Heritage Walk

The Heritage Walk around St. Mary's graveyard
with Jill Trumble was a great success.

People were amazed at the stories she had to tell about the people of Stockport.

Who they were, how they lived and why the stones have been placed where we see them today.

The next chance to take this walk will be during the Heritage Open Day weekend Thur. 9th to Sun. 12th September.

Eric Longson

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of our much loved and respected friend and colleague Eric Longson.

Our thoughts are with Sheila and the family.

Visit Stockport !

The Council has just updated its Visit Stockport website.

http://www.visit-stockport.com/stockport_750_anniversary.asp

To find our what is going on in Stockport for the 750 celebrations, click on the link.

Reddish Vale

Many of our members have been showing concern about what is going on in Reddish Vale.

Many areas have been deforested and this is causing alarm. The site close to the Portwood round about is a private site, and has been given permission to build industrial units. Once the work is done, the slope and access road will be landscaped to hide it from view and hopefully in a few years the area will once again look green and lush.

Many trees inside Reddish Vale have also had to be felled, this is due to a lack of tree management in the past, particularly along pathways. It should make the Vale a more pleasant place to visit, ie less mud.

Any rumors that are going about concerning the ponds may be misleading. The Council are looking for an Angling club to license the ponds, this is not the same as leasing, there will be no change of ownership.

The Heritage Trust is now a Stakeholder in Reddish Vale, and will be keeping in touch with any decisions concerning its administration.

Tracing the Water Tunnels of Stockport

Sunday's walk, tracing the 'History of Water Power' in Stockport, was a great success.

In spite of the heat of the day, 14 intrepid hikers came armed with boots, hats and water bottles.

Starting in Castle Yard and finishing at Woodbank Hall took 4 hours with a stop for refreshments at the Vernon Park Cafe, and there was plenty to see and talk about along the way.

Thank you to Kevin Dranfield for another good walk looking at the history of Stockport.

Aqueduct Blue Plaque

The last of the Council's Millennium plaques went up today.

It has only taken 10 year to get it positioned on the Aqueduct but better late than never.

Hats Through Time

The Country's only Hat Works Museum is 10 years old this spring, and to help them celebrate this anniversary Stockport Heritage Trust were in the Covered Market last Saturday with a selection of hats representing different periods of history.



Families were encouraged to 'try a hat' and information was to hand about the history of hatting in Stockport




They were joined by other Easter favourites.

Staircase Stitchers Work on Display

Beautiful Embroidery Now on Show to the Public!

After four years of stitching, the crewel work bed hangings, bedcover and monochrome pillow cases are finally gracing the replica 17th century bed (donated by the Trust) in Staircase House.

The Mayor of Stoockport cut a ribbon across the bed chamber doorway, allowing the public to finally view the intricate work in situ.

The hangings and bedding will remain in place for you to view at any time.

The stitchers are diligently continuing with their work to produce 4 more hangings for the bed, and other beautiful items to add that 'lived-in' feel to Staircase House.

Heritage Magazine Spring 2010

Issue 75 of the Stockport Heritage Magazine will be in the shops this week. Don't miss it !!

It contains stories of : -

Protected buildings in Stockport
The great winter of 1947
Cheadle Royal's William Morris windows come home.
Bed hangings for Staircase House
Stockport Saving's Bank
The origins of Hatting in Stockport
Stockport Collage vision for the future
Christopher Isherwood, Marple novelist
A ramble around Woodbank with Jim Clare
Childhood in Reddish
History of Marple Lakes
Heroes of Reddish Newtown and plenty of interesting letters.

If there is a newsagent near you that does not sell the magazine, please let us know.

Dan Bank Phase 3

Click on the image to enlarge.

Gateway Markers Rejected

The Area Committee meeting on Thursday 4th March rejected all six applications for Gateway Markers, the sixth being an arch on Bridge Street, on the grounds that they were not appropriate for a conservation area. The Trust is now hoping to be included in future consultations to get archways and markers that will enhance the old town area, rather than clash with it.
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Stockport Heritage Trust is opposed to the plans to put 5, six metre high, stainless steel towers on the roads leading into the historic Market Place and Underbanks.



The Trust does not consider these markers to be an appropriate material for the old town Conservation Area.

They are far too large, shiny, modern and do not indicate that they are welcoming you into the old part of Stockport.

In fact completely unsuitable for the job they were designed for.

Abney Hall - update

Click image to enlarge.

Stockport Planning Awards

Stockport Heritage Trust was proud to have a part in the Judging of these awards.

Each award given was hard won and much deserved.




Click on image to enlarge

Plaza Cafe open

The Plaza is open and so is its 1930's Art Deco Cafe.


10am to 4 pm they serve in the most elegant surroundings.

Give it a try.

Super Clinic Shaw Heath

Anyone seeing the article in this week's Stockport Express about a new NHS clinic on the St. Thomas Hospital site, might be a little confused as to how this fits in with the old Workhouse.

The old St. Thomas Hospital site is now divided by a continuation of Royal George St. which separates the site owned by Stockport College, on the right, containing the beautifully restored workhouse buildings, from the site on the left, which is still owned by the Health Authority, who have been planning to redeveloped this site for some time.

