Mural at Pintong

This mural is on the side of the Pintong Thai Spa and Massage on London Road, Hazel Grove.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

Shadows on Warren Street

The Cancer Research UK charity shop has opened recently in the former Jessops camera shop that closed down in January 2013. The hearing-aid shop next door has relocated from their previous premises in Brown Street.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday and Blue Monday.

H is for Hillgate Pharmacy, Holt Street

Hillgate Pharmacy is located at 50 Higher Hillgate on the corner of Holt Street. It has the look of an old Co-op building but in fact the Co-op pharmacy is two doors away at #54 with a sandwich shop between them.

According to the date plaque the building was erected in 1869.

The arms supporting the lamp beneath have horseshoes attached. Does a pharmacy need luck?

A contribution to ABC Wednesday and signs, signs.

Holly House, Woodley

Holly House on Hyde Road, Woodley is a grade II Listed Building currently home to a dental practice and a chiropractic clinic.

It is constructed of Flemish bond brick with a graduated stone slate roof. The 2 storey building has a projecting brick plinth and corner pilasters and a bracketed eaves gutter. The central doorway has a 4-panel door with interlaced fanlight, moulded imposts and keystone. The 5 windows which are all 20th century casements have stone sills and timber lintels.

The modern advertising panels and red security metal roller blinds are distinctly non-18th century.

It has been home to a string of failed companies including Herbert Watson International Ltd, Herbert Watson Travel Ltd, Latafoam, Speculex, Capeready and Deltasteer.

It carries a date stone of 1755 with the initials SHA.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday;
Our World Tuesday;
signs, signs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pathology at Stepping Hill

The Pathology Department at Stepping Hill is housed in the one of the hospital's older buildings.

A contribution to Blue Monday and Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Outside Outpatients B

At Stepping Hill Hospital.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

From Orphanage to Care Home

From the end of Penny Lane, looking across Lancashire Hill at what was originally Pendlebury Hall, an orphanage designed by architect J.W. Beaumont and erected 1881-2. It was founded through the bequest of Ralph Pendlebury who left £100,000 for the purpose. Pendlebury started his working life as apprentice to a handloom weaver, but later built and owned mills in Stockport.

This is the entrance from Dodge Hill. Previously known as Grosvenor Hall but now called Hilltop Hall Care Home, it has been fully refurbished to create a special environment where modern facilities blend in with the character and elegance of the grade II listed building. Wood panelling, stain glass windows, chandeliers and a bell tower are some of the features of the home, along with landscaped gardens in a quiet and elevated location. It is managed by Harbour Healthcare.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors.

Stepping Hill Stone

Memorial stone set in a flower bed at the entrance to Stepping Hill Hospital.

The plaque reads "This stone commemorates the establishment of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust on 1 April 2004. Dedicated to serving the people of Stockport and the High Peak."

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.