Sunday, November 28, 2010

Heritage Magazine - fault

Anyone finding themselves with a Heritage Magazine that has a page missing, please return to the Editor, Steve Cliffe, and he will replace it for you.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Spirit of Christmas

Another stall, another cold day.
Mr. Pickwick was out in person to promote his Heritage Emporium, at the Spirit of Christmas on Sat 27th Nov. The cold weather did not deter visitors from all over the region, and Heritage Calendars were selling like 'hot cakes', so was the mulled wine.
If you have not yet got your calender for 2011, the Heritage Centre and Tourist Information Centre still have a few left.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Heritage Magazine Winter 2010


The latest Heritage Magazine will be in the shops this week with more interesting stories of Stockport.

From manor to metropolis
Market history exhibition
Evacuees return to Stockport
Cheadle Green archaeological dig
Come to the fair
Forgotten tracks
Dressing up the bride
Green and pleasant Roman Lakes
Stockport's miracle
The ruined chapel
Cycling up the Clarion
Greave Fold

and more ...................

GET YOUR COPY NOW !

Monday, November 08, 2010

BBC's 'Turn Back Time' to Visit Stockport

The BBC's 'Turn Back Time' program, which follows a group of traders trying to manage life as shopkeepers at various points in time, will visit Stockport Market on Friday 12th November - Sunday 14th November.

Details taken from the BBC website:

Event: Turn Back Time Pop-Up Shop, Stockport. Open 10am - 5pm, 12th - 14th Nov.
As well as taking you back in time through the 1930s grocer's shop, there will be advice on researching your own high street history, local artefacts to get 'hands on' with, and a chance for your old photos of the area to become part of a high street memory line.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/handsonhistory/map-explanation.s


To compliment the 1930's theme, the 'dungeon' window (top of Mealhouse Brow) has been converted into a 1930's Sewing Machine Shop Window, for a very limited time only.

Monday, October 25, 2010

St. Wilfrid's Fair









What an amazing weekend, Stockport has not seen the like for many a year.

The St. Wilfrid's medieval fair was put on to celebrate 750 years of a market charter and what a fair it was. Words cannot describe the atmosphere created by medieval cooking, music, apothecaries, basket weaving, wattle and daub, a torture master and even a dragon.

The grand finale was a most spectacular fire show and fireworks to music.

The crowds flocked in their thousands and the market buzzed as it has not done for a very long time.

Thank you Stockport for a fair that will be long remembered.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

'Market in Bloom' Flower Festival




The 'MARKET IN BLOOM' Flower Festival at St Mary's Parish Church, Stockport Market Place, officially opened tonight (Thursday) and has proved it's worth waiting for!

Beautiful and imaginative floral displays reflect the variety of stalls on the Market, whilst emphasising the focal areas of the church. The 'River of Roses' also provides visitors a chance to remember those who are no longer with us.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

New Market Book



A new book is being launched this week by Stockport Heritage Trust.

It is the history of 750 years of Stockport Market and the surrounding area. It tells of the people, buildings and customs in a most well researched and easy to read way by Maureen Fahey, one of our members.

Very good value at £7 , it is A4 size, with 64 pages and 60 photographs, illustrations and maps.

You can get it from St. Mary's Heritage Centre on any Market Day 11am - 3pm, or Sat. Oct. 23rd we will be selling it in the market on our St. Wilfrid's Fair medieval stall.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Mushroom Hunt 2010





This year's mushroom hunt was on Wed. 13th October at Etherow Country Park.

After meeting for coffee the intrepid explorers set off through the wilds of Etherow Park, armed only with cameras and a small pocket sized guide on wild fungi.

The sun shone and the wind was light. There was much to see and photograph, but sadly no one had told the mushrooms we were coming, or had they?

Still a good day was had by all, and many thanks to Steve Cliffe for leading the expedition.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Stockport Train Crash



This A4 book covers a catalogue of human errors leading up to Stockport's only fatal rail disaster, in thick fog, on the viaduct, in 1948.

