Vernon Park is 150 Years Old

The Trust is always there to help promote Stockport's Heritage, and what better place to be than Vernon Park on a beautiful Sunday, to celebrate 150years of the park.




Even the Worshipful Mayor Councillor Pam King joined in the fun as she tried to fell the knight with bow and arrows, and the Trust's new 'Roll a Penny' game was also a great success.





Thousands turned out for a day in the sun, with Bands, Morris Dancers, Ferret Racing and many other entertainments.

Heritage Open Days

This year's Heritage Open Days were packed with things to do, and the nice weather brought people out in number.

The Trust offered more than ever before, with walks, talks and a film show, at St. Peter's as well as St. Mary's in the Market Place.


If you missed a chance to go on one of our free guided walks, it is not too late. As part of the Stockport's Food and Drink Festival in October Kevin Dranfield will be taking two parties around a new walk, looking at the History of Food and Drink in Stockport.

Do you know were the Mustard Factory was, or why there were no fish shops in the town before 1830?

4th & 11th Oct. at 1pm book your place now with the Tourist Information Office.

Merseyway Exhibition

The Merseyway 20s - 80s Exhibition is now closed.

It was a huge success, there were between 400 & 500 people a day for 7 days. These included many children, teenagers who enjoyed trying on the vintage clothes, wheel chairs and even dogs.

There was a video show of old Stockport as well as many black & white photos of the Merseyway area before and during the building of the Merseyway Shopping Centre.

We had many once familiar, everyday items some of you will remember.


The two Blue Plaque guided walks, led by Kevin Dranfield, where also popular.
Congratulations to Angela Kenrick, who planned organised and executed the whole exhibition, with assistance from members of the Trust.
If you missed the Exhibition, call in and see us at the Heritage Centre in St. Mary's Church, in the Market Place instead and see the new 20s Exhibition in there.

The Salvation Army Citadel

The Salvation Army Citadel is now looking very grand, with it's brand new structure, carefully grafted on behind. It houses 14 apartments which are to be sold on a part or full share basis, to help first time buyers get a foot on the ladder.



A group of guests were given a guided tour around the properties and when the finishing touches are complete, the scaffold will be taken down.

With original features used to enhance the internal design, the flats should not be empty long.

A very different building, to the one I photographed just a year ago.

Bridgefield Development Cancelled

The council announced this week that Lend Lease have pulled out of the £500million Bridgefield Development on the site between the motorway and Prince's Street.

Lend Lease were signed up as partners for the transformation of Stockport in 2006. This sudden decision to pull out is blamed on the down turn in the economy.
For more information see Stockport Express

Market Hall

The Market Hall is looking very smart with it's new outside opening stalls, and spacious interior.




The Market trades were moved over last week, and phase two of the redevelopment has begun.




The Grand Opening is expected to be on November 29th and there will be plenty to see and do at this Victorian themed event.

A Roman Chadkirk

This year's Chadkirk Festival included a Roman encampment complete with camp followers, who performed traditional North African dances.

The Trust had a number of stalls including a bran tub and Norman the Knight, who although shot a few hundred times over the two days, was still standing at the end of it.




Trust members were out in period costume to add to the entertainments.

Stalls, strawberries and cream and Marple Brass Band, were just a few things on offer and the weather put the finishing touches to an enjoyable Festival.

Heritage Magazine Summer / Autumn 2008

The latest Heritage Magazine is in the shops NOW !

With stories about -

Stockport's own Victorian pickpockets.

Working at the Advertiser.

Stockport was famous for dyeing.

A Stockport man in the Great War.

A Reddish pub has been rediscovered.

Our Own Police Force.

A Stockport girl made good.

A tribute to Edith Hinson.

Marple's Electric Depo.

And don't miss the Chadkirk Festival, Saturday and Sunday July 25th - 26th, at Chadkirk Chapel, 12 noon- 5 pm
shown on the front cover.

Town Hall Centenary Finale

The Town Hall Centenary Celebrations ended this evening with a Grand Finale and a most spectacular firework display.

Here's to another 100 years.

The Mayor's Charity Fun Day

The Town Hall Ballroom played host to the Mayor's Charity fun day on Saturday 5th July. There were many entertainments including a clown and juggler, Cheer Leaders and Stockport's Junior Brass Band.

Trust member's could be seen as usual in appropriate costumes for the period, in this case 1908 Edwardian.

A free film show was included, in the Council Chamber, for anyone wishing to take part, and the grand setting did justice to the grand occasion.

The stocks also made an appearance for anyone wishing to have their picture taken, 'doing penance'.

Trouble with email

At present there is a problem accessing the Heritage Trust's email - stockportheritagetrust@googlemail.com

There is another way to contact us, through our website. See links in the column opposite.

Sorry for this inconvenience.

Heritage Library

Stockport's Heritage Library is looking for volunteer to scan in 80,000 images of Stockport, dating back to 1800, into a data base.
If you are interested in helping, contact the Library on 474 4530, or email - grant.archer@stockport.gov.uk

A free exhibition entitled "Changing Times in Stockport", features 100 photographs of different areas of Stockport and will run from Tuesday July 1st until Monday July 14th.

The photo shows caves cut into the rock along Chestergate after houses had been removed for road widening.

Reddish Centenary Celebrations

Saturday 24th May 2008 was a very important day in the life of Reddish. Exactly 100 years before, Stockport Corporation presented Reddish with it's own Library/Fire station/Baths complex as a commemoration of it becoming part of the borough of Stockport.

It was a day to celebrate and that is what Reddish did. They came out in force to show their love for this most unusual and probably unique building.



The day started with MP Andrew Gwynne, cutting the ribbon and ended with cutting the cake, and between these, there was free drinks and scones for all as well as Reddish Brass Band and choirs, and other musical entertainment.
Two Fire Engines graced the yard, one modern and the other over 60 years old. The Mortuary was open for inspection as was the baths and the queue for the latter stretched down the road.


Well done to Terry Rourke and the team for a great day.

Gandalf comes to Stockport

Saturday 10th May 2008 will go down in Stockport's history as a big day for the Garrick Society.

Sir Ian McKellen, known better as Gandalf, for his roll in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, unveiled a plaque commemorating the origins of the Garrick Theatre, as the first 'Little Theatre' in the Country.


The plaque is on the corner of the Natwest Bank in St. Petersgate, which was the site of the Coffee Tavern. Following his unveiling, another plaque was unveiled by the Mayor, June Somekh to commemorate the day.





The afternoon was rounded off with a reception in the theatre and a performance by Ian himself.