Henry Enfield Dowson

The following information is taken from "A History of Hyde Chapel" chiefly from the materials and reminiscences of John Thornley compiled by Thomas Middleton and published by Cartwright & Rattray Ltd, Manchester, 1908.

"What Hyde Chapel owes to Mr Dowson, the present generation can never know. It will only be when, after the passage of years, the historian of the future comes to sum up events ... that the true value of Mr. Dowson's ministry will be known and understood."

"Henry Enfield Dowson was born at Geldeston, Norfolk on the 23rd day of November, 1837, the son of Septimus Dowson." He was educated first at the school of his uncle, John Withers Dowson, at Norwich. Subsequently he studied at London University College School; Malleson's School, Hove House, Brighton; Higher Burgher School, Heidelberg. In 1857 he proceeded to University College, London gaining a first class B.A. with classical honours. After a theological course ar Manchester New College he was appointed co-pastor at the the Church of the Messiah, Birmingham. In 1867 he came to Gee Cross to take up ministry at Hyde Chapel.

He married Lucy Osler in Birmingham in 1866 and went on to sire four daughters and four sons.

"Outside his purely ministerial labours, his chief work in Hyde has been rendered on behalf of education. He has taken an active part in the management of British Schools ... Boston Mills School [became] an infants' school and old Hyde Lane School opened as a British School. He also had a part in the management of the George Street School, formerly the Methodist New Connexion School. ... the Gee Cross Undenominational School and the Wesleyan School were handed over to the Town Council after the passing of the Education Act of 1902."

He was a staunch supporter of the Liberal Party, was President of the Seal Club since its inauguration and also President of Hyde Cricket Club.

"A great feature of Mr. Dowson's ministry has been the happy relationshio between him and all churches and sects. ... No more striking testiomony to his popularity and the general respect in which he is held by all classes could be produced than the unanimous welcome which met the announcement that he, in conjunction with the Rev, F.A. Screeton, M.A., Vicar of St Thomas', Hyde, was to make an effort to bring about a settlement of the dispute which led to the long "strike" at Ashton Mills, in the early part of 1908."

"Mr. Dowson is commonly spoken of - not in irony, be it said, but in a spirit of admiration as - 'The Bishop of Gee Cross,' and 'The Grand Old Man of Hyde.'"

See also
D is for Dowson, Revd H.E. (1837-1925);
an account of Enfield School;
David Barlow's overview of his life in a YouTube video.

Fashion in the 1940s

At the recent Gee Cross Fete I was asked to photograph a newspaper cutting that included this photograph of a Mannequin Parade at Hyde Town Hall. I think it was a cutting from the North Cheshire Herald. There was a handwritten date of 1930 given but the text refers to clothing coupons and so it must in fact be from the 1940s.

There was no evidence of the battle for "the longer skirt", now said to be raging in the fashion houses of London and Paris, at the Mannequin Parade at the Town Hall Hyde, on Tuesday, presented by the Mayoress's Ladies' Committee and Clegg's, Newton Street, in aid of the Mayoress of Hyde's Hospital and Charity Fund. The models were all the current just-below-knee length. Gracfully displaying the wide range of styles were the Misses Doreen Tewson, Eva Hambleton, Pauline Norman, Mrs Cowling and Mrs Burgess, and they carried themselves with the poise of practised mannequins, though usually they are serving behind the counter at Clegg's .

Noticeable features were the pre-dominance of feathers as trimming, the popularity of the off-the-face hat and the tendency tcwards a one-sided outline by the skilful use of side draping in gowns and off-centre bows on hats. Colour combinations of note were: black and sage green, cherry and turquoise, and turquoise and brown.

As an added note of colour a large white cameo-type brooch was pinned to the lapel of the coat. For the fuller figure was a charming brown fur fabric coat with full swing back from a circular yoke. With this was one of the new hats figuring the east-to-west trend, and underneath was an ice-blue wool dress trimmed with self-coloured frilling. Having long sleeves with turn back reefer cuffs it should be a cosy style for the colder days.

