Happy Halloween

So reads the poster on the Oldham Street side of the former David Tuson's car showroom which used to be a Ford dealership. Now it is a fancy dress showroom.

I actually took this photograph back in March but it didn't seem relevant until now.

The shop's website is http://www.shop4fancydress.com/.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: P is for Plymouth Savoy

Another of the American cars on show at the classic car rally held recently at Ewen Fields in aid of SSAFA, a charity that provides practical support and assistance to servicemen and women, veterans and their families.

The 1958 Plymouth Savoy was imported from California in 1992. It has a standard V8 engine as in the Fury. This was a cheap second car for the wife with no radio and power steering.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Walking Train

This is what is known as a "Walking Train" passing the Shell filling station on Dowson Road. The children who are all very well kitted out with red macs and wellington boots are presumably on their way to a pre-school nursery. These were followed a few minutes later by another train of similar length.

A pdf file on the KidsAllowed gives some rules for how a Walking Train should operate. It suggests among other things that:

The Walking Train Driver must set good behaviour standards and check for hazards whilst the Walking Train Conductor must ensure all children keep to the paths and do not trail behind.

When operating the Walking Train children should walk in pairs with the Walking Train Driver at the front and the Walking Train Conductor at the rear. Children should be positioned on the left away from the pavement kerb and a team member must be positioned nearest the kerb. Team members should hold hands with the younger children.

A team member will carry a back pack containing a supply of waterproof coats, mobile phone and First Aid kit.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Santander shrouded in scaffolding

On a wet Saturday morning, the Santander Bank on the corner of Market Place and Hamnett Street is shrouded in scaffolding and thin blue netting.

The bottom lengths of scaffolding are enclosed in yellow pipes.

The grey building at the bottom of Hamnett Street is the Job Centre.

A contribution to Monday Mellow Yellows and Blue Monday.

Manchester City Chevrolet at Ewen Fields

Last Sunday afternoon the sun stayed out long enough to cast shadows across Ewen Fields where a classic car rally was held in aid of SSAFA, a charity that provides practical support and assistance to servicemen and women, veterans and their families.

Next to the ice-cream van was a stand hosted by the Irish Fusiliers.

In the foreground is MCF1C, a Chevrolet imported into the UK by Mike Radcliffe and Shaun Donohoe business partners based in North America. They have painted certain parts of the car with faces from a number of players including Nigel de Jong, David Silva and Carlos Tevez as well as the legendary Franny Lee, Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee plus an image of Sheikh Mansour.

The Chevrolet, which was built in 1975 cost 15,000 euros and the two owners paid 5,000 euros to transport the car to Manchester.

See front and rear views of the car on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Edsel Ranger at Ewen Fields

One of several American cars on show at a classic car rally held at Ewen Fields in aid of SSAFA, a charity that provides practical support and assistance to servicemen and women, veterans and their families, was this 1958 Edsel Ranger 2 door sedan. It was built in September 1957 in Loiusville, KY and is one of only 4615 of this model. It has a 3 speed automatic gearbox, self-adjusting brakes and was imported from Colorado in 2002. The engine, gearbox and interior are all original.

The Edsel was named after Henry Ford's deceased son. Although a failure when first introduced in 1958 only a few examples remain and it is classed as one of world's most collectable cars.

A coloured image of the car can be seen on Geograph.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White.

Autumn Sky

As heavy rain eases off the light from the soon to be setting sun highlights the autumn colours in the trees below Garside Street.

On the left is a sliver of a rainbow.

On the right the Hare & Hounds on Werneth Low can be glimpsed.

See a closer view of the trees on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

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.

ABC Wednesday: O is for Opel GT

This was one of the cars on show at the classic car rally held recently at Ewen Fields in aid of SSAFA, a charity that provides practical support and assistance to servicemen and women, veterans and their families.

The Opel GT is a two-seat sports car which first presented as a styling exercise in 1965 at the Paris and Frankfurt motor shows, and introduced as a production model late in 1968. It relied partly on components from the contemporary Opel Kadett B and had a body made by French contractor Brissonneau & Lotz. Between 1968 and 1973 a total of 103,463 cars were sold.

Designed by Opel Stylist Erhard Schnell, the Opel GT was a fastback, that had neither an externally accessible trunk nor a conventional hatchback. There was a parcel shelf behind the seats that could only be accessed through the main doors. Behind the parcel shelf was a fold-up panel that concealed a spare tire and jack.

One unusual feature of the Opel GT was the operation of the pop-up headlights. They were manually operated, by way of a large lever along the centre console next to the shifter. Unlike most pop-up headlights, they both rotated in the same direction (counterclockwise from inside the car) about a longitudinal axis. One standard joke about GT owners was that you can easily spot them due to the heavy muscles on their right arm built up by using the lever to pop up the headlights.

The interior of the Opel GT was surprisingly large for a car of its size, owing to its original design process (exterior metal was sculpted around an interior model). Headroom and legroom were sufficient for those over 6 feet (1.83 m) tall.

More information on Wikipedia

I'll be posting more photographs from the event at a later date.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

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.

Recycling: Blue, Green or Brown?

A blue coloured display on Hyde Civic Square on Saturday was promoting green recycling.

Some of the emphasis was on the brown bins supplied to most households for recycling waste food.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

Bridge and no puddle

Last year there used to be a huge puddle under Dowson Road bridge after heavy rain.

