Stalybridge Saturday: Waterloo Road

Think of Waterloo Road School these days and many people will think of the BBC drama series about a fictional school in Rochdale where the most unlikely series of events constantly occur. (But then, a programme that accurately depicted life in a real school would be too dull!)

However, this rather grand building in Stalybridge was once Waterloo Road Girls' Secondary School, until it was replaced by Copley High School.

The building has seen constant use since the schoolgirls moved out. For many years it housed Tameside's Teachers' Centre as well as council offices. More recently part of it has become Stalybridge Police Station.

Microsoft's bird's-eye views have only just been extended to include Stalybridge so, if you click the link below, you may be tempted to use it to explore Stalybridge a bit more!

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

Sky Watch: Henry Square

You can't help but look upwards in Henry Square, as it is dominated by the 120 foot high Byzantine-style tower of the Old Swimming Baths.

There are various views about what should happen to this iconic 140-year old building, for which many Ashtonians hold much affection. The problem is finding a suitable new use for the huge building, which stands in the St Petersfield redevelopment area.

The tower helps to frame the clouds that hang low in the otherwise clear sky.

Clicking on the photo to see the larger version will show a distant glimpse of the Pennine moorland above Stalybridge.

See Google Aerial View of this location before the new building was constructed.
See fairly recent LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

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!

Adam Street

Looking up Adam Street, off Mossley Road, towards the back of the http://ashton-under-lyne.blogspot.com/2009/02/albion-sunday-school.html, seen from another angle yesterday.

The plain styles of the houses, with little more decoration than fancy brick or stonework over the windown and doors, contrasts with the exotic decoration and banding on the Sunday School building.

The tall windows on the upper floor of the school show where the 1000-seat hall was located.

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

Albion Sunday School

As Sunday Schools go, Albion Sunday School in Ashton was pretty big! When it was opened in 1862, it was the largest in England!

It was opened to serve the needs of the families of the independent church movement in Ashton, which had started in 1780, meeting in various rooms and then a small chapel in Penny Meadow. This was replaced with the larger Albion Chapel in 1834. The Albion School was built alongside this chapel, but in 1895 the chapel was too small again and closed when the magnificent Albion Congregationalist Church was opened opposite the junction of Stamford Street and Mossley Road. [More history.]

The Sunday School boasted a large assembly room that could seat 1000 people. It also had an infants' room, eleven classrooms and a lecture room. From 1869 until 1926 the building was a day school, and for all but the last 7 years had the same headteacher - one Abraham Park!

In recent years the building has been used as a retail carpet warehouse and an office furniture showroom.

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

Mossley on Monday: St George's Church

It's not St George's Day yet but today's photo has a lot of St George about it! This is a view of St George's Parish Church in Mossley, seen looking across the yard of St George's Primary School. You will also see the flag of St George fluttering from the pole at the top of the church tower.

The first church here was built in 1757 for the bargain price of £600! They got quite good value for money as the church lasted 120 years before it began falling apart.

It was replaced by the present church, which was opened in 1882, with the tower being completed 5 years later.

The school was opened in 1873 and claims to be the oldest primary school in Tameside. It has had various extensions over the years, most recently in 2007.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Diggle Locks

Ashton is a good starting point for walking along canal towpaths, which are more or less flat and pretty easy going. The first part of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, between Ashton and Stalybridge, is interesting enough but very industrial.

Eight miles along the canal, however, you are in another world as the locks of the Diggle flight climb up from Uppermill to Diggle, where the canal disappears into the 3.2 mile long Standedge Tunnel.

Alongside the canal, the railway also climbs towards its own tunnel, parallel with the canal tunnel.

When you are walking along a canal, it is always nice to see a boat to add colour and interest to the scene. But even more interesting also to see a steam train passing on the railway line in the background! I'm afraid the engine itself had passed by the time I got the camera ready, but this particular one was hauling twelve carriages, so I had time to capture them!

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Stalybridge Saturday: Dreary View

The view from Platform 2 of Stalybridge Station on a wet weekend is not the most welcoming or inspiring. The platform overlooks an area of industrial muddle that has seen better days.

However, Longlands Mill, on the right of the photo, is now being refurbished into smart apartments, which should help to improve the first impressions of visitors alighting from their trains.

In the centre of the picture you can see the splendid former Market Hall and beyond that the majestic bulk of the Pennine moors.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sky Watch: Reach for the Sky!

The twin spires of St James' Church, Cowhill Lane, point to an almost clear blue sky. Only the faintest suggestion of cloud appears on this bright winter's day.

The church stands atop a small hill - maybe the one which gave Cowhill Lane its name?

St James' Church is only 300 metres from Ashton Market Hall and just 500 metres from Ashton's Parish Church.

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

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!

The Ash Tree

The Ash Tree is Ashton's branch of the J D Wetherspoon pub chain. It stands on Wellington Road, opposite the Market Hall.

On the part of the site to the left was at one time a pub called the Horse and Jockey, which had opened in 1827 as the Hare and Hounds. A small cinema called The Queens Electric Cinema occupied another part of the site, as did the Alexandra Billiard Hall.

More recently a small shopping development was built here but did not thrive and was converted into the popular pub.

On the left of the photo can be seen the old fire station and on the right the Kwik Fit tyre depot on the corner of Henrietta Street.

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

Hazelhurst Road

Another visit today to Hazelhurst, on the eastern edge of Ashton.

Today's view is looking down Hazelhurst Road from near its junction with Old Road, with the junction of Ashbourne Road visible a short way ahead. This is the highest estate in Ashton and gets more snow than other parts! From the little park on the left there are long range views across Cheshire with Jodrell Bank telescope visible on the horizon.

See Google Aerial View of this location.