Bowling Green Pavilion 2007

Bowling Green Pavilion in Hyde Park taken in 2007, when it had been damaged by fire.
The Pavilion has since been restored.





Photos kindly sent to us by Phil Shawdale.
Many Thanks, Phil ! :)

"Didn't we have a lovely time..."

A day out for the Bowlers from the George and Dragon pub, Newton.
Sometime in the 1950s.

I'm not sure where they are but I'm sure someone may recognise a couple of them.







These 3 photos were sent to us by Colin Critchlow - Many Thanks, Colin !

Hyde Gentleman's Club

Here is another great photo from Marjorie...

"This group are outside Hyde Gentlemen's Club.  Where was that? Mr Wilkinson (of the farm on the Low) is 2nd from right on the middle row."




Here is a link to some information about Hyde Gentleman's Club from a previous post.
Hyde Gentleman's Club

Thanks again, Marjorie :)

Air Raid Shelters.

We recently received this email from David Mills who is looking for any information or photographs of air raid shelters around Hyde.

If anyone has any info, please contact us :)

Over to David,

"Hi There,

I now find myself checking the Hydonian blog everyday as it brings back so many memories to me and the site/content is excellent.

I was wondering if you had managed to find anything on Air Raid shelters in Hyde, as these  intrigued me as a kid in the late sixties/early seventies.  I remember there being two or three at the back of the scout hut on Dukinfield Road and also one in the woods (we used to call Jackson Woods/blue dye woods) between Flowery Field House and Dukinfield Road.  I heard there was one in Hyde park/woods, but we never found this.

I expect these Air Raid shelters were provided by Ashton Brothers for their workers, but there must have been lots of Air Raid shelters and I was wondering if any still exist or if there was an inventory in existence?

Going through your blog, and the topics, you just can't believe what has happened to Hyde and what's been taken away, particularly the motorway and the houses and shops that went.

I am sorry, I don't have any photos, but I am sure somebody has! "

Here are a few photo's courtesy of John Hopwood.


Queen Street Air raid shelters located next to (and under?) the James North Bowling Green.

Many thanks, John :)

Grapes Bowling Club Gee Cross

There is a history of a bowling green at the hotel for over 100 years with members paying an annual green fee to the licensee who was the brewery’s representative and responsible for maintenance of the green.

The present club was formally founded on Monday January 26 1953.

Although there is no record of any club prior to this date several present day members recall watching bowling matches as young kids in the early 1930’s.

One team was entered in the Hyde & Denton league and the following year a second team was entered. By 1963 the licensee had changed and he had requested excessive greenage fees so it was agreed to hire the implements from him and find our own Greensman. By now we had teams in the H&D, Ashton & Chadderton leagues and in 1972 a rule was passed forbidding the animals to graze on the green. A new club pavilion was erected for the start of 1974 season and the Hyde & Denton had changed to the Tameside league. In January 1978 we were asked to arrange a handicap to celebrate 200 years of selling beer at the Grapes but Robinsons brewery refused to sponsor the event. 

One of our celebrated members was Bernard Kelly, twice winner of the Waterloo in 1953 & 1954, but it must be said that he won the events before joining Grapes and a current member, John Bancroft, has also won the Waterloo.

Talbot Ladies transferred to the Grapes club in 1982 and have been very successful ever since in the Oldham league.

The club had teams accepted into the Longdendale & Stockport leagues in 1984.

S&D Veterans Pairs Division C Winners 2008

R. Ewing (inset)                                                N. Shore (inset)

K Knowles J Redfern W Sefton D Catlow E Mills H Richardson

D. Topping A Birtchall E Downs (Capt) R Barron

 R Barlow (upper) F Rigby ( lower ) D Jones A Hodkinson 

Amongst other competition wins have been The Bruner cup and the Husband cup and 2010 Merit winner in S&D premier league was club member Dave Walker.

Current position of teams is: 

Longdendale 1team

Tameside 1 team

Tameside Vets 2 teams

Stockport & District 2 teams

Stockport & District Vets 2 teams

Failsworth 1 team

Oldham Ladies 1 team

Tameside Ladies 1 team

This post as kindly been submitted by Eric Downs... if you would like to submit something yourself please get in touch.