Flowers of Remembrance

These bright flowers were on the remembrance table at St George's Church for the Heritage Open Day last weekend.

On the left is a WWII memorial which reads:IN MEMORY OF

FELIX N ALEXANDER
ALFRED J AXON
THOMAS N BERRY
ARTHUR BOOTH
W LEONARD BOWDEN
HAROLD BUNTING
HAROLD R CULLEN

GEORGE IBBOTSON
JOSEPH LAWTON
HAROLD MONKS
RONALD H NASH
FRED PLANT
JOHN ROWBOTHAM
HARRY H WARBURTON

KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE 2nd WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945
"FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH"
On the right is another memorial which reads:IN MEMORY OF
F STANLEY SHARPE
JOHN J SUDLOW
MARGARET A SUDLOW
ERNEST WADDINGTON

KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION
LEAVING DIVINE SERVICE
22nd DECEMBER 1940
"IN GOD'S KEEPING".
This refers to a bomb which fell on a house in Church Street. The bomb shattered all the windows in the church and many in surrounding houses. These people were killed on their way home from the evening service.

The WWI memorial which is on the wall above these can be viewed on Old Hyde.

A contribution to Floral Fridays.

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.

ABC Wednesday: V is for Voting

The time has come to vote for the Best of Hyde Daily 2013.

On 1st January 2014 members of the City Daily Photobloggers community will be revealing their Photo of the Year. I have selected twelve contenders for Best of Hyde 2013 and am asking readers to vote for their favourites. Please visit Best of Hyde Daily Photo 2013 and vote for your top three photographs.

Closing date for voting is 12 noon GMT on December 28th 2013.

Note: these thumbnails are just a taster - you must use the form on the page to cast your votes.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Victoria Street War Memorial

Across the road from Newtonhurst is the Victoria Street War Memorial on the corner with Cartwright Street surrounded by wrought iron railings. The insciption on the plinth reads:

1914 - 1919

ERECTED BY THE RESIDENTS
OF VICTORIA STREET AND
DISTRICT,
IN HONOUR OF THE MEN
WHO ANSWERED THEIR
COUNTRY'S CALL.
**

UNVEILED AND DEDICATED BY
ALDERMAN TURNER MARCH 13TH 1920.

WILLOUGHBY WILDE & SONS,
HYDE.
** A full list of the names inscribed can be found at Carl's Cam.

The bronze statue of a soldier on the top is a replica, added in 2005, to replace the often vandalised original.

Newton has another War Memorial on Bennett Street.

A contribution to Friday Fences and The Weekend in Black and White.

Shadow Shot Sunday: Memorial Garden for Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes

Last September I showed you the double rainbow that appeared over Hyde on the evening of the day that PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone were gunned down in Mottram.

I showed you also the tributes to Fiona and Nicola that were laid at the scene.

Today's photo shows the memorial garden which was opened outside Hyde Police Station on 13th December 2012.

Take a closer look at the memorial garden on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Friday Fences: Godley Hill War Memorial

The War Memorial at Godley Hill, unveiled in 1920, is a small obelisk made of granite in the centre of a circular flower bed. The area is surrounded by a low wall. Access is through small metal gates, both of which bear the date 1953 (possibly because they were placed there for the Coronation of Elizabeth II). In front of the memorial, on the flower bed, is a cube-shaped white receptacle for holding flowers bearing the words "In memory of the fallen of Godley Hill"

The inscription on the front side of Godley Hill War Memorial ] reads

Erected
in honour
and deep gratitude
to the men who fought
for
liberty and freedom
in the
Great World War
1914-1919.

Beneath is written

Unveiled by
Daniel Adamson Esq,
of Longlands,
July 17th, 1920.

See the other three sides and read the names inscribed thereon on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

ABC Wednesday: V is for Voting

The time has come to vote for the best of Hyde DP 2012.

View the twelve contenders at Best of Hyde 2012 and vote for your favourite three photographs.

Voting closes 12 noon GMT, 28th December 2012.

For ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday: G is for the George & Dragon

The George & Dragon is probably the oldest pub in Newton. Records date the licence back to around 1756. It wasn't the large public house there today; probably just a small cottage.

Before 1756 it is thought that the premises were a shop before it gained a licence. The first recorded landlord was James Harrison, who kept the house for over twenty years.

The next landlord, Jonathan Smith the elder, kept the George and Dragon from 1778 to 1826, a grand total of 48 years. When he died in 1826 his wife Elizabeth carried on for a further eight years and then Thomas Smith, thought to be a son carried on until 1850. It seemed to be a family tradition to be in the licensed trade as Jonathan had another son known as Jonathan The Younger who kept the Shoulder Of Mutton Inn on Talbot Road (1819-1823) and also the Bay Horse (1825-1834).

The George & Dragon is supposed to be haunted by a ghost affectionately known as Ferdinand who seems to have been around since the 1950s. Nobody knows his origin; he is described as of average height with long, bushy beard, side whiskers, and wearing a long frock coat.

The pub boasts a fine bowling green at the rear and over the years a consistently good bowling team have won many prizes in local leagues.

More information can be found on Hyde, Chehsire.

The pub sign can be viewed on Hyde DP Xtra.

In front of the pub is Bennett Street War Memorial which was paid for by money raised for the George and Dragon Soldier's Comfort Fund.

More "G" posts can be found at ABC Wednesday.

Bennett Street War Memorial

The Bennett Street War Memorial sits in front of the George & Dragon public house, surrounded by railings. It was designed by J.H. Wood, the borough surveyor and sculpted by J.J. Hirst of Denton, the memorial - a stone column - is 16ft 3ins high. The main shaft is 10ft high and 2ft square. It is made of a solid block of the best white selected Windaway stone from Bollington - chosen for its weathering qualities.

At the top across is the word "Honour" and the town coat of arms. Inscribed on the plinth is "to the glory of God and in affectionate memory of the men of Newton who gave their lives for their country and the cause of liberty in the Great War 1914-1919".

To the right below a cross are crossed swords and the inscription "In thanksgiving for the sacrifice of parents, wives, and relatives of the fallen for the safe return of those who have been spared".

On the back are wings and the inscription "Subscribed for and erected by the inhabitants of Newton".

On the left is an anchor and the inscription "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends".

The memorial was paid for by money raised for the George and Dragon Soldier's Comfort Fund. Originally, the plan was for a small scroll of honour, but £329 was raised, allowing for a grander scheme eventually costing £450. It was unveiled on August 15, 1925, by Mr EWH Wood, the M.P. for Stalybridge and Hyde, in front of a crowd of 1,500 people.

Earlier a procession headed by the Chief Constable of Hyde, Mr J.W. Danby, left the town hall, accompanied by Kingston Mills Band and featuring many members of the British Legion. After the hymn "O God Our Help in Ages Past", prayers were led by Pastor Black of Muslin Street (now Talbot Road) and Daisyfield United Methodist churches. A passage from Scripture was then read by the Rev. T.E. Lee of St. Stephen's. Speeches followed by Mr B. Winterbottom, chairman of the memorial committee, and Mr Wood M.P.

A contribution to Friday Fences.