The evening dresses were outstandingly smart, in particular a lemon crepe trimmed with black sequins on the pockets, and a full draped skirt, worn with a silver fax cape. Peploms were a noticeable feature of the evening wear, being either draped or pleated and longer than some months ago, when they were first introduced. The woollen indoor suits in fine jersey cloth were very attractive. but at 14 coupons they are out of reach of the woman who wants a winter coat out of her ration of 20 coupons.

Hyde Carnival 1923?

This photograph was sent to me by Sheila Metcalfe who writes:

This photo is believed to be of the Hyde Carnival Parade and my grannparents belonged to an acting company taking part in the parade. My grandfather is the "Queen" at the front on the right. I see the "King" is holding a large key which must be symbolic of something.

According to my aunt, my grandparents were in Hyde for six months doing repertory theatre at the New Theatre Royal. They were most probably with Langley Howard’s Company. My aunt was born in January 1923 and the family (Godfrey, Winifred and Joan Ward) lodged with John and Jane Mattin and their adult daughters. In the 1911 census John Mattin had a grocer's shop at 77 Commercial Street, Newton, Hyde. When Jane died in 1932 they had moved to 75 Mottram Road, Hyde. I'm not sure which address my grandparents were at. Their adult daughters were a school teacher and a tailoress.

I think they were probably there from about June 1923 for 30 weeks, as they were in Hull in May, but it could have been later. Memories fade over time so the year and theatre could be wrong. I haven't managed to find any direct reference to the company performing repertory at the Theatre Royal in Hyde. The only mention I have found of Langley Howard repertory in Hyde in 1923 was in the Hull Daily Mail the following year when the company took repertory theatre to Hull, and only in passing. Apparently "The Silver Crucifix" was their most popular play. I see from the Manchester Guardian that the Langley Howard Players were performing repertory at the Little Theatre, Rusholme in 1926, but neither my grandparents nor Langley Howard are listed as being involved, so I think this is too late.

I would be very grateful if someone could tell me more about the photograph and if anyone knows of Langley Howard's company performing at the Theatre Royal, Hyde or could point me in the right direction. My grandparents performed under the stage names Godfrey Ward and Winifred James.

Please contact Sheila directly at metcalfe012@btinternet.com.

I am also posting this on the Facebrook Groups:
Friends of Theatre Royal Hyde;
Hyde Memories.

Joseph Artingstoll

This photograph of Joseph Artingstoll is scanned from Thomas Middleton's book on the history of St George's Church. The book gives the following account of him:

Joseph Artingstoll died on February 8th, 1864, at the early age of 25 years, but he had crowded into his short life a record of labour which distinguishes him as one of the most prominent of the bye-gone worthies of St. George's. His funeral sermon was published in booklet form, under the title of "A Sermon preached in St. George's Church, Hyde, on the occasion of the death of Mr. Joseph Artingsioll, on Sunday, Feb. 14th, 1864, by the Rev. Alexander Read B.A. Incumbent." In the publication, Mr. Read states--

"He was, from his earliest days, orderly, serious and fond of reading. He had read the whole Bible through, chapter by chapter, in his family circle, when quite in early boyhood. And when engaged ln his usual work, the Bible, or in later years, the Greek Testament, was a regular companion. He was a young man of strong natural powers , and had practised self-culture with marked diligence and success. ... Though daily engaged in labours demanding constant attention, so continually did he turn every moment to account. that his literary attainments were very considerable, and in such circumstances, wonderful. ... He was placed in charge of the Young Men's Class in St. George's Sunday School and was judged eminently fitted for the important duty. ... ln the course of his sickness I spoke to him of experimental religion and having expressed a fear that I had wearied him in his excessive weakness he at once replied that, "it was his greatest delight to speak on this subject; it was always edifying." And when shortly before his death, I mentioned his approaching end, and reminded him of the Christians' support in that solemn moment-- "Christ," said he, "is my rock, I have no other trust but Christ." He seemed more able to give comfort and instruction at that solemn hour than to need it."

There is a tablet to Mr. Artingstoll's memory on the south wall of the church.

The memorial no longer exists. I traced this information after hearing from Alison Hunt who had written to me saying:

"I am researching my family history. The family were called Artingstoll and had premises in Hyde Lane and Chapel Street. I understand that William Artingstoll 1836-1908 donated money to the building of St George's church and that there is/was a memorial to his brother Joseph in the church school."

