Stockport Dungeon Open

Stockport's Medieval dungeon was the sight of a Stockport ghost reading event, on Sat 20th Dec.
John Bardsley our own Mr. Pickwick read from Steve Cliffe's book 'Shadows', which can be bought from the Stockport Heritage Magazine website.

As well as the readings there was an exhibition on the Stockport Workhouse followed by a free talk by Derek Morgan in his shop across the road.

Next year we are hoping to have a full program of events based around the medieval dungeon, beginning on Easter Sat 4th April. If you don't have next year's calendar we still have a few left in the Heritage Centre, which will re-open on Tues. 5th Jan. 2015.


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

St. Mary's Parish Church-surviving gravestones

The Stockport Heritage Trust has produced a CD of the surviving gravestones at St Mary’s parish church, Stockport. There are four worksheets for area one, north, area two, east, area three, south and area four, internal and one for the plot plan of the graveyard.

On them are transcriptions of the stones and information about individuals taken from the parish records. The CD is available to view in the Heritage Centre at St Mary’s.

There are also copies in Manchester Central library, at N.C.F.H.S. contact Liz de Mercado at http://www.ncfhs.org.uk/, and Stockport Heritage library.

Winter 2014 Heritage Magazine

The Winter Issue of the 
Stockport Heritage Magazine is out NOW!!
With all the usual features and letters, there are articles about-
Vikings in Stockport
Stockport's 17 hospitals in the Great War
Baker's Vaults
Words & Whistles
Christmas 100 years ago
Greg's mills
Marple Hall
The Home Front
and much, much more.

If you have trouble getting your copy contact the Editor at www.stockportheritagemagazine.co.uk

100 years Commemoration at Bramhall

 Ford's Lane Church in Bramhall began their commemoration with a walk to the war memorial, followed by a British Legion service.

After the walk back a WW11 lunch was provided with songs, hymns and a short remembrance day talk.

 A good number joined in on the day with authentic costumes and displays of WW1 posters and letters from the front, adding to the effect.

The Geurnsey Evacuees Reunion

 Gillian Mawson is pictured talking to the Mayor and our own 1940s expert, Angela Kenrick at the Guernsey Evacuees Reunion in St. Mary church on Sun 8th Nov.

 The Evacuees gather together occasionally to share memories and catch up on old times.

Many of the memories were recorded for posterity by the BBC and stalls displayed interesting facts including the kind of items the children would have carried in their very small suit cases. 

The crowd was entertained by a George Formby act with familiar songs and jokes and everyone seemed to enjoy the day.

Stockport's First Viking Festival

As Part of the first ever Viking Festival in Stockport, the Heritage Trust put on a timed charity sprint up Bridge Street Brow.

 The youngest competitor just 14 months, the oldest (we didn't ask).

The winners
were -
For the men - Brett Clarke
For the women - Rose Heathcote
and the fastest child 0 - 12 was Dorna Asadi

 Other entertainments included concerts in St. Mary's Church, a stage with a variety of acts. There were also long boats, viking warriors and stalls with crafts and medieval wares.

wise women to cure all ailments and knights in medieval armour.

And with a rare chance to go down into Stockport's 15th C dungeon, definitely a weekend not to be missed.

Trip to the Imperial War Museum Salford

Another enjoyable trip out for a group of enthusiastic heritage hunters.

I would definitely recommend a visit to the special exhibition "From Street to Trench", a fascinating look at life around Manchester 1914-18.

Stockport's Great War Experience

As part of the 2014 Heritage Open Days, Stockport Heritage Trust and St. Mary's Parish Church put on a whole day of 'Great War Experience'.

The exhibitions, talks and guided walks gave a picture of life in Stockport between 1914 - 18.

All aspects of the Home Front were covered including John Bull, who was utilised at the time to encourage recruitment. Our own recruitment barrow was set up in the Market Hall, to encourage the young people to take part and discover the kind of roll they would have been expected to play, from women making ammunition at Heaton Norris and engines for tanks at Mirrlees, to men being sent to man submarines, build roads and railways or dig tunnels.

There were two choirs, the Tiviot Dale Methodist  Church Singers and St. Mary's Church Singers as well as the Stockport Accordion Band, all entertaining with songs popular at the time.

Exhibitions included the Conscientious Objectors, Willow Grove Cemetery, Heaton Mersey Red Cross Hospital, postcards and letters sent home and a selection of the hundreds of posters use for recruitment, propaganda and public information.

The dungeon was also open with a display of crime and punishment.

The staff in the Heritage Centre did an amazing job trying to cope with the numbers of public and the organiser, Kevin Dranfield would like to thank ALL the volunteers who worked so hard on the day to make the event a huge success

Gabrielle Ray grave to be restored

The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America are planning to restore the grave of Miss Gabrielle Ray, situated in Englefield Green Cemetery, Egham. Gabrielle was born in Stockport in 1883, the site marked by a blue plaque erected by the Gabrielle Ray Appreciation Society. She became the most photographed stage beauty of the Edwardian age.

For more information, please click on the following link: Gabrielle Ray memorial

The Summer 2014 Heritage Magazine is out Now.

The latest Stockport Heritage Magazine is in the shows NOW !!

With stories of-
Brewery Horses
New plaques for Stockport Canal
The Stockport to Stalybridge  rail service
Local motorcycling in the 1930s
Memories of wartime Heaton Norris
Thomas Web town maker
The Ashtons of Highfield
The Cheshire rising
A suffragette buried far from home -

and many more interesting titbits and letters.

Another Sad Event

Yesterday was the Funeral of another long standing Heritage Centre volunteer and Trust member.

Doreen Dethick was born in Oldham but spent most of her adult life in Stockport. She was a very active member of the Heritage Trust as well as supporting the Plaza Cinema group and could always be relied on to be there when needed.

Our sympathy goes out to her daughter Sharza at this sad time.

Chadkirk Festival 2014

 Another good turn out for the Chadkirk Festival.

There was lots to see and do and the weather made the day.

Don't miss it next year, always the last Sunday in July.

St Chad's Well Dressing 2014

Stockport 2014 Parade

Derek and Angie were in character as part of the 2014 Carnival Parade

Romiley School Re-enactment Day

On Thursday 10th July, the children of Romiley Primary School, walked from the site of their old school, to the present school on Sandy Lane, just as they had done 100 years ago.

Members of staff and pupils, dressed in period costumes, outside the old National School on Guywood Lane prior to the walk to new school on Sandy Lane.

The children and pupils arriving at their new school.