Shadows over the College

Trees cast shadows over the Stockport Road, Hyde Campus of Tameside College.

Hyde College on Stockport Road, Gee Cross opened around 1960. It later became part of Tameside College and was closed in the early 2000s. Having been in mothballs for many years the site is now being sold in order to help fund a super college in Ashton-under-Lyne and despite being on Green Belt land a planning application has been made for an estate of 40 houses to be built on the site.

See another photograph of the site on Hyde Xtra.

A contribution to
Shadow Shot Sunday;
Blue Monday;
signs, signs

Weekend in Black & White: A glimpse of Pole Bank

From Stockport Road, a brief glimpse of Pole Bank through the trees.

For more information about Pole Bank see my photographs on Geograph.

A different version of this image can be found on sithenah.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White.

ABC Wednesday: K is for Knott Lane

Knott Lane is ancient route connecting Gee Cross with Knott Fold.

In modern times the Cheetham Fold estate has been built around it, including The Apethorn public house.

Despite being a popular local pub and a music venue, it was closed in January 2015 by its then owners, Enterprise Inns, and has been sold over the head of the pub manager.

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

View it from the opposite direction on Hyde Xtra.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Hyde Chapel Spire Base

One of the first photos I took using the 60x zoom on my new camera was of Hyde Chapel's spire.

It is difficult to get a perfectly clear shot at that length but with a bit of post-processing I finally came up with this image.

You can view the whole spire in this post from June 2013 and the whole chapel in this post from April 2009.

The history of Hyde Chapel goes back to before 1708, when the congregation built the first Christian place of worship in Hyde. A new church replaced the former building in 1846. This second chapel is still in use today, its high steeple, a noted landmark, is also a Grade II, listed building. More information on the church website.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White and Inspired Sundays.

Postbox at Cheetham Fold

This postbox (SK14 5) stands outside the former Cheetham Fold Post Office.

Like many sub post offices it got closed and is now part of the lifestyle / express off licence and convenience store as featured in yesterday's post.

In the background is Knott Lane.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

lifestyle/express at Cheetham Fold

lifestyle/express Off Licence and Convenience Store was previously Grocer Jack's and originally Cheetham Fold Post Office.

A contribution to Blue Monday and Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

V is for voting

It is that time of the year again.

Hyde Daily Photo is one of more than 400 websites worldwide that post a daily picture of their home town or city. On 1st January 2015 members of the City Daily Photobloggers community will be revealing their Photo of the Year.

I have selected twelve contenders for Best of Hyde 2014 and am asking readers to vote for their favourites.

These thumbnails are only a taster. To vote for your three favourites please visit Best of Hyde Daily 2014 and use the form on the page.

Deadline for voting is 12 noon GMT on Monday 29th December 2014.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Morning Contrails over Gee Cross

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Barn at Apethorn Farm

This barn is part of Apethorn Farm and like the rest of the property is in a dire state. The farm itself dates from the 15th century and is Grade II listed.

Old photographs and a history of the farm can be found on Old Hyde.

Modern photographs of the farm can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Autumn Shadows at Pole Bank

To see and learn more about Pole Bank come back on Wednesday.

A contribution to Scenic Weekends and Shadow Shot Sunday.

ABC Wednesday: G is for Gerrards, Gee Cross

In the 17th century, opposite the end of Apethorn Lane was a small group of cottages known as Gerrards Fold.

The Ashton family farmed there before they embarked on the cotton trade in the district.

Towards the end of the 19th century the old fold was converted into a large Elizabethan style house known as "The Gerrards".

James Bradley lived there around 1905, Gladstone stayed there too as did a ghost. The now disgraced Stuart Hall once wanted to buy the property but the then owner refused him.

At the turn of the 21st century the house was demolished and replaced by three-storey modern town houses.

For an old photograph see the Hydonian blog.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

God's Garden

The Methodists' theme for the 2014 Gee Cross Well Dressing is based on a verse from Dorothy Frances Gurney's poem "God's Garden".

