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.

Graffiti on St. Mary's

 What can you say about people who do this to the oldest building in Stockport.


Not only the oldest but there is a possibility that these stones came from Stockport's Castle, which was out of use when the old church was built in the 14th century.

St. Mary's Throws a Birthday Bash

The Nave Cafe is just one year old this week and St. Mary's Church threw a birthday party for the young people from Pure Innovations.

There was plenty of food, drink and a musical cake, a guitarist, dancing and small gifts for the helpers.

Thank you St. Mary's for a nice evening. 

Unveiling of Stockport Canal Plaques

Wednesday May 28^th saw the unveiling of two plaques marking the line of the Stockport Branch of the Manchester and Ashton-Under-Lyne Canal, known locally as the ‘Lanky Cut’. The first at 2pm was at the side of Nelstrop’s flour mill, Albion Mill at the top of Lancashire Hill. The second at 2.30 was at North Reddish Park Community Centre. The plaques were unveiled by the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Chris Murphy and his wife Dot and in attendance was Peter Scott of the Manchester & Stockport Canal Society and other dignitaries.

Also present at Albion Mill was one of the directors of the mill.

Unlike the blue plaques around Stockport which are round, the two unveiled are green and oblong in appearance.

Plaque at Albion Mill

The canal was an important trading route into Stockport and its terminus was at the top of Lancashire Hill beyond the mill, where there was a coal wharf and other businesses. Unfortunately it fell into disuse and like so many other canals it became derelict and in 1971 it was filled in.

Over the years the potential for use of the canals for leisure purposes was realised and many were restored by engineers and enthusiasts alike. Most notably locally is the Peak Forest Canal and the branch from Marple to Macclesfield. More recently the Huddersfield and the Rochdale Canals were restored to navigation and along with the Cheshire Ring opening up new routes popular with narrow boat owners with the potential for going further afield all over the country, and the canals are popular with other users such as walkers, cyclists and anglers alike. Unfortunately this popularity came too late for the ‘Lanky Cut’ and what could have been a useful amenity for local people was lost and largely built over in places. The Huddersfield Canal had been built over where it went through Stalybridge and there was a proposal to divert the route via the River Tame and rejoin the original route further along. This was rejected however, and buildings on the original route were demolished. Where the Rochdale went through Failsworth a CO-OP supermarket built over the canal was demolished and rebuilt and the canal and a new basin constructed.

The aim of the Manchester and Stockport Canal Society is to bring back the canal which should never have been lost, and you can look at the society’s web site by typing in Stockport Canal in the address bar of the computer. Anyone can also become a member of the society and receive news about forthcoming events and activities.  Someone once called them a ‘bunch of dreamers’. Looking at the Huddersfield and Rochdale canals shows what can be done if we dare to dream. However, bringing the Stockport Canal back may be a nightmare for some along its route!

Heaton Moor Window

P. Blagg Ltd. of Heaton Moor Road have been selling

hardware to the area for the last 110 years.

Angela Kenrick has dressed their window on behalf of the Heritage Trust, with a number of vintage items which are bound to stir up the memories of the older population.

Sad News

Jim Clare, Chairman of the Heritage Trust, Town Crier and everyone's friend, passed away in the early hours of Thursday 22nd May, at his home in Woodsmoor.

He was a man with a large voice and an even larger personality.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him and our sympathy goes out to his wife and family.

Hawk Green Festival

A May festival on The Green has been revived by Hawk Green Residents Association recalling festivals of long ago. 

A king and queen presided over stalls, vintage vehicles and maypole dancing by the brownies. The Green has a long tradition of serving the outlying district of Hawk Green near Marple and was levelled with cinders from Goyt Mill for use as a cricket field in the 1930s. Before that it was common land where horses, sheep and cattle could be grazed by nearby cottagers.

The organisers turned up in costume reflecting a WW1 theme and the sun honoured the day.

Unveiling Blue Plaques in Reddish

On May 28th at 2pm, a new Blue Plaque will be unveiled at Nelstrop's Mill at the top of Lancashire Hill.

At 2.30pm on the same day another Blue Plaque will be unveiled in North Reddish Park to commemorate the site of Stockport's Canal.

Spring Issue Heritage Magazine

The Spring issue of the Stockport Heritage Magazine is out now !!

Packed full of interesting articles and news about Stockport's Heritage - 

Uncertain future for our pubs.

Bramall Hall.

The name's the same.

Trams and Tripe.

Songs and games of a bygone era.

Woodbank Hall survey

Potatoes will grow in anything.

A companion for Cobden?

King Cotton is dead.

Romiley Primary School's first 100 years.

Walks from Cheadle Hulme.

Iron furnaces and forges.

Also letters, updates about our buildings at risk and news from the Stockport Heritage Trust.
The cover price of the magazine has gone up to £2.80,after 7 years of being the same price, but there are less adverts and more colour pages.

Stockport First World War exhibits

Stockport Heritage Centre in St. Mary's Church now has items from the First World War on display - focusing on local people. We're also keen to collect your family history accounts of First World War experiences for our archive. Free entry - all welcome! Open Tuesday, Friday & Saturday 10.30-3.30 and Thursdays 10-2pm.

Romiley, The Great War Remembered

"A group known as ROMILEY REMEMBERS would love to hear from anyone who had  family living in the Romiley, Bredbury or Woodley area during the First World War. We would like them to share memories of these people with the group, so that we can commemorate the areas life in the 1914 -1918 War.

We plan to publish a book, with a trail, remembering all the local Soldiers, Navy and Airmen, who died fighting for their country in the conflict.

Please Contact Angie Clark at clark.theateam69@btinternet.com.

Thank you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Stockport Heritage Trust and all the volunteers at the St. Mary's Heritage Centre, would like to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Christmas Presents

The Heritage Centre shop in St. Mary's Church has the widest selection of local history books in Stockport.

They range from our £2 series of which there are now 38 titles, to Peter Arrowsmith's ultimate history of Stockport for only £10, and many in between, all wonderful gifts.

We are open Tue, Thur, Fri & Sat 10.30 - 3.30pm right up to Christmas Eve.