THE ACE OF CLUBS

Always nice to get a phone call from a friend, especially one who's local knowledge is second to none and a member of the team here on the blog.
Many will recall Paul from Hyde Lads Club, and from his book on the pubs of Hyde..   and of course being a member of the team here.

CHEERS PAUL

Gone but not forgotten

Here is a view of the much missed Lads Club, which stood on Beeley Street, just prior to its demolition circa 1991.



Thanks to Marjorie R. for the loan of the photo.
Much appreciated !  :)

Hyde Lads Club "Then and now".

The other day I walked down Travis Street, past where Hyde Lads Club used to stand. I was saddened to see that the site is now even blocked off to car parking !! Is this something to do with the ownership of the land being questioned? I was always led to believe that the club was left to the people of Hyde and therefore charging people to park on the site seemed wrong - I might be mistaken however ...

What a loss to the youngsters of Hyde that the land now stands empty. So much good could come of it if only the council would invest in something to take its place  for the Youth of Hyde and District .

Hyde Lads Club had football teams, boxing, judo, table tennis & basketball to mention a few activities. 
The Lads Club was demolished around 1993

Circa 1990

Circa 2010

Hyde Lads' Club commenced on 5 October 1928, utilising 2 rooms in Hyde Town Hall. The Club's founder was the Chief Constable of Hyde, J W A Danby. The Club soon moved to the Wesleyan Sunday School, as it was too popular for the Town Hall accommodation. There were 489 members by 1930. The Club's ethos was to provide a safe and "sound" outlet for the energies of the young men of the Borough. The Club ran football teams, physical training, boxing and games such as ping pong and bagatelle. In 1930 the Club moved to new premises in Beeley Street, where they remained until the building was demolished c1993, and the Club wound up. This building included a gymnasium, assembly room, games rooms, library, reading room and lecture rooms. The new Club was declared open by the Duke of Gloucester on 6 February 1930.

Thanks to The National Archives for the above information.

Pictures Of The Lads Club

A group of prize winners with the Mayor and Mayoress who attended a Ball in aid of Hyde Lads Club

J.W. Danby
Chief Constable Of Hyde
Founder Of
Hyde Lads Club



H.R.H. Prince Henry



Crowds cheer as the Prince Leaves Pole Bank Hall



The Prince leaving the Lads Clud



The Prince and Mayor and Mayoress outside the LadsClub



A corner of the Big Gymnasium

Thank you to Ceecee from sending in these pictures, and making this post possible.

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 

Lost War Memorials

We have been asked to see if any of our readers can recall the two War Memorials mentioned below, and if possible to obtain pictures of them. 

Tameside MBC website list them as follows:

Croft Street war memorial, Hyde

A wooden memorial stood for many years in the wall of a grocer's shop at the corner of Croft St and Market St Hyde. Over the years the wood rotted badly, and the structure disappeared when the shop was refurbished in the 1970's. It was about 8ft high and 4ft wide and had a glass front. There was a shelf for flowers, while wreaths were hung underneath. Besides the names of the fallen, the memorial also bore the names of all the men from Croft St area who fought in the Great War. the early names were evenly spaced out, but later ones were crammed in.

George Street War Memorial Hyde

There is hardly anything left to remind one of this memorial, or what it looked like. The area has been completely redeveloped and the M67 motorway, constructed in the mid to late 1970's runs where George St was once stood. Many of the men comemorated would have been from the Donneybrook area, once the toughest part of Hyde, which was demolished in the late 1930's. Apparently, the memorial stood outside the Star public house which, before development, was next to the Astoria bingo hall (still standing) then the Scala cinema. Before the war Mr and Mrs Lockwood regularly tended it, they were the licensee's of the Star.

Croft Street War Memorial

According to Kelly's Directory of Cheshire 1902 Cooke Bros had a grocers shop at 100 Market Street, which Dave as calculated to be the corner of Croft Street nearest the Town Hall and is now 'inspired jewellery.

On the opposite corner is Reeds Rains, but the shop was a drapers in 1902, run by a George Hopwood.  

George Street War Memorial

The George Street was more difficult because George Street, of course, no longer exists. We reckon it was about where the Manchester-bound carriageway of the M67 is now, and The Star was on the corner of George Street and Clarendon Street so Dave took this picture of the Astoria from the bus station which shows where The Star would have been or there about.

What would be great is if we could find any pictures of these..... and of course any memories of them. What a shame the were not renewed or replaced for the future.

...

Hyde Lads Clubs  Up-Date

All Done And Dusted

As good as new... nearly, the stone split in two right through the letter 'H'. I'm now hoping we do not have to cover this again and it suffers no more damage.

Hyde Lads Club Plaque 'Update'

Well Done

How good is this to see? I know many were worried this would not get replaced, but as promised by Councillor Philip Fitzpatrick it has... Thank you to all who got in touch about this... and a big thank you to Councillor Fitzpatrick for acting so swiftly on this, first he organised the clearing and safe removal of the broken brickwork and now true to his word, work was indeed started today to replace this fine memento of Hyde Lads Club. 

Top picture was sent in by John, and the bottom one by Dave

Sad Sight

The above picture was one that Dave Williams took a while back for a post on the Lads Club... after going to the Lads Club in my teens to see this as all that remained was sad enough. But to see the picture below is even sadder. 

This was sent in today by John T.