"The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's Heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on Earth."

Dorothy Frances Gurney "God's Garden" lines 13-16
(London, Country Life, 1913)

This card was part of the display. See the full display on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs and Floral Fridays.

ABC Wednesday: D is for Dinky Donuts

One of the many sources for food and drink at Gee Cross Fete.

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

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Village Green Well 2014

The Village Green Well 2014 celebrates 100 years of the Brownies.

In 1914, 4 years after Baden Powell agreed to start the Girl Guids, younger sisters clamoured to become useful guides too. The Guide Association set up Rosebuds for younger girls aged 7-10 years. They didn't have a programme to follow like the Brownies of today but contributed to their local community by doing such things as collecting clothing and household items for the war effort. A rosebud was expected to know how:
The Union Jack is made up and how to fly it
To tie a reef knot, sheetbend, clove hitch, bowline, sheepshank and fisherman's knot

Three years later their name was changed to Brownies who were led by the "Wise Brown Owl". The journey has evolved, following footpaths to various interest badges, challenges and adventures. The motto "Lend a Hand" has been watchword for Brownies throughout their 100 years and they are still helping in their community. The promise has changed several times but the core of it remains the same "To do their best, and to help other people."

The symbols on their picture represent different aspects of Brownies:
The original Rosebud
The rose is for the Gardener badge
The dolphin for Friend to Animals Badge
The Hand for "Lend a Hand"
Everyone remembers jumping over the Toadstool!
Brown Owl
The modern Brownie

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

For photographs from earlier years and links to more information about well dressing see this link.

A contribution to
Monday Mellow Yellows;
Blue Monday;
Monday Murals.

Weekend in Black & White: Stockport Road, Gee Cross

The coloured version can be seen on Geograph.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White.

ABC Wednesday: B is for Big Tree

The original "Big Tree", which stood by the Diamond Row reservoir almost opposite Clough Gate, traditionally marked the boundary between Hyde and Gee Cross. Later on the reservoir was covered and the nearby Diamond Row cottages were demolished, to create an open space.

In 1983 a new "big tree" was planted at the corner of Lilly Street and Stockport Road as a memorial to sacrifices made in Northern Ireland and the Falklands.

See how it looked in 1983 on Old Hyde.

See how it looked in 2007 on Hyde Daily Photo Vol. 1.

See the memorial stone in detail on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Booths Well 2014

LEST WE FORGET

The Gee Cross & District Women's Institutes's 2014 theme for decorating Booths Well is commemorating the centenary of the First World War.

Although well-dressing is a custom mostly confined to Derbyshire, it can be seen in adjacent counties too. Well dressing celebrations were held regularly in Gee Cross from the 1820s until 1878. The custom was revived by the local Women's Institute in 2000.

For photographs from earlier years and links to more information about well dressing see this link.

A contribution to
Monday Mellow Yellows;
Blue Monday;
Monday Murals.

Village Nursery

Due to open soon is the Village Nursery and Pre-School.

A year ago this building was the Lamb Inn.

A lot of pubs have been converted into new uses but this is the first I know that's become a nursery.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

ABC Wednesday: A is for Alvis GN7735 at Gee Cross Fete 2014

This 1930 Alvis 12-50 TJ was manufactured by The Alvis Care & Engineering Co Ltd in Coventry and sold to London motor dealers Charles Follet & Co. It spent its early years in Surrey before being bought by the present owners John & Tricia Glithero in Devon for £110 in July 1969. Completely rebuilt by the present owners, it has a 4 cylinder, 69mm bore x 110m stroke, 1645cc engine with push-rod operated overhead valves. R.A.C. nominal horsepower is 11.8, actual output 48hp (hence model name 12-50). The body is Cross & Ellis style four seat sports-tourer with ash frame and fabric cover.

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

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Pony rides at Gee Cross Fete

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

A contribution to
Saturday Critters;
Camera Critters.