A "GOLDEN CLUSTER" OF HERITAGE
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…
The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) held its North West Annual General Meeting at Middleton on Thursday 15th November to acknowledge the achievements of the Edgar Wood & Middleton Heritage Project, now in its 10th year. The event was held in the new Edgar Wood Community Centre, i.e. the newly restored Long Street School…
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…
Here is the trailer for the new Edgar Wood film. Don’t miss one of the Thursday 7pm screenings in London, Huddersfield and Manchester in March 2018. LONDON – Thursday 1st March – The Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, London. WC1N 3AT HUDDERSFIELD – Thursday 8th March – Lindley Methodist Church, East Street, Lindley Huddersfield,…
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…
Students from the University of Salford (School of Built Environment) under the supervision of the Program Director of Building Survey, Simon Mclean, return for a more in depth look at the rooms in the ‘community wing’. There was speculation as to the reasons for the cracks in the brickwork starting at high level and extending…
Twenty plus, second year students from the University of Salford, School of Built Environment, under the charge of Simon Mclean (Program Director of Building Surveying) came to survey the school rooms and learn of the issues related to conservation. Reports will be written and submitted for their course assessment. It will be interesting to read…
Today’s hot lime workshop at St Leonard’s in Middleton involved experts Aura Conservation and Rupert Hilton (who took these photos). What is hot lime mortar? Who is Rupert Hilton? Who are Aura Conservation? It’s good to see St. Leonard’s supporting the best in conservation…
Many Wood and Sellers enthusiasts popped into the Wood and Sellers evening and exhibition on March 10th at Manchester Metropolitan University. The event celebrated the two architects’ contribution to Greater Manchester’s architectural heritage and included Edgar Wood’s watercolour of J. Henry Sellers’ design for Lee House, Manchester. The painting shows how these Arts & Crafts…
Christine was nominated by Dave Lees for a Manchester Histories Community Award. Christine was one of three short listed for the Pickstone prize and is shown holding the award for being highly recommended by the judging panel. The ceremony took place in the grand surroundings of banqueting room of the Manchester Town Hall. Dave gave…
Baguley Hall, Wythenshaw – Roger May, Wikimedia Commons
Here is a selection of refurbishment news for Greater Manchester’s heritage. Just click on the links…
Historic Baguley Hall loses out on £1.5m of funding as agency withdraws cash offer
Urban Splash reveals plans for Stubbs Mill
Manchester’s oldest construction firm moves to Ancoats landmark
Chorlton Library to get major refurbishment
March start for £4.6m Bury Met revamp
Saving a Century – Victorian Society Exhibition The Victorian Society’s photographic exhibition Saving a Century, curated by noted architectural historian Gavin Stamp, is on show free of charge at The John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH, from 8 January – 24 March, daily during Library hours. Using archive photographs and material from over…
A collection of documents and photographs about Edgar Wood’s Arkholme, 1 Towncroft Avenue formerly belonging to the Taylor family is to go to the Edgar Wood Middleton archive, thanks to historian Geoff Wellens. The collection is a crucial source of information on what is Edgar Wood’s very first flat roofed design. It was erected in…
Manchester Evening News report on Ye Olde Boar’s Head tree ring dating – Click Here
Photos show progress of £4.9m project to reopen River RochThis visionary project for Rochdale town centre is nearing completion and is shortlisted for an award. Click Here for the report and aerial photos.
The photo-montage opposite combines a Victorian photo of the river with the modern scene and was one of the early illustrations of the potential of the river reopening.
The ‘Toast Rack’, Photo by Mikey aka Gene Hunt
Long maligned as eyesores and an offence to human values, modernist architecture is enjoying a passionate upsurge in interest. Edgar Wood admirer and all round modernist, Eddy Rhead, features in an excellent overview of Manchester’s brutalist architecture. Click HERE to read the article.
The garden was given its annual cut back and tidy today, in readiness for the growing season. At the same time the pavement on Long Street is being improved. The blocks are being taken up and replaced with stone flags…
Painting by the late Colin Gilbert
We had a great meeting on the evening of Thursday 11th, with an excellent turnout. Fortified by pizza, cheese and biscuits and cake, we worked through the upcoming activities and plans, not least the planning of September Golden Cluster Month. With the establishment of the not-for-profit company, tACT (the Arts & Crafts Trust) last year, Middleton Heritage is now developing new areas of community heritage activity, conservation and research. Rupert Hilton gave us an update on the Redcroft restoration, which is finishing very soon. As the scaffold is wrapped in plastic sheeting, we can’t wait to see the result when it all comes off. We also discussed some of the other up and coming THI grant schemes, not least the one for the Middleton Edgar Wood Centre, at the former Long Street Methodist Sunday School! Because of the excellent communication among group members, we are moving to a quarterly formal meeting to free up time for these new things.
The second meeting was a great success. If you are interested in getting involved or giving us a helping hand, just leave a reply at the end of the post. Here are the minutes… MIDDLETON HISTORY RESEARCH GROUP Meeting Old Boar’s Head, 30 Jan 2016 Thirteen researchers came with apologies from the Edgar Wood and…
The first results of the Tree ring analysis are in and those who attended Middleton Archaeological Society’s Thursday lecture got the full details as well as a tour. Click Here for the Society’s post…
