Trevor Grimshaw

This is a picture that we've got by Trevor Grimshaw showing St George's Church and on the back of the drawing is a sticker showing where it was drawn:

My early 1960s A-Z shows that Vulcan Street ran between Cross Street and Boardman Street and parallel to Great Norbury Street:

Vulcan Street isn't named on the 1897 map of Hyde but it does show the passageway depicted in the drawing:

The Boars Head

Here is a photo of The Boars Head which stood at 

145-147 George Street.

The pub which was commonly known as the "Boars Nut" was closed down in 1974 by compulsory purchase, along with many fine old pubs, to make way for the new motorway which split 

Hyde in two.

Many thanks to Tom for supplying the photograph and Paul for the information. - Great team work.

Roman roads in the Hyde area

I have been interested for many years now in trying to see if there is any evidence of roman roads passing through the Hyde area. The nearest certain Roman camps or stations are situated in Castleshaw Manchester (Mamucium) and Melandra Castle, Glossop (Ardotalia). Stockport is also possible, but despite strong local tradition, there is little evidence of a Roman site.

A few Roman coins have been found on the banks of the Mersey many years ago, other Roman coins cropped up east of Bredbury railway station in the 1930's and also a coin found in Hyde in 1905.

The first possibility is a road from Stockport crossing an old ford on the Mersey near the market place, this continuing through Bredbury into Hyde as Stockport Road. This road then possibly continues along Mottram Old Road to Melandra Castle in Glossop. (See maps )

A Roman road from Melandra castle to the Cheshire area has been said to cross Werneth Low at some point, whether it's the same road as above or a different one is debatable.

The third possibility is the road from Castleshaw in Manchester to Melandra castle in Glossop. If a straight line is drawn between the two it passes straight through the centre of Hyde and Godley.

The Roman road builders would always try and build their roads as straight as possible, but obviously due to geographical conditions , it was not always possible, so some deviations are inevitable. Even so this road must have passed through Hyde at some place.

I have checked the internet, but unfortunately it does not come up with anything definite, only vague references.

Middletons's History of Hyde says the following:-

The main road, which ran from Chester to York by way of Manchester, was joined by crossways which connected the forts at Manchester with those at Stockport, Melandra and Brough in the Vale of Hope. The road from Stockport passed over Werneth low to Melandra thence under the base of Buckton Hill through Saddleworth, when it joined the main road from Manchester to York.

It would be nice to try and locate the Castleshaw to Melandra road, as it appears as far as I can see, without contacting local archeologists , that we seem to have been missed out. Admittedly due to all the modern roads and buildings, it may be impossible now to locate them, somebody may have some knowledge of possible locations. If anyone has any info or suspicions please let us know.

View from Flowery Field Church

This is a cutting from 'The Reporter' of 21 February 1991.

The street map below is from the pre-motorway A-Z and shows the streets in this part of Hyde before the demolition teams moved in. I've skewed the map a bit so it's more or less looking straight down Newton Street, but in the opposite direction to the photograph. Flowery Field Church is the small cross at the top left next to Newton Street.

On the left-hand side of the picture just above Carrfield Mill is a row of houses:

These are on the south side of Bank Street, and the short street which runs upwards on the right-hand side of the row is Pitt Street which leads to Grafton Street.

At the extreme bottom right of the picture you can just see the start of Dukinfield Road, and above that the backs of a row of houses:

These houses are on the north side of Mary Street. The photograph was obviously taken late in the day as you can see the shadow of these houses on Newton Street and the sunlight showing where Mary Street is. Going up Newton Street the next patch of sunlight is George Street and then at the top you've got Market Street.

It's a pity it's only a newspaper photograph as it limits the amount of detail you can see, but I'm sure that people who know the Hyde of that time a lot better than I do will be able to pick out other buildings of interest.

Was this the longest Street in Hyde ??

George Street was always rumoured to be the longest Street in Hyde although I have recently been told that that honour goes to Apple Street. 

Does anybody know the answer ? 
George Street was certainly a contender .

 
George Street Shops looking down towards Newton Street, approx 1950's.

 
Hyde Methodist Chapel(New Connexion),or George Street Chapel as it was more commonly known 
  Looking down George Street from Newton Street, Spinners Arms on left. 

A 125 Manchester bus parked up in Hyde Bus station, George Street at the back with Tanner Street to the right 

The bottom end of George Street at the junction with Hoviley Brow. 

More Old Adverts from 1968

Below are a selection of adverts taken from the

1968 edition of the Green Guide,

which was a local Yellow Pages type publication.

The good old Kingston Stink !

