Lamppost art in Hollywood Park

Yesterday when I posted Shadows at Hollywood Park I promised to show you a closer view of the old photograph on the lampless lamppost.

Around 2014 as part of the Stockport Arts Trail, an independent group of young people, working towards an Arts Award Qualification at Stockport Central Library, created the images for one face of the artworks, located on lampposts in and around Edgeley. Historic photographs from the libraries archives are on the other face, giving people an idea of how the area looked in times gone by.

The text on the reverse of this piece of lamppost art reads:
"In the winter there was this fog, caused by all the
coal fires and mills, it was
terrible, it was like walking through pea soup,
you had to fight your way through it."

There are eleven lampposts in total along the trail. More information is at Healthy Stockport.

I featured another example of lamppost artwork on 8th October 2014

A contribution to Monday Murals and signs, signs.

Shadows at Hollywood Park

Another photograph from my recent (and for me first) visit to Hollywood Park.

On Wednesday I posted The Edge of Edgeley taken from a path near the eastern edge of the park.

Yesterday I posted a photo of part of the Steps out of Hollywood Park.

Today's photograph is from nearby looking out over the park past the high-rise Hollywood Towers towards the railway viaduct. The lampless lamppost on the right carries an old photograph of this view - but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for a closer view and explanation.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

S is for Scotch Bob

This wood carving of Scotch Bob by sculptor Andy Burgess is on Cheadle Green.

According to Choose Cheadle website, James Telford, known as "Scotch Bob" came to Cheadle from Dumfriesshire in 1871. By 1879 he was driving the red, horse drawn buses of the Manchester Carriage Company, a job he proudly held for over 35 years.

In 1908 he set a British record for driving over 60,000 miles from Manchester and Cheadle. He sometimes drove three horses abreast, quoting Robbie Burns as he went. He knew everyone along the way and his whip was constantly raised in greeting, even when the rain was streaming down.

In 1913 he was given the job of motor-bus time keeper at the White Hart terminus. By then he was reckoned to have driven a record 937,000 miles on one route. He lived with his family at 8 Gatley Road, close to the White Hart where his horses were stabled.

When he died in 1929 he was buried in St Mary's Churchyard behind the White Hart stables, where a small stone stands in memory of James Telford.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

The Artism Gallery

8 Market Place is a late 18th or early 19th century house incorporating a 19th century shop front and reusing timbers of medieval or 17th century origin. The second-storey wall has ghost advertising (partially obscured) which relates to its past use as Ladies and Gents Tailors.

In 2010 it was a coffee shop after which it became the "Vintage Style Agency" and then the "Teenage Market". In March 2015 it was home to the vintage clothes shop "Loyal Retro".

The latest occupant is The Artism Gallery run by Brin Morris who creates sellotape sculptures some of which can be seen sitting in the window looking out at the Market Hall (aka the Glass Umbrella).

The gallery displays artwork from local artists and runs interactive workshops. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday.

The Rivers Run Through

"The Rivers Run Through" is an artwork designed by young people working with Stockport Youth Offending Service and local artist Karen Allerton.

Part of a Stockport Art Trail it is a collaboration between Stockport's Youth Offending Service, Public Health and Sustrans.

The mural was installed recently on the wall below the M60 motorway opposite the confluence of the rivers Goyt and Tame to form the Mersey.

It is fixed in front of the wall rather than attached directed to the wall like a conventional mural which may make it less of a target for taggers.

A contribution to Monday Murals and Blue Monday.

A life-changing place

This mural on a wall of the subway at Stockport station is described nearby as Stockport Artwork created by Arc service users:

"A life-changing place"

Arc is Stockport's specialist arts and health charitable organisation.

We work from our Challenge Centre in Reddish - art Studios and gallery - with individuals who face often severe and multiple disadvantages linked to mental ill-health. We use the arts to help them to transform their lives.

We run a Community Programme including an outreach agency and a graphic design service - engaging people creatively at Stockport's Stepping Hill Hospital, Children's Centres and in the wider community via bespoke art groups, events, market stalls and festivals.