Whilst I didn't discover the lost memorial I did find, after thumbing through a programme for a bazaar held in 1896, an advertisement for Artingstoll's High-class decorators, established in 1835.

See a photograph of the inside of St George's church on Hyde Daily Photo.

A contribution to Inspired Sundays.

Comfort Corner, 1948

I recently heard from Bill Bevan who now lives in Nebraska USA, who wrote

I have a photo of my dad on his bike at the corner of Market street/ Manchester road / Newton street about 1948 showing Garbetts shop and an old number 19 double decker. It hung on my dad's living room wall from the eary 60s until his death in 1987 then on mine and we brought it with us when we moved to Nebraska. He always claimed the man on the bike was him on his way home from work at E Lowerys whose yard was under the arches at Hyde station. He was their lorry driver up to his retirement and I can just about remember him driving their steam shovel as well. I remember the old SHMD trams, the tramshed used to be roughly where Morrisons store is on Mottram Rd. Some of the trams had wooden slatted seats the backs of which reversed when the tram changed direction and were bloody uncomfortable if you were a kid in short trousers. They only ran as far as Godly Arches bacause they couldn't make the grade up to Mottram, there were also buses from there to Glossop which usualy needed the radiator refiiling at the horse trough just before what is now the eastern end of the M67.

See Hyde Daily Photo for a view from about the same spot now.

For Our World Tuesday.

Burley Key's Sundial

In March 2010 I published a photograph of Haughton Green Post Office at the top of Gibraltar Lane.

The post generated much comment regarding Burley Key who lived down the lane.

One commentator wrote

"I remember that post office in the late 1960s and 1970s when it had wooden doors, and roll-down security shutters were nearly unheard of. I bought National Savings stamps in there when I was 10 to save up for a play tent that I couldn't put up at home on the council estate because we had no garden but I played with it in Haughton Dale. Gibraltar Lane dipped steeply down and went to dirt after only a couple of hundred yards. On the left as the lane drops away out of sight was a house occupied by a local identity called Burley Key. His house had a high thick hedge round it and a wooden bench he'd made sat in a cutout of the hedge facing the lane. Carved in the back of the bench was 'Coom sit tha down and rest thy sen, it winna cost thee owt'. An invitation to people walking back up the steep hill, it was a written version of the broad local dialect Mr Key still spoke. As a child I could barely understand a word he said though my mother would stop and have conversations with him on our walks up and down 'Gib' Lane. Oh - it meant 'come sit down and rest yourself, it won't cost you anything'. Thanks again for the memories!"

Another wrote

"Burley Key was my great uncle. I used to love visiting his house with my mum. It was full of such interesting things for a youngster like me. Mum told me that Uncle Burley built his house using second hand bricks from the blitzed areas or Manchester. He and his wife (May?) cleaned all the bricks by hand for ages before work could start. Haven't been down Gibraltar lane for years. Must pop down sometime. I still have a handmade bird table he gave my mum, with hand cut miniature tiles on the roof. Very precious to me."

Paul Key wrote to say

"I'm Burleys great grandson and have a picture hung in my house of that very bird house and him and my dad looking at it. I have also heard the story of his house from my dad but I thought that it was made from the bricks from the mill at the bottom of gib lane"

Paul has now sent me a copy of the photograph. He wrote

"The sundial was made for a raffle at the church and this picture was in the newspaper in an article about the raffle. The sundial was made from salvaged bricks from gib lane mill. The older man is Burley Key, the child that is the closest to the bottom of the picture is my dad, John Key and the other child I have asked my dad about many times before and he has no idea who he is. I'm not too sure when it was taken but at a guess, around 1971. Also I'm not sure which house on gib lane it was but I think it's about half way up the lane."

I was by the top of Gibraltar Lane recently and took a new view of Haughton Green Village Post Office which can be seen on Hyde Daily Photo.

Daniel Adamson: Uncle and Nephew

DANIEL ADAMSON 1820 -1890

photo from Transport Archive attributed to Elliot & Fry (circa 1880).
Daniel Adamson was born in Shildon, Co. Durham.