The Irish Rising of 1841

 The following article can be found in the 

Annals of Hyde and District 

by Thomas Middleton

 

Captain Hyde John Clarke RN JP

Hattersley Monkey Puzzle Tree

The Hattersley Monkey Puzzle tree was planted in 1968 by Barry Tongue in the back garden of his house on Garnett Road. The house along with others in the area were demolished as part of the Hattersley redevelopment plan. By then the tree had become a local landmark and a preservation order was placed on it in 2007. 
Other Roads demolished to make way for a Tesco Superstore were were Garnett Close, Garnett Way, Vannes Grove, Hayward Way and Moreton Way.




The Tree before it was moved to its present location on Ashworth Lane.
Mottram Church, or St Michael & All Angels to give it its proper name, can be seen in the background.


As seen from Ashworth Lane before the move. McDonalds can be seen in the distance.


Aeriel view of the Monkey Puzzle Tree, near bottom middle, after the houses were demolished to make way for the Tesco store.


Map of where the monkey puzzle tree stood before Tesco was built.

In 2010, after planning permission was granted for the superstore to be built on the site, the tree was moved around the corner to the other side of Ashworth Lane.

New Home for Tree 

Thanks to Gerald England! :)

Beames Advert

A photo showing Beames when the shop stood on George Street.This was before the motorway cut through Hyde and George Street disappeared.



Thanks to Nick C. for use of the photo. :) 
Much appreciated.

Hoviley farm

Below is an excerpt taken from Thomas Middletons'

"History of Hyde".

It talks of Hoviley Farm, which I once believed to be the buildings on the map below marked by a cross and next to plot number 59.
I have recently been told it was at the opposite end of Hoviley Brow so am now looking for clarification on where it was located.

I have never come across any more information or photographs of this farm. If anyone knows anything about it please dont hesitate to get in touch with us at hydonian@gmail.com and we will add the info to this post!

Thank you !

Hyde United Football Programme

Today we have a couple of pages from a Hyde United programme dated November 11th 1950.

Some great old adverts from long gone businesses.

Many Thanks to Susan for sending them to us. :)
If anyone else has anything similar, please dont hesitate to send them to us.
All photos and memories much appreciated !

Another spooky story

The following is an article from the North Cheshire Herald of the 20th July 1995. It tells of ghostly events in an old warehouse on Albion Street. Albion street is now no more, but used to run from Great Norbury Street to Henry Street, between Croft Street and Corporation Street. The Millenium play area now occupies the site. It was named from the Albion mechanical engineering works which was situated on Henry Street approx where Hatton Grange is now. If anyone knows any more about the warehouse please get in touch.

Demolition of Queen Street,

Here is a photo that is quite dear to my heart as my Nan lived on Queen Street.

I spent most of my childhood playing around this area.
She lived in one of the three houses that were attached to Norths Yard at the Lumb Road end of Queen Street.( The far left of the photo)





A similar view, looking down what was Queen Street and is now home to Greenfield Primary School.

Courtesy of Google maps.

George Street

George Street's location was from it's starting point at Edward St, (at this point it was known as George Street West), then crossing Rochfort St, Catherine St, Elizabeth St, Newton St, Clarendon St, Hamnett St and finally ending at Hoviley Brow.

During it's life George Street was one of the longest streets in Hyde and at various periods boasted around 12 public houses, the exact location of some of them cannot be ascertained:-

The Brunswick
Spinners Arms
Star Inn
Black Horse
Blue Pig
Boars Head
Carpenters Arms
Dog and Partridge
Railway Tavern
Royal Hotel
Sun Inn
Woodman Inn

At the bottom end of George St was a large factory known in the early days as Brookside Hat Works, later taken over by Oldham & Fogg , Felt hat makers and then by Northide ltd who made protective clothing.

In 1833 a small chapel was built on George st for the "Methodist New Connexion" church. This was later substantially enlarged incorporating school premises and a small burial ground in 1858. The name of the church was changed in 1907 to the United Methodist Church.

George Street was virtually eliminated when the new motorway was constructed in the late 1970's. I say virtually because you can still walk on a part of what was George Street West. If you go down Edward Street, near the railway bridge on Manchester Road, the area at the very bottom, approx the width of the road square, was part of George Street West.

Map of George Street area around the 1840's.

  

The bottom end of George Street looking down towards Hoviley in the early 1960's. The shop on the right at the junction of Russell Street was S. Bridge, upholsterers and carpet fitters. 

The bottom end of George Street at the junction with Hoviley Brow. The large factory was Northide Ltd, who made industrial and protective clothing. Approx date early 1960's. 

A 125 Manchester bus parked up in Hyde Bus station, George Street at the back with Tanner Street to the right.

George Street Shops looking down towards Newton Street, approx 1950's.

United Methodist School Building approx 1960's

Looking down George Street from Newton Street, Spinners Arms on left.