Lady Lavender's New Look

When I first posted a view of Lady Lavender's tearooms in February 2013 a few people commented that the outside didn't exactly proclaim it was a café.

Well look at it now!

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Weekend Reflections in Black and White at Robinson and Jordan

Reflections in the window and doorway of Robinson and Jordan Funeral Service on the corner of Market Street and Dowson Road.

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

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.

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.

Not a Charity Shop

Although this whitewashed building at the corner of Norfolk Street and Reynold Street looks as if it is an extension to the Tameside Animal Shelter shop across the street, it is in fact an independent commercial second-hand shop stocked by items from house clearances.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Houses on the corner of Alice Street

A group of four cottages on Stockport Road, Gee Cross.

At one time these would have all looked the same and there would have been more houses along Alice Street. The latter street is now little more than a car park.

Over the years these properties have been improved with a variety of changes. Two have added front porches, one has a small bay window, others have double-glazing and one even has solar panels in the roof.

As the Alice Street side elevation shows, they may have small frontages but they extend backwards a good way.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Corner of Stockport Road and Joel Lane

The property on the corner of Stockport Road and Joel Lane has been restored in recent months. Once upon a time it was Eric Lyne's grocers. The original stone building was involved in a fire, and it was rebuilt in brick. The ground floor is now office space and the upper storeys are presumably residential flats.

The shop next door has been unoccupied for several years and flowers are growing up a trellis from the old bay window base as can be seen in my post from July 2011. In the 1960s it was Bennett's bakers but in more recent times it has been a butchers and a sandwich shop.

The next shop along used to be Jolly & Hollingworths ironmongers. More recently it has been a pharmacists but is now a hairdressers.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Gateposts at Norbury House

The former care home on Great Norbury Street is starting to look somewhat distressed, but these gate posts recall a grander past.

For signs, signs.

Lady Lavender

There is a new café by the market ground entrance to Clarendon Mall. The premises have been previously been occupied by a jewellers, a money-exchange office and a pawnbrokers.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Henry Street Exit

I showed you the Henry Street Exit to the Theatre Royal back in September 2006 and it looks much the same, except that recently some work was done to weather-proof the outside of the building.

It remains closed but the Theatre Royal Onward Trust are still battling to get it restored.

More of my own photos of the theatre can be seen on Theatre Royal Photos.

See more Monday Doorways at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

ABC Wednesday: I is for Ignominy

This post follows on from the scene I showed you on Monday with a JCB ready to gather up the remnants of the chapel in Hyde Cemetery.

Here we see the remains of a pair of stout doors and a broken lintel, smashed and awaiting removal. Could they not have been extracted and recylced?

A clear case of an ignominious ending.

Another pair of doors suffered the same fate as can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday and Taphophile Tragics.

Welcome to Clarendon Square

The Market Place entrance to Clarendon Square. It is usually referred to as Clarendon Shopping Centre or Clarendon Mall. Locals will often just say something like - "I'll meet you outside Argos in Clarendon" or "I got it from Superdrug in the mall".

According to Wikipedia

"The centre was opened in 1963 by the Metropolitan Railway Surplus Land company as an open air precinct, but by 1980 it was in decline, with consistent vandalism combined with poor construction materials and appearance deterring retailers from locating within it. In 1990 the freeholders of the precinct, the local council (TMBC) and other organisations stepped in to sort out the centre and initiate a redevelopment strategy. In 1994 that plan was made a reality with the centre extended and made undercover, along with a new market hall and increased retail space. It is now extremely popular within the catchment area and it boasts a number of well-known chain stores such as B&M, O2, Argos and Gamestation.It is now owned by Manchester based property group, MCR Property Group"

.A contribution to Monday Doorways at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Back entrance to HBS Pharmacy

A new pharmacy opened on Market Street recently. HBS have taken over a former furniture store.

There are already two pharmacies (Lloyds and a Co-op) in the same block. This makes three now and there are a another three (two Boots [one ex-Nupharm] and another Co-op) within the town centre.

Like the other two they have a main entrance on the front of Market Street and a rear entrance onto the Long Meadow car park.

You can view the front entrance on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more Monday Doorways visit San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Royal 2 Doorway

The boarded up doorway to the Theatre Royal 2 Cinema on the corner of Henry Street and Onward Street.

The old notice-boards and sign have recently been removed highlighting the distressed state of the building.

The Theatre Royal Onward Trust have been working since 1999 to acquire the building and restore it. Getting there is not easy but the fight is not lost. One day it will re-open.

More of my photos of the theatre can be seen on Theatre Royal Hyde Photographs.

For more Monday doorways (and hopefully prettier ones) visit San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Entrance to the Market Hall

The entrance to the Indoor Market from inside Clarendon Shopping Centre is a contribution to Monday Doorways at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Getting ready for Christmas

Hyde Town Hall has been decorated in readiness for Christmas. I saw the Christmas tree being delivered on Thursday and this is how it looked on Saturday morning.

Today's post is a contribution to Monday Doorways at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.