Heritage Open Days at the Trust

Heritage open day are nearly upon us. This year's free talk at St. Peter's Church, will be Stockport Castle by Kevin Dranfield. It is free and there is an accompanying book for only £2 if you wish to know more.

Come on Thursday 8th Sep. at 2pm and hear about the history of Stockport Castle from pre-historic times to the present day.

Demolition-St. George's Rectory

St. George's wish to demolish the old rectory. The Trust is official against this as it is a grade II listed building and was listed as part of a site with three buildings including the church and school.

Planning Application to demolish a Listed Building

The planning application consultation period for the demolition of St. George’s former Vicarage, Heaviley a Grade II listed building, will end on 15^th August. The application number 047344 and accompanying documents/surveys etc can be viewed at:

http://planning.stockport.gov.uk/PlanningData/AcolNetCGI.gov?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=111544

Comments for or against can be left.

Comments can also be sent to the case officer Mark Jordan at: mark.jordan@stockport.gov.uk

Mark Jordan, Planning Services, Stockport MBC, Place Directorate, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport SK1 3XE

The Vicarage has been subject to fire and vandalism and the interior is severely damaged, but the ACIES Structural Condition Report in the Heritage Report Document states that ‘Although there is extensive fire damage to timber elements, the masonry in the building seems to be unaffected.’ Stockport has some good examples of sympathetic re-use of heritage buildings, and it would be sad to see this precedent replaced by approval of the demolition of a listed building.

Supermarket for Marple

Cheadle & Marple 6th Form College are planning to sell off thier Hibbert Lane Campus to one of the large supermarket chains.


There is a campaign to stop this happening.

If you wish to be a part of this, you can sign an on line petition by going to this web address - www.marple-in-action.org.uk

Alan Burgess

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of our great friend and colleague Alan Burgess.

Alan was one of the Trust's first volunteers to come down to the Heritage Centre and stay.

He found secondhand furniture to fit out the rooms and put on displays around the walls. He often volunteered to sit in the stocks and have wet sponges thrown at him, and would dress in costume and walk around the market are handing out fliers.

Alan was a big asset to the Trust and will be missed.

Chadkirk Festival 2011

What a weekend !! Who could have guessed after six weeks of bad and mixed weather, we could be so lucky as to get two glorious days for the Chadkirk Festival.

There was more than ever for families to see and do, with street entertainers, basket weaving, exotic dancers, worm charming as well as all the usual stalls and bands.

The Trust was there as usual in all it's glory. We had two stalls, a bran tub and Norman the Knight, who the mayor could not resist shooting an arrow at.

The costumes were varied too, with Georgian, Medieval, Victorian, Puritan and of course the Town Crier.

Thanks to the Friends of Chadkirk and Stockport Council for running this popular event.

Summer 2011 Heritage Magazine out now !!

The summer Heritage Magazine is in the shops now.

With stories about -
Brinnington
Dan Bank
Sport in Stockport
Oakwood Hall
Red phone boxes
The Unicorn Brewery
The Arden's of Bredbury
Peak Forest Canal
Reddish
Kinder Scout
Woodley
Plaza Cinema
Book reviews and numerous letters.


If your newsagent does not stock it ask him to give us a ring.
01663719129

Inns & Outs of Stockport Taverns

There is a new book out by Coral Dranfield.

This book is not an index of Stockport Pubs, Coral has selected tales and anecdotes, histories and legends to construct a book that gives a social history woven around the old taverns and inns of Stockport, many of which are no longer there.

It is selling at £6 from Stockport Heritage Centre, St. Mary's Church, the Tourist Information Centre, Staircase House and Waterstones in Merseyway.

A perfect day, for a perfect day out. Marple Locks Festival picked the best of days for what was the best festival yet.

