Hedge Laying At Pole Bank

My thanks once again to David Barlow and The Friends Of Pole Bank Hall for this video showing some of The Friends having a lesson in Hedge Laying.

Pole Bank Video

Another great video from Dave Barlow (Friends Of Pole Bank) . It will always be my pleasure to see items coming in from Pole Bank. Dave sent this in a while back now when the site was not being updated... and for that I am sorry for the delay. Anyhow sit back and enjoy the film.

I had intended to go to Pole Bank last week with my camera and get some recent shots but could not make it on the day. I will however get there and take pictures to seeing how the work as now blended back into its surroundings.

Thanks again Dave  

Friends Of Pole Bank

Thank you to Dave Barlow for sending in another great video of the on going restoration work in the grounds of Pole Bank Hall

Dave says that Pole Bank played a big part in his development as a young lad and he's sure it did with many others who lived around Gee Cross. Dave and the others are putting in quite a bit of work in restoring the grounds and pond. Dave thinks its a pity many of today's kids don't experience the old lifestyles of rope swings, building a dam, climbing a tree!, looking for birds nests, collecting conkers and all the rest of it on long hot summer days with good mates.

I took part in all those activities and more, and Pole Bank played a big part in my younger days so I am more than pleased to be able to show the video's  and keep folk updated about what is being done by the Friends Of Pole Bank group. Well done to all involved in this cause. 

Here's a few pictures I took of the place a while back.

I have many pictures of Pole Bank taken over a number of years now but I can find most of them... I will keep looking. In the mean time here are a few of the many birds to be found in the woods and gardens.

Robin  ‎January ‎2005

Thrush  March ‎2009

Siskin    ‎March ‎2009

Great Tit   ‎March ‎2009

Greater Spotted Woodpecker  ‎November ‎2008

When I come across others I will add them or save them for another post.

Pole Bank Hall

Here is a postcard of a  lovely shot of the main entrance to Pole Bank Hall which we don't often see ...
 
 

Many thanks, as always, to Werneth Low :)

Friends of Pole Bank

Below is a superb video from Dave Barlow 

and the Friends of Pole Bank.

 

Over to Dave...

"Hi Hydonians....You might be interested in this short promotional video featuring some of the work carried out by 'Friends of Pole Bank'  We are a fledgling group and any new members who are willing to pick up a brush, spade or perhaps do some litter picking will be welcome. We usually meet the first Sunday every month as a minimum.

We've had the solid support of Councillor Philip Fitzpatrick behind the Group, he has obtained funding for us and organised renovation of pathways into the woods and restoration of the damaged stone bridge also within the woodland. Of course in these times where services are having to be curtailed funding has its limits and so we are constantly looking at new ways to raise money as there are many projects that could be carried out at Pole Bank.

The pond itself is one of the main breeding grounds for amphibians in the area however since it was dredged in early 2010 there has been a marked drop in the water level due to some leakage. We managed to locate this leak a month or so ago and thanks to repairs carried out by Tameside Engineers we are hopeful that the water level should now increase substantially.

                                

(For any closet Cliff Richard fans the music on this one should get at least one foot tapping!)

Dave Barlow"

Thanks so much to all concerned for making Pole Bank a lovely place to visit and, of course, to Dave for the video and information. :)

Gerrards, Gee Cross

"As a youngster during the War, a favourite place to play was Pole Bank and between exploring in the woods and playing Cricket or Football on the paddock [until the groundsman threw us off] we had a great time. 

On the way home, we would turn left outside Pole Bank and I remember a setback row of old cottages and then Bagshaw's farm then another row of cottages that came out to the sidewalk and at the end of this row was a tower. I came across this photo the other day in a book and it brought memories flooding back. This was our "Haunted House". At that time is was in disrepair and nothing like the photo here but, you could go inside and climb the stairs and look out of the upstairs windows. For some reason it seemed to us as the scariest place around and we were convinced it was haunted. Even though we were scared to death to go inside, somehow kids were, and probably still are, wanting to get scared, perhaps because we knew that however scared we were, we always got safely home for our dinner. 