John said

 "Sorry to send this photograph of the remnants of the stone that marked the site of Hyde Lads Club. I took the photograph this afternoon. Let’s hope that it's reinstated."

Nancy and I echo that statement and tomorrow I will try to find out just what has happened to the stone work.

Dave went down today and took these which shows the damage that as been done... the old stone work as broke as can be seen. I have been in touch with our local councillor who I knew would show interest in this. I had a very prompt reply, saying he intends going down to view it tomorrow morning and will get back to me about it. So I will update this as soon as I can.

Up Date

Dave and I contacted one of our local Councillors Philip Fitzpatrick about this, me to tell him about it and to send him a photo of the damage. Dave our photographer went down to take pictures and noticed the plaque was still there and removed it for safe keeping which he informed Councillor Fitzpatrick of.  Today I was contacted again from Councillor Fitzpatrick... 

  Hi Tom  

     I have been down and arranged for the site to be cleared. I will do my best to make sure it      is rebuilt as soon as possible. I will contact David and arrange to pick up the plaque. Many thanks for letting me know.

Philip M Fitzpatrick

T.M.B.C  

I would just like to say thank you to John T, for bringing this to our attention, and Dave for going down there and securing the plaque, and a big thank you to Councillor Fitzpatrick for acting promptly to get the rest cleared up and the stone work removed to safety. Lets hope it can be fixed up and replaced.

Demolition of Hyde Lads Club

Here are a series of photographs sent to us by Paul Taylor. They show the demolition of Hyde Lads Club circa 1991. A sad day, indeed ,when this came down. I wish it was in operation now to give the youth of Hyde a place to go. Maybe they should open a new one? It would have to be called "Hyde Lads and Lasses Club" thought due to equality laws ;)

Showing the Beeley Street entrance which was the main entrance.

The view from the Travis Street side.

This view was taken from the multistory car park showing the Gymnasium wall - The main building has already been pulled down.

A view from the bottom of what was Thomas Street showing the Gymnasium building.

Looking over to what remains of the club from Travis Street.

Thanks Paul. Much appreciated . Excellent photos,as ever! :)

Another great up-date by our resident photographer

Dave Williams

The Ritz Cinema - part 2

At last - the moment you have been waiting for (well, at least the moment I have been waiting for)... A photograph of The Ritz Cinema on Travis Street Hyde. Taken just before its demolition in 1981. Also, note the Lads Club still there in its entirety...happy days indeed.

This fabulous photo was very kindly sent to us by Eric Downs - Thanks so much, Eric - You are a star! :)

Hyde Lads Club.

Hyde Lads' Club commenced on 5th October 1928, utilising two rooms in Hyde Town Hall. The Club's founder was the Chief Constable of Hyde, J W A Danby.



In 1930, Hyde Lads Club moved to new premises in Beeley Street after becoming too popular for their old site in the Town Hall and then the Wesleyan Church. Here they remained until the building was demolished c1993, and the Club wound up. This building included a gymnasium, assembly room, games rooms, library, reading room and lecture rooms. The new Club was declared open by the Duke of Gloucester on 6 February 1930.


Hyde Lads Club stood on Beeley Street.

The Club's ethos was to provide a safe and "sound" outlet for the energies of the young men of the Borough. The Club ran football teams, physical training, boxing and games such as ping pong and bagatelle.


Hyde Lads Club giving a gymnastics display.

The Borough Of Hyde

The Borough Of Hyde

&

How It All Came About

On the night of January 26th, 1879... a group of Ratepayers' voted against a Charter Of Incorporation, however a 'Towns' meeting attracted over 500 Ratepayers at the Mechanics Institute chaired by a Mr. Peter Green the following August 20th and the vote changed in favour and a pettitionfor granting a Charter of Incoporation was to be prepared and presented.

The Hon. Thomas Henry William Pelham

(1847-1916)

On Thursday, October 28th 1880, The Hon. T. H. W. Pelham, Commissioner, appointed by the Privy Council, in responce to the said pettition signed by 2, 278 ratepayers of Hyde, held an enquiry in the Court House, Beeley Street, Hyde.

Court House Beeley Street which later became Hyde Lads Club

A scheme for the division of the proposed borough of Hyde into three wards was submitted to the commissioner, and facts and figures concerning the population, industries, and rateable value were produched. The population was over 30,000 the people resided in 6,740 inhabited houses, and there was a gross annual rateable value of £118,790. There were 21 Cotton Mills which employed 6,238 adults; 22 Hat Works employing 1,023, there were 20 Engine Works and Iron Foundries employing 267, 3 Collieries with a workforce of 562; Builders and Contractors, employing 300, Railway Works employed 100, and other works, employing altogether over 10,000 adults. There were 25 Churches or places of worship. Only 254 persons were in need of parish relief.

No opposition was offered to the application, and the Charter of Incorporation was granted on February 18th, 1881. The new governing authority was to be known as the HYDE TOWN COUNCIL. It was to consist of 18 councillors, 6 for each ward... and 6 aldermen.

The first election for the Hyde Town Council took place on April 14th, 1881, and the following were elected :

(L) indicates 'Liberal' (C) indicates 'Conservative'

After the newly elected members had appointed six of their number to be aldermen, the vacancies were filled at a by-election in May, 1881, when the following were elected :

(L) indicates 'Liberal' (C) indicates 'Conservative'

The 24 gentlemen named above constituted the first Town Council of the borough of Hyde.