Horrid Crimes Of Bygone Cheshire

Nice to get this email today... Nancy Morris, Dave Williams, Paul Taylor.

Hello Tom

I promised to let you know when my new Cheshire true-crime book (entitled Horrid Crimes Of Bygone Cheshire) was published. Well, the deed is done. The book is now available though Amazon (also as an e-book) or on order from major booksellers.

Please pass on my thanks to your colleagues at hydonian.blogspot.co.uk for all your help in its creation.

Regards, Derek Yarwood.

Horrid Crimes Of Bygone Cheshire

True-crime writer Derek Yarwood dips into the archives to uncover more dark tales of murder and mayhem in 18th- and 19th-century Cheshire. A retired journalist, he has combined the newspaper man's natural instinct for a good story with his interest in local history, to produce a fascinating anthology that is based extensively on original source material. Drawn from long-forgotten assize court files, judges' notes and inquest depositions — and with contemporary newspaper reports adding flavour to the mix — these are the most comprehensive, authenticated accounts of the cases ever published. The villains featured here include house-breakers and highway robbers; mothers who killed their children and children who killed their parents; murderers of policemen and partners; nearly all whom ended up swinging from the hangman's rope. This is the third instalment of the author's Cheshire true-crime series, in which he has re-visited over 200 crimes spanning four centuries. The others being "A Vintage Casebook of Cheshire Crime" and "Cheshire's Execution Files".

Wesleyan School Hyde Workbook

This weeks post comes from Jayne Hulme who contacted me a few weeks back now,

Jayne writes:

I have an old geography work book which belonged to my great grandmother. It is dated 1880. One of the pages says Wesleyan School, and another says Hyde. I was wondering if you had any information about the school, it's a very interesting book and I would love to share it.

Wesleyan School Water Street. 

I think this is the school from which the school book was worked in, buy then I have not been able to find a date for the school building above being built, I came across reference to an older Wesleyan School that is mentioned in The Annals of Hyde, 

From The Annals Of Hyde And District
By
Thomas Middleton 
Printed 1899

WESLEYAN METHODISTS.

An old building, now pulled down and replaced by the well-built Jubilee Schools, was long the centre of Wesleyanism in Hyde. The first trustees of this building were appointed in 1822, and consisted of Thomas Ashton, John Howard, Charles Howard, and Thomas Howard, Esquire., cotton spinners ; John Clarke, Esquire., S. Ashton, the younger, John Ashton, the younger, and Thomas Bridges, cotton spinners; Thomas Davis, minister; John Goodfellow and Aaron Newall, mechanics; J. Rowland, over-looker; J. Chippendale, exciseman; J. Rydings, cabinet maker; and J. Waterhouse, slater.
A structure two storeys high was built, "the upper storey to be used as a preaching house

by the Wesleyans and the lower room for Sunday and day school." The expenses of the building were to be borne as under: " T. Ashton on behalf of self and brother, and J. C. and T. Howard will at their own private expense erect, complete, and finish the lower storey, and the said trustees shall at the expense of the Wesleyan Methodist Society erect the second storey except the roof, which the said T. Ashton, his brothers, and J. C. and T.

Howard shall complete at their own private cost." The trustees decided that the lower room should be under the management of the Wesleyan Methodist Society, and that if ever the Society became extinct they should have power to sell the preaching room and school, and after paying all debts apply the money for the spread of religion among the Wesleyans, as the trustees should direct. This old building rendered good service to Hyde, for in the language of Mr. Robert Bell's report (1886), "it was here for many years the main business of the town was transacted; our children were educated, our friends worshipped, our births and deaths were recorded, and our poor relieved." The growth of Wesleyanism was met in 1850 by the erection of the large chapel in Norfolk Street, and yet again when the Jubilee Schools were built to replace the original building just referred to. There are

also fine chapels, with Sunday schools attached, in connection with the Wesleyan body in Newton and Gee Cross.

I think this is a wonderful book, and shows the standard of Education this school taught at the time. I think the work, drawings and handwriting is a joy to see. I think the whole book deserves scanning and putting on line, and very worthy piece of social history. 

Gleams of Sunshine

We have had an email from  Peter Furnish which someone might find of interest.

I have just read your blog about the Gleams of Sunshine.

I used to live in Manchester (a true Mancunian born and in Higher Blackley) and my grand-folks lived in Allen Avenue, Gee Cross. I migrated to Western Australia in 1972 and then in 2012 went to live in southern Tasmania with my wife Linda. I will be 71 in January but still remember my roots in Lancashire.

