A "GOLDEN CLUSTER" OF HERITAGE
Middleton Archaeological Society is undertaking a five-day exploratory dig at the demolished mill cottage in the grounds of Hopwood Hall. Follow the dig here. A full list of dates is here. Located 300 yards from the Grade 2 listed Hopwood Hall and next to the splendid remains of a Corn Mill and pond. The Miller’s…
In 1912 Edgar Wood built his final pair of semi-detached houses, 165–167 Manchester Old Road, Middleton, adjacent to his very first pair, West Lea of 1887. In doing so, he created one of the most unusual semis of his career – a striking building that fascinates everyone who takes time to look at it. The…
We had a good meeting tonight (31st March 2015) working through a mix of detailed issues and broad aims about how we want to celebrate Middleton’s heritage and involve local people. Concerning the Heritage Lottery application, we agreed an outline for a local digital archive and history library, (still more idea than scheme) and asked…
One of the directors of The Arts and Crafts Trust Ltd is continuing the work to get the room next to the kitchen back into use, but what else could Maureen be going on a wet afternoon. The room next to the kitchen was traditionally known as the cutting up room. Can anybody suggest why,…
A miscellany of recent news items across the web……
Dr. Chantal Conneller gave a fascinating lecture at the Old Boar’s Head P.H. on Thursday evening (26th March 2015), organised by Middleton Archaeological Society. Dr. Conneller is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Manchester but also expert in flint technology and refitting co-director at Starr Carr, the Mesolithic archaeological site near Scarborough,…
The Locality led workshop was a two part affair last night (25th March) as we split into groups, one working up the Awards for All grant for the new Urban Village Hall with Lindsey and Chris, while the other concentrated on the history library and archive project. Nevertheless, it was a successful evening with a…
The Middleton Archaeological Society weekend excavation adjacent to Grade II* listed Tonge Hall is underway. The dig is exploring the area once covered by the Hall’s farm buildings. Follow the blog here…
It was a great workshop last night as we began to bring the Locality-led project to a close. We began with Chris handing over our articles of incorporation to Christine (company secretary) and quickly moved into a discussion about the Urban Village Hall project. We are now ready for an Awards for All bid on…
On Thursday the 12 March a group from Manchester Age UK visited the Arts and Crafts Church for a tour followed by lunch at the Old Boar’s Head P.H. next door. They particularly liked the small rose windows in the porch doors. As they were visiting the Parish Church in the afternoon, Christine told them…
The newly formed Lettings Group met on Monday 9 March to consider all the requirements necessary, relating to the hire and lettings of the rooms. This was a mind boggling session and we are now starting to work our way through all the regulations regarding applying for a Premises Licence…
The group met at 6pm on Thursday (5th March) at the Old Grammar School. We wanted to see the good work done there with regard to heritage, to help us progress our ideas for Long Street School. It’s an absolutely gorgeous building and we think the oldest in England (that has not been altered or…
Our Arts and Crafts awakening meeting went extremely well this evening, 4th March. We learnt from Chris that The Arts & Crafts Trust was now fully incorporated. We have achieved our first objective! We decided to create two sub-groups – the Lettings Group are moving ahead with the Urban Village Hall plan and will be…
On Thursday 26th February Middleton Archaeological Society held their regular monthly event at the Sessions Room at the Olde Boar’s Head. They hosted Ruth Nugent from the University of Chester. Ruth’s talk was entitled “Dead at Chester Cathedral: the burials and commemorations at the cathedral”. The talk was extremely interesting and very well presented. Ruth…
Friday (20th Feb) saw around 30 surveying and property management students from Salford University visit the Arts & Crafts Church, led by Simon McLean, Lecturer in Building Surveying. Conservation surveyor Rupert Hilton, who set up the trip, explained to students the repair and conservation issues being tackled, Christine Grime took them on a walking tour…
The Arts and Crafts Awakening project is now working on using the former Long Street School hall as a place for community events and activities – an urban village hall. With Lindsey and Chris from Locality, we are planning to submit a Lottery ‘Awards for All’ scheme to get things off the ground this year…
We had a good Edgar Wood Society committee meeting on Thursday (12th Feb). One of the things we decided was to set up a research group to look at the key historical figures around Edgar Wood and Long Street Methodist Church. Much of what we put together with be incorporated into the planned ‘Romantic Middleton…
There was a happy atmosphere as Arts & Crafts Awakening created a new company called The Arts & Crafts Trust yesterday evening (11th Feb). Seven people signed up as directors, with Christine taking on the role of company Secretary. This feels just the right number and allows a good number to remain as members and…
It was a cold start to the meeting as David forgot to switch on the boiler! However, we soon got going with Lindsey and Chris guiding us through the evening’s training. At one point we took a vote on whether to go for incorporation listed by guarantee – the support was unanimous. We also decided…
We had another double bill yesterday, 15th January, when at 5pm Arts & Crafts Awakening and Locality got together to work through the draft business plan for the Arts & Crafts Church. We and Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust are presenting it to the Edgar Wood Townscape Heritage Initiative Board on 20th January. Over the…