The caption on the photo says that it was built by the Ashtons and was a clock tower to help their employees get to work on time.There was an inscription around the clock face "Whilst thou lookest I fly".... "


   
Another great account and photo sent to us by Graham Sharp. 
Many Thanks, Graham !!

Pole Bank Hall Past Occupants

Pole Bank Hall   (Past occupants and their families)

 

Pole Bank Film

Hope this is of interest to Pole Bank lovers like myself. I've done the research, cross-checked, double-checked and all the rest of it and pretty sure all facts and dates are now spot on but of course welcome any scrutiny.  The music I'm sure you won't be taking along to any parties but I think it fits the mood in this case.

Many thanks to sources of information used including  thepeerage.com (top class site and free) /Graces Guide/ Tameside Estates Dept./Tameside Archives.

Another great post by David Barlow.
Many Thanks !

Hyde Chapel Whit Walks

Yesterday we received the following email ...

Over to Trish ....  

"In the past week you posted a lovely video of Pole Bank. Our Hyde Chapel whitwalks procession went down to Pole Bank to sing to the old folks (that must have made them feel better!) 
Anyway, I found some old pictures that my dad took, must be from about 1956/57 . Nice to see the old trolley bus again. One of the pictures shows my dads Morris Oxford outside Pole Bank (look at the quiet road, bliss, those were the days!) 
The last photo is of me and my friends on the walk. I am the girl with the shoulder bag and dark pudding basin hat (Mum, what were you thinking of, it looks awful!)"  

What wonderfully evocative photos they are, Trish !  I love your haircut by the way !!
Thanks for sending them to us. 
Much appreciated ! :)

Pole Bank Video

This excellent short film was sent to us by David Barlow.....
Click the link below which will take you to YouTube.

 Pole Bank Video

Hi Hydonians, For any of you who haven't had a wander around the pond and woodlands of Pole Bank lately this might be right up your street. It won't win any BAFTAs and Charlton Heston's not in it but I think it does capture some of the beauty and nature in Pole Bank. If you click on the link it should take you straight to You Tube. The quality suffers a bit on full screen on You Tube so it might look better just on expanded. If any kids watching start yawning...tell them to look out for a glimpse of Hyde Chapel steeple which makes a fleeting cameo appearance.
Many Thanks David !! :) Much appreciated !

George Frederick Byrom of Pole Bank

David Barlow sent us this fascinating article.....

"Hi Hydonians, I think this guy deserves putting on record for his sheer generosity"
George Frederick Byrom of Pole Bank

....of course we are all familiar with the link between Pole Bank and the Ashton family followed by the Beeley family but ultimately it was George Frederick Byrom who bequeathed his entire estate comprising Hall, gardens and woodland to the people of Hyde.

George was a wealthy Manchester cotton manufacturer, devout Wesleyan Methodist and was General Treasurer of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society for many years. He married Susannah Bowker of Manchester, they had 1 son and 3 daughters (source-who's who in methodism 1933)

George died 30th March 1942, his wishes were that upon his wife's death (Susannah died 26th February 1945) ownership of the Estate be transferred to the Corporation of Hyde for the people of Hyde with some conditions ......' upon trust that the said Corporation shall preserve the same for the use and recreation of the public in such manner and subject to such regulations in all respects as the Council of the said Corporation may from time to time think proper but subject nevertheless to the Corporation entering into a covenant that the said land and premises shall not be used for the purposes of Sunday games or Sunday music and that the sale or consumption of alcoholic liquor shall be prohibited on the said premises....' "

Attachments:  Transfer of land and property from the Estate of George Frederick Byrom to the people of Hyde

Area of land (edged in red) given to the people of Hyde by George Frederick Byrom

Thanks for sharing this with us, David. 

It's a great piece of local history !

Thomas Beeley & Son Boiler Makers

David Barlow has sent us some more information regarding the Beeleys of Pole Bank.

"Thought Hydonians might be interested in these photos unless they are already on the blog....

Thomas Beeley & Son  Boiler Makers  Hyde Junction  (Founded 1875)

Thomas Beeley late of Pole Bank, Hyde was born in 1833 and died in June 1908 aged 75 years.   His son Thomas Carter Beeley of Bowlacre, Hyde died in June 1909 in his fortieth year and one year after the death of his father."

