The Bike "n" Hound on New Beech Street

This is a view of the Bike 'n' Hound pub taken from New Beech Street and shows the very old brick/stonework contrasting with the "newish" paintwork.

The Bike n Hound was originally The Royal Albert commemorating Prince Albert, the Consort of Queen Victoria, who died in 1861. The beerhouse licence dates back to around 1850. The first owner and licensee was Thomas Bridge, who was there for around ten years. After 1890 the Royal Albert was bought by the Philanthropic Burial Society of Hyde.

A commentator on the Hydedonian blog in 2010 referring to a similar photo wrote

Just to let you know - the left hand opening was a back door into a yard, then a window and then next opening was to the outside gents toilets the last opening was the window for the ladies loos - I lived there when these where knocked down to make the road that runs at the side of the pub, and the toilets were moved inside. The pool room (if its still there) was originally the living quarters and where the toilets are now was the kitchen, upstairs what now is the kitchen and living room was a single large "concert" room. I was around 11 when all this happened so it is over 35 years ago - god I feel old!!

When I took this photograph a few weeks ago a new piece of artwork had started to appear on side - see what has become of it on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

The Gruffalo at Broadbottom Community Centre

An entry in the annual Broadbottom Scarecrow Festival.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Weekend in Black & White: Broadbottom Arch

According to a faded plaque on the door of this business under an arch of the viaduct over Market Street at Broadbottom it was "Awarded National Lottery funding".

See how it looked in 2008 on sithenah.

It would appear that funding has run out as the nameplate below is unreadable - see the close-up on Geograph.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White.

The Bush demolished

The Bush opened in 1840 and was virtually a country pub which was surrounded by farmland, most of it belonging to the Shepley Family. The first landlord was John Haughton & Haughton Street, which is on the right, was named after him. The pub was closed in 2012 - see photographs on Hyde DP Xtra - and has now been demolished. I understand the land will be used by the adjacent car dealers Stoneacre Group as an extended car park.

On the left is the former rubber works, now Redfern Industrial Estate, its roof festooned with mobile phone masts.

Reminiscences of The Bush can be found on the Hydonian blog.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

New Sustrans Sign at Foxholes

One of six new mileposts recently erected by Sustrans on the former Godley to Apethorn railway line, now Trans Pennine Trail and National Cycle Network Route 62. 1000 Millennium cast iron mileposts were funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland to mark the creation of the National Cycle Network, and they are now to be found along the cycles routes through the UK.

There are four different types of posts, "Fossil Tree" by John Mills, "The Cockerel" by Iain McColl, Rowe Type by Andrew Rowe, and "Tracks" by David Dudgeon. The four artists are from each country of the UK though all posts can be found in all four countries.

This one at Foxholes is the Andrew Rowe type with three arms. The third arm points to "Local shops" although there is in fact only one nearby shop, Grocer Jack's on Waverley Road.

In the background is an oak tree that has featured here before, lastly in March 2013.

For another view of the sign see Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Police in the firing line at Gee Cross Fete

Police Community Support Officers at Gee Cross Fete. It was three wet sponges for a £1. Note the Xs in the registration plate on the police van.

For more photos from Gee X fete visit Gee Cross Fete 2014.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

The Curiosity Shop on Commercial Brow

Next to the Curiosity Shop on Commercial Brow at the corner with Clarendon Road is a George V postbox (SK14 23) which may be one of the oldest postboxes in Hyde.

For a closer view of the box see Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Blue Train at Broadbottom

The train is a Northern Rail service from Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop and Hadfield.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

Inside Gee Cross Methodists

Gee Cross Methodists Church stands on land which was once part of Ralph Fold. Originally, Stockport Road Wesleyan Methodist Church and founded in 1882, when the Primitive Methodist Chapel on Joel Lane closed in 1969 the two congregations merged as Gee Cross Methodists Church.

The memorial tablets in the right hand corner came from the Joel Lane chapel which was demolished in the 1970s.

These and other memorials in the church can be seen in detail on Old Hyde.

The organ on the left was originally built by Wadsworth & Co in 1910. A video of Christopher Lawton playing on the organ in 2011 can be viewed on YouTube.

Photographs of the outside of the church can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Inspired Sundays.

Reflections at Gee Cross Fete

Bunting outside the fete reflected in the windscreen of a car parked on Stockport Road.

For more photos of the 21st anniversary fete see Gee Cross Fete 2014.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday: Site of former schools

There used to a primary school here on Grange Road North for pupils with special needs. Originally Werneth Grange and then Oakdale School, later it was Dale Grove School and more recently Thomas Ashton school. It has all been demolished.

The schools of course have been located elsewhere and I expect this site will be used for yet more housing.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

A Polite Notice

On the stands outside one of the newsagents in Clarendon Shopping Centre a Polite Notice reads:
We don't offer free newspaper
reading facility,

So please step away and let other
to buy,
A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: W is for the Werneth

It was feared the Werneth on Stockport Road, Gee Cross would be another lost pub having been up for sale for some time.