People flocked to Memorial Park Marple, to see the animals, boats and stalls. There were walks along the canal as well as rides on canal boats. Plenty of stalls provided entertainment, fun and food. Stockport Heritage were out in force and by early afternoon had sold out of 2011 calendars. It looks as if they are going to be in demand this year.

You can get yours from the heritage centre St. Mary's Church, Market Place and they will also be on the heritage stall at Chadkirk on 30th & 31st July.



Thank you to the organisers for a well run event.

Cheadle Walk

In spite of a little rain towards the end, the Cheadle Walk went swimmingly.

Heather Clark, who sadly passed away a few months ago, was to take us around her Cheadle Walk, using the book she produced for the Heritage Trust.

We decided to do the walk in her honour, using her very popular book.

Twelve people turned out, for what proved to be an enjoyable evening.

Thank you Heather.

First Heritage Walk + Dungeon

A new programme of walks has been put together for 2011.

Next walk Saturday 9th July will be around the 'Old Town', hear about the red light district of Stockport, the history of Castle Yard and look inside the towns dungeon.


The Old Town Walk by Jim Clare on May 14^th - June 18^th – July 9^th – Aug. 13^th – Oct. 8^th, takes around 2 hours.

They are all on Saturdays and a charge of £5 is made, £2.50 for Trust Members.

All start at 12 noon, from the Tourist Information Centre, where you can book your place. (Suitable for wheelchairs). The Trust can also do individual walks for groups of 10 or more at a reduced rate. See website for details.

Graveyard Clean Up

Nine willing volunteers turned out last Saturday, to clear weeds and nettles from the 'Secret Graveyard' at St. Mary's church in the Market Place.

The main reason for the workday was to enable the graves to be read, prior to a Gaveyard Walk on Sat 11th June, by Jill Trumble.

It takes approx. one and a half hours and costs £5 per person, half price for members of the Trust. Places need to be booked with the Tourist Information Centre, where it will start. 01614744444

Marple Exhibition

What's On - Heritage in Stockport

With the demise of the popular 'What's On' guide to Stockport, Stockport Heritage Trust have started a Facebook page for local heritage groups to advertise their events - FREE.

It is an open group so as long as it is heritage related, perhaps a guided walk, talk, or themed event in the Stockport area, please feel free to advertise the details and let everyone know....

Group name

'What's On - Heritage in Stockport'

St. George's Day Market

What beautiful day for a Market. The sun shone and the flags flew and red roses were sold to raise money for the 'Well Spring'.



Stockport Heritage Trust had more books than ever on their stall and Norman our Knight kept watch on the whole proceedings.

Manchester Tunnel Tour

Most people were sitting in their gardens on this beautiful sunny Sunday, but not us. Donning warm clothing and stout shoes it was time to delve into the depths of Manchester.

The tunnels we went to see were part of a system of underwater canals intended to link the river Irwell to the Rochdale Canal, but the Duke of Bridgewater did it first and the whole system was a failure.

It was very strange to walk along the floor of a dry canal, with towpaths and bollards.

Thank you Phil Rowbotham for organising this very interesting tour.

SPRING HERITAGE MAGAZINE - OUT NOW

The spring 2011 issue of the Stockport Heritage Magazine, is in the shops this week.

Read about -
The Staircase Stitchers
St. Joseph's & Bishop Brown's School
The earliest Dissenter's Chapel
A Ghostly house in Underbank
A famous Stockport Admiral
Growing up in Reddish
Filming in Stockport
Rebel or reformer
What's happening in Marple
Visiting Romiley

Including letters and book reviews.

Get your copy soon.

Heritage Centre Shop

Stockport Heritage Centre, in St. Mary's Church, have the biggest array of local history books in the borough. Open market days 11am to 3pm.