The artwork on display here has been designed as part of Arc's 'Arc:Light' programme, in which vulnerable adults recovering from mental distress are given opportunities to develop skills and confidence through a creative process. In this instance they have learnt digital graphic design skills and produced work that represents key icons and themes around Stockport town centre.

We hope that this installation encourages dialogue around mental health issues and the impact of mental ill-health on our lives.

This installation is a joint partnership between Arc, Virgin Trains and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

Running Man Mural: Panels 13 - 16

A follow-up to my posts from 29th June 2015 featuring panals 1 -4 of the Running Man Mural; the post of 6th July 2016 featuring panals 5 - 6 and the post of 13th July 2015 featuring panels 9 - 12. The 16 panel mural was the work of the group Friends of Heaton Chapel Station and produced with support from the local community.

Panel 13 was sponsored by Vital Signs and Graphics and designed with pupils at Norris Bank Primary School - Heaton Norris.

Panel 14 was sponsored by Stella Maris School and carries a statement from Northern Rail:

As one of the biggest train operators in Britain, Northern Rail provides 2,500 local and regional train services every day across the north of England, serving a population of nearly 15 million.

We pride ourselves on offering consistent and local train services to our customers, as they make their way around our network to visit the wide variety of things to do and places to see in the areas we operate.

Northern Rail is proud to be at the heart of the railways and we work closely with local community groups to help enhance our stations and their surroundings.

Having worked with 'Friends of Heaton Chapel Station' since August 2011, we've seen the station blossom thanks to the great efforts made by this partnership.

Panel 15 informs us:

From the early 13th century, Heaton Norris was a sub-manor of Manchester, encompassing all of the Four Heatons including Heaton Moor which was mainly moss land (peat bog) with rich agricultural land that supported mixed farming.

In 1837 Parliamentary approval was given for the railway to by built by the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, the first section from Heaton Norris to Manchester opening in 1841.

Heaton Chapel Station was built in 1851 close to the St. Thomas Rectory and not according to some railway company's grand plan but largely at the instigation of a local clergyman, Edward Jackson of St Thomas Church in Heaton Chapel.

Before entering the church, he had been a master at Manchester Grammar School and when he discovered that one of his former pupils was the superintendent of the northern division of the LNWR, he was determined to use his influence and put Heaton Chapel on the railway map. This was quite a tall order: even if all the arguments are on your side, because building a station in a deep cutting presents difficulties, (there are 43 steps to the platform on northbound platform 2).

However Rev. Jackson won the day, his old pupil complied and Heaton Chapel was the triumphant result. The opening of the station had am immediate effect on the surrounding area which became a fashionable address for those who could afford to live in the leafy suburbs and commute to Manchester by train. Land was acquired and roads were planned. The houses, villas and new buildings along Heaton Moor Road were of a grandiose scale with generous gardens.

Sadly, Joseph Swindlehurst, the stationmaster in the 1890s would no longer be able to recognise his beloved station.

Panel 16 was sponsored by 4 Heatons Traders Association and informs us:

The artwork was designed by local artist Karen Allerton with photographs and historic information supplied by Phil Rowbotham ©

Two members of Sustainable Living in the Heatons, a local community group, explored the possibility of developing an art protect on the northbound platform of the station in June 2011 with a burning passion to change the tired salmon wall. As a result of the discussions we formed the Friends of Heaton Chapel Station in August 2011, with the principal aim of making the station a more attractive place.

Out enthusiastic group began work during the autumn cutting and cleaning beds on the Stockport bound platform and planted flowers, herbs and plants which have now blossomed this spring, We also set up a library in the ticket office which has proved really successful with travellers.

