Time Lapse From The Low

Today's post comes courtesy of my good friend Darren Jones. He's been out and about with his video and this is the result. A beautiful sunset from the Low... I for one have not been able or not had the chance to get up there for a while, so to see these is a special treat. 

The Cenotaph 

Now I know from past comments that not everyone who drops by likes to see pictures of or from the Low, but we've not had any in a while and these video's are rare to come across.  

ENJOY THE BEAUTY

Hyde War Memorial (Cenotaph), A brief history

 I thought with the Remembrance Day not far off, a brief history of the Hyde War memorial or Cenotaph as it is commonly known would be appropriate.

The war memorial was erected in 1921 to commemorate the loss of over 700 Hyde men in the first world war of 1914-1919.

The task of organising a suitable war memorial scheme was given to Councillor E. Bury JP, who became Mayor of Hyde in 1919. The amount required was estimated at £12,500, but over £14,000 was raised by voluntary contributions. Of this £4,000 was spent on the purchase of the Lower Higham Farm estate, on Werneth Low and a further £2,000 was spent on the actual monument.

The monument itself took the form of an obelisk of Cornish granite with a total height of 27ft 6". The site is the highest point of Werneth Low known as the Hacking Knife, some 800ft above sea level.

The four sides of the lower portion of the monument bear inscriptions. The slab facing the town is surmounted by the borough of Hyde coat of arms and bears the words "The Great War, 1914-1919". The next slab to the right bears the inscription " In honour of the 710 men of Hyde who gave their lives for King and Country". The next contains the words " In proud remembrance," and on the last are the words " They willingly left the unachieved purpose of their lives in order that all life should not be wrenched from the purpose".

The War memorial was unveiled on Saturday afternoon, June 24th, 1921. a number of processions made their way, by various routes to the summit, and by 3.30 pm the assembly around the memorial had reached around 12,000. The Mayor Alderman S. Fawley, JP presided, supported by many prominent townsmen and women. The memorial was unveiled by Mrs Stanley Welch. Prayers and dedications were made and the deeds presented to the mayor.

A further part of the War memorial Scheme was the creation of a trust fund under which 268 children of the fallen sailors and soldiers received £4 per annum during the five years between the ages of 11 and 16 years. Other schemes were also formulated.

Tranquil spot.

 With all the upheavel with the market being redeveloped, I just thought I'd show this shot which shows the Cenotaph on Werneth Low overlooking all the mayhem !
Such a place of tranquility !

 

As Tufty Club said, if you're not from Hyde you might have trouble spotting it, so I've zoomed in :)

Cenotaph

Thank you to Maxine Rogers and Adam Heelis for sharing this picture taken by their late father Alan. 

The Owd Green Plaque

THE OWD GREEN PLAQUE

I laced up mi boots and buttoned mi coat
cos I fancied a walk owert Low.
Weather wasna very clever like
but I thowt it were a good day for a blow. 

I shortened mi stride up Higham Lane
when I heard a strange sort of wheeze.
That conna have bin me I said with a gasp
So I put it down to t’ breeze. 

On threwt farm yard and up gravel path
until I finally reached very top.
Then I heard that wheeze again
And I thowt it were time for a stop. 

I lent ont railings at cenotaph
an I read thowd green plaque agen.
How many men were it who ne’er come back?
Ahh that’s reet, seven hundert and ten. 

I tried to picture that day in mi mind
whent cenotaph were first revealed.
And owe th’Heyd folk came up to remember
as thousands were crammed on t’ field. 

There were school kids, churches an dignitaries.
Thousands o’ folk who braved the cruel chill.
Mothers, wives, faythers and childer
made thi pilgrimage up to t’ top ot steep hill. 

Thi listened to bands, heard speeches and prayers
on that cold windswept day long ago.
When everyone stood and sadly remembered
Th’Heyd lads who fought the King’s foe. 

We know now what these young men owe went through
in scenes carved straight out of Hell.
The trenches, the mud, the bullets and bombs,
the vain charges when so many souls fell. 

So many Heyd homes must have hung up black drape.
So many mothers and wives lost their men.
So many young boys who never returned.
Now remembered as the seven hundert and ten. 

Just like the folk who gathert that day
I come back up here each November,
and while that cenotaph still looks out over Heyd
I know we will allus remember. 

I confess there was a tiny tear in mi eye
when I decided it were time to walk back.
But before I turned and walked down th’hill
I gazed one more time at that plaque. 

It’s a place that means a lot t’ me
as I think about owe wars sin then.
All th’Heyd lads who’ve fought and died.
Now it’s a lot more than seven hundert and ten. 

© Bill Lancashire March 2012

I would first of all like to thank Bill Lancashire for once again sending in and allowing us the use of another one of his poems. I was well impressed when I read this and wanted a suitable picture to go with the post.. I knew Tony Husband as supplied us with photographs in the past and knowing his love for Werneth Low I sent him an email to see if he had something we could use.. I included the poem so he could decide which if he had any he could send... I was overjoyed to see what came back... and think it fits the poem and the sentiment behind it perfectly.

It was Tony's father Ron Husband who researched the 710 men named on the plaque... his research can be seen on Hyde War Memorial Trust's site  http://www.hwmt.co.uk/pages/710men.html   

 

If you'd like to see more of Tonys work follow this link - you won't be disappointed ! http://www.tonyhusband.co.uk

Cenotaph in Black & White

http://www.hwmt.co.uk/index.html

LEST WE FORGET.

Werneth Low

The cenotaph atop Werneth Low documents how many brave men died for their country ! The land on which the Cenotaph stands used to be known as "Great Stone Low" and was owned originally by a Mr Thomas William Tatton (circa 1851).