Saint Martin’s Church, Marple HERITAGE  OPEN  DAYS

With both Middleton Parish Church and Long Street Methodist Church not being open these coming Heritage Open Days, why not visit St Martin’s Church, Low Marple, Cheshire instead? This is an Arts and Crafts Church loved and even painted by Middleton’s Edgar Wood. Opens Friday 18 September 2020, 14.00-18.00 and Saturday 19 September 2020, 10.00-15.00…

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Elm Wood School visits St. Leonard’s Church

Teachers and children of Elm Wood School had a lovely time on Thursday visiting Middleton’s ancient parish church, looking at the medieval carvings and doing their own brass rubbing. It was such a warm and sunny day and it was great to see children, who attend one of Middleton’s architectural masterpieces, enthusiastically enjoying another. A…

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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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Edgar Wood

Designing at the cusp of European Art Nouveau, Edgar Wood’s architecture constantly anticipated future trends. He led the northern Arts & Crafts movement through vernacular, art nouveau and finally art deco phases – an evolution traced in his Middleton buildings.  In doing so, he became England’s uncontested pioneer of modern design. As an architect, Wood…

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Lydia Becker

Lydia Ernestine Becker (24 February 1827 – 18 July 1890) was a scientist and early leader of the British suffrage movement. She is best remembered for founding and publishing the Women’s Suffrage Journal between 1870 and 1890. Lydia’s grandfather, Ernest Becker, had come to Manchester from Germany in the late 1790s and made his money…

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Edgar Wood film success in London and Huddersfield

Anthony Dolan’s film, Edgar Wood, a Painted Veil, had a good reception at the Art Worker’s Guild, London last week, despite the appalling weather. It was shown again tonight at Lindley Methodist Church, Huddersfield. After the film, there was a lively question and answer session. The photo shows Anthony welcoming everyone at Lindley. Don’t miss…

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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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Hopwood DePree and Hopwood Hall

Hollywood actor Hopwood DePree, ably supported by Geoff Wellens, met a crowded audience in the Sessions Room at the Old Boar’s Head on Thursday. Geoff outlined the history of the hall while Hopwood, who is descended from the old Middleton family, inspired everyone with his vision for the medieval building which is in a ruinous…

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East Lancashire Railway hosts Edgar Wood

Filming continues apace on the documentary film ‘Edgar Wood – A Painted Veil’… In 1922, Middleton artist and architect, Edgar Wood left England, leaving his wife Anne behind, to live in Imperia, North West Italy. East Lancs Railway’s Summerseat train station stood in for Hale Station, Cheshire. Anne Wood was played by actress Sarah Crowther…

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