Castle Yard was the "Motte" of a Norman castle and the castle "Bailey" the area which is now the Market Place. The castle walls were demolished in the 1770s when Castle Mill, the first water powered cotton mill in Stockport was constructed. The Mill was demolished in 1841 and from 1853 the area was used as a cattle market. Today Castle Yard forms a link between the outside market and the Courts shopping development created from the conversion of the adjacent former Magistrates Courts building.
21st century excavations revealed the wheelpit. In 2005 artist Mike Woods created a piece of public art designed on the water wheel which once powered Castle Mill. It consists of a banner that depicts workers caught up in a "mad whirl of machines and knotted tangled threads coupled with frenzied activity as they strive to adapt new technologies and the need to keep pace with the constantly changing new industrial age".
"The Banner of the Industrial Revolution" is wrapped around the outside of the ladies public convenience. Although the ironwork is still there the explanatory board has since been removed.
Visit other contributions to the Revolution theme at City Daily Photo.
I assumed the Industrial Revolution would figure into someone's take on this theme. I like that iron work.
ReplyDeleteLovely iron gears and banner on the walls of that building. Always good to teach people about the past.
ReplyDeletePersonal opinion is that the industrial revolution had a very positive impact on standards of living.
ReplyDeleteNot for those living through it at the time, Denton. The IR saw the massive rise of the poor house system.
DeleteThx for your post about the industrial revolution
ReplyDeleteCouldn't get a more perfect post for today Gerald, nice work!
ReplyDeleteI like how it covers two sides of that building.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! Nice choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the short history lesson too.
ReplyDelete