In 1852 he set up the Newton Moor Iron Works at the junction of Talbot Road and Ashton Road. In 1874 due to lack of space he re-established his business on a new site about a quarter mile to the north west, at Johnsonbrook Rd.

He specialised in engine and boiler making, initially following designs created by Hackworth, making and exporting the renowned "Manchester Boilers". Adamson was able to experiment with the new found wealth from the worldwide export of these boilers and due to his remarkable capability in engineering was able to design the collapsible valve known as the Adamson Flange Seal. He was also one of the pioneers of explosive forming used in the foundry process.

He lived at various address in Hyde, including

• Goodier House, Back Lane (now Victoria Street), Newton - see Hyde Cheshire.
• Newton Hall, Muslin Street (now Talbot Road), Newton
• Oakland Hall, Godley - see Hyde Daily Photo.

Adamson was a champion of the Manchester Ship Canal project. He arranged a meeting The Towers, his Didsbury home, on 27 June 1882, attended by 68 people including the mayors of Manchester and surrounding towns, leaders of commerce and industry, bankers and financiers. Adamson was elected chairman of the provisional committee promoting the Ship Canal, and was at the forefront in pushing the scheme through Parliament in the face of intense opposition from railway companies and port interests in Liverpool. The requisite Act of Parliament enabling the canal was finally passed on 6 August 1885, after which Adamson became the first chairman of the board of directors of the Manchester Ship Canal Company – a post he held until February 1887 when he resigned due to his disagreement with the financial restructuring of the company, although he still ardently maintained his support for the project throughout the rest of his life.

Daniel Adamson died at his home, the Towers, Didsbury, on the 13th January 1890. He left his wife Mary and two daughters, Alice Ann and Lavinia. Newton Moor Iron Works was passed to his daughter Lavinia who had married William Parkyn, an engineer, in April 1873.

A portrait of Daniel Adamson by Philip Richard Morris can be viewed at Manchester City Art Gallery.

For a timeline of events in his life see Geoff Royle's website.

DR DANIEL ADAMSON (1869-1930)

© 2010 Institution of Mechanical Engineers and used here with permission.
The town of Hyde had the benefit of another firm of boilermakers, Joseph Adamson & Co. Ltd. Joseph also grew up in Shildon and was the son of Daniel's elder brother John, an N.E.R. engine driver. Joseph's son Dr. Daniel Adamson, became a President of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Dr Daniel Adamson was born in Hyde in 1869. He began an apprenticeship at the age of 16, attending evening classes at the Manchester School of Technology at the same time. His apprenticeship was divided between the works of Scott and Hodgson of Guide Bridge and Joseph Adamson and Company of Hyde, which had been founded by his father in 1874.

In 1893 he was promoted to works manager, and in 1904 he and his brother Harold entered into partnership with their father. In 1925 Daniel became sole proprietor of the firm.

Adamson was a pioneer in the development of the electric crane. After a visit to the United States in 1893, the firm commenced the building of electric cranes by constructing one of the first three-motor overhead cranes in the country.

He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1929. He died in 1930.

Warburton, Plant and Nash Memorials

(Click on photos to view full size)
These photographs were taken over two years ago by Tom Wigley close to Captain Clarke's Bridge and near the site of the former St George's Sunday School Rowing Club.

Nothing now remains of a War Memorial that was erected to commemorate rowing club members who were killed in the First World War.

This memorial stone shown was added to commemorate the three club members who died in the Second World War. It is understood that the original memorial was destroyed by vandalism and the Second World War memorial was fished out of the canal at some point and set into the ground along with the one commemorating that the ground had been given by the parents of Harry Warburton.

THIS LAND WAS GIVEN
BY
MR AND MRS N WARBURTON
AS A MEMORIAL TO THEIR SON
HARRY HURST WARBURTON
KILLED IN ITALY
FEBRUARY 23RD 1946
WHILST ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH H.M.FORCES

ALSO TO THOSE WHO FELL
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
1939-1945
FLIGHT SGT R.H.NASH
FLYING OFFICER F.PLANT
TROOPER H.H.WARBURTON

More information about the men involved can be found on the Hyde Cheshire blog.