 

 Thomas Beeley of Pole Bank, Hyde

 

 Thomas Carter Beeley of Bowlacre, Hyde

Much appreciated, David ! :)

Thomas Beeley of Pole Bank.

 David Barlow has sent us this interesting document

"Thought this may be of interest to Hydonians"

Couple of documents highlighting Pole Banks history and the fragmentation of the Thomas Beeley Estate following his death in 1908 and subsequent auction in 1912 after which I believe Pole Bank Hall was then leased for 7 years to Thomas Kerfoot.

The Hall and Grounds were purchased in 1920 by George Frederick Byrom for £4200. George Byrom died in 1942 and in 1946 in accordance with his will and wishes Pole Bank Hall and Grounds were bequeathed to the Corporation of Hyde for the use and recreation of the general public.

"This information is accurate to my knowledge however I stand to be corrected through your comments section"

Thomas Beeley of Pole Bank, Hyde

Many Thanks, David. :)

The Murder of Mr Thomas Ashton

On January 3^rd 1831 Thomas Ashton was shot dead as he made his way from his home at Pole Bank to Apethorn Mill. This was a story I vividly remember reading in 'The History of Hyde' when I was very young.

Pole Bank

Location of Apethorn Mill at the bottom of Apethorn Lane

The gate posts are just about all that's left now of the mill

'The History of Hyde' contains a chapter on the murder of Thomas Ashton and the subsequent efforts to bring the persons responsible to justice. The following report is from the Stockport Advertiser of January 7^th, 1831 headed 'HORRIBLE MURDER':

'On Monday last one of the most cruel and sanguinary murders which ever disgraced a civilized people, was perpetrated on the body of Mr. Thomas Ashton, eldest son of Samuel Ashton, Esq., of Pole Bank, Werneth, in this parish, so early as seven o'clock in the evening. The victim of this cold-blooded and diabolical act of assassination, who was in his 24^th year, and remarkable for his kind and conciliating disposition and manners, had the management of a new mill belonging to his father at Woodley, from whence he had just returned and was on his way to the other mill at Apethorn to superintend for his younger brother, James, who had just left home to spend the evening with a family near Stockport. The father and mother were in the house at the time waiting the return of the carriage to join the brother and the other part of the family who had gone with him, and the effect of so distressing a communication may more easily be imagined than described. It appeared on the examination of the witnesses before the coroner that the unfortunate gentleman had not proceeded on the public highway, after quitting the private road, which leads from Pole Bank to Apethorn Mills, more than 30 yards, before he was shot; and it would appear on examination of the premises about the fatal spot that the assassins had awaited his approach, sitting behind a hedge bank on the road side, which situation gave them the best opportunity of seeing or hearing the approach of their victim from his father's house down the private pathway. The breast was perforated at the edge of the bone by two bullets from a horse pistol or blunderbuss, which had passed out at the left shoulder blade , having taken an oblique direction upwards. His death must have been instantaneous, for when found his right hand was in his greatcoat pocket – a manner of placing it quite usual with him when walking. He was lying in a shallow ditch on the contrary side of the road to the one generally taken by the family when going to the mill, and this is accounted for by the supposition, that he must have retreated to the other side when approached by the assassin in order to avoid him. The muzzle of the weapon appears to have been placed close to his breast, as the wadding perforated his garments, and part of it – some coarse blue paper – had entered his body, and was concealed in the sternum. Other parts of it – some white adhesive plaister – which had covered the balls, having been folded four times, had not entered the body, but was removed with the clothes; and the use of this extraordinary material will, in all probability, lead to the detection of the villain.'

A reward of £500 was offered by his father, Samuel Ashton,  together with £500 by other relatives of the deceased, £500 by the Master Spinners of the district, and 'a promise of a pardon from the King, to any one of the three suspected persons who would give evidence; unless such person was the one who actually fired the shot'.

