The former Packhorse Inn

The Pack Horse Inn at Mottram in Longdendale was a stopping place for pack horse trains on the saltway from Cheshire through to Yorkshire.

I first showed you the Packhorse Inn and its sign back in July 2008.

Having being closed for more than year, owners Enterprise Inns, based in Solihull, were granted planning permission in 2013 to convert it into a single house. The conversion appears to be still unfinished.

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

See the original photograph on Geograph.

Just three days left. Please visit Best of Hyde Daily Photo 2014 and vote for your favourites. Deadline for voting is 12 noon GMT on Monday 29th December 2014.

The Embarrassment of Mottram Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree on the Market Place at Mottram in Longdendale was branded the worst in Britain when it was planted by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. Villager Emma Purcell created the Facebrook Group The Embarrassment of Mottram Christmas Tree as a place for members past and present of Mottram community to air their anger and views about the size and quality of the Christmas Tree, believing they deserved bigger and better! However once the anger had dissipated, "Twiggy", as it has come to be known, has kindled much community spirit.

A charity night was organised with entertainment in the nearby White Hart and carol singing on the Market Place raising money for Reuben's Retreat.

The Crown Pole in the background was originally erected in 1760 to commemorate the coronation of George III.

The village stocks in the foreground were moved here in the 1960s having been discovered during the building of the Hattersley estate.

Another view of the tree can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Please visit Best of Hyde Daily Photo 2014 and vote for your favourites.

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

ABC Wednesday: P is for Post Office

Mottram Post Office, like the vast majority of UK post offices, is located in a convenience store.

On the opposite side of the road, the former public house, The Junction, has been converted into residential property.

Previously the post office in Mottram was located in a seventeenth century farmhouse on Back Lane.

For ABC Wednesday.

Mottram Play Area

Behind the fence on this green space between Ashworth Lane, Mottram Fold and Broadbottom Road is a children's play area.

This was taken the same day after I'd been escorted by a policeman past the nearby scene of the murder of Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes.

Turn right to see Mottram Library on Hyde DP Xtra.

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

Police No Entry

Two days after the murder of Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, Ashworth Lane is still blocked off while hundreds of police guard the area and forensic teams comb the scene.

Floral tributes have been laid at the side of the road. More tributes have been laid at a makeshift shrine on the other side of the cordoned off area - see Hyde DP Xtra for more information and photographs.

An online book of condolences is on the Greater Manchester Police website.

A contribution to signs, signs.

RIP: PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes

When I posted a version of this photo of Ashworth Lane in June someone commented

What a beautiful neighbourhood.

and indeed it is, but yesterday two policewomen were murdered in cold blood just around the corner at the top of the picture.

I won't go into the details - if you haven't heard it on the news see the BBC News report for information.

Our thoughts are with the families of the women and the people of Mottram & Hattersley who are making the headlines again for all the wrong reasons.

ABC Wednesday: H is for Hyde's Heritage

Next weekend is when the Heritage Open Days take place. Five places in Hyde are particpating and details of when they are open can be on found the Heritage Open Day website.

Top left is Newton Hall.

Top right is Mottram Parish Church.

Bottom left is St George's Church.

Bottom right is St Thomas the Apostle.

In the centre is Flowery Field Church.

The only problem is with everything taking place mostly on the same day, it isn't easy to get to more than one or two. I'll probably only have time to visit St George's late on Saturday afternoon.

For ABC Wednesday.

Fences on Ashworth Lane

Ashworth Lane, the B6174 from Hattersley to Mottram in Longdendale, just after the grass verges have been cut.

It is a busy little road used by the #201 bus from Manchester which turns left by the pedestrian crossing into John Kennedy Road.

It is also used as a "rat-run" by traffic trying to avoid the queues on the A57.

Soon it will be even busier due to the Tesco superstore that is under construction close by.

The low wooden fences are there to prevent traffic straying on to the verges.

See the grass-cutters on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

Kitty at Hobson Moor Quarry

Photograph © Karl & Ali.

Is it a mural or just graffiti?

Karl & Ali found this at Hobson Moor Quarry, a popular climbing venue on the outskirts of Mottram-in-Longdendale.

For more information and a wider view of the quarry see Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Monday Murals.