Gabrielle Ray

Today was the unveiling of another of the town's blue plaques. This time put up by the Gabrielle Ray Appreciation Society.

She was the most photographed lady in Edwardian Britain, and a favourite of the troops in WW I
She was born at Bamford Grange in Adswood, now re-built as a nursing home.
Garielle's two great nieces were there to see the unveiling carried out by number one fan, Robert Waters.
Stockport Heritage Trust was proud to be able to assist Robert in getting his plaque to Gabrielle up.
Well done Gabby, you are the only woman in Stockport to have a blue plaque.

St. George's Day Market

It might have been cold and windy, but it didn't stop Heritage Trust members waving the flags and getting noticed.

Any member wishing to spare an hour a week to give us a hand, ask for Jim at the Heritage Centre in St. Mary's Church on Market days.

St Mary's Churchyard

Roger Schoones and Kevin Dranfield admiring the daffodils in St Mary's secret graveyard.

What a wonderful job Nuala Kay's team have done clearing and planting. The next stage will be to see if the broken tree can be carved into a piece of art.

What's Happening in Hope's Carr ?

Hopes Carr is in limbo at the present time, but developers are still drawing up plans for the site. It is hoped that turning this into a residential area will bring people down into the town through the Market Place or Hillgates, thus aiding the regeneration of these most important and historic parts of the the town centre.

Spring Heritage Magazine Spring Issue

The Latest issue of the famous Stockport Heritage Magazine is out NOW !!

Full of interesting new stories, letters and pictures.

What has been found under the market?
The Invasion of Black Hill
Romiley Operatic
History of bleaching in Stockport
Old and New Chadkirk
Spies in our midst
Blind Jack's road
Woman wrestlers

Get your copy from the Heritage Centre, or newsagents around the borough. £2.40
This, as well as back copies, can be obtained from the editor at - stockportheritagemagazine.com (see links opposite)

Stockport From Above

A free exhibition of aerial photographs of Stockport has been opened at 9, Great Portwood Street opposite the Peel Centre.

It is to accompany the sale of a book of aerial photographs past & present. Capturing not only the present changes being made to Stockport's landscape, but also comparing them to changes made since 1926.

For More information
click here.

Latest Trust Publications

The latest Trust publications to hit the shelves in the Heritage Centre are -

Heritage Book 1 - how did Stockport prepare for the German invasion?

Heritage Book 2 - the story and amazing facts about the country's biggest brick structure, Stockport Viaduct.

These both sell at the Heritage Centre in St. Mary Church, for £2 each.


This is a copy of the souvenir booklet produced in 1908 for the opening of Stockport Town Hall by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales.

It contains information and photographs connected with the process of building a Town Hall, from conception, to its royal opening.

The book has been reproduced (except for the advertising), for the Centenary celebration to be held in July this year and sells for £3

Bury Trip

The trip to Bury was well attended, and in spite of the cold everyone had a good time.

With a ride on the East Lancs steam railway, the group then separated and some went to the end of the line, while others took a look around Ramsbottom. Meeting up again for a very fruitful meander around the famous Bury Market.

Staircase Stitchers - Work Progressing on the Bed Hangings

There was an excellent opportunity on Wednesday to view the work so far on the crewel work bed hangings in Staircase House. As the curtain had to be rolled on to work further up, cameras appeared from many stitchers to capture the full length before it was rolled up on the frame again.













The left hand side of the curtain...

...the middle of the curtain...

...and the right hand side.

The Stitchers (originally funded by Stockport Heritage Trust) have several different projects, which can be viewed on our website.

Dan Bank Marple

(Click on picture to enlarge)


What is happening on Dan Bank, Marple. If you are a resident of Marple you will probably have received a newsletter explaining the timescales and work expected to take place to stabilise Dan Bank, over the next four years.

The Trust is still concerned as to the future of Oldknow's stones, and are liaising with the Council's Heritage Officers to make sure that they will be protected or moved to a safer and more visible area.

Digging up the Past in Mellor

This year's Heritage Afternoon Talk was the story of the Mellor Archaeological Dig.

There were three speakers each giving a different angle, the history, what has been found and the importance of this site nation wide.

The was in St. Mary's Church in the Market Place, and the money taken on the door was shared between the Stockport Heritage Trust and St. Mary's Church.




Thank you to Paula Rands, Anne Hearle and Frank Galvin for a very interesting talk as well as Kath Taylor and the Trust volunteers for organising it.

A Taste of Stockport

The launch of a new brochure by the tourism team, will be distributed far and near, in an effort to promote Stockport, and who should be on one of the leaflets but our own Town Crier, Jim Clare.

Market Hall Redevelopment

After work has been going on for some time on removing the old stalls inside the northern end of the Market Hall, it was time to remove the floor covering.

Archaeologists were soon brought onto the site, when it was thought that evidence of foundations had been uncovered. These did not correspond to any known maps or plans and have the experts scratching their heads.
Trust members Alan Burgess, Steve Cliffe and Jim Clare, view the site.