Picture from 'The History of Hyde'

The scene as it is today

Despite a confession from 'a mad Scotsman'  and a statement of complicity from another 'foolish individual' the mystery continued to defy solution, until in April 1834 a man in Derby gaol made statements likely to throw light upon the matter. The statements led to the arrest of two men in Marple and on May 5^th, 1834 three men – James Garside, Joseph Mosley and William Mosley were commited for trial. Before the day of the trial arrived it became known that William Mosley had turned King's evidence.

At the trial William Mosley had this to say about the murder:

'A short space afterwards there came a man down the footpath towards the clap gate. The man was in the footpath leading from Mr. Ashton's. Garside got up, and met him in the field before he got through the gate, and pointed the piece at him. He gave way. Garside fired. When Mr. Ashton gave way he only went a little out of the way. Garside met him, and he went back. He had got through the clap gate when he fired, and was going along the road to the mill. The man who was shot fell across the road, with his head towards the right hand side, opposite to where I was. We immediately ran away, and I made the best of my way across the fields to the second canal bridge.'

Despite Garside trying to throw the blame onto Joseph Mosley, and Joseph Mosley denying any knowledge of the crime they were both found guilty and sentenced to hang. Garside had been the man in Derby gaol who gave the information hoping to blame his accomplices, but the judge and jury chose to believe William Mosley's account. The execution took place on November 25^th, 1834 at Horsemonger Lane gaol in London.

The History of Hyde:

'The exact spot where Mr. Ashton fell was kept visible for years by the workpeople scraping their feet over it when passing, and thus preventing the grass growing there. Mr. Samuel Ashton subsequently had a number of stones embedded in the ditch to mark the place, and also planted over it an ash tree, to stand as a memorial of the tragedy.

A hundred years have rolled by since the murder, and the loneliness of the spot where the crime took place has now disappeared. Mr. Samuel Ashton erected two cottages close to the spot where the private path from Pole Bank joined Apethorn Lane. In the second decade of the 20^th century Miss Ethel Dowson erected two other cottages on the opposite side of the lane, and the garden gate of the one nearer Gee Cross is within a yard of the place where the murdered man fell. The exact spot in which Mr. Ashton's body was found is now marked by a grid. When the property higher up the lane was erected in 1927-8, the hedge and ditch with the memorial stones and the solitary ash tree, were removed, and the land added to the road.'

The cottages erected by Samuel Ashton

The cottages erected by Ethel Dowson. The grid on the corner in front of the green bins is, if its position has not been altered in the intervening years, where Thomas Ashton's body was found.

As to the reason for the shooting, 'The History of Hyde' says: 'The crime was rightly regarded as an attempt, on the part of the extremists in the trade union movement, to terrorise the employers', and in his evidence William Mosley says that when they met up again he asked Garside which of the Ashtons he had shot and was told that: 'it didn't matter which it was; it was one of them.'

Thomas Ashton is buried, together with both his parents, in Hyde Chapel graveyard.

The Ashton Family grave

Thomas Ashton, died 3 January 1831 aged 23

Mary Ashton, his mother, died 2 July 1835 aged 55

Samuel Ashton, his father, died 13 March 1849 aged 75

History of Hyde Cricket Club part 1

We received this wonderful history of Hyde Cricket Club the other day from Lee Brown and I have decided to print it in full as it is so informative. 
I have done it over two posts...

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did !

Over to you, Lee !

Dear team, my name is Lee Brown and I am the unnofficial historian at Hyde CC. I enclose a brief history of the Club along with a few photos that I think readers of the blog will find interesting. I wrote a book about the history of the Club for the centenary in 2001. It was entitled 'Station Yer Fielders Down By The Shed' and copies are still available from Bill Harrison's paper shop or from the Club.

The Club was formed from the ashes of the Hyde Chapel Cricket Club and was the brainchild of James Hampson. He, along with other members of Hyde Chapel, had long been dissatisfied with the standard of cricket in the Hyde & District League, as well as the restrictions they had to play under with them being a church team. Hampson gathered support for his idea, notably from the Rev H.E.Dowson, His Worship The Mayor, Councillor T.C.Beeley and the local MP, Mr Chapman, who all agreed to attend an inaugral meeting on Dec 15th, 1900. The meeting went ahead and Hyde Cricket Club was formed, with The Rev.H.E. Dowson installed as the first president.