Grandad was John/Jack Collinson and Grandma was Maud. When I came to Australia they gave me two original 'Gleams of Sunshine' written by my great grandfather James Leigh. Both books are in good condition and are over a hundred years old. Jack was a very skilled calligrapher and used to the do the book keeping for one of the merchants in Hyde When he retired he was asked to go back part-time to continue his book-keeping, which I believe he did. I think it was called 'copperplate' writing at the time. He was also a skilled water-colour artist and produced many beautiful pictures. He tried to teach me his skills with water-colours to no avail. I am okay with the writing and am a skilled black and white (Inked) drawing artist so maybe something did rub off in the end.

When the grand folks moved from Allen Avenue they went to live in a group of old cottages opposite where the trolley bus used to turn around on the Hyde to Romily main road and go back to Hyde. The end cottage to where my grandparents lived evidently used to be an old Smithy. These cottages had been renovated but as I hazily remember they still had low ceilings and oak beams, steep stairs to the upstairs bedrooms and small windows.

 Due to a bad back and lots of surgery my savings are depleted and I am in the position that I wish to sell one of my 'Gleams of Sunshine' and wondered if you are aware of anybody who might be interested in purchasing one of these copies (Originals)?

If anyone is interested in contacting Peter about one of these books then send in an email and I will pass it on. The book shown above is not the one for sale, that one's mine.

.

Eastern Bazaar part 1

I have recently been very lucky in acquiring a book from 1900.
It is the official handbook of a Bazaar that was held  at the Mechanics Hall in Hyde on behalf of the Hyde Wesleyan Methodist Church on Norfolk Street.

Makes fascinating reading !

Below are the first lot of excerpts from it !



 

A Sketch of Zion Church

Here is a fantastic drawing of the old Zion Congregational 

Church building by Barbara Sole. 

It is as it appears on the front cover of the book 

"The History of Zion - 1847 - 1996" which was written by 

my Mum, Doreen Morris.

I loved the old building - It was full of nooks and crannies to play hide and seek in which me and my sister did frequently when we went over with my Mum 

when she practised playing the organ.

Thanks to Barbara Sole for use of the Picture and ,of course, Doreen Morris for writing the book.  :)

The Last Will and Testament of Joshua Bradley

Below is a transcript of 
the Last Will and Testament of 
Mr Joshua Bradley

                                                                                                                                                               

(Taken from "Reminiscences in the life of Joshua Bradley by James Bradley)

Shopping in the 1970's

The following is from a Tameside booklet from the mid 1970's

Hyde Market in the 1970's

Mechanics Arms

 

The building today

Excerpt from  "A history of The Pubs of Hyde and District" by Paul Taylor

Copies available for sale from Harrisons Newsagents, Hyde.

Randal Hibbert Esq

 




On the brook side behind the Bankfield Hotel and Bankfield Terrace, there stood, for about a hundred years, a Bone Mill.  This mill was erected about the end of the 18th century, by Mr. Randal Hibbert; it had a picturesque appearance, which was enhanced by the lake-like reservoir behind it; and at one time it was a very busy place. It was demolished circa 1903.  
Randal Hibbert built Boston Mills, and it was at these mills that the Ashton’s first began cotton spinning.

Modern map showing the location of the Bone Mill.

New Book

This is the cover of a book I bought last Thursday, written by Lee Brown and published by Amberley Publishing of Stroud, Gloucestershire. The three earlier books of archive photographs of Hyde in the Local History Series which I have were also published in Stroud, but by two different publishing firms. The latest book is different to the earlier ones in that the author has not confined himself to archive photographs but has used his own camera to show current views as a comparison. I bought my copy of the book from KBz News in the Mall, but it's also available at Bill Harrison's on Market Street and no doubt at other newsagents too. I've only had a quick look at it so far, but I can recommend it to anyone with an interest in old Hyde.

Otto Monsted Book Help Required

I wonder if anyone can help the person below with his query on an Otto Monsted book ? As we have posted before ... 

 

"Otto Monsted was a Dane went into partnership with local man John Broomer, operating a margarine factory at Godley, (in an old hat factory) near Hyde. Broomer sold his share of the business shortly after but is credited for having established the first margarine works in Britain". 

