A "GOLDEN CLUSTER" OF HERITAGE
The very first visitors to ‘A Grand Day Out’ were Shirley and Roaf who arrived 5 minutes early, at 12.55pm… but there wasn’t a queue! Later on we had visitors from Didsbury, Worsley, Macclesfield, Stockport and a couple from Plymouth who discovered the event from their camp site info. Our youngest visitor was Jennifer, who…
The first day of the Golden Cluster openings is only 24 hours away and the final touches are being made. We hope to see many visitors new and old throughout the month and also on the Heritage Open Days. Nick Baker, the curator has done a great job putting together the exhibition titled: ‘Middleton’s Arts and…
Here is a miscellany of heritage news over August… Greater Manchester Plan to demolish old Coronation Street set submitted to council Plans revealed for dozens more flats to be built in Ancoats as part of £1bn housing masterplan Converted Bolton church aiming for national recognition at ‘property Oscars’ Victoria Station revamp: Network Rail reveals £44m…
Middleton Archaeological Society (MAS) began its largest archaeological event ever this month (starting 21st August) at the gates of St Leonard’s Church. The archaeologists are opening a large trench to record the remains of Church House farm which was demolished in 1898. The farm was built on the remains of the Grapes Inn, described by…
Middleton Heritage, minus a few on holiday, had an enjoyable meeting Thursday tea-time. We picked up where we left off at the July meeting, chatting about recent and upcoming events/activities such as the Wilson Potter beer soiree, September Arts & Crafts exhibition, ‘Art Nouveau to Art Deco’ Edgar Wood buildings guide, Word War I memorial…
Thirty members of the Clitheroe U3A Architectual Buildings Group visited the Arts and Crafts Church today followed by a walk around a selection of the Edgar Wood houses. In the image Christine is pointing out something skyward. It is more likely to be a slipped roof stone than a passing bird!…
Around 90 people braved the inclement weather on Saturday and made their way to the Edgar Wood Centre for the monthly Wilson Potter Brewery ‘Saturday Soirée’. As well as their usual range of award winning craft ales, a new heritage themed beer was available to try. ‘Crafty Mr Wood’ has been specially brewed for Middleton…
Here is a miscellany of Greater Manchester heritage and Arts & Crafts news over July.… Greater Manchester Archaeologists uncover 270 bodies as part of Cross Street Metrolink works Whitworth Art Gallery nominated for top architecture prize Manchester Town Hall extension and Central library bag two national construction awards School and homes plan given green-light on…
This year’s Middleton Archaeological Society summer ‘archaeology walk’ (on 30th July) was a great success. Around 35 people were led through the estate of Hopwood Hall by historian Geoff Wellens, as dusk quietly settled over the woodland and parkland. Hopwood estate is historically coherent and interesting, with many layers of interest. It now forms part…
I commented on The Lodge (Lodge St) in response to Wendy Coupe’s enquiry which led me to the Middleton Guardian Newspaper Archive and OLD KANKEY of Kankey Ginnel body-snatching fame. Below is the only reference I have managed to find to the word Kankey. William Lancashire resided in a house in Back Lodge St adjacent…
Members of Middleton Heritage met on Thursday evening to plan the September Golden Cluster Month and Heritage Open Days. It was a very positive meeting with lots of ideas coming from different groups. Among initiatives discussed were new and improved visitor guides and trails, including new versions of the Sam Bamford trail and Edgar Wood…
Sue Oakley, the new THI officer is given a guided tour by David Morris, chairman of the Edgar Wood Society and members of the committee. We all look forward to working with Sue in the coming months and wish her well in her new position 
Twenty members of the Saddleworth Civic Trust spent Saturday doing the full tour, lead by Geoff Wellens at the Parish Church and by Christine Grime at the Arts and Crafts Church. This was followed by a conducted tour of the Edgar Wood trail. Christine led – the rest followed! In the fore ground are Christine…
Thanks to Maureen, the garden is looking good. There is no end to her talents, we have seen her in previous posts mopping the hall floor and painting the ‘beer cellar’.
We hope the visitors on Saturday from the Saddleworth Civic Trust will be suitably impressed.
Milton Street Independent Labour Club is featured in Historic England’s newly published 2015 Designation Yearbook. It is, perhaps, one of the most interesting buildings highlighted, despite its modesty. Click here to download the ILP entry. Arts and Crafts buildings generally feature strongly with two areas receiving special research for listing – West Cambridge and Minchinhampton,…
Here is miscellany of heritage and architecture news over the past month… Greater Manchester… The places we miss most in Manchester Underground Manchester: Tunnels, a tube station and even shops hidden beneath the city’s streets Manchester town hall clock tours: stunning pictures Vision for Princes Gate, Oldham WW1 exhibition launched at the Pioneers Museum, Rochdale…
Middleton Archaeology Society members, Geoff Wellens and David Morris, are studying Middleton’s historical enclosures. A few years back they identified the Saxon enclosure for St. Leonard’s Parish Church, originally dedicated to St. Cuthbert. In 2008, Middleton photographer and heritage consultant, Andy Marshall, identified an ancient boundary behind Long Street Methodist Church, adjacent the bowling green…
Chris and Lindsey led the final ‘pre-feasibility’ workshop for the Arts & Crafts Awakening project – fourteen people came. Chris first went through the duties of those who have become directors of the Arts & Crafts Trust. We then learnt about the new THI manager, Sue Oakley, who has been running the Keighley THI in…
Middleton Archaeological Society have been working over the spring months untangling the complexities of Middleton’s Ye Olde Boar’s Head public house. Click here to learn more!…
The lawns in the garden need to be cut every week at this time of year and there are also those areas that are out of sight and sometimes out of mind that also need attention.In this instance the heavy mob had to be called in…
