1950's Industrial Hyde

Here is a great panorama of 1950's industrial Hyde. 

The shot was taken from the top of James North factory. Below it, in the foreground, is part of James North itself including the two chimneys to the middle of the picture and the long building with lots of windows which was the Douglas Street part of the factory and stood on Queen Street. To the left of this is the "Rec" playing fields which was also on Douglas Street/Mona Street and to the right is the reservoir which stood on Queen Street. The Town Hall can be seen  towards top left of the photo.
 
My Nan's house stood next to the two chimneys and although it looks grim it was a great place to grow up in - our playground was Norths factory yard! Heaven to us as kids !




 I love this picture. It reminds me of a Trevor Grimshaw painting.


Thumbnail for larger view

Nelson and Queen Street views

Playing Out

Here a great picture sent in by my good friend Gianni (Jon) Zazzarino riding his bike on Nelson Street. Over his shoulder can be seen a gable end which is at the top of Travis Street.

Here he is again, this time on Queen Street near to the James North Factory. Note the walkway from one part of the factory to the other.
I can remember when I, too, had knees like that.

Still on Queen Street, but across the road now, and more of the Norths Factory can be seen. Jon tells me this bike could well have been bought from Oldham's on the corner of Nelson Street and Market Street. 

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 :)

Aerial View of James North

 I am posting this photo for purely nostalgic reasons.
It shows an aerial view of the James North factory building with Queen Street running through the middle. The purple star denotes where my Nan used to live and whilst it looks quite grim as it's in the heart of the industrial area, believe me, it was heaven to a child......her house belonged to James North and joined on to the yard itself. Many happy hours were spent here playing amongst cardboard boxes and offcuts of rubber gloves! Douglas Street runs vertical up from Queen Street.
Also note the "Rec" - top left - now only one football pitch as the top "pitch" belongs to Greenfield Primary school which was relocated here when the original Greenfield Street school was demolished. Most of Queen Street was demolished and now consists of 3 houses only.




The second picture shows a present day aerial view of the same area. The red star shows approximately where my Nans house stood - all the childhood playgrounds of yesteryear sadly long-gone.
Notice how short Queen Street now is whilst Douglas Street has gained in length at Queen Streets expense.