Shop signs in Clarendon Place

There's a plethora of signs on the shops in Clarendon Place. Note how the "sales" signs on the "Sofas to go" shop and the Discount furniture shop across the road are the same. That's because they are the same business.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: C is for Christy Close

Christy Close is a development of new housing off Newton Street, named after the Christy towel brand originally manufactured at the Carrfield Mill across the road.

The mill itself is currently being demolished. See my post of 17th October 2012 for more information.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Market Place Slush

A blanket of snow had fallen overnight and though the roads were gritted and passable, the pavements in town on Saturday were icy and treacherous underfoot.

The Santander Bank on the corner of Market Place and Hamnett Street was formerly an Abbey branch.

On the right, £-stretcher, facing the bank, was formerly Woolworth's.

See how it looked in Clarendon Place on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

What a difference a day makes

Sunday afternoon looking across Hyde Civic Square with not a flake of snow or sliver of ice to be seen.

How different it looked on Saturday morning.

Look closely and you'll find several touches of blue for Blue Monday.

Shadow Shot Sunday: Bench in the snow

A blanket of snow had fallen overnight leaving the market ground very icy - see Hyde DP Xtra.

By mid-morning, the sun was out and casting the shadow of a bench over the now melting slush.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Dowson Road in the snow

After a couple of days of snow the main road is flowing freely having been gritted. The pavements however have not been cleared and are treacherous.

At the Shell filling station diesel is the same price as on New Year's Day but petrol has gone down a penny per litre.

Behind the leylandii on the right are a group of lock-up garages which you can see on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Scenic Weekends.

Skwatch Friday: Looking down Gower Road

Someone called Alan who now lives in New Zealand asked me if I could photograph the view from outside 42 Gower Road looking towards the allotments, the valley of the Gower Hey Brook and Westend Lane in the far background.

Well here it is.

See the view in the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Pretty Hot and Tempting

I was walking down Market Street a week ago and noticed the sign that said PHAT "Pretty Hot and Tempting".

At first I thought it was referring to the food on offer at the "Desi Chill" but whilst the sign for the former takeaway is still hung on the outside of the building, it is in fact now a ladies only gymnasium, sauna and fitness centre.

It used to be the Cheshire Cheese public house (2007) before it was closed in 2009 after which it first became the Cheshire Grill (2010) and then the Desi Chill (2011)

It isn't the first place in Hyde that has gone from pulling pints to pulling iron.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday:B is for Bungalows

In between the Shell filling station on Dowson Road and Kirkley Street are a pair of bungalows.

Today's post is dedicated to my regular commentator Eileen of Bolton who has mentioned passing them on her way to work when she lived in the area.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Supermarket snow

I was asked recently if I'd taken any photos of the snow.

Well compared to the rest of the UK we've not had a huge amount of the white stuff. We thought the weekend was going to be rough and so cancelled our usual Saturday trip and I did an extra shop in town last Thursday.

In the event it wasn't too bad althought it was bitterly cold. A larger amount of snow fell Sunday night and we had a fair covering Monday morning. The main roads had been gritted and were moving well but the pavements were treacherous. A neighbour offered me a lift down to Morrisons.

Before shopping I took this quick photograph of the supermarket car park.

After shopping I took another quick photograph in the opposite direction which you can see on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Another change of use

Formerly the Crown, a Robinson's pub, it closed in 2009.

It was converted in 2010 into commercial premises at the front on Market Street and flats behind on Nelson Street.

In 2012 it opened as a ladies only fitness centre but they have since moved to different premises lower down Market Street.

Now it is occupied by "Ta Tech Solutions".

Under Knott Fold Bridge

Following on from last week's photograph New Year's Day on the Trans Pennine Trail we now look under Knott Fold Bridge.

On the left horses have to negotiate a small jump and then move across to the right hand side of the track.

The track is barred by a gate which is locked but can be used by council vehicles that service the trail from time to time.

Walkers and cyclists must use the squeeze stile on the right.

Ahead is the bridge under Dowson Road (the one with the big puddle).

For Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Weekend reflections in black and white: Norbury House

Norbury House was a residential care home but is now closed and has been for a few years.

Whilst the front door may be boarded up, the glass in the windows still reflects the surrounding trees.

See how it looked two years ago on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White and Weekend Reflections.

Where the Christmas Tree Stood

Wandering across the Civic Square last Saturday I looked over the fencing around where the Christmas Tree had been.

In the hole with the electric cables there were also a couple of baubles.

The paving stone is back now and the barriers gone.

Go to Hyde DP Xtra to see the taking down of the lights from the Town Hall.

Let's Talk Tripe

It's a shame about the missing apostrophe in the new sign over the tripe stall in the indoor market inside Clarendon Mall, but Lyndon is to be congratulated on taking over this long-standing business. He knows the trade well and will be a worthy successor to Jack Curvis.

I published the photo below in April 2006 and it went on to be voted 2006 Photo of the Year.

This post is another contribution to the CDPB Festival of the Belly Button where bloggers look at how they've changed over the years. In this case, whereas the photo of Jack was posed, the one of Lyndon was a candid shot.