Tom Wigley's photograph of Captain Clarke's Bridge taken at the same time can be found on Hyde Daily Photo.

Herbert Allkin

Image scanned from "History of Hyde (St. George's) Church and Schools" by Thomas Middleton (1911).
Herbert Allkin was the first minister of St. George's Church. The former curate of Ashton under Lyne Parish Church was described as a man of fine appearance, a good preacher and reader belonging to the old school of Evangelical clergymen who wore a white "choker" neck-cloth and preached in a black gown and white bands.

His stipend at the start of his Hyde ministry in 1832 was only £50 per annum and to augment his income he started a private school in his residence at Hill Bank. This became a popular local educational institution. The Rev. Jas. Brooks, parson of Hyde Chapel (1806-1854) records in his diary that he sent his son to this school, after stipulating that the lad was not to be taught the Church catechism. He adds that the greatest harmony prevailed between Mr. Allkin and the ministers of other denominations. Once the congregation at St. George's had increased to the extent that the living provided a sufficient income for the minister, the school was closed.

During his incumbency the church building was completed and the Old School in Church Street was erected and opened as a Day and Sunday School. However, a dispute arose between the minister and several wealthy members of the congregation with the result that a number of leading laymen left to join the new church of St. Thomas, which had started in the Chartist Institute in 1846.

Herbert Allkin died in 1849 at the age of 49. He was interred at the East end of the church in a grave which now lies beneath the clergy vestry. Originally this was an altar tomb outwith the walls but when a new vestry was built in 1897, the slabs of the tomb were placed in an upright position and now form part of the vestry walls.

A photograph of the tomb can be seen on Hyde Daily Photo.

Captain Clarke

These images and this account of Captain Clarke are taken from The Annals of Hyde by Thomas Middleton. (1899)

CAPTAIN Hyde John Clarke was for a long period the leading spirit in public affairs in the neighbourhood of Hyde. He sat on the magisterial bench for four counties (Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire), and was ever forward in any movement likely to tend to the general good. His prominence and popularity as a public man is evidenced by the fact that in 1839 the inhabitants of Hyde presented him with a handsome testimonial, in "recognition of his many services," and in order to show their regard for him, and for "his unwearied disinterestedness, impartiality, and affability." The testimonial took the form of plate, valued at 270 guineas, and on the tureen was this inscription:

"Presented with other pieces of plate to Hyde John Clarke, Esq., of Hyde Hall, Captain of the Royal Navy, by the inhabitants of Hyde and its vicinity, as a token of their regard for his long and valuable services, and of their high esteem for his private character. A.D. 1839."

As illustrative of the representative character of this presentation, it should be mentioned that the principal ministers of the Established Church, and of the Nonconformist bodies, together with influential members of both political parties, attended and spoke on the occasion, while the meeting, which took place in the Navigation Inn, is described by the newspapers as having lasted three hours, and being "a ceremony which in these excited and jealous times has hardly had its parallel."

The earlier portion of Captain Clarke's career was occupied by his naval duties. He joined the navy at Portsmouth on the 29th of June, 1791, at the age of fourteen, and was placed aboard the "Bedford" 74 guns, under Captain Sir A. Snape Hammond. One of his first duties was to provide three ropes with which to hang three men for mutiny. In 1793, he was removed to the "Duke" and served in the West Indies until the close of the year 1798, when he saw service in the North Seas on board the "Amphion," 32 guns, and the "Nassau," 64 guns. He became Lieutenant on December 31st, 1798, and subsequent to 1804 served on the "Antelope" and the "Powerful" in the North Seas and the East Indies. On the 13th June, 1806, he fought at the capture of the privateer, "La Henrietta" which result was effected after a running fight of two hours, and on the 9th July in the same year he aided in the capture of the French privateer, "La Bellone." He was invalided in August, 1807. Three years later he joined as senior the "Temeraire" for service in the Mediterranean, but prior to sailing was promoted to the rank of Commander. For a time he was on the safe-guard service in Liverpool.