It includes an eye witness account, from a passenger who still remembers that fateful night.

It can be bought from the St. Mary's Heritage Centre, open on market days, for £6.

Monday, September 06, 2010

Market 750






6th Sep 1260 was the date of Stockport's Market Charter and Saturday's celebrations took the form of the Market through time.

Dan Bank Finished


Dan Bank in Marple is finished on time, and with the least possible disruption to residents.

And thanks mainly to Ray Peston our Offerton Historian the very old Oldknow boundary stones have been saved and put back as a feature of the roadside.

I must congratulate the contractors on this excellent piece of work.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Blue Plaque for County




At last the Stockport County Blue Plaque is in it's rightful place and was unveiled, by the Chairman Alwyn Thompson, last evening.

It is four years since the public voted it the most popular venue for a new Blue Plaque.

Court Leet Sits Again




After an absence or over 150 years the Market Place once more played host to a Court Leet. A group of Trust members dressed in costume to re-enact the old Court Leet Trials.

Volunteers found themselves sent to the Dungeon, sat in the Stocks or threatened with the Scold's Blank.

All was done in a lighthearted manner and the audience joined in with gusto.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Classic Cars in the Market Place




For the first time ever, a classic car show was held in Stockport's Market Place on Sun 1st Aug.

60 old cars graced the historic Market area and a steady flow of people came to view them.

Goody bags were given to exhibitors, containing Stockport rock, souvenirs and free tickets to go around Staircase House with a guide book.

The organ music gave an appropriate atmosphere to the whole event and the consensus was, at the end of the day, that it should become an annual event.

Monday, August 02, 2010

2010 Chadkirk Festival







Chadkirk Festival was held again this year on the last full weekend in July.

With Roman soldiers, Egyptian dancers, A brass band, the Liberty Belle singers and lots of other entertainments.

Plenty of people came throughout the two days and all seemed to enjoy themselves.

There was a display of birds of prey and a 'worm charming' competition.

The Trust was out in force with 'Norman the Knight' who was shot and killed many times throughout the weekend. There was also a bran tub for the kids, and for the parents, heritage books and tea towels produced by Trust members.

If you missed it this year, put it in your diary for next.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Romiley Walk






John Bardsley took a group on a very pleasant walk around Romiley and Greave on Wed. evening.

They were shown many interesting buildings, told of local celebrities and viewed old registers and log books from the 1914 Romiley Junior School.

John's vast knowledge of the area and it's history made for an extremely interesting and informative walk. Thank you john.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Summer 2010 Magazine Out Now


The Summer issue of Stockport Heritage Magazine is in the shops this week and it's as good as ever.


The Royal Air Force in Stockport
The Pied Piper of Heaton Mersey
A Tribute to Woodford
750 years of Stockport Market
Memories of Abney Hall
Stockport Carnival
Bramall Park investigations.



I'm not giving it all away, you will have to buy the book, and but one for a friend as well.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Willow Grove Cemetery

Friends of Stockport Cemeteries

Invite Stockport Heritage Trust members to a

Celebration at Willow Grove Cemetery Reddish

On

Sunday 29th August 2010

from 1pm until 4pm

The celebration is to officially open the new Heritage and Tree

Trail and acknowledge the partnership working with Stockport Council.

Please come along and join in our celebration.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Bishop Brown's Industrial School




Bishop Brown's Industrial School on High Street is part of a site being developed, by Johnnie Johnson Housing, into housing units similar to those in the old Citadel building. The shell of the old school is to be kept intact and many architectural features incorporated into the re-development.

It is planned to add the former Reform Club to the site also, this was recently used as Peaches Night Club and is in a very derelict condition at present.

Part of the site includes the Nonconformist graveyard which has been given an archeological investigation, revealing gravestones at different levels as well as many empty vaults. It is thought that the bodies were removed when the graveyard went out of use.

Another find is a possible medieval pit, showing habitation early on in this area.