St. Wilfrid's Fair

What an amazing weekend, Stockport has not seen the like for many a year.

The St. Wilfrid's medieval fair was put on to celebrate 750 years of a market charter and what a fair it was. Words cannot describe the atmosphere created by medieval cooking, music, apothecaries, basket weaving, wattle and daub, a torture master and even a dragon.

The grand finale was a most spectacular fire show and fireworks to music.

The crowds flocked in their thousands and the market buzzed as it has not done for a very long time.

Thank you Stockport for a fair that will be long remembered.

'Market in Bloom' Flower Festival

The 'MARKET IN BLOOM' Flower Festival at St Mary's Parish Church, Stockport Market Place, officially opened tonight (Thursday) and has proved it's worth waiting for!

Beautiful and imaginative floral displays reflect the variety of stalls on the Market, whilst emphasising the focal areas of the church. The 'River of Roses' also provides visitors a chance to remember those who are no longer with us.

New Market Book

A new book is being launched this week by Stockport Heritage Trust.

It is the history of 750 years of Stockport Market and the surrounding area. It tells of the people, buildings and customs in a most well researched and easy to read way by Maureen Fahey, one of our members.

Very good value at £7 , it is A4 size, with 64 pages and 60 photographs, illustrations and maps.

You can get it from St. Mary's Heritage Centre on any Market Day 11am - 3pm, or Sat. Oct. 23rd we will be selling it in the market on our St. Wilfrid's Fair medieval stall.

Mushroom Hunt 2010

This year's mushroom hunt was on Wed. 13th October at Etherow Country Park.

After meeting for coffee the intrepid explorers set off through the wilds of Etherow Park, armed only with cameras and a small pocket sized guide on wild fungi.

The sun shone and the wind was light. There was much to see and photograph, but sadly no one had told the mushrooms we were coming, or had they?

Still a good day was had by all, and many thanks to Steve Cliffe for leading the expedition.

Stockport Train Crash

This A4 book covers a catalogue of human errors leading up to Stockport's only fatal rail disaster, in thick fog, on the viaduct, in 1948.

It includes an eye witness account, from a passenger who still remembers that fateful night.

It can be bought from the St. Mary's Heritage Centre, open on market days, for £6.

Market 750

6th Sep 1260 was the date of Stockport's Market Charter and Saturday's celebrations took the form of the Market through time.

Dan Bank Finished

Dan Bank in Marple is finished on time, and with the least possible disruption to residents.

And thanks mainly to Ray Peston our Offerton Historian the very old Oldknow boundary stones have been saved and put back as a feature of the roadside.

I must congratulate the contractors on this excellent piece of work.

Blue Plaque for County

At last the Stockport County Blue Plaque is in it's rightful place and was unveiled, by the Chairman Alwyn Thompson, last evening.

It is four years since the public voted it the most popular venue for a new Blue Plaque.

Court Leet Sits Again

After an absence or over 150 years the Market Place once more played host to a Court Leet. A group of Trust members dressed in costume to re-enact the old Court Leet Trials.

Volunteers found themselves sent to the Dungeon, sat in the Stocks or threatened with the Scold's Blank.

All was done in a lighthearted manner and the audience joined in with gusto.

Classic Cars in the Market Place

For the first time ever, a classic car show was held in Stockport's Market Place on Sun 1st Aug.

60 old cars graced the historic Market area and a steady flow of people came to view them.

Goody bags were given to exhibitors, containing Stockport rock, souvenirs and free tickets to go around Staircase House with a guide book.

The organ music gave an appropriate atmosphere to the whole event and the consensus was, at the end of the day, that it should become an annual event.

2010 Chadkirk Festival

Chadkirk Festival was held again this year on the last full weekend in July.

With Roman soldiers, Egyptian dancers, A brass band, the Liberty Belle singers and lots of other entertainments.

Plenty of people came throughout the two days and all seemed to enjoy themselves.

There was a display of birds of prey and a 'worm charming' competition.

The Trust was out in force with 'Norman the Knight' who was shot and killed many times throughout the weekend. There was also a bran tub for the kids, and for the parents, heritage books and tea towels produced by Trust members.

If you missed it this year, put it in your diary for next.

Romiley Walk

John Bardsley took a group on a very pleasant walk around Romiley and Greave on Wed. evening.

They were shown many interesting buildings, told of local celebrities and viewed old registers and log books from the 1914 Romiley Junior School.

John's vast knowledge of the area and it's history made for an extremely interesting and informative walk. Thank you john.

Summer 2010 Magazine Out Now

The Summer issue of Stockport Heritage Magazine is in the shops this week and it's as good as ever.


The Royal Air Force in Stockport
The Pied Piper of Heaton Mersey
A Tribute to Woodford
750 years of Stockport Market
Memories of Abney Hall
Stockport Carnival
Bramall Park investigations.



I'm not giving it all away, you will have to buy the book, and but one for a friend as well.

Willow Grove Cemetery

Friends of Stockport Cemeteries

Invite Stockport Heritage Trust members to a

Celebration at Willow Grove Cemetery Reddish

On

Sunday 29th August 2010

from 1pm until 4pm

The celebration is to officially open the new Heritage and Tree

Trail and acknowledge the partnership working with Stockport Council.

Please come along and join in our celebration.

Bishop Brown's Industrial School

Bishop Brown's Industrial School on High Street is part of a site being developed, by Johnnie Johnson Housing, into housing units similar to those in the old Citadel building. The shell of the old school is to be kept intact and many architectural features incorporated into the re-development.

It is planned to add the former Reform Club to the site also, this was recently used as Peaches Night Club and is in a very derelict condition at present.

Part of the site includes the Nonconformist graveyard which has been given an archeological investigation, revealing gravestones at different levels as well as many empty vaults. It is thought that the bodies were removed when the graveyard went out of use.

Another find is a possible medieval pit, showing habitation early on in this area.

Heritage Centre - Only Open Saturdays for 2 weeks!

Emergency repair work to the chancel arch in St. Mary's Church will begin next week - Monday 5th July.

As a consequence, due to severely limited access, the Heritage Centre will be closed throughout

the week for at least the next fortnight.

The Centre WILL BE OPEN ON SATURDAYS - 10TH & 17TH JULY as usual 11am - 3.30pm.

The advertised walk on the 10th July, and talk in St. Mary's on 17th July

WILL BE UNAFFECTED,

and continue as planned. The dungeon will also be open as planned on Saturday 10th.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but know that you will be as pleased as we are that the essential restoration work is finally taking place, ensuring St. Mary's is safe and preserved for future generations.

Further updates will be posted as soon as we know what's going on...

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.