After a distinguished career as an officer of the Royal Navy Captain Clarke settled in Hyde. The writer of a history of the Clarkes of Hyde and Swanswick tells us,

"After the death of the old Squire, Captain Clarke went to live at Hyde Hall, as manager of the estates, at the request of his half-brother George, who preferred to remain in America, in the spacious house called Hyde Hall, on the banks of the lake of Otsego, where he had a large estate left him by his great uncle George".

Another writer says,

"After ploughing the deep the Captain soon fell into his new sphere and ploughed the land. He took great interest in the colliers and workhands at the mills. He was an early riser, and his great delight was to meet them as they came down the private road from Haughton to the mills in Hyde, and to have a chat with them. He deemed it only right that they should be supplied with the produce of the land at as cheap a rate as possible, and on the same principle he kept about 20 cows, the "fore milk" being sold in the (then) village, while the "afterings" was all churned by a small steam engine, and he had his own private mark upon the butter".

From the time of his settlement in Hyde to his removal from the town, Captain Clarke was in every sense the grand old man of the place. He was the principal figure at most public assemblies both in Hyde and in the neighbouring towns, and in the newspapers of the day his name is constantly found as that of a leader of public opinion in these portions of Lancashire and Cheshire. Few magistrates played so conspicuous a part in the great industrial agitation of the thirties and forties, and certainly none exhibited the same degree of coolness, or won the general regard of all parties as did Captain Clarke. Throughout the Chartists' risings he was constantly in request, and to his efforts the satisfactory termination of many unpleasant incidents was mainly due. More than once, as was to be expected, his loyalty and devotion to duty brought upon him the odium of the ring-leaders of the rioters, and sinister threats were hurled at his head. But the Captain through all remained the same fearless, open-hearted, English seaman, with an old fashioned idea of the dignity of his public position, and of the responsibility that position entailed. His loyalty to duty was proverbial and probably no man feared the consequences less than he.

Captain Clarke for many years lived at Hyde Hall and had a family of nine children, only one of whom has survived, Mr. John Clarke, of Brook House, Oswestry, who has supplied the writer with much interesting matter concerning the early history of Hyde. Among other things of interest is the following extract from one of his letters which shows the prominence of Captain Clarke's position as a magistrate and a leading public man, besides throwing a side-light on one very important event of local history.

Mr. Clarke writes:

"I remember well the murder of Thos. Ashton. We were at supper and I happened to look out through the window; my sailor father did not like the blinds down so that he might "study" the stars - and saw someone hastening up the front court. Soon after there was a furious knocking at the front door that startled most of us and the man came in to ask my father to go up to Pole Bank. My mother did not wish him to go, for Stephens, I think it was, had said, "Mrs. Clarke would make a nice widow." You know my father was very active at the time. The man said, 'Captain, if you will give me your little book, I will swear this is the blood of Thomas Ashton on my hands.' After that he went, and I think called for Mr. Chorlton, Magistrate's Clerk, who lived at Wood End."

It is worthy of note that Captain Clarke's activity in suppressing the spirit of riot and lawlessness which was so rife about this period, won him the thanks of the war office and of the Earl of Stamford, and he was widely looked up to as one of the principal forces for the maintenance of law and order in the cotton district.

Among other striking incidents of Captain Clarke's career, was his connection with Louis Napoleon on the occasion of the latter's visit to Manchester, in 1839. The Prince carried letters of introduction to Captain Clarke, who stayed with the party at the Royal Hotel in Manchester. The Royal guests inspected several mills in the district, and attended a dramatic representation of one of Charles Dickens' novels, at the Theatre Royal.

Captain Clarke devoted much attention to the immediate social and religious needs of his own town. He was the moving spirit in the erection of St. George's Church, obtaining the gift of the site from his half-brother George. He also was mainly instrumental in securing the means wherewith to build, and for a long time was the principal supporter of the edifice. In politics Captain Clarke was a staunch Conservative, and was a prominent figure and a leading speaker at most of the great meetings in Lancashire and Cheshire. His removal from Hyde to Llangollen was felt as a great loss to the community, and his death in 1857 was deeply regretted. There was, perhaps, no greater favourite with all classes about Hyde than Captain Clarke. He is still widely spoken of with great feeling, and his memory will go down to future generations as that of an upright, honest man, who strove to live up to the highest ideal of an English gentleman.