With the help of materials and paint from Northern Rail and a great bunch of volunteers, we painted the wall black in preparation for the artwork. We have engaged with various groups in the Heatons community and would like to thank them and all the local businesses that have sponsored this great undertaking. Additionally, we are indebted to the local primary schools who have worked with us on the project.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

Running Man Mural: Panels 9-12

A follow-up to my post from 29th June 2015 featuring Panals 1 -4 of the Running Man Mural and the post of 6th July 2016 featuring Panals 5-6. The 16 panel mural was the work of the group Friends of Heaton Chapel Station and produced with support from the local community. The artwork was designed by local artist Karen Allerton with photographs and historic information supplied by Phil Rowbotham ©.

Panel 9 was designed with pupils at Broadstone Hall Primary School - Heaton Chapel.

Panel 10 was sponsored by Prontaprint and designed with pupils at St Thomas' CE Primary School - Heaton Chapel.

Panel 11 was sponsored by Hugh Joseph McCarthy Solicitors.

Panel 12 was sponsored by Bramley Carpets and features the war memorial and the poem:

Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle,
they were young.
Straight of limb,
true of eyes,
steady and aglow.
They were staunch to
the end against odds
uncounted.
They fell with their faces
to the foe.
They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the
going
down of
the sun
and in the morning,
we will remember them.

Laurence Binyon - For the Fallen

A contribution to Monday Murals.

Running Man Mural: Panels 1-4

In September 2013 I posted a view of the The Running Man at Heaton Chapel. The 16 panel mural was the work of the group Friends of Heaton Chapel Station and produced with support from the local community. It was unveiled in May 2012 and won 1st place in a competition for Community Art Schemes sponsored by ScotsRail.

I recently revisited the station and photographed the individual panels.

Panel 1 was sponsored by Easy Access Self Storage and informs us:

The designation Norrey or Norres came from the family name of the le Norreys in 1364. Heaton Norris was part of the Manchester barony of the Grelley family, but between 1162 and 1180 It belonged to William le Norreys. In the early 13th century Heaton Norris was a sub manor Manchester, encompassing what we know now as the Four Heatons. The area reverted back to the manor of Manchester around 1280.

The township stretched from Cringle Brook in the north to the river Mersey in the south which is a distance of approximately two miles. The south east part has long been a part of Stockport since 1832 when it was included in the Parliamentary borough and in the municipal borough in 1835 when a district ward was formed.

Panel 2 was sponsored by Sustainable Living In The Heatons.

Panel 3 was sponsored by SAS Daniels LLP (formerly TWP Solicitors) and informs us:

For several centuries Heaton Chapel was part of the Heaton Norris township. In 1758 the first Chapel in the Heatons, St Thomas' Church was built on the principal Manchester to Stockport road on a field known as Yarn Croft, through money raised by public subscription. The place name then became Heaton Chapel in its own right.

Almost a century later The London and North Western Railway company completed the Crewe to Manchester line and Rev. Jackson used personal influence, to have a station built in 1851, close to the rectory in Heaton Moor Road with the new station being named Heaton Chapel

Panel 4 was sponsored by Heaton Moor Evangelical Church and designed with pupils at St Thomas' CE Primary School. It features Sir John Alcock.

Sir John William Alcock, who grew up in Heaton Moor and attended St Thomas' Primary School, took up the challenge of attempting to be the first to fly directly across the Atlantic and successfully piloted the first transatlantic flight between Newfoundland and Ireland in June 1919.

The epic flight which John Alcock made with Arthur Brown covered 1,980 miles over mainly water, and took 16 hours and 12 minutes. The flight had been much affected by bad weather, making accurate navigation difficult and the intrepid duo also had to cope with turbulence, instrument failure and ice on the wings.

The flight was made in a modified Vickers Vimy bomber, and secured a £10,000. prize offered by London's Daily Mail newspaper for the first transatlantic flight.

A few days after the flight, King George V knighted Alcock and Brown and invested them with their insignia as Knight Commanders of the Order of the British Empire for their remarkable act of courage and bravery as pioneering aviators.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

I'll bring you more next week.

Banner of the Industrial Revolution

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.

Stained Glass in St Peter's Church

Following up from the recent post Inside St Peter's church here are close-ups of the five Belgian stained glass windows by Carponnier (1889). Click on the images to open up the full-sized photographs.

