St. Leonard’s Church

St. Leonard’s or Middleton Parish Church on its hill above the town is by far the oldest building in the area and the oldest in Greater Manchester. It is also the last great unrestored medieval church in the wider Manchester area, having been carefully and sensitively preserved since the 1600s. St. Leonard’s Church is listed…

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St. Leonard’s Church, Middleton – book offer

St. Leonard’s Parish Church is one of the finest medieval churches in the country. It is highlighted with eight others from the Middle Ages in English Parish Churches and Chapels – Architecture, Art and People written by Matthew Byrne and published by Bloomsbury. You can now buy the hardback at just £12, a discount of…

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Andy Marshall wraps up Golden Cluster Month 2017

Middleton architectural photographer, Andy Marshall, wrapped up Middleton’s month long heritage festival on Saturday with an enjoyable workshop sharing tips and secrets in the art of heritage photography (above). It marked the end of a great Golden Cluster Month this year, spoilt only by the rain restricting the Middleton Archaeological Society’s digs at Clarke Brow and…

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Hopwood Hall opening

Hopwood Hall opening… Members of the public were given the rare chance to glimpse inside the historic 12th century Hopwood Hall manor home for the first time in over 30 years on the Heritage Open Day on Saturday 9th September. Full Story Here  …

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Hillcrest and Briarhill, Rochdale Road Listed

Edgar Wood’s 37-39 Rochdale Road, Middleton have been listed grade II by the government because of their special architectural and historic interest. The pair of semis lie next door to Redcroft and Fencegate, one pair representing the countryside and the other the town. Hillcrest and Briarhill, their original names, are the “town” design and are…

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Hopwood Hall – restricted opening Heritage Open Days

For the first time in over 30 years the significant Hopwood Hall will have a few areas open for public viewing. The building is currently derelict and a new effort is being launched to save and preserve the estate led by Hopwood DePree, a descendant of the Hopwoods. With original timbers dating back to 1426,…

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Hopwood Millers Cottage Excavation – Update

This is the third season of excavation at Hopwood Millers Cottage by Middleton Archaeological Society. If you fancy a go at archaeological excavation, just leave a message below and we’ ll get back to you. Click Here for more about the cottage. In 2015 and 2016 we uncovered the western and central parts of the…

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The Edgar Wood Society had a successful day out on 12th August and have posted a nice set of photos of Pownall Hall  HERE

Edgar Wood Comes Home!

Filming on the Edgar Wood documentary has taken an unexpected turn. Edgar Wood was present at Long Street Church! The June shoot caused a bit of a stir as Mr. Wood gave us a guided tour of his first masterpiece – Long Street Methodist Church and Schools built in 1901. Fact is, there was a…

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Edgar Wood’s First Church of Christ Scientist for sale

First Church of Christ Scientist has been used as a religious centre for the past decade or more but is now on the market for a new owner and a change of use.

The agent Canning O’Neill has been appointed to market the 6,000 sq ft building in Manchester’s Victoria Park. Details are HERE.

 

 

Archaeological remains of an early Anglo-Saxon Church found on Holy Island of Lindisfarne

Archaeological remains of an Anglo-Saxon church have been discovered on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland. A Heritage Lottery funded community excavation has uncovered sandstone blocks, foundations and an altar base of a church nave and chancel. The remains are located on a ridge on the island called the Heugh and experts are speculating that it was part of the Celtic monastery where St. Aidan raised…

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