Roughleys Bike Show 2012

The annual charity event Roughleys Bike Show was held on Sunday in the market place. It supports Rainbow Trust; Together Trust and the NABD.

We opened the Heritage Centre and the Dungeon and were pleased to receive lots of new visitors.

Coming up, Heritage Open Weekend. We will have free walks and talks from Thursday 6th - Sunday 9th September. The full schedule will be posted soon.

Radio Manchester

In Stockport today BBC Radio Manchester interviewed Councilors concerning the Portas Grant and  stall holders about their businesses. Included in these was Laraine who started on the market 50 years ago today!!  

Kevin Dranfield from the Trust advertising our re-located Heritage Centre as well as our verypopular 2013 Calendar.

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Chadkirk 2012

Chadkirk this year was as popular as ever. Fitting all the entertainments and activities into one day instead of two,  seem to increase visitor numbers as people flocked to watch the opening of the new foot bridge over the Goyt and then to join in the fun of the Festival.

 Stockport Heritage Trust were there as usual, brightening the day with colourful costumes and good value books and gifts.

Old Town Dungeon 2012

On Saturday 4th August the dungeon (at the top of Mealhouse Brow) will be open to visitors. There will be an exhibition of photographs of underground Stockport, revealing the hidden tunnels beneath our streets. 

At 12.00pm Jim Clare will be leading his Old Town Walk, which includes a talk in the dungeon. He then takes visitors to lots of interesting sites around Stockport. It's a fascinating and entertaining journey through Stockport's history. To book places on the walk call 0161 474 4444 or call into Staircase House. Places are £5 or £2.50 for Heritage Trust members.

The Heritage Centre on Bridge Street (above the fish shop) is now open too - come in and see our large collection of photos or just to learn more about Stockport from our knowledgeable volunteers.

Stockport Station Rail Show 2012

Today's beautiful, sunny day was perfect for the annual railway enthusiasts’ fair and this was reflected in the excellent turnout.

Held by Virgin Trains and Clic Sargent , a charity supporting children with cancer, the show started off with a visit from the Union of South Africa.

Representing Stockport Heritage Trust  were Emma; Sue; Coral; John; Paula and Kevin. Members donned their Sunday best for today's event.

Kevin Dranfield delivered, to a packed waiting room, his popular talk and slideshow about the fascinating history of Stockport's viaducts (yes, there are actually two separate viaducts - look closely and you will see the gap!)

As well as railway memorabilia and model stalls, local railway station friends groups were there, including Friends of Heaton Chapel Station and Friends of Reddish South.

From donations and the sale of books we were able to donate £40 to Clic Sargent.

Open Day at Mellor

Mellor Archaeological Trust held an open day at Shaw Cairn (the burial mound on Cobden Edge) over the weekend and an exhibition of finds at Shaw Farm near New Mills Golf Club.

On hand to answer questions were archaeologists with flints dating back to the Mesolithic hunter gatherers who used the site and Donald Reed, the man who identified the amber necklace as a find of special significance when the Bronze Age burial mound was being excavated. (pictured)

Stockport Heritage Magazine Summer 2012

The 2012 summer magazine is in the shops this week.
You can read about -

Recycling of Stockport pubs.
The Plaza's unique equipment.
Bombers over Stockport.
Iconic Head Gear.
Well Known in the hatting Trade.
 Stockport's Heritage Students.
 Edgeley's Cockeleshell Hero.
Reddish Pram Race.
Stockport Harriers and Athletic Club.
Wood Hall Dig.
Stockport Canal.
Cheadle Parish.
Marple Memorial Park.

Also book reviews and letters, news of the Heritage Trust and many more interesting facts.
If you know a newsagent that is willing to sell it, please contact the Editor 01663719129.

National Market Day

Stockport pulled out all the stops for National Market Day on Sat 23rd June.


Inspite of the weather forecast, all the stalls were taken and a combined Saturday, Vintage, Farmers and Teenage Markets gave a good selection of goods, interest and entertainment.

The new Leader of the Council, Sue Derbyshire visited, with MP's Anne Coffey and Andrew Stunell.

The icing on the cake was of course the Heritage Trust stall and the open day at the Dungeon. 

Memorial to the Poor of Stockport

Stockport Heritage Trust and the Co-operative Funeral Care have combined forces to provide a memorial to the numerous people of Stockport who were buried in the Borough Cemetery without their own marked grave. Many of these spent their last days in the Union Workhouse or in poverty at home.

The memorial was unveiled by the Reverend Ken Kenrick, at a short service on Sunday 29th April 2012. It was Ken's last day as the Workhouse Chaplain and the day he retired a minister of St. Thomas' Church.

