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…

Read More

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  …

Read More

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…

Read More

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,…

Read More

Ancoats Dispensary – Good News! – The Ancoats Dispensary Trust has secured a £300,000 grant towards the restoration of the building. There has been a flurry of reports in the media. Here are three with photos…

Short report

Medium report

Long report

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…

Read More

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

New footbridge over the River Irwell – Part of the Ordsall Chord project, the bridge takes you into Manchester’s railway past and provides a view of the Stephenson Bridge. It is almost complete but not yet open to the public. Photos and report 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…

Read More

Listing of Jodrell Bank is extended – Manchester University’s own space station has had another six of its amazing structures listed by Historic England. Photos and report HERE

Manchester’s six best churchesClick Here for the six best churches in the City of Manchester as selected by New Manchester Walks expert, Ed Glinert.

Edgar Wood’s First Church of Christ Scientist is one of them; and how different it is to all the others!

Manchester’s London Road Fire Station – latest

Good news for those following the progress of Manchester’s London Road Fire Station, a grade II listed building at risk. Planning permission has been approved for it to be refurbished and expanded for an hotel and spa, restaurants, bars, flats and offices.

BBC report HERE

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…

Read More

Middleton Heritage – one evening three meetings

Yesterday was a busy evening at Middleton Heritage. First the Heritage Film Group met to discuss the progress of the Edgar Wood film.. over five hours of footage has now been filmed! There was lots of technical talk and discussion about buying a new Mac with a higher spec. computer to handle all the hi res…

Read More