Posted also for signs signs

Apple iPod advertisment

A few weeks ago at the Clarendon Place bus stop I captured this bus with a livery advertising the Apple iPod.

I have no interest in an iPod but did think it would be a suitable "A" contribution for the next round of ABC Wednesday.

St George's from the bottom of Church Brow

A recent view of St George's church from the bottom of Church Brow.

Compare it with the same view in April 2011.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Market Place before and after

Whilst work on the revamping of Hyde market ground was being undertaken, the area of Market Place in front of the White Lion, William Hills and Santander (formerly Abbey) Bank was used as a works site. Above is how it looked on the Saturday before Christmas. Below is how it looks three weeks later with everything finally cleared away.

A contribution to the CDPB theme Festival of the Belly Button.

New Year's Day on the Trans Pennine Trail

Looking past the Foxholes oak tree towards Knott Fold Bridge on the former Godley Junction to Apethorn railway line, now part of the Trans Pennine Trail and National Cycle Route #62. Taken just before noon on New Year's Day 2013.

See a closer view of the embankment below the tree on Hyde DP Xtra.

See how the tree looked in summer.

A contribution to Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Weekend Reflection: Tree in a puddle

I showed you this same tree reflected in a puddle in January 2012.

This year though the puddle is larger due to the uneven-ness of the pavement which I showed you from the opposite direction in fine weather on 6th December.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Windblown Tree at Newton

A windblown tree on grassland between Markham Street and Ashton Road, Newton.

Photograph was taken on May 2nd, 2012 and I've been waiting for a suitable time to post it. Well it isn't seasonal but perhaps its day has come.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday and Green Days on Raindrops & Daisies.

£100 or £1000

At the bottom of Gower Road outside the allotments is an old rather worn out sign which says "Please take your litter home. Maximum Penalty £100". There is a black bin bag tied to the bottom of the post.

Meanwhile a newer sign attached to the telephone pole on the right states that this is a "Poop Scoop Area" and the maximum penalty for not heeding the warning is £1000.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Z is for Zone

The "Shoe Zone" store in Clarendon Mall had a sale on last week with a huge 50% off sign.

Look carefully though and you'll notice it actually says "Up to" 50%.

I did in fact buy a pair of shoes there on Saturday but I certainly didn't pay much less for them (if anything) than I'd have paid before the sale.

According to Wikipedia this is one of around 800 branches throughout the UK and Ireland and the Leicester based company sells approximately 30 million pairs of footwear per year, just under 1 pair a second.

For more takes on the letter "Z" visit ABC Wednesday.

Dunkirk Lane

With the wet weather predominating, I thought I'd delve into my archives and find an unpublished photo from September.

On the left is Frederick House,the Social Care & Health offices of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

On the right is Newton Hall.

Ahead is the steeple of St Stephen's Church (1891-2011).

Behind us the lane leads past the home of Starchaser Rockets down to the Peak Forest Canal.

For Our World Tuesday.

Blue Sky Café

A stall at the Market Street/Clarendon Street corner of Hyde Market set up by the Blue Sky Café who are based at the Flowery Field Children's Centre.

For Blue Monday.

Another Day, Another Dog

Hyde Daily Photo of the Year 2012 featured a dog and the puddle under Dowson Road bridge over the the former Godley Junction to Apethorn railway whose route is followed by the Trans Pennine Trail and National Cycle Route #62.

That was taken in June. This was taken shortly after midday on New Year's Day 2013 from the other direction. The puddle is still there but this dog has sensibly walked around it and is waiting for his mistress to catch up.

On Hyde DP Xtra see how it looked from the other side of the bridge a week earlier on Christmas Day.

A contribution to Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Weekend Reflections at Gabbotts Farm

The Queens in Clarendon Place is reflected in the plate glass of Gabbotts Farm.

See the whole photograph on Geograph.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

New Year's Day Trees

Dowson Road from the green space at the top of Gower Road.

At the Shell filling station, behind the tall birch tree, petrol is a penny a litre dearer than it was on Christmas Day. although diesel is the same price.

The lock-up garages on the left are shielded by fast growing leylandii. There are actually three trees in a line, but from this angle they seem to merge into one.

For Skywatch Friday.

Bed Time Sign

Next to the signs for East Coast Hair & Beauty Internet Café which I showed you last year (two weeks ago) is this "Bed Time" sign.

However I don't think you'll get them for these prices any more as the premises are now occupied by "Barbers Express" - see Hyde DP Xtra.

For signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: Y is for Yew Tree Singers

I showed you the Yew Tree Singers from Dukinfield on Christmas Day singing in Clarendon Mall the previous Saturday.

Here is a look from the opposite side of the Mall.

A happy new year to all involved with ABC Wednesday.

Photo of the Year 2012: Winner

Each year since 2006 I've gathered together a number of photographs throughout the year and asked people to vote for their favourites.

The 2012 winner is "Do I have to walk through the water" first posted on 24th June.

See all the 12 contenders for 2012 at Best of Hyde 2012.

See the runner-up and full details of the voting at Hyde DP Xtra.

Other members of the City Daily Photo Bloggers community are also highlighting their Photo of the Year and you can view links to all participents on CDPB Photo of the year 2012.