The Magnet

Built in 1840 as a coaching inn, due to its close proximity to the Heaton Norris Station, The Magnet has retained its original name for over 170 years.

It has been extensively refurbished since 2009 and has won a number of awards including CAMRA Pub Of The Year (SSM) 2011. There is a barrel vaulted cellar destined be a micro-brewery where they are hoping to brew their own innovative, unique "Cellar Rat" branded beers. See The Magnet website for more details.

In an earlier post on July 11th I featured the signs on the corner for Mount Crescent and Duke Street which I'd photographed in 2010. The street names no longer exist and the signs have been painted over and don't stand out as much they did.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Four Views from the corner of Heaton Norris Park

East towards Heaton Towers and Norris Towers at the top of Dodge Hill.

North towards Love Lane, Quantock Close and the bowling greens.

West along Church Road.

South over the football pitches with Stockport Plaza and the Town Hall visible through the trees.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday and to Outdoor Wednesday.

Bridge Shadows

On Friday I posted a photograph showing the M60 and A560 taken from the Wellington Road North bridge.

This view is looking along the side of the bridge across the eastbound carriageway.

A shadow of the bridge has been cast on to the cliffside. My own shadow can be seen just above what looks like a blocked up doorway. This may be an access point into a one-time air-raid shelter or is possibly connected with the railway line that originally ran alongside the route of the motorway.

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

Weekend Reflections: Hat Museum Chimney

I was on a bus going up Wellington Road South when I spotted the chimney of the Hat Museum reflected in an office window.

I took a quick photo using my mobile phone and here's the result.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

The M60 and the A560

Viewed from Wellington Road North.

On the left hand side is the M60 motorway. Now part of the Manchester Orbital Motorway that encircles Manchester, this section was built in the 1980s as the M63 extension from Cheadle Heath to Portwood.

When first built the Cheshire Lines Committee railway line through Tiviot Dale still ran alongside, disappearing into a tunnel under Lancashire Hill at a point roughly where the white van on the left is seen.

On the right hand side is Great Egerton Street which is the A560 road from Bredbury to Gatley. Before the motorway was built this was the main arterial road from Yorkshire to Cheshire.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

Sign of the Swan with two necks

The sign for the Swan with two necks, a Robinson's pub on Prince's Street.

The origin of the name is said to be a corruption of "The Swan With Two Nicks". Swans have traditionally been the property of the reigning Monarch. However, in the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I granted the right to ownership of some swans to the Worshipful Company of Vintners. To tell which Swan belonged to whom, the Vintners' swans had their beaks marked with two notches, or nicks.

A contribution to signs, signs.

S is for Swan With Two Necks

A public house has been recorded on this site from around 1830. In 1924 Robinson's Brewery acquired the building on Prince's Street and rebuilt it within a decade. It is Grade II listed.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.