The outer left window depicts St Petrus (Peter).

The inner left window depicts St Mary.

The middle window depicts the crucifixion.

It carries the wording

"These windows were placed here to the glory of God and as an affectionate memorial of the Revd Henry Wright and Mary Catherine his wife by their daughter Julia Catherine Wright 1889."

The inner right window depicts St Johannes (John).

The outer right window depicts St Stephanus (Stephen).

A contribution to Inspired Sundays.

Agony in the Garden

As a follow-up to last week's post Inside St Peter's, here is a close-up of the reredos.

The focal point of the church is the High Altar, with the reredos painting of the Agony in the Garden and was given in memory of John Mottershead. It was commissioned to replace the original Victorian picture of the same subject by J. H. E. Partington which had been overpainted. It portrays our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal.

"And He knelt down and prayed saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but Thine be done. And there appeared an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed the more earnestly." Luke 22 vv41-44.

The artist, J. Martin Pitts, describes the scene as

one in which Heaven and Earth overlap. Contained within the ordinary is the extra-ordinary. Awareness and knowledge of this are the essence of religious experience, and we believe we are never closer to this than when we share together in the Holy Communion.

A contribution to Inspired Sundays.

The Hatters

Artwork on the wall next to the western entrance to Stockport Station.

"The Hatters, Stockport County Football Club, started in 1883 as the Heaton Norris Rangers at the Wycliffe Congressional Church, they became Stockport County in 1890 and moved to Edgeley Park in 1902. Their grounds are close to the former site of Sykes Bleaching Company, located on the edges of Alexandra Park, whose reservoirs were formed to service the mill. The Sykes family originally owned most of the land in Edgeley, and employed many people. Much of their wealth was invested back into the local community."

"The Hatters" is one of a number of Town Centre Artworks produced as part of an initiative by the Stockport Youth Offending Service

The others are:
Glass Umbrella;
And The River Runs Through;
Having Your Cake;
11 Million Bricks - this one was apparently stolen before I could take a photograph of it.

A contribution to
Blue Monday;
Monday Murals.

Having Your Cake

I've shown you the Glass Umbrella and And The River Runs Through", two of the artworks around the town created by a group of young people, working with the Youth Offending Service.

"Have your Cake" focuses on the architectural design of Stockport Town Hall and celebrates some of Stockport's sporting successes. The Town Hall, nicknamed the wedding cake, was designed by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas,1908. Stockport is the birthplace of tennis player, Fred Perry winner of the Men's Singles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open 1936. Stockport Metro has enjoyed a long history of podium success and is one of the most successful swimming clubs in British history.

You'll find it on the wall of Life Leisure Grand Central Pools which provides fitness and swimming facilities. The gym has the latest fitness equipment and a dedicated performance zone and aerobics studio with weekly programmes of classes. Grand Central is also home to Stockport's only 50m swimming pool and is home to Stockport Metro, the UK's most successful swimming club and learn to swim programme. For details see their website

A contribution to
Blue Monday;
Monday Murals;
Ruby Tuesday;
Our World Tuesday.

And The River Runs Through

Back in September I posted a photograph of an artwork that had appeared in the garden of St Peter's Church which I later discovered was called The Glass Umbrella, one of five artworks around the town created by a group of young people, working with the Youth Offending Service.

And the River Runs Through, highlights the importance of the local rivers to Stockport's Industrial Heritage. The Rivers Tame and Goyt converge in Stockport, to form the River Mersey, that runs beneath Merseyway shopping centre. The artwork uses repeat patterns created from photographs gathered around Stockport Town Centre to indicate the complex nature of the local industry, especially hatting, textiles and engineering.

This one is on Chestergate and it took me two walks down the street before I actually found it somewhat tucked away behind a litter bin near the taxi rank.

I'll show you two of the other artworks at a later date. I never found the fifth and after some inquiries discovered that was because it had been stolen. I have been informed that work on a replacement is in progress.