To see the unveiling ceremony follow these links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-RJUf7M_KQ&list=UU_LEF2fGmqexlyf-yNXGxZA&index=3&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZzbkxLtp4o&list=UU_LEF2fGmqexlyf-yNXGxZA&index=2&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo7qIti77ps&list=UU_LEF2fGmqexlyf-yNXGxZA&index=1&feature=plcp

Changes to the Stockport Heritage Trust website

Stockportheritagetrust.co.uk was created and maintained free through Microsoft Office Live, which has kindly decided to discontinue the service as of 30th April. One of our volunteers is working on a replacement website,  which should have increased flexibility, but due to other time commitments, there will sadly be a temporarily reduced service. However it is hoped that there will be no 'down time' and a website which will be improved over time will be available. Sincere apologies.


It hoped to also link a 'Stockport Memories' blog to the new site, and on this blog of course, where Stopfordians can write their reminiscences of anything and everything (suitable for family viewing of course!) about our town. This would hopefully be not only a good read, but an archive for future generations. 


Memories of simple, more practical things, or even local phrases can easily be lost through time, so we hope many of you will please contribute when it's up and running.


Thank you 

Heritage Magazine Spring 2012

The 2012 Spring magazine will be in the shops near you by the end of this week.

It contains stories of :-

Brewing on Hillgate
Bus tickets with local advertising
Tales from the Nelson Yard
The Davenport Theatre
A cowboy landlord at the White Lion
When Stockport was timber-framed
Family connections
Dad's pie shop
Mass Trespass
Stockport's black goalie
Was the 'Bowler' invented in Stockport?
Mellor Mill
Mirrlees memories

and much more including letters and your comments.

Market Signage

Stockport Heritage Trust is wholeheartedly supporting the Market Traders in their efforts to get an arch and street markers around the fringes of the Market Place in order to encourage visitors to the town to venture further than the Peel Centre and Mersey Way.

Stockport’s historic Market Place and Underbanks have a lot to offer and are sadly underused at present, but the Trust is constantly passed over when these discussions are underway and our voice and that of other stakeholder, market area retailers and St. Mary's Church, are not being listened to.

We hope that in the near future we can bring you better news.

Otterspool Weir

The weir at Otterspool dates back to the time of water powered cotton mills. It was built by Jessie Howard of Stockport to run a new mill but was never completed. Nearly 200 year after work on the leet ceased this valuable source of water power is to be used to turn two Archimedean Screws which will produce electricity for the National Grid.


Work began last year and is progressing well.

Trip to Organ Museum

Wed. Feb 22^nd
Our trip to the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre at Peel Green, Eccles is on Wednesday 22nd Feb.

We are meeting at the church carpark in the Market Place at 10.30am. The first stop is Wetherspoons next to the Chill Factor Trafford Quays, for a coffee.

The Museum opens at 12 noon and at 1pm there is an organ recital lasting about one hour with an interval for tea.

Cars will be arranged, so please let someone know if you are coming.

01614274006

Church Refurbishment

It is as yet not certain that the church will be closing for the refurbishment of the cafe, toilets and we hope, the Heritage Centre.

The plans are on view in the church tower until the end of Feb. Following this time they will need to be passed by a number of interested parties.

We are expecting to have to move out if the Heritage Centre is included in this phase of the work but will try to keep our members updated on where we will be housed.

Stockport's Christmas Market - 2011

The weather was good and the festive cheer plentiful, aided by the team from the Tourist Information Centre and free mulled wine.



The Trust was out in force, with our own Town Cryer, Jim Clare, 'Splat-the -Rat' and 'Roll-a-Penny' games. As well as Mr. Pickwick's Emporium but the star of the show was little Natalie who got the winning score by rolling pennies from her push chair.

Heritage Magazine Winter 2011/2012

The Stockport Heritage magazine for winter 2011/2012 is going in the shops this week, by Friday it will be in most Co-operative stores, Martin's and small newsagents. If it is not in yours, ask them to get it for you.

This issue has articles on :-
Stockport Viaduct
Cherry Tree Hospital
Woodbank Remembered
Captain's Bridge
Manchester & Stockport Canal Society
Hillgate Mills
Maia Boy's Choir
The Origins of Hazel Grove
The Wesley Pulpit
Admiral Sir George Back
Vernon Mill
Cheadle's Cinema

With much more, including letters and updates from around the Borough.

Flog It !!

came to Stockport Town Hall on Friday 11th November. Stockport Heritage Magazine were invited to meet Paul Martin and his team of experts. Our intrepid reporter went along to capture the scene.



FLOG IT !!

Campaign for Church Crossing

Stockport Heritage Trust has been trying to highlight the need for a crossing in the Market Place for over two years.

In desperation we made our own crossing sign, and a Stockport Express photographer was there to record the event.

Does someone need to be hurt before they will do something?

Stockport Remembered

'Stockport Remembers' was the first time Woodbank Park has been used to remember the 'Fallen' of Stockport, for a very long time.

The park was given to the people of Stockport following the First World War and has been sadly neglected in recent years but with the remaining memorial gate having been given a face lift and a new tree sculpture to commemorate animals that served in conflicts, it was the perfect time to remember.

A little rain dampened the afternoon but otherwise it was a good day out.