Stockport's Rail Services

Your readers may be interested in my petition to the Government set up recently when I heard that the long-standing Act of Parliament concerning the Viaduct and trains having to stop at Edgeley Station had been over-turned by the Department of Transport. Here is a link to my petition: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Stockport-trains/

Much as I've always admired the architecture and sheer scale of Stockport Viaduct, it's presence across the Mersey valley is to my mind only acceptable so long as Stockport residents get a decent rail service with all trains having to stop at Edgeley Station. I would therefore welcome any additional exposure of this petition that you are able to give through the magazine,

Regards

Michael Perkin (formerly of Offerton and Hazel Grove)

Tour of Eccles Church

A tour of St. Mary's Church Eccles, was arranged for Thursday last. In spite of the cold weather nine members turned up at Piccadilly Station. A short tram ride got us to Eccles and after a much needed hot drink two groups were taken around by members of the church.



The Party then doubled back to Salford Quays and half went around the Lowry and the remainder, the Imperial War Museum.





Thank you to Kevin Dranfield for organising another good trip

The next day out will be Bury Market / Steam Railway, on March 26th meet as usual Piccadilly Station Meeting point 10.30am.

Value our Heritage

Local heritage received overwhelming support and appreciation from Stockport residents, a new survey has revealed.
The survey (The Public and Cultural Value of Heritage) was done to investigate the importance of heritage in relation to lifelong learning, tourism and the local economy.

According to its findings 98 percent of the respondents agreed that heritage helps them or their children learn about the past and 88 percent agree that heritage encouraged lifelong learning. It also revealed that 92 percent of the public agreed that heritage attractions improve tourism and almost 100 percent support the need to preserve Stockport's heritage for Future generations.

The development work is part of an on going programme in Stockport to demonstrate the importance of culture and the arts in forging stronger communities.
(Extract from the Stockport Times)

County 125.

125 years of Stockport County Football Club was celebrated at the first home game of the New Year by the unveiling of a Stockport Heritage Trust Blue Plaque.



The Trust was represented by Phil Rowbotham on the left and the team rose to the occasion by beating Morecambe two goals to one.

Heritage Issues on the St. Thomas' Site

There are four main Victorian buildings on this site, which formed part of the original 1841 Workhouse complex and these are to be restored and adapted for the College.

As part of the overall heritage strategy it is proposed to use a space within the former Workhouse as a Historical Exhibition Centre and this will be open to staff and students as well as members of the public. It will contain and exhibit old photographs and records of the Workhouse.

In the last year several Victorian items were found within the original workhouse buildings. They provide an historic insight into Victorian times and include some old shoes and aprons, belonging to inmates, a Victorian Christmas card, newspapers dated 1889 and several old clay pipes. These have been loaned to the Stockport Story Museum but will be returned, for display, when work is complete.


Work to replace the roof and restore the exterior of the 1841 buildings will start in February 2008 and should be complete by October the same year.

(This information was taken from 'Flagship' the college's own magazine).

Christmas Producer's Market

The Christmas Market had a Victorian feel to it, with hot roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and Santa on his sleigh, as well as samples of food and drink to warm shoppers who braved the cold.
It is the last for this year, but they will be back in 2008!!

Disaster for St. Mary's Graveyard

Disaster struck St. Mary's small graveyard last week when a large tree was brought down, in the high winds, right across where our volunteers have been working so hard to clear the foliage and make the gravestones accessible.

The weight of the tree was luckily taken by the wrought iron fence and the stones were not actually damaged, but the fence is looking the worst for it.



This is a sad blow, as the volunteers, who had just planted bulbs along side the stones, and are hoping the damaged tree will soon be removed.

Christmas Craft Fairs

Staircase House on Saturday was the delightful setting for a Christmas Craft Fair.

Not to be mistaken for former residents of the house, our three Puritan ladies were only there for the day, selling items from the Trust shop.

Next Saturday between 1pm and 4pm, the Trust will be in Marple Bridge manning another stall, at the very popular, Winter Wonderland.

The Mayor's Charity Blue Plaque Walk

On Sunday last the Mayor and Mayoress led a group of willing participants around the town's two and a half mile, Blue Plaque trail, in order to raise money for her charity.

At the same time a virtual Blue Plaque walk was being offered to those of a less energetic persuasion, in the community room of Staircase House.

All were later refreshed with mulled wine and mince pies.

Winter Heritage Magazine out Now

The winter 07/08 Heritage Magazine is now in the shops.

With a re-enactment of the shooting of Constable Birch on the front cover, and the Old Rectory behind, it is full of histories, stories and memories from Stockport people.
There are articles on-

• Cheadle's Vanishing Halls
• The Edgeley Riots
• Journalism in Stockport
• Holidays in Middlewood
• Stockport's firefighters
• Marple Council Sparks.
• The Winter of 1948 and much, much more.

Don't forget to buy your copy.

Bill's Memorial

Today in Woodbank Park, a tree was planted to the memory of our dear friend and colleague Bill Hoad.




The Trust was represented by Jim Clare, Iain McIean and Kevin Dranfield.