St George's 1840

The earliest known picture of St George's dates back to 1840. It was found recently in a distressed state and fragments were carefully pieced together and stuck on a mount.

I took a photograph of this and then used PaintShop Pro to remove blemishes and restore the colour. Here is the result.

In the foreground is a horse-drawn barge on the Peak Forest Canal. Midground is the valley of the Gower Hey Brook before it became filled with trees, houses and allotments. The artist appears to have taken a little license with the tallness of the tower.

You can view the original distressed picture on Hyde DP Xtra.

A modern view of the church is on Hyde Daily Photo.

J & T Fowden - Undertakers on Hamnet Street

I found this old advert in a book. It must date from the 1890s as a notice in the London Gazette [pdf file] dated 28th June 1901 states

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, James Fowden, of 57, Brook-street, Hyde, in the county of Chester, Funeral Undertaker, and Thomas Fowden, of 3, Hamnett-street, Hyde aforesaid, Funeral Undertaker, carrying on business as Funeral Undertakers at 3, Hamnett-street, Hyde aforesaid, under the style or firm of "J. and T. Fowden," has be«n dissolved by mutual consent as and from the 24th day of June, 1901. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Thomas Fowden, who will continue to carry on the said business at the same address in his own name only.—Dated this 24th day of June, 1901.
JAMES FOWDEN.
THOMAS FOWDEN.

The water board were recently digging a hole outside but I don't know how deep they dug.

You can view the hole on Hyde Daily Photo and the roadworks on Hyde DP Xtra.

Hattersley Cutting 1951

Photograph © Ben Brooksbank.

Taken on 28th July 1951 at Hattersley Cutting, with the Cleethorpes - Manchester express passing through.

The view is Eastward towards Broadbottom, Woodhead and Sheffield along the ex-Great Central Manchester - Sheffield main line, which since July 1981 was cut back to a local line just to Hadfield. The masts for the electrification had been erected in 1939 but electrification was not complete until the New Woodhead Tunnel was opened in June 1954. The very deep cutting used to be two tunnels until they were opened out in 1931. The train is the 09.27 Cleethorpes - Manchester London Road, headed by B1 4-6-0 No. 61160.

See how it looks nearly 60 years later on Hyde Daily Photo.

Albion Oil Works (updated)

Frederick Wild manufactured all kinds of cog and waterwheel greases at the Albion Oil Works which I thought was on Albion Street.

Albion street was demolished in the late 1990s and the area transformed into the Croft Millennium Green.

See how it looks now on Hyde Daily Photo.

I've since discovered that works was not located on Albion Street but was on John Street behind the Albion pub.