Another view of the old workhouse

This view of the former St Thomas' Hospital is from Junction Street looking over the site of Hollands Mill, itself demolished in 2007, only its gateposts remain.

The new Stockport Union Workhouse was erected in 1841. It was designed by Henry Bowman who was also responsible for the Congleton workhouse. It was built at Shaw Heath and was intended to accommodate up to 690 inmates.

The workhouse comprised a two-storey entrance block facing the main road at the south-west. Assorted other buildings were subsequently added at each side. The main accommodation building stood to the rear. It was a substantial red-brick building, largely four storeys high. Males were accommodated at the north side and females at the south. Children's quarters and school rooms were located in cross wings at each end of the main block, with the area to the front containing enclosed boys' and girls' exercise yards. To the rear, the men's and women's sides were divided by the kitchens, dining-hall and bakery. A wash-house and drying ground for laundering linen and clothes were located at the women's side, while a smithy and pig-sties were placed at the men's side.

After 1912, the workhouse was officially known as Stockport Poor Law Institution. It later became Shaw Heath Hospital, then from 1954 was known as St Thomas' Hospital. The hospital finally closed in 2003 and the site acquired by Stockport College as part of their campus expansion plans. Although planned for completion in 2011, the buildings remain derelict.

A closer view of the weather vane can be found in our post of 21st February.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Half a Ghost

Wandering down Shaw Heath recently I came across this ghost sign on the gable end of a house.

The house is called Studley Villa and a name stone is embedded in the front wall.

According to a reference on rootsweb Robert Howell Jones died sometime after 1943, and at his death he was living at Studley Villa, 124 Shaw Heath, Stockport. He was a painter and decorator by trade.

This is the only information I could find about the house and the sign must date back to at least the 1940s.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Stockport Masonic Guildhall

This is the Wellington Road South entrance to Stockport Masonic Guildhall which was built in 1868 and is now used as a conference centre and a wedding venue.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors
as well as Our World Tuesday
and for the letter G at ABC Wednesday.

South of Stockport Station

From the top of Shaw Heath looking over the lines to the south of Stockport (formerly Edgeley) Station. The end of the middle platforms are just visible under the footbridge that connects King Street West to Thomson Street. On the right are buildings belonging to the Territorial Army Centre.

A contribution to Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Workhouse cupola and weather vane

Two views of the cupola and weather vane on the top of the former St Thomas' Hospital, originally the Shaw Heath workhouse.

The left-hand view is from the site of Hollands Mill as glimpsed in the post of 16th February.

The right-hand view is from Flint Street as glimpsed in the post of 19th February.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Signs at Junction Road

Junction Road is a narrow street that leads off Shaw Heath by its junction with Longshut Lane West.

The name sign is typical of the old style of street-name signs throughout Stockport.

There is a weight-restriction sign prohibiting vehicles of over 3.5 tons "except for access".

A wider view of Junction Road can be seen on Geograph.

A contribution to signs, signs.

F is for Flint Street

Flint Street is off Shaw Heath. On the left is Our Lady and the Apostles Social Club. On the right are buildings previously belonging to St Thomas' Hospital. In the background is part of Stockport College.

This view is looking into the grounds of the former hospital, originally a workhouse.

For more information about it see the post Shadows outside the workhouse which shows it from the other side.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Hollands Mill Gatepost

All that is left of Hollands Mill which was demolished in 2007 is this gatepost on the corner of Shaw Heath.

To the left is the former St Thomas' Hospital. If you look up the road on the right you'll see a tree which is the same tree featured in yesterday's post Shadows outside the workhouse where you can read more about the former hospital.

This is the view across from the site of Hollands Mill looking up Shaw Heath.

I don't know what the figures actually represent but they may have something to do with the fact that the Armoury is at the other end of the road as shown in our post of 15th January.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

Shadows outside the workhouse

A view of one of the derelict buildings belonging to the former St Thomas' Hospital.

The new Stockport Union Workhouse was erected in 1841. It was designed by Henry Bowman who was also responsible for the Congleton workhouse. It was built at Shaw Heath and was intended to accommodate up to 690 inmates.

The workhouse comprised a two-storey entrance block facing the main road at the south-west. Assorted other buildings were subsequently added at each side. The main accommodation building stood to the rear. It was a substantial red-brick building, largely four storeys high. Males were accommodated at the north side and females at the south. Children's quarters and school rooms were located in cross wings at each end of the main block, with the area to the front containing enclosed boys' and girls' exercise yards. To the rear, the men's and women's sides were divided by the kitchens, dining-hall and bakery. A wash-house and drying ground for laundering linen and clothes were located at the women's side, while a smithy and pig-sties were placed at the men's side.

In 1905, a new office and board-room block was erected at the west of the workhouse site at the corner of Flint Street which was featured in a post here on 4th February.

A plan of the workhouse in 1851 and photographs by Peter Higginbotham dated 2001 and 2006 can be found on the Workhouses website.

After 1912, the workhouse was officially known as Stockport Poor Law Institution. It later became Shaw Heath Hospital, then from 1954 was known as St Thomas' Hospital. The hospital finally closed in 2003 and the site acquired by Stockport College as part of their campus expansion plans. Although planned for completion in 2011, the buildings remain derelict.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Bottom Lock Bridge

Following on from our recent photograph of Engineer Wharf viewed from a train on the railway viaduct between Romiley and Marple, is Bottom Lock Change Bridge.

