The top of St Paul's

The top of St Paul's Roman Catholic Church viewed with a bit of zoom from near the bottom of Hamnett Street.

St Paul's Roman Catholic Church was founded on Hamnett Street in 1848, meeting in rooms above a factory. In 1852, Mr Ashton, owner of the Newton Banks Print Works, gave a plot of land off Newton St in Newton Moor, to build a Catholic church. The foundation stone was laid on Friday, 20th May 1853 and the church opened for worship on 21st June 1854.

This information is from a 120pp book by Bernard Marshall written in 1998 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the parish. It is downloadable as a pdf file and contains a wealth of information.

A contribution to Inspired Sundays.

Skywatch Friday: Newton Library err sorry Pharmacy

Today's photograph was taken less than a minute after the one I posted last week: Contrails over Talbot Road.

This is the view in the opposite direction over what used to be Newton Library but is now Newton Pharmacy.

If you look closely at last week's photo you'll see an aeroplane coming in on the left en route for Manchester Airport. Here it can be seen in the centre of the sky heading on its way with a couple of birds flying off on the left.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Contrails over Talbot Road, Newton

On a bright sunny winter morning there appears to be more traffic in the sky than on the road.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

From books to pills and potions

This building used to be Newton Library - it closed in October 2012 - see Hyde DP Xtra for a pre-closure view.

Now it has been converted into a pharmacy so at least it is still providing some kind of local service.

See our post of 18th December 2014 for the latest on the state of the main library in Hyde.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Continued demolition of ABC Wax

In October I showed you photos of the demolition work at the old ABC Wax dye works.

This is a more recent view from the café in Morrisons supermarket across the motorway.

Ashton Brothers built Newton Bank Printworks in Hyde in the early 1800s. In 1899 F.W.Ashton became part of the Calico Printers association (CPA). In 1908 the first wax prints (production Batiks using handblock) were produced. In 1959, CPA purchased the Swiss trading company A.Brunnschweiler, and in 1970 that became the company name replacing F.W.Ashton.

A.Brunnschweiler & Co was soon abbreviated to ABC which later became the brand name of its wax prints in West Africa. ABC was purchased by the Cha group in 1992. In 2005, production of the standard ABC product was transferred to another group factory in Ghana called Akosombo Textiles Ltd (ATL)

All production ceased at Newton bank printworks in December 2007 and all the necessary machinery was transferred to ATL in Ghana. The site was then decommissioned and cleaned up prior to demolition in 2014.

A full record of the demolition with photos and videos can be found on the Demolition of ABCWAX blog created by site manager David Bradley.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

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.

George V Post Box on Bennett Street

This George V Postbox (SK14 26) on Bennett Street is one of the oldest post boxes in Hyde and stands outside what was formerly a sub post office.

The last collection time given for postbox SK14 26 is 5.30pm Mon-Fri (11.00am Sat) but a change notice has been affixed reading:

"In order to improve efficiency we're reviewing our mail collection arrangements and revising collection times. From 15th September 2014, the final collection from this postbox will be made no earlier than 9.00am Monday to Friday and 7.00am on Saturday."

In other words (correct me if I've got it wrong) previously if you posted a letter before 5.30pm it would be definitely collected that day - now if you post a letter after 9.00am it may not get collected until the following day - efficiency for whom?

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Sign of the Crown and Cushion

The sign of the Crown and Cushion on Victoria Street, Newton.

I understand the name relates to the Coronation ceremony where the crown lies on a cushion before being placed on the head of the new monarch.

See a view of the pub itself on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to signs, signs.

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.

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.

Do not follow SAT NAV

Cartwright Street is a narrow road that cuts a corner between Victoria Street and Talbot Road, Newton. HGVs are banned and the sign warns them to ignore SatNavs which would direct them in that direction.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Postbox on Victoria Street

A close-up view of the postbox on Victoria Street, Newton.

See it in its street context on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Autumn on Victoria Street

The footpath along Victoria Street in between the War Memorial and Newtonhurst lies along a tree-lined bank.

The original photograph can be seen on Geograph.

A contribution to Scenic Weekends.

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.

Check Your Speed Sign

This sign on Victoria Street, Newton flashes up the speed of approaching vehicles.

Speeds of up to 19mph show in white; at 20 it changes to amber and at 30 to a bright yellow.

I don't know whether or not it has a camera attached. The speed limit on the road is 20mph.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday:N is for Newtonhurst

Off Victoria Street, Newton are five rows of terraced houses known as Newton Hurst dated 1960.

According to the Hyde Cheshire blog these houses were built by the now defunct Waldorf Stationary Company of Newton Mill, Ashton Road to house its workers. Apparently these houses are back to front. Before Charlton Avenue and the current estate of new houses was built on the former Newton Hurst cricket ground, a small road on the other side of the houses provided the main access, so what are now the front gardens were originally the back.

This is the one on the right hand side facing Victoria Street.

See the one on the left hand side and a close view of the signage on Hyde DP Xtra.

See old aerial views on Old Hyde.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

An Aerial View

  © Copyright M J Richardson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

On 11th July 2013 Mike Richardson was on an EasyJet flight from Edinburgh to Luton and whilst over Stockport took a photograph across Audenshaw reservoirs and beyond. The original photograph can be seen on Geograph.

I've cropped and enhanced the portion that highlights Hyde.

Godley reservoir stands out below the M67 (sweeping towards the roundabout at Hattersley and the new Tesco) and above the Manchester to Glossop railway line. Also prominent is the route of the former Godley Junction to Apethorn Railway Line, now TransPennine Trail and National Cycle Network 62.

Easily recognised are Ewen Fields (Hyde FC ground) and Garden Street recreation ground. Others will doubtless pick out other areas.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

ABC Wednesday: F is for Foxwood Drive

Modern housing off Ashton Road.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Ashton House on Ashton Road

Ashton Road is an unclassified road but is part of a busy alternative eastern route to Ashton under Lyne bypassing the centre of Hyde from the south.

Ashton House on the right is supported housing consisting of 34 flats, bungalows, built in 1968 and renovated in 1997. It is managed by New Charter Housing Trust Ltd with a main entrance on Victoria Street.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Plain Pitt Street

Plain Pitt Street lies off Dukinfield Road and whenever I pass by I can't help but wonder where Fancy Pitt Street might be.

Taking a look at the tree behind the fence though, I'm thinking there's maybe someone who does know.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Welcome to springtime in Hyde

Welcome to Hyde it says on the sign, but spring is here at last and the leaves on the trees have grown and obscure the message.

See how the sign looked in April 2008 before the council added an extra sign advertising advertising space.

A contribution to signs, signs.