Since then, whoever manages the Trans Pennine Trail and Sustran's National Cycle Network Route 62 which run along the line of the former Godley Junction to Apethorn railway have raised the footpath under the bridge so water only collects at the side.

A contribution to Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

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.

The weeds are taking over

The old pole at the side of the Trans Pennine Trail is being slowly strangled.

It looks like convolvulus or bindweed to me but someone said it may be the infamous Japanese Knotweed.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

Houses on the corner of Alice Street

A group of four cottages on Stockport Road, Gee Cross.

At one time these would have all looked the same and there would have been more houses along Alice Street. The latter street is now little more than a car park.

Over the years these properties have been improved with a variety of changes. Two have added front porches, one has a small bay window, others have double-glazing and one even has solar panels in the roof.

As the Alice Street side elevation shows, they may have small frontages but they extend backwards a good way.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Across Broomstair Bridge

Looking north across Broomstair Bridge from the south pavement.

In the background is the bridge carrying the M67 over the river Tame.

See the view to the right on Hyde DP Xtra.

See the view to the left on yesterday's post.

See the view over the bridge behind on sithenah.

A contribution to Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Broomstair Bridge Valve House

The A57 road from Manchester to Hyde crossing Broomstair Bridge over the river Tame. The building on the right is a "Valve House" belonging, originally, to Manchester Corporation Waterworks. The pipeline crossing in a girder bridge on the south side is part of the aqueduct carrying water from Woodhead to Manchester. Read more about the system on Old Hyde

See it in the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

See the view of the river from Broomstair Bridge on sithenah.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White.

Friday Fences: The site of Carrfield Mill

Four months ago I poked my camera through the fence at Carrfield Mill.

Last week I went back to see the progress of the demolition but not a lot seems to have changed since then.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

Sign for Hyde Lads Club

This sign on the Beeley Street car park is all that is left of Hyde Lads Club which closed in 1992 and subsequently demolished.

To learn more about the club see my post on Old Hyde.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: M is for Muscle Freaks on Market Street

Last week I noticed that a new shop had opened on Market Street between the long established businesses of Zeenath and Bennett's Staff Bureau.

Muscles Freaks advertises "Everything You Need Inside For The Perfect Body".

Many different businesses have come and gone in these premises. I wonder how long this one will last.

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.

Crib figures at St Thomas the Apostle

Folowing up yesterday's photograph from the Heritage Open Day at St Thomas the Apostle here are the Christmas Crib figures on display near the Lady Chapel.

The windows for which the church is noted are three William Morris windows which can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Heritage Open Day at St Thomas the Apostle

This view of St Thomas the Apostle on Lumn Road was taken at the recent Heritage Open Day.

I've already posted a photograph of the Lady Chapel.

St Thomas' church was built in 1868. The architect, Medland Taylor was a Manchester architect who produced a number of fine if quirkish buildings. Locally, he designed St. Anne's, Denton, St. Mar'’s, Haughton Green, Holy Trinity, Hyde and the Library and the Post Office in Stalybridge. At the time when many architects were designing churches in a style they believed to be a copy of Gothic Architecture, Medland was producing an inventive mixture of architectural styles and motifs. For example, St. Thomas' has brick buttresses and window surrounds with stone infilling. Most would have followed the convention and used stone with brick infilling. According to Pevsner, the roof is an example of his humour, having a quirky additional pitch to it. The proportions of the church are such that St. Thomas' appears to be quite a small building, whereas it is fairly large.

The William Morris windows are the Church's glory. I posted a photo of the East window in September 2008; the South window in October 2008 and the North window in November 2008. I've also photographed the Rose Window.

See Old Hyde for a 1920 painting of the church and a look at crockery made for the 125th anniversary of the church.

Visit the church website.

A contribution to Inspired Sundays.

Over the bridge

A view across the footbridge on the western side of the bus station over the M67 motorway.

The chimney in the background belonged to the former Winterbotham's tripe dressing factory, now Hyde Industrial Supplies and survives as a support for mobile phone masts.

A contribution to Friday Fences as well as
The Weekend in Black and White and also
Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

A warning for motorists

The sign is on the Long Meadow car park. The red no entry sign is probably redundant as vehicular entry to Long Meadow Passage is now prevented by bollards, not to mention a skip.

But what is the purpose of the exclamatory warning sign?

"Motorists! Don't leave valuables in your car"

Is it to warn people of a huge amount of crime in the area? Is it to suggest they carry their valuables on their person so they can get mugged instead? Are motorists considered too simple to be aware of risks unless they have them pointed out? Doesn't it give the thief an excuse for their behaviour?

Such signs to me seem symptomatic of the "blame the victim" mentality too prevelant in today's society.

Where are the signs saying "Criminals! don't steal from parked cars - or the full force of the law will fall upon you"?

OK, rant over.

A contribution to signs, signs.

ABC Wednesday: A is for Lovers' Lane

Lovers Lane is a route for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders from Kingston to Hooley Hill via Dunkirk Farm.

See it from a little further on on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

St George's crockery detail

These pieces of crockery were on display at the recent Heritage Open Day in St George's Church.

I don't know their date but the image of the church shows it before the graveyard around the church was flattened and grassed over.

A contribution to the City Daily Photo Blogs October 1st theme - details.