Captain Clarke married, in 1808, Ann Joyce, of Whitchurch, by whom he had issue

• Hyde, b. 1813, d. 1858, buried at Swanawick, Jamaica.
• Edward, b 1815, d. 1874, buried in St. George's Churchyard, Hyde.
• Henry, b. 1816, d. 1855, buried at Llantysilio, Denbighshire.
• John, b. 1820, still living at Oswestry.
• Sophia Ann (Peacock), b. 1809. d. 1879, buried at St. Peter's, Ashton-u-Lyne.
• Sarah, b. 1810, buried in St. George's Church, Hyde.
• Emma Beetenson (Cocks), b. 1811, d. 1846, buried at St. Peter's Oldham.
• Elizabeth Mary, b. 1825, d. 1841, buried in St. George's Church, Hyde.
• Fanny, b. 1828, d. 1874, buried in St. George's Church, Hyde.

The Tomb of Thomas Beeley

I was recently sent this old photograph of the Beeley Tomb by Shane Sawyer who now lives in Australia.

I wasn't sure where it was but the building on the left in the background looked very much like Hyde Hospital so I surmised it was located in Hyde Cemetery. Houses have been built on Grange Road South in the meantime so the view across to the old hospital would be blocked now.

I found the tomb in Hyde Cemetery. It sits alone from the rest of the graves just North of the chapel.

The railings are now covered in vegetation precluding any view beyond.


On this old photograph only the following part of the inscription is visible

In loving memory of Thomas Beeley of Polebank Hall, Hyde who died June 5th 1908 in the 75th year of his age. Also of Elizabeth ...

Now the inscription on the Southern side is so worn as to be barely readable. However the Northern side is still visible and reads

In loving memory of Elsbeth Jessie, daughter of T.C & L.A. Beeley of Bowlacre, Gee Cross. Born March 31st 1901, Died August 16th 1901. Also of the above named Thomas Carter Beeley born October 10th 1869, died June 9th 1909.

Alongside the tomb now is a smaller gravestone in loving memory of Jane Slater of Brookfield, Woodend Lane, Hyde who died April 4th 1926 in her 57th year.

Other short-lived daughters of Thomas Beeley are buried at St. George's.

For the contemporary photographs visit Hyde Daily Photo and Hyde DP Xtra.

Hyde Grammar School Photo July 1959

Seftonwallet has just added a new video to his YouTube collection. It is an eight-minute scan over the school photo from 1959.

Waiting at the Travellers Call

The Travellers Call was a public house on Joel Lane just above Slateacre.

Who they are and what all these people were waiting here for some 100 years ago, I cannot say.

Neither do I know when the pub was converted to a private residence.

Waiting is the CDPB theme for today; click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Alfred Woolley in his Shop Doorway

Denys Meakin sent me this photograph of his wife's great grandfather, Alfred Woolley, sitting outside his grocery store at 284 Stockport Rd, Gee Cross, around 1900.


This second photograph is probably ten to twenty years later and shows the premises on the corner of Knott Lane. Denys' wife lived next door at 286 Stockport Road until their marriage in 1959.

With two-foot-thick walls, it dates back to around 1750 and was one of the earliest buildings in Gee Cross. At one time, it was apparently a pub, The Beeston Castle.

In the forties and fifties, the shop was Johnny Graham's barber shop.


This third photograph is © Denys Meakin and taken in 2003. Compare it with my own photograph from 2008.

Today the CDPB theme is Doorways: Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Whittaker's Whim

About a hundred years ago in the old quarry below the Werneth Hotel on Stockport Road was found what was known as Frederick Whittaker's Whim.

I've been unable to find much out about this, but it is mentioned in an obscure, rambling spoof poem by James Leigh.

...
Just take a walk up o'er Werneth Low, and there you will behold
That grand and noble structure at the foot of yonder hill
An ever lasting monument of architectural skill.

We then besieged the palace of King Frederick the Great.
That tumble-down old building on the Back Bower Estate
But not a Godl(e)y soul we found in that ungodly place,
So we razed the building to the ground and left of it no trace

We then marched through the city of Gee Cross, but, strange to say,
The city's ancient glory has long since passed away;
The only ancients that we saw, beside old Freddie's whims
Was Robin and his brother Jam, the famous Gee Cross twins.

