The clocks go back tonight

Tonight the clocks go back, so I thought I'd show you one that won't be going back.

This used to hang outside what was once the George Hotel on the corner of Great Norbury Street and Woodend Lane. It was still there when I took this photograph of it in April 2010. The pub was already in the process of being converted into a house. The clock disappeared very shortly afterwards.

I showed you how the building looked before it closed on 3rd October 2009 and how it looks now after conversion on 6th October 2011.

You can see how it once looked many years ago on Nancy & Tom's Hyde, Cheshire blog.

Skywatch Friday: Towards the Hare & Hounds

This was taken early evening last Tuesday looking over the rooftops of Gee Cross towards the Hare & Hounds on Werneth Low Road.

Visit more skys at Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: O is for Onward

Onward is the motto of Hyde Corporation.

The Hyde coat of arms is described on the Tameside MBC website as

Argent, a chevron nebuly argent between three lozenges Or; on a chief of the second a flake erect surmounted by a hatter's bow in bend sinister between a cog-wheel and two miners' pick in saltire, therefrom suspended a Davy lamp, all proper. Crest: On a wreath of the colours, Upon a pack of cotton prints azure, banded and semee of mascles Or, a sprig of the cotton-tree, slipped and fructed, in bend sinister surmounted of a shuttle furnished in bend proper. Motto: Onward. Granted: 18 July 1882.

The Arms reflects the reasons for its establishment as an independent town - its industry. Cotton is shown by the cotton pattern and shuttle, coal by the miner's axe and the Davy lamp, and hatting by the hatters bow. The lower part of the shield contained the Arms of the manorial family of Hyde.

This photograph features part of the frieze on the Theatre Royal.

Onward is my own motto too as I try and move forward after my recent stays in hospital. I've an out-patient's appointment next Monday and will know more then. Meanwhile I'm trying to just take things a bit easy.

For more "O" posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Fulton's Fairy Godmother

In the recent Autumn Scarecrow Festival, third prize was awarded to the contribution in Fulton's frozen food store in Clarendon Mall.

Shadow across New Beech Street

Autumn is here with many trees starting to shed their leaves but there is more to come yet. This was the only photograph I took today during my first walk around town since coming home last week (see Another Week - Another Hospital).

Despite the sunshine it was quite cold and I didn't stay out long.

For more Shadow Shots visit Hey Harriet.

Grey Day for Cemetery Chapel

As you enter Hyde Cemetery from Stockport Road the view leads up the remaining Cemetery Chapel. Hyde cemetery was laid out in 1894. The Non-Conformist chapel is the last of three chapels which originally stood in the cemetery. It was designed by J.W. Beaumont; an architect with at least three listed buildings to his name, including Hyde Town Hall (1883-5, Grade II) and the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester (c.1895-1900, Grade II).

The local council now wants to demolish the chapel despite local objection. Nancy Morris of the Hyde Cheshire blog applied to English Heritage to have the chapel listed but has been turned down. The main reasons given were as follows

• The chapel at Hyde is a late example of its type as Municipal cemeteries were laid out from the 1850s, with the height of cemetery chapel construction spanning the period 1840-1880
• This Non-Conformist chapel has lost the context of its companion chapels to the north and south, although it still retains its place within the landscape and relationship with the lodge.
• Although designed by a respected architect, this is not the best example of his work; aside from the unusual tower, the design is largely standard for its date.

The second reason seems to me particularly ironic, the loss of its sisters being a good argument for its retention.

For more information and to support Nancy's campaign see Hyde Cheshire.

A wider coloured version of this photograph can be seen on Geograph.

The Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man

These three were in the Mall in September to promote the Autumn Scarecrow Festival in Hyde Park. It all took place whilst I was away in Stepping Hill so I never saw any of it.

Sorry I haven't posted for over a week but I've had more pressing concerns - see Another week - another hospital.

I shall only be posting infrequently for while.