A contribution to
Blue Monday;
Monday Murals;
Our World Tuesday;
ABC Wednesday.

Marketplace on a lampost

This artwork can be found on a lampost on Castle Street in Edgeley. The text reads:

"On Saturday nights my dad used to take us Stockport Market in those days it stayed open till 9pm.

It was a great event everyone from round here would go. And we'd always go to Woolworths on the way home to buy sweets."

As part of the Stockport Arts Trail, an independent group of young people, working towards an Arts Award Qualification at Stockport Central Library, created the images for one face of the artworks, located on lampposts in and around Edgeley.

Historic photographs from the libraries archives are on the other face, giving people an idea of how the area looked in times gone by.

There are eleven lampposts in total along the trail. More information is at Healthy Stockport.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday and signs, signs.

I is for Images of Stockport

This piece of artwork recently appeared in St Peter's Churchyard. I couldn't see an artist's signature on it. It features St Mary's church, the Market Hall, a sign to the Underbanks and some more esoteric images like a balloon, a chicken laying eggs and a pair of headphones, the relevance of which I don't fully understand. I have been unable to find out any information about who may have painted this nor why it has been placed here. People I spoke to in the church didn't seem to know.

In the background over the railings is the roof of the former Co-op (now Primark) on Chestergate/Merseyway.

A contribution to
ABC Wednesday;
Outdoor Wednesday;
signs, signs.

Postboxes on St Peter's Square

This double-fronted postbox is located outside the former Prudential building in St Peter's Square. The postboxes are labelled SK1 386 (left) and SK1 385 (right). On the right is a postbox for "franked mail" only.

This view is from the other side looking past the statue of Richard Cobden towards St Peter's Church. For more information about St Peter's Church see our post dated 16th June 2013. For more information and a better view of the statue see my photograph on Geograph.

The distinctive business postbox for franked mail was introduced in the mid-1990s. Before the advent of such boxes, franked mail could not be posted in a letter box and thus had to be handed in at a post or sorting office unless the business had a visit from the postman. (The reason for this is that ordinary stamped mail would be sent to the sorting office and postmarked, whereas franked mail is already dated by the sender's franking machine.)

Because it is designed for business mail, it is found usually in business parks and industrial estates or in areas of town which are heavily occupied by businesses – and has relatively late final collection times.

It is opened by pulling down the black handle on the sliding opening, and when the final collection of the day is made it will be locked shut and reopened the next weekday morning (including Saturday if the box has a Saturday collection). This is because, as franked mail is dated by the customer rather than at the sorting office, it must be posted on the same day as the date indicated on the franked impression. By accepting later items which would not be collected till the following day, it would give the false impression that Royal Mail had taken a day longer to deliver the item. Information courtesy of Chris Downer.

More information about "franking" can be found on the Royal Mail website.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Inside St Thomas's Parish Church

Following on from last week's post showing the outside of St Thomas's here are views of the inside of the church.

Above the High Altar is a painting of the "Transfiguration of Our Lord", a copy of part of a painting by Raphael which hangs in the Vatican. The East wall is decorated with acanthus leaf, a popular classical Greek design.

The three-manual organ was made in 1834 by Samuel Renn. Its choir division was added in 1890 by Alex Young, and the organ was cleaned and overhauled in 1961 by Jardine. More details can be found on the The National Pipe Organ Register.

The pews in the gallery are the original Georgian ones whilst the others are Victorian replacements.

Since 2012, St. Thomas has been placed on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register, and the group "Friends of St. Thomas" was set up in 2013 as a way of securing the future of the church for generations to come.

Visit the Church website for more information.

Next week I'll show you some of the stained glass windows.

A contribution to Inspired Sundays.

Mural at the Houldsworth Arms

This mural is on the side of a building in the rear yard of the Houldsworth Arms, Reddish.

The snowmen on the right are the same ones as are in the photograph I posted of the pub on 2nd January.

A contribution to Monday Murals.