However it re-opened under new management on 5th June.

See it from the other direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Red Fire Engine at Gee Cross Fete

A red fire engine was in attendance at Gee Cross Fete, not that anything had caught fire.

See 17 photos of this year's event at Gee Cross Fete which also has links to photographs from earlier years from 2003 onwards.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Gee Cross Fete 2014

Although it was a very cloudy day and muggy it didn't actually rain at yesterday's Fete which was the 21st birthday of this annual event organised by the local Rotary Club which raises money for the Willow Wood Hospice. This view across Sam Redfern Green gives a bit of an overview.

I've posted 17 photos from the fete on Gee Cross Fete 2014 which also has links to photographs from earlier events.

A contribution to Monday Mellow Yellows and Blue Monday.

Shadows across the steps

These are the steps that lead out of Gower Hey Wood to the Trans Pennine Trail at Swain's Valley.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Reflections in a solicitor's office window

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Blue sky over the Trans Pennine Trail

Below Grosvenor Road.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

The end of the line at Apethorn

Walking, cycling or riding a horse west along the Trans Pennine Trail will bring you to Apethorn Lane. A fence under the bridge prevents you walking any further as just round the bend is where the old Godley to Apethorn railway joins the existing line from Manchester via Hyde Central to Woodley and beyond.

See how it looked in 2009 on Hyde Daily Photo Volume 1.

Since then all traces of the former line beyond the bridge (now numbered 119) have been lost under the abundant vegetation as can be seen in yesterday's post V is for Vegetation.

Another recent addition to scene is a Sustrans Milepost of which more can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs and Good Fences.

ABC Wednesday: V is for Vegetation

Walk along the Trans Pennine Trail and you will reach the bridge at Apethorn Lane. Railings underneath the bridge prevent you walking any further as just round the bend is where the old Godley Junction to Apethorn railway joins the existing main line from Manchester via Hyde Central to Woodley and beyond.

See how it looked in 2009 on Hyde Daily Photo Volume 1.

Since then all traces of the former line have been lost under the abundant vegetation.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Red bus in the rain

The Stagecoach 201 service from Hattersley to Manchester stops in Clarendon Place just as a thunderstorm breaks.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Dog walkers on the Peak Forest Canal

Taken from the bridge at the end of Apethorn Lane.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

Shadows across the former Bradford & Bingley

The building on the corner of Market Place and Russell Street is now empty.

This was formerly a branch of the Bradford & Bingley Building Society.

Compare with the photograph from April before its closure.

The bank Santander acquired their retail branches and savings business in September 2008.

In November 2004 they also acquired Abbey National plc and the Abbey had become part of the Santander Group.

In January 2010, the branch networks of both Abbey and Bradford & Bingley were rebranded as Santander.

For four years two branches of the Santander bank have co-existed only a few hundred yards apart, but now the former Bradford and Bingley branch has closed down and staff and accounts have all moved to the former Abbey branch.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Weekend Reflections: Fallen Tree over the duckboards

A couple of weeks ago I went for a walk in Gower Hey Woods but found that a tree had fallen across the duckboards that cross the swampy area below the access from Swain's Valley and the Trans Pennine Trail.

See how it looked in March.

See more photographs of the fallen tree on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Orange sky over Gee Cross

Looking out over the rooftops of houses towards Werneth Low Road and the Hare & Hounds. The setting sun is spreading an orange light over the chimney-tops in the foreground and the clouds in the background.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday and Orange You Glad It's Friday.

A cardboard notice

The notice written on cardboard in front of the step on which a white shrouded person was standing in the Market Place reads:

THIS IS
THE HOMELESS
PEOPLE PLEASE
DONATION THANK

See the person on the step on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: U is for the United Church on Union Street

A Congregational church was established on Union Street in 1824 and rebuilt in 1843. Since then it has amalgamated with Chapel Street Baptist church and become "The United Church".

During the week it lets out its carpark to commuters.

Compare with the view in September 2009

A contribution to ABC Wednesday and Inspired Sundays.

Red bins on Hamnett Street

Outside the side of £stretcher.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday;
Our World Tuesday and
Rubbish Tuesday.

Fly on a buttercup above a dandelion

There are some dandelions in among the clumps of buttercups that grow profusely along the Trans Pennine Trail.

You can see the wider view of them on Hyde DP Xtra.

I was just trying to get a close-up of the buttercup and dandelion together when this blow-fly (aka bluebottle) landed just as I was taking the shot.

A contribution to Monday Mellow Yellows and Macro Monday.

Looking for Zest

Finding a suitable photograph for this month's first day challenge at City Daily Photoblogs has been difficult. I looked all over Hyde for some zest and I just couldn't manage to find any, so I popped over to neighbouring Stalybridge and found it on Mottram Road.

It is the name of an interior design firm. On one side of it is a café/sandwich shop simply name "Menu". On the other is a convenience store in what was once a sub-Post Office, conveniently situated on the road out of town.

Visit other contributions to the Zest theme at City Daily Photo.