Otto Monsteds Margarine Factory in Godley

 "Denmark, A brief survey"

Dear sirs:  One of the several books that were left to me by my father-in-law, Edgar Jepsen, is a booklet (title above) published under the auspices of the Otto Monsted Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark.  Printed by Egmont H. Petersen, by Appointment Printers to H.M. the King of Denmark.  Drawings are by A. Sikker Hansen.

I would appreciate any information you might be able to give me re this booklet. For instance – it has no publish date and no authors name.

 Thank you for any information you may have.

The Singing Street !

The following was sent to us via email...

Over to Janet....

" I posted a comment last October about Trevor Grimshaw and having a signed copy of the Singing Street, you replied asking if I could scan a copy of the cover. I've attached a copy of the cover and the inside front cover which is signed by both Trevor and Mike Harding. In my comment I said it was an exhibition in Hyde but thinking back I'm pretty sure it was in Stalybridge Town Hall and we all went to Stalybridge Station Bar - a favourite of Trevor's - for drinks afterwards. He was exhibiting his 'scenes from a train window' - I think that's what he called it. It was a series of drawings which, although, independent pieces when displayed next to each other were sequential and represented the view from each window of a train carriage. It was around the time when he did the opening credits for the television series on rail journeys..."





A great book and how lucky to have a signed copy !
Many Thanks for sharing with us, Janet, much appreciated.

The Green Guide.

 

A regular sight in many houses in the 1960's.

Market Square (Artists Impression)

Thank's to Susan Jaleel for sending in this artist's impression of the town centre after redevelopment - which was on the front of the 1961/62 Official Guide.  Susan wonders how it will compare with what's in store for the new look 50 years on!

Hyde Seal Swimming Club

The  Team  That  Beat  The  World

Since Nancy and myself started this venture we have been ever so lucky to get books offered us... one such book came all the way from Canada.. today's book didn't come that far but I wanted to show it to you.  We did a post about a group of Belgium swimmers and Marjorie Davies (the books author) got in touch and told us we'd find her book useful for future posts on 'The Seals'. The book is in the library, but Marjorie kindly donated this to us ... for which we are very grateful and assure her it will be put to good use.

These books are now hard to come by, but Marjorie still as a few copies left to sell, so if you'd like your very own copy contact us here by email and I will gladly pass your request on. 

Hyde Lads Club Plaque 'Update' 2, And a New Book

Our friend JohnT, as been out and about with his camera this week and sent in this  picture. John say's

I attach a photograph I took today of the new fence around the Hyde Lads Club's reinstated memorial stone and plaque.  A big thank you to those who arranged for the protective fence to be installed.

Thank you John... and we agree whole heartedly.

NEW BOOK TO LOOK OUT FOR

I was told about the book a few months ago when we did a posting about Gib Mil. Last week I recieve an email which said:

 A few months ago when I told you about the book my mother and l wrote about her childhood in Haughton Green between 1909 and 1923, when she went to work at Gibraltar Cotton Mill at the age of 14. You mentioned that you might be interested in putting a post on "Hydonian", as some of your readers would be interested in it. I have now finished editing the handwritten book she left to me and I have self published it. If any of your readers would like to buy a copy, I have a website  www.haughtongreendentonhistory.co.uk. To access the website you need to type the web address into the top box on the computer, as it will be many months before Google will pick it up. I have attached pictures of the covers with a summary of the book. The book is called "Where's Our Lizzie" by Lizzie Barton.

Born in 1909. Lizzie gives an account of her childhood in Houghton Green, near Denton, in the old county of Lancashire. Back then, Haughton Green was a very different place than it is today. It was a rural community dependent on local pits, the “Gib” Cotton Mill and local agriculture. She started to in her eighties and finished it just before her death, which occurred just two days short of her 99^th birthday. Even at that great age she had total recall of the tiniest details.

Sometimes poignant, often hilarious, it contains comments about a lifestyle, attitudes and customs of the early 20^th century from the viewpoint of the 21^st. It is a first-hand social history, set against such historical events as WW1, the Spanish flu epidemic and the miner’s strike of  1921.

I for one will be getting a copy... I've always had an interest in the "Gib" mill and will enjoy reading about that.. and I am reliable told it contains stories which have a bearing on Hyde... particular how Lizzie would set off with a basket under her arm and a shopping list  to visit Hyde Market on a Saturday evening to pick up bargains as the Market was shutting down.

WHERE'S OUR LIZZIE?

http://www.haughtongreendentonhistory.co.uk