Tameside Magistrates' Court Archives

