The very tall television aerials are necessary because the mill stands between the houses and the television mast at Winter Hill!

The tower of St Peter's Church at Chester Square can be seen in the distance.

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

Another one bites the dust...

Another bit of industrial Ashton bites the dust as the demolition men move in to pull down this small factory. The lettering on the red door proclaims "Alfred Pearson & Son Ltd, Hillgate St. Works, Reclaimed Textile Processors".

The site is being cleared to build a replacement for the Markazi Jamia Mosque in Newton Street, off Penny Meadow. The present mosque, in the former St Mary's School building, is to be demolished to make way for part of the Ashton Northern Bypass road.

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

Mossley on Monday: Mossley Park

Some brand new gates have appeared at the entrance to Mossley Park on Old Brow this last week. They are painted in the green and gold of the civic colour scheme for Mossley (i.e. the lamp posts, litter bins, bollards, etc. are all in these colours).

The hillside location of the park offers stunning views across the valley towards the moors. However, the children who enjoy the extensive play area (when the weather is warmer) probably don't spend a lot of time admiring the view!

The photo in last week's "Sunday Stroll" was taken from a spot directly behind the gold spike above the letter "M" on the gate. It was looking towards Noonsun Hill, which is on the left of today's photo. Buckton Castle is on the hill top above the letter "Y".

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Knott Lanes

This delightful wooded scene was photographed from the towpath of the Fairbottom Branch Canal, part of an easy walking route through Daisy Nook Country Park.

The horses are leaving the bridle path onto Knott Lanes, just downhill of Valley Aqueduct. Knott Lanes, now a dead end for motor vehicles, was once the main route between Ashton and Oldham. The River Medlock can be seen through the trees on the right, at the foot of a steep bank.

I was standing on the Oldham boundary, so everything you see in the photo is within the boundary of Ashton, proving that it is not all mills and chimneys!

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

Stalybridge Saturday: Market Hall

The splendid facade of Stalybridge's Victoria Market Hall masks a shameful secret - the Market Hall no longer houses a market! While Stalybridge's market hall was never as busy as that of its neighbour, Ashton, it was always quietly buzzing and had a friendly, personal feel. However, when the council decided that the hall needed refurbishment, plans to move the stallholders to temporary premises came to nothing and the market simply shut.

The inside of the building is now a very attractive space, but no longer a market. It is used for community events but this means that the hall is empty for most of the time. Luckily the rear of the building has been made into offices and smaller meeting rooms and these are made good use of.

Outside the hall is one of the ornamental fingerposts that Tameside seems to have bought in bulk. The fingers read: North, Mossley, Ashton under Lyne, Droylsden, Audenshaw, Dukinfield, Denton, Hyde, Longdendale. The globe inside the crown lights up at night, and looks very nice, as can been seen in this photo of the one outside Ashton's Market Hall.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sky Watch: Vapour Trails

Watching the sky today we seen the stripes of vapour trails left by high-flying jets.

Ashton lies under the path of aircraft travelling between London and North America, so there are frequent trails left across a clear blue winter's sky, such as this one on Wednesday. The photo was taken near the bowling greens in King George VI Playing Field, Ashton.

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!

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

Ashton Sausages!

Fancy Bangers and Mash? Forget Ashton Mashers - try Ashton Bangers! Cordwell's stall in Ashton Market Hall is now selling its exclusive new "Ashton" sausages to celebrate the Market Hall's re-birth, and I watched them being made.

Cordwell's is run by master butcher Egan Johnson (pictured above), who developed these premium pork sausages using the following ingredients that spell out the word "Ashton":
A - Allspice
S - Sage
H - Honey
T - Taragon
O - Oregano
N - Nutmeg
These go together to make a really tasty banger! And I can tell you that cooking them fills the house with a delicious smell!

A list of Cordwell's other sausages can be found here.

The photos below show Egan making the Ashton sausages behind the counter as I watched.