Stockport Market - A Walk Through History - £7
Stockport Train Crash - 1948 in the fog - £6
Memories of an Offerton Lad - £8
Stockport Sport - £9.99
Tin Brook - £8.99
The Legacy of Richard de Vernon - £5
Reddish Remembered - £4
Reddish Newtown - £6.50
Cheadle - £8
Stockport a History & Guide - £14.99
Marple Through Time - £12.99
70's Teenager - £7.99
Rivers under Your Feet - £5
Shadows - £9.95
Derbyshire Cavemen - £14.99
These are not all, we also have 17 Heritage Walks around the Borough £2 each

Old Pictures of Stockport

Stockport is fortunate enough to have many old black and white photographs taken of its development over 130 years and many of them were made into postcards.


Stockport Heritage Centre has a huge collection of these photographs as well as class pictures from many of its schools, dating back to 1932.

Have we got the road where you grew up?

Come and have a look through our books, we are based in St. Mary's Church, Market Place and open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 11am - 3 pm.

Willow Grove Cemetery

The Friends of Stockport Cemeteries, is a very active group, who have been working hard on Willow Grove Cemetery in Reddish to make it more accessible to the public.


With the aid of grants and volunteers, they have laid paths, planed flower beds, put gravestones back up and produced two walks leaflets.


click the image to enlarge

Memories of an Offerton lad

This book will have you splitting your sides.

Jim Clare was brought up in a family of eight children, around Offerton, Hall Street and Newbridge Lane. He went to St. Mary's State School and has spent many years collection class pictures from that school.

The book is full of anecdotes and funny stories, as is Jim himself, and anyone knowing him will understand how this book could not fail to be a big hit.

It is selling in the Heritage Centre and the Tourist Information Centre, in the Market Place, for £8.

Macclesfield trip

First trip of the new year was to visit St. Micheal's Church in Macclesfield, where an amazing transformation has taken place in the last few years.

With the help of a steel and glass frame three internal rooms have been built one on top of the other.

The effect is stunning and in no way compromises the church and it's space.

Could this be done at St. Mary's? Thank you Jim Clare for organising the trip.

Hydro Power at Otterspool

A presentation was given on Saturday 5th February at the Hare & Hounds pub, showing the proposal for producing hydro-electricity by making use of the weir at Otterspool Bridge on Dooley Lane.

In spite of the weather, there was a good turn out, including Councilor's Ben and Shan Alexander and Andrew Stunnell, MP for Stockport South.

Shares in this project are being sold at £1 each, with a minimum of 250.

Anyone wishing more information contact Ben Alexander.

New Books

There are four new books on our shelves,

Water Under the Bridge - the story of Lancashire Bridge by Daphne Breen

Stockport Castle - a history of a 'defensive out crop' for 2,000 years - by Kevin Dranfield

A History Walk Around Brinnington - by Phil Rowbotham

A History Walk from Cheadle Heath to Mersey Square - by Pat Taylor

All are £2 and can be bought from the Stockport Heritage Centre St. Mary's Church, Market Place.

Pool Closure Campaign

Norris Bank Swimming Club are fighting to save their poll during this time of cuts.

A petition with 10,000 signatures has been collected to fight the closure of the Stockport School swimming pool.

Anyone wishing to help this group with their campaign can do so through their web site -

www.nbswim-club.co.uk

Dan Bank- Last Phase

The last phase of the Dan Bank work is about to be carried out.







click on image to enlarge

REDDISH VALE TREE WORK

During Jan and Feb. 2011, Stockport Council will be carrying out woodland management work in Reddish Vale Country Park.

The work, which includes felling trees and thinning, is necessary to keep the woodland safe and also promote a better habitat for wildlife. At certain times it may be necessary for footpaths to be temporarily closed for safety reasons while work is carried out.

Due to slope stabilization work on the adjoining bank, Tiviot Dale car park on Tiviot Way will be closed to enable the work to be carried out safely.
As part of the improvements, it will be necessary to fell the existing trees on the bank. Following the work, the bank will be replanted with native tree species including Oak, Hazel, Holly, Rowan, Birch and Alder.

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.

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.

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 !

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.