The Reservoir off Queen Street

Here are a couple of photos showing the old James North/Slack Mill reservoir that used to stand on Queen Street .
The prefab building at the top of the photo stood on Wood Street and it was where a generation of Hydonians bought their families slippers at low prices !
It was known as "Wickles back" by some. I think this was because the prefab was a manufacturer called Wickles at some point . If anybody knows what they manufactured please let us know...


  After the reservoir was drained.


Aerial View showing Lumb Road to the Right and the Douglas Street part of Norths to the left.


Aerial view as it looks today !
Queen Street became Douglas Street at the Lumn Road end after the new Greenfield Primary school cut Queen Street in half.

Hyde Waterworks --- a brief history

Waterworks were established in Hyde by Thomas Mottram, the descendent of an old yeoman family of the township, who in 1831, obtained an Act of Parliament "for the better supply of water to the several townships of Hyde, Werneth and Newton," and under the powers of that Act constructed the Gee Cross reservoir, Tinker's reservoir, New reservoir and Arnold Hill reservoir. The first three of these being known as "Queens" (later as Queen Adelaide), "Stonepit" and "Diamond Reservoir". Godley reservoir was constructed later in the 1850's.

In 1891 the supply of water from the Gee Cross reservoirs was declared unfit for domestic consumption owing to contamination, and this water was then used for manufacturing use only. The Arnold Hill reservoir, however was utilised for storing the Manchester Corporation water, and the pumping station was erected in 1893 to force the water into it. Meanwhile Newton had only a private supply, but in 1908 the Corporation decided to erect additional pumping plant, and constructed in Joel Lane the storage reservoirs known as "Hillside" and "Werneth", which were completed in 1911. In 1920 the Corporation acquired from the trustees of C & J Ashton, their Newton water supply, which included the reservoirs known as "Newton House" , "Blue Bell" and "Harbour". The property which these reservoirs supplied was disconnected in 1922, and supplied by town's water. The whole of the property within the borough , except a few isolated farms, was then supplied with town's water. The area between the Clarke's Arms, Stockpot Rd and the Goodiers, Victoria St, Newton, is supplied by gravitation from the Hoviley and Godley sources. Gee Cross and Newton are supplied by water pumped into the Gee Cross storage reservoirs, and then by gravity. The Newton service reservoir was constructed in 1928, and opened on Feb 19th, 1929, by the Mayor, Councillor A. Shaw J.P.

The large reservoir and waterworks of the Manchester Corporation at Tetlow Fold, Godley were constructed in 1850.

The above is from Thomas Middleton's "History of Hyde"

The photo's below show the Queen Adelaide reservoir in Gee Cross undergoing some reconstruction work probably around the early part of the 20th century.

Back Lane / Lumn area article.

Here is an article about the Back Lane and the Lumn area of Hyde that was written by Ron Braddock and featured in the Reporter some years ago.

"The Queen Street junction, which is located some 219 yards from Smithy Lane, was originally an entrance to a cul-de-sac.

In 1872 it was called "Queens Dock" and contained seven houses which were sited near a gasometer. They were demolished to make way for the factory extension which was built along Back Lane.

The name Queens Dock was partly retained when the existing road was extended to Market Street. The new road was called Queen Street and recent demolition has deprived it of many houses.

Opposite the Queen Street junction is a corporation signpost which indicates the routes to Stockport and Sheffield. The post is sited on the east side of Lumn Road, close to a new apartment block.

The row of old stone cottages on the west side of Lumn Road which exited from Queen Street to a point near Wood Street were built before 1841. Until quite recently there was a reservoir behind theses houses called 'Stone Row'

Beyond 'Stone Row' is the Gardeners public house which can be traced back to 1833. It is located on the corner of Wood Street and Lumn Road. In 1841 when the place was held by the trustees of the late Joseph Horsfield and occupied by Jesse Howarth the rateable value was £28. Other publicand were Thomas Platt 1835, Lucy Wild 1838 and Lucy Hawarth 1865.

In 1891 the Gardeners Arms was owned by Margaret Horsfield of Longlands ,Godley and the licensee was Charles E. Barber. The pub was a freehouse and there were 2 beds for travellers and accomodation for supplying refreshments for 30 persons. Provisions of stabling consisted of a stable with two stalls and the Gardeners Arms was described as being a "good house".

Arch In Stone Work = Puzzle

I asked if anyone had pictures of the reservoirs and the area around them... Eric Downs sent in two pictures one of which is shown above... both his pictures have been used in an other post. The above picture got mine and Paul's attention as you can clearly see a Arch in the Stone Work... 

This is how it looks now

The Arch is across from the properties above.... so if you are in the area glance across and spot the Arch.

Above is a section of a 1875 map. Both reservoirs are shown and so are the cottages called Diamond Row. Underneath where it says Cloughgate is a wiggly line... that is the stream which run through Gower Hay Woods. Paul and I wonder if the arch was a 'run off' of the reservoir that was culverted under Acorn Lane ( Stockport Road ) towards join the stream.     

The 1910 map above shows the area went through some changes from the 1875 on... King Edward Road as now been started, Acorn Lane as now been renamed Stockport Road. Paul and I would just like to know if anyone can shed some light on what the Arch was for.

Updated by Dave Williams 

28th June 2011

Close Up Of The Arch

I've attached here a close-up photo I took of the arch yestoday, and also a part of the 1871 map showing the 'wiggly line' which you mentioned and which leads to - is that another reservoir or just a pond? It appears to be in that part of Gower Hey Wood which you drop into from the end of King George Road - not the bit that always used to get flooded, that's a lot nearer the old railway line.

Dave Williams