In that first season of 1901, only friendlies were played, the first match being at Strines on May 4th. Strines were dismissed for 27, with W.Sidebotham taking five wickets for five runs and Harry Ainsworth four for seven. Hyde batting second scored 64 for 2. W.E.Hampson 20* and captain George Gledhill 27*.

 

The first and second teams outside the pavilion at Pole Bank on July 18^th, 1914.

In the centre are Ernest Bardsley, Frank Cartwright, W.Radford, vice president John Robinson

and the president The Rev. H.E.Dowson.

 The Club joined the Glossop League in 1902 and were soundly thrashed in their first ever league game, which was played at Glossop St.James. Hyde scored 58 and Glossop replied with 147. Their first game at Pole Bank was on May 24th. when Hadfield were the visitors and with 5/14 from Sam Cheetham, Hadfield were dismissed for 47, replying to Hyde's 85.

After a fall out with the Glossop League over an interpretation of rules, Hyde resigned after just one season and joined the strangely titled North Derbyshire League for the 1903 season. I say strangely titled as there were only two clubs actually in Derbyshire, Birch Vale and New Mills St.Georges. Other clubs were Gorton, Fairfield, Haughton and Staley. In 1904 Hyde joined another league, the North Cheshire and finished as champions, the first honour for the Club. 1905 and guess what, yes another change of league, this time it was back to the Glossop League but only until 1907, when they joined the newly formed High Peak League, where the Club would remain until 1972. They were champions only once, in 1930 but the 2nd's won their division on no less than nine occasions.

When the Club was formed in 1900 they took over the old Hyde Chapel ground at Pole Bank, behind the Smith, Knight and Fay garage. Entry to the ground was through Bagshaw's farmyard and the field today is still there, as it was when it was a cricket ground. The Club's last game at Pole Bank was against Christy's on Sep 10th,1938. A new site on Werneth Low had been aquired but it would not be ready for the 1939 season and Walter Bagshaw, the owner of Pole Bank, kindly agreed to let the Club play another season there but as it happened they played all their games away. Preparation of the new ground on Werneth Low was halted when the machinery was requisitioned for the war effort and the first match on the Low was not until April 24th,1948 when Bredbury were the visitors and winners. Hyde 51 -Bredbury 82.

 

After posing for the previous photograph the 2^nd.xi. piled into this wagonette, the MAY FLOWER, for the trip to play Compstall. I have been able to identify the following. On the driver’s seat, L to R J.Mansfield (scorer), driver, C.Pike, Joe Higginbottom. Standing L to R, Harry Wild, J.Horsefield, W.Hampson, ? Seated L to R, A.Howarth, V.Davenport, A.Schoolden, F.Baddeley, Percy Oldham, Joe Ingleson. C’ttee member Mr J.Higginbottom is standing by the rear of the wagonette. The picture is taken on Stockport Road, outside Bagshaws Farm, facing the Woodley direction.

Some interesting facts from the Pole Bank era. Herbert Andrew scored the first century for Hyde CC 1st.xi, when he hit exactly 100 v New Mills, at Pole Bank, on Sep 16th, 1911. In 1913, against Mellor's 1st.xi., William Radford achieved what is still today, the best all round performance by a Hyde player, when he scored 108* and took 6/14. Newton lad Len Hopwood, of Lancashire and England fame, joined the Club in 1920 and despite taking 78 wickets and scoring 375 runs for the seconds, he didn't play one first team game and left after one season to join arch rivals Flowery Field. The new tea pavilion was opened in 1928. The Mayor, Councillor Tom Middleton, becomes the Club's sixth president in 1930. In 1932, all rounder Joe Higginbottom is made the Club's first Honoury Life Member. Two years later, Mrs Betsy Emery, landlady of The Cheshire Cheese, Gee Cross, becomes the second Honoury Life Member. Frank Schofield becomes the only player to take ten wickets in a match when he bowls all Christy's 2nd.xi.batsmen for five runs in 1937.