From here the Peak Forest Canal, having been carried over the valley of the river Goyt on an aqueduct, progresses through the Marple Locks, a series of 16 locks and one of the steepest flights in the country.

Note: this photograph was taken in 2009.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections,
Scenic Weekends
and Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Footpath signs below the motorway

Short and long distance footpaths, including the Fred Perry Way and the Trans Pennine Way, come together in the Knightsbridge area where the river Goyt meets the river Tame to create the river Mersey.

Traffic on the M60 motorway thunders by oblivious of the rivers and walkers below.

A contribution to signs, signs.

E is for Engineer Wharf

Engineer Wharf viewed from a train on the railway viaduct between Romiley and Marple.

Engineer Wharf is situated on the north side of the Peak Forest canal, close to the foot of Marple Locks, and it contained the canal company's workshops dating from 1825. These included a blacksmith's forge and a carpenter's workshop where replacement lock gates were made.

A Tithe Map of 1850 shows the wharf prior to the construction of Marple Viaduct by the Sheffield and Midland Railway Company, which carried their line over the river Goyt as well as over the wharf.

More information can be found on the PittDixon website.

The canal has just been carried over the valley of the river Goyt on an aqueduct after which it progresses through the Marple Locks, a series of 16 locks and one of the steepest flights in the country.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday,
Outdoor Wednesday,
Water World Wednesday,
and ABC Wednesday.

St Mary's East Window

At the beginning of the month I showed you a glimpse of the East Window through the entrance to St Mary's.

The church is Grade I listed and whilst the chancel dates from before 1334, the nave and tower were rebuilt in 1814 after the original tower was cracked due to excessive bell ringing in celebration of Nelson's victory at the battle of Trafalgar.

The tower has recently been renovated again and the interior of the church is still undergoing restoration.

More information can be found on the St Mary's in the Market Place website.

A contribution to Inspired Sundays and also Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Steps to Stonemill Terrace

From Penny Lane Fields.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White.

Signs on the old workhouse

"Welcome to edge hill Faculty of Health" says the sign on the left of the doorway of the former workhouse building once part of St Thomas' Hospital. "Press buzzer and wait for response" it says underneath but the building has been empty and derelict for some time - see earlier post Union Offices of Shaw Heath Workhouse for more details.

The sign on the door itself informs "Stockport Community Drugs Team is located around the corner of Flint Street".

A contribution to signs, signs.

D is for Davenport Station

Davenport Station 2014
Davenport is a residential suburb on the outskirts of Stockport. It takes its name from its railway station, itself named after the Davenport family which for centuries lived at Bramhall Hall. When the railway came to the area in the 1850s in the shape of the Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge line, there was no settlement here; it was just a remote corner of the Davenport family's estate. However, the Davenports had ideas of developing this part of their land as a residential suburb.

Davenport Station 1988
  © Copyright Peter Whatley and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
The station was built at the point where the Stockport to Bramhall road crossed the railway; although the station was not actually built in time for the opening of the line in 1857, but the following year, 1858 after complaints from the Davenports that a station had been promised. It was named Davenport after its sponsors. Not long afterwards, however, the Davenports sold all their land, including what is now Davenport, much of it to a property company, and moved away from the area. A few large houses were constructed around the station in its early years, several of them to be occupied by moguls of the hatting and cotton-spinning industries for which Stockport is famous.

Davenport Station circa 1910
Courtesy of Greater Manchester County Record Office
The now-familiar station booking office is not an original feature but dates from the 1880s.

A train for Preston via Deansgate and Bolton arriving at platform 2
See the train at Deansgate on Ackworth born, gone West.

More information on the station and its environs can be found on the Davenport Station website.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Union Offices of Shaw Heath Workhouse

A workhouse was designed by Henry Bowman and built at Shaw Heath to accommodate up to 690 inmates. The workhouse later became Shaw Heath Hospital, then from 1954 was known as St Thomas' Hospital. The hospital finally closed in 2004 and the site acquired by Stockport College as part of their campus expansion. This building photographed here was built in 1905 as a new office and board-room block and was erected at the west of the workhouse site at the corner of Flint Street.

Information is scarce as to its exact function prior to closing in 2004. What is known is that it was used by Edge Hill University as a Faculty of Health comprising several functions including teaching. It was also used by Stockport Community Alcohol Team as a drop in centre and needle exchange. Additionally it was a drop in centre for victims of domestic violence.

Photographs of the derelict interior can be found on the Derelict Places website.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Tiviot Way Bridge

This modern bridge takes Tiviot Way, the A626 Heaton Chapel to Dinting Junction road, over Penny Lane.

Penny Lane is cut off for through traffic just below the bridge to prevent it being used as a rat-run for drivers trying to avoid the main road from Reddish to Lancashire Hill.

A full account of the route of the A626 is on the Sabre website.

A contribution to Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Entry to Stockport Parish Church

Entry to the Parish Church of "St Mary's in the Market Place" is through the Great West Doors which stand underneath the tower. The main body of the church dates from 1817, although parts date back to the 14th century. Through the left hand side of the modern glass door can be seen the East window.

The Packhorse Inn can be seen reflected in the right hand side.

This photograph was taken on Christmas Eve 2011.

Since then the Packhorse Inn has changed to become the Cocked Hat and on January 4th I posted a photo of one the church windows reflected in the pub window.

A contribution to the Entry theme at City Daily Photo and to Weekend Reflections and also to Inspired Sundays. Also a contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.