Dan Bank update

(click on picture to enlarge image)

The Oldknow stones, dating back to the building of his turnpike around 1800.

All credit for the identification and preservation of these stones must go to Ray Preston, one of our Trust members.

Stockport Heitage Magazine Winter 2009

The latest Magazine will be in the shops for December.

It contains stories about -

A Reddish swimming champion.
Railways of Heaton Mersey
The early day of sport in Stockport
Growing up in Portwood
Buildings at risk
Prehistoric Mellor
100 years of Guiding in Cheadle
Poynton coal pits
Marple's Mill of Misery

and much, much more.

Heritage Magazine Index

At last the magazine has an index that includes all issues from 1 - 74
It is in CD Rom format and very easy to use.

If you are looking for information about an area of Stockport or interested in Stopfordian's memories of growing up with two wars and wish to find an article in the back copies, or maybe remember seeing a picture in one of the magazines and cannot find it, this Index is the answer.

It cost £4 from the Heritage Centre in St. Mary's Church in the Market Place or can be ordered from Coral Dranfield at coralandkevin@hotmail.com with 95p P & P added.

Victorian Market 2009

The Victorian Market was a great success this year. The Council pulled out all the stops to make it a fun filled day, with free entertainments, and warming mulled wine and mince pies. The Heritage Trust turned out in numbers and in costume to add to the Victorian atmosphere of the day. Our 'Roll a Penny' and 'Catch the Rat' games, gave much amusement and our Heritage stall did a roaring trade in Stockport Calendars as well as souvenirs and Christmas presents.

Fire in Hopes Carr

Another piece of Stockport's Heritage was destroyed today by fire.

An important mill, that had recently been identified as of possible World Heritage Status, was destroyed by fire in less that 24 hours.

Stockport cannot afford to lose such buildings as these, and there are many more in the Borough still at risk.

What is happening at Brinksway?

Anyone passing by the Brinksway Caves may have noticed scaffolding has been erected in front of some of the caves, while repairs to the road are carried out.

The Heritage Trust was asked if these caves have ever been surveyed and we were able to ask a man who knew the answers.

The caves have been surveyed and a digital 3D image taken.

The road above is in need of better foundations and three small caves will have to be filled to support it better. These are away from the main row of seven caves, as shown on the picture, which, we are assured, are quite safe.

Disagreements over Woodbank Park

There is a proposed new car park, to serve Woodbank and Vernon Parks. It is to be positioned off Turncroft Lane and as part of the improvements the old stone gateway shall get a makeover and the glacial boulder be set in a small garden feature. The park is over 560,000 sq. mtrs. and the area proposed for the car park will be 0.23 % of that.

It will be to the left of the present entrance in an area that is not used because of poor drainage, and is designed to take the parking off Turncroft Lane.

The Friends of Woodbank are in favour of the car park, but a small group of locals are trying to prevent it.

The Park was given to the people of Stockport in the 1920's but the Council added to it considerably when they bought Woodbank Farm.

The Trust has voted to support the plans on the grounds that more access is needed to both parks for elderly, infirm and families with buggies. Also Woodbank Hall is a building at risk and in danger of deterioration and decay and the Trust is concerned for its future.

The Friends are hoping that the car park will mean less traffic inside the Park as cars are a nuisance up and down the driveway. They say there is no truth is the rumour that coaches will be parked there.

This Saturday is the last chance to put forward your comments to the plans either way..

Gorton Monastery

Fifteen Trust members turned up today, for a guided tour of Gorton Monastery, and what a place it is.

Built in the 1860's as a statement to the people of Manchester, that the Catholic Church was back in this country, after hundreds of years of oppression and persecution.

It's Architect, Edward Pugin, used the sun's rays in an amazing way to pick out features of the church at different times of the day and year.

Not all the architectural features are yet back in place as many were sold or destroyed during years of decay, but what has been done to restore and reuse the building is just miraculous.

1940's Market - 70 years on.

It is 70 years since the 'Outbreak of War' and the opening of Stockport's Air Raid Shelters.

Saturday 24th October was the day chosen to commemorate this event with activities down the Air Raid Shelters as well as in the Market Place.



Many people turned out to join in the day and the Trust's stall full of 1940's items, brought back memories for many as well as giving others the chance to try army dress and old fashions.

The G.I presence gave the whole event atmosphere and their expertise with the 'Jitterbug' got everyone's feet tapping.

Conservation & Design Awards

Last week a member of the Trust, Tony Marsh, was one of eight judges for Stockport's Conservation and Design Awards. They viewed fifteen entries, which varied from the refurbished Red Bull on Hillgate, to a Yoga studio in Heaton Moor, from an Iron Bridge in Marple to a new Academy in Cheadle Heath.

After discussing each building's merits at length their comments were passed to the Council's representatives and the results and award presentation will be held in November for the successful buildings.

Mushroom Hunt

In spite of the weather, and a poor turn out, the 'Mushroom Hunt' was a great success.

With a 2 hour walk through the Goyt Valley ending at the Shady Oak for lunch, it was easy to forget why we were there.

Only armed with cameras and a mushroom book, we hunted and walked and hunted some more, turning up some beautiful specimens.

Thank you Steve Cliffe for suggesting a route for us.