 

 

In the thirty five years of league cricket at Pole Bank, Ernest Bardsley scored approx.4,500 runs and took 175 wickets, Herbert Andrew scored approx. 3,464 runs and took 200 wickets and Joe Higginbottom took 720 wickets and scored over 2,000 runs. Other notable names from this period were the six feet three inches all-rounder George Minister, James.Hampson, Frank Hampson, George Gledhill, Harry Ainsworth, Frank Cartwright, Alec Lingard, J.H.Oldham, Percy Oldham, H.Ratcliffe, H.C.Fallowes, J.Atkinson, William Radford, A.Schoolden, F.Bradbury, R.Hill, J.Hadfield, Frank Baddeley, Robert Wilkinson, Charles and Cyril Walmsley, C.Burton, S.Richardson, F.Seddon, Joe.Ingleson, Frank Stafford, A.Cookson, P Newton, E.Newton, T.Newton, H.Newton, Isaac Pickering, W.Emery, H.Fallowes, T.L.Sidebotham, Eric Barlow, H.Oldham, Donald Blackwell, Tom Saxton, Ian Allen, H.Kinder, George Pollard, G.Hepplestone and Stephen Wright.

 

Pole Bank - Past and Present

 Two views of Stockport Road as it passes Pole Bank.

Pole Bank was once the family home of the Ashton Family. 
The Ashtons were among the earliest cotton pioneers in Hyde. From 1800 they worked as a family business with mills at Gerrards Wood and Wilson Brook at Godley. Six brothers were involved in the business which, as well as coal and cotton, also established the calico printing works at Newton Bank

Thanks to Elsie D. for sharing the top photo with us.


circa 1910


Circa 2010
Thanks to Google Maps.

Pole Bank

 

A lovely old colour postcard looking towards Pole Bank House.

How tranquil it all looks.

Pole Bank Woods - 50 years apart.

Another view of Pole Bank Woods here.

The first photo is of my other half, Duncan and his Dad ,sitting down on a tree during one of their many happy walks through Pole Bank. The photo was taken circa 1961.

If you look closely to the right of Duncan you can see some undergrowth that looks very like a gnome complete with beard, peeping.....can anyone else see it? I always thought something strange lived in those woods .... ;)

Now here is the same tree 50 years later. Pole bank is still a place of many happy walks and our dog being a showoff has sneaked onto the photo :) The tree trunk might have got a lot thicker but not much else has changed in there.

Tree Carvings in Pole Bank

Whilst out walking , Duncan captured some of the many tree carvings in Pole Bank Woods for us. The earliest one we've found so far is from 1922. I love tree carvings. They are full of history lessons and long lost declarations of love.
Please let us know if any of these are yours....



Rob K and Helen P's initials in a heart - I wonder if they're still together?



TW - Is this our very own Tom Wigleys moniker carved on a tree?



Tony - I'd like to think this mark was left by our dear departed friend Tony Collins ...



JB 1922 - Gone but not forgotten.



Swallows and Amazons anyone...?


More to follow........

Post Card From McKenzie's

 Our friend John T. was in McKenzie's Auto Repairers in Kirkley Street off Dowson Road, in their waiting room John saw an A4 paper scanned copy of a postcard of Hyde with a view of the paddling pool at Hyde Park, which we'd recently featured. John asked Mark McKenzie if he could borrow it to copy and send to us. It is a great post card and thank you John for thinking of the blog.

Whilst he was talking,  Mark related a story about the bottom left picture of the postcard that shows a view of The Lake at Pole Bank Hall. He said that a neighbour of his was taken to Pole Bank by his mother in the 1960's with a small red plastic battery operated boat. He launched the boat at on side of the lake and as it neared the far bank it sank! Last year whilst visiting his mother who was a resident in Pole Bank Nursing Home, he noted that the lake had been emptied and dredged and he wandered down with memories of the sad event over 40 years ago and lo and behold there was the red plastic boat on top of the pile of dredged mud and silt! Amazing. What a great story this is,John... I, too spent my happy times here as I know others from our group have. I saw the amount of silt which was removed last year... I read somewhere it was twice as much as was expected to be dredged out.