Anthony Dolan is now back from filming in Italy. Here is his report and some photos… Leo Lagorio, an Edgar Wood collector and historian, was an invaluable guide for all the location filming. He is well acquainted with Mrs. Rosa Quaglia, the nonagenarian owner of Edgar Wood’s home at Monte Calvario, Liguria, Italy. Mrs. Quaglia…
CLICK HERE for a post on an Edgar Wood Society study on Edgar Wood’s very first houses on Manchester Old Road, Middleton.
Edgar Wood filming gets under way
Shooting for the new Edgar Wood film has begun, mainly in Hale and Lindley, two Edgar Wood outposts each with a fine collection of buildings. Hale is in Trafford borough and Lindley in Huddersfield and both are just 20 minutes drive from Middleton on the motorway. The Hale Edgar Wood buildings are all large houses with Halecroft…
Middleton May Day report and photos…
see the Rochdale Online report and photos HERE
EVENT – Remembering WWI at Junction Library – 27th April 2017
Thursday 27 April, 2.30 – 3.30pm Junction Library and Community Centre. Read the diary of James Simpson who served in the Royal Navy from 1916-18, and the letters he sent to his family at 30 Grimshaw Lane. If you have any photos or memorabilia from the First World War, please bring them along. Everyone welcome!…
New film on Edgar Wood
Over Christmas, Anthony Dolan and the Heritage Film Group put in a Lottery bid for a film about the life and work of Edgar Wood… and they were successful! Since then there has been a flurry of organising, buying equipment, setting of dates, contacting building owners and actors interviewed. Filming will commence next month, based at the Edgar Wood…
Edgar Wood’s Jubilee Fountain Steps & Exedra now being restored
The Edgar Wood and Middleton THI has another project on the go under the watchful eye of conservation officer Sue Oakley… Edgar Wood’s Jubilee Fountain. The actual drinking fountain disappeared a long time ago and is not proposed for reinstatement (too expensive!). Instead, the structure is being conserved and stabilised, which means removing the steps…
Jubilee Library & Local Studies Centre – open Weekdays and Saturday
Ye Olde Boar’s Head P.H. (left) and Jubilee Library (right) on Middleton’s Long Street look lovely in spring with the cherry blossom. The library is an unusual early Arts & Crafts building that lies in the pleasant Jubilee Park at the centre of the Middleton conservation area. As well as the timber-framed pub, close by are…
Future of Queen Street and Helmshore Textile mills thrown into fresh doubt
Many people are following this story which has just taken an unfortunate turn. The future of Queen Street Mill, Burnley and Helmshore Textile Mills, Rossendale is again under threat, after Lancashire County Council suddenly and unexpectedly shut them down last year. English Heritage, seen by many as the museums’ saviour, has now pulled out of…
Manchester’s Factory arts building gets go-ahead
Manchester’s Factory arts building gets go-ahead https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/12/manchesters-factory-arts-building-gets-go-ahead?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_WordPress…
GUIDED TOUR – EDGAR WOOD: Middleton Architect – 21st May 2017
Discover the Middleton buildings of the internationally famed architect Edgar Wood Edgar Wood designed over twenty buildings that survive today in Middleton, including the spectacular Arts & Crafts Church (Long Street Methodist) which we’ll go inside, and grand homes along Rochdale Road. Sibby – Manchester Tour Guide Sunday, 21 May 2017 from 13:00 to 14:30…
Castleton Library Restoration Begins
It is so good to see work beginning to save Castleton’s wonderful Carnegie Library, so long neglected. The Rochdale Online report is here…
News for grafters everywhere…
Here’s an interesting project by Helping Britain Blossom for all those interested in grafting fruit trees…
https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/109152/how-to-turn-twigs-into-cash
Alkrington Hall highlighted in article
Manchester Evening News has published an article about those historic houses in Greater Manchester which have preserved their character. Alkrington Hall is one of those highlighted. The hall was sensitively converted to four houses in the 1990s after a decade or more of decline. It was a last minute action which saved this amazingly early Palladian…
Graffiti Survey of Parish Church – Report Published
Middleton Archaeological Society has completed the survey of historic graffiti at Middleton Parish church. Over 100 various marks on stone and wood were found, including apotropaic pentangles, vv symbols, mason and carpenters marks, tradesmens signatures and sharpening slots; possibly created by the famous Middleton archers. The full three part report can be found on the…
More local War Memorials given listed status
More local War Memorials given listed status Historic England is running a war memorials project to list all the important war memorials across the country. In 2014 the arts and crafts style Middleton Memorial Garden was listed and now a batch are other local memorials are similarly being honoured and protected, including the Middleton memorials…
Middleton Conservation Area Shops given a facelift
It’s good to see the local council continuing to support the shops of the conservation area… article HERE
Middleton Flood 1927 – DVD
Geoff Wellens is selling DVD copies of the film he presented at last month’s Middleton Archaeological Society meeting. It includes footage of the Middleton flood and a royal visit in 1945. Also a fantastic interview with Sarah Porter. Price is £10 – profits go to Middleton Archaeological Society. Contact Geoffwellens@aol.com…
Edgar Wood Film
The Middleton Heritage Film Group have submitted a plan for a new film on the life and influence of Edgar Wood to the Heritage Lottery Fund. If the bid for funding is successful, the film will be shot in 2017…