We halted on Mount Pleasant, and as we gazed around
We felt that we were standing upon historic ground,
For the foot of Treacle Hill stood gloomy, dark and grim,
The ruins of a temple, His Majesty's first Whim.

Each warrior bowed his crested head above Stone Pit wall,
And thus each one soliloquised upon the city's fall.

Oh, city of the ancients, we gaze upon you now,
Shorn of thy former glory how desolate art thou;
Thy Market Hall, without a roof, is crumbling to decay
Thy public park and pleasure grounds have long since passed away

But soon we noticed that the sun was sinking in the west,
And weather it was time or not, of course the sun knew best,
But we ourselves were very weary, though only half-past nine,
The heat is so oppressive in that Oriental clime.

We sought a refuge for the night at Doorbar's famous inn
...

Stone Pit is a reference to the reservoir now used for fishing and Doorbar's is a reference to the Grapes Hotel.

Now the old quarry is full of modern houses which you can see on Hyde Daily Photo and the quarry wall can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

St Andrew's Whit Walk

On Friday I showed you United Methodist Sunday School preparing for their Whit Walk.

Today we see St Andrew's Church on John Street.

It was a mission church and according to The Annals of Hyde

Mission work in the St. Andrew's district was begun in 1874 in the Temperance Hall, by the Revs. W. H. White, Dudley, Diggs, and Dr. Smith. Success attending the movement, the present buildings were erected in 1875. For a time Dr. Smith had sole charge of the budding church, but in 1885 it was again taken over by the Rev. W. H. White, and the Rev. D. S. Bowen became Curate-in-Charge. During his time the purchase of the building was completed; whilst a fund for providing an endowment (towards which the Bishop of Chester's Fund granted £1,000) was completed by locally raised sums in 1897. In 1893 the Rev. M. Wilson, M. A., succeeded Mr. Bowen, and was in turn succeeded in 1896 by the Rev. W. Graham, under whom many improvements have been effected. The present curate is the Rev. J. Lawton.

Remnants of John Street remain both North and South of the M67 but the motorway destroyed the middle of it.

Whit Walks: United Methodists

Last year on Whit Friday I brought you a photograph of the walkers outside St George's Church and I also posted a view of walkers in Gee Cross.

This year I am bringing you the United Methodist Sunday School, George Street.

I don't know the age of the photograph, and I wasn't sure of the whereabouts of George Street which is not marked on modern A-Z atlases.

According to The Annals of Hyde

In the year 1830 the (Methodist New) Connexion commenced work in Hyde, a small room in Cross Street being used for religious worship. In 1833, the Church had grown sufficiently to warrant the erection of a small chapel in George Street. The leading spirit in the movement about that time seems to have been a Mr. John Leech. A Sunday school was formed and this appears to have strengthened the church. Progress continuing, the large George Street Chapel was erected in 1858. The old schools were replaced in 1885 by the present spacious building adjoining the chapel.

I've recently learnt that George Street was completely obliterated by the building of the M67 motorway.

Hyde Grammar School: More boys from '57

A follow up to Boys of 57 Reunion.

Hyde GS: Boys of '57 Reunion

After 50 years, a few of the 1957 intake of boys from that year, get together for a reunion to celebrate a past and superior age. Amazingly, these old buggers can remember the words to the School Song.

Prince Henry in Hyde

On Thursday 6th February 1930, Prince Henry, third son of George V, visited Hyde.

He was met at Pole Bank by the Mayor, Alderman Middleton.


Crowds lined the route along Stockport Road and Market Street all the way from Gee Cross to the Town Hall.

The entourage of dignatories proceeded to Beeley Street where the Prince was presented with a gold key which he used to open the new Hyde Lads Club. There he was treated to a gymnastic display.


The procession then made its way to the Town Hall where, after a presentation, lunch was served to 300 guests which included the Mayors of several neighbouring towns.

Afterwards the Mayor and the Chief Constable accompanied the Prince to Broomstair Bridge where they handed him over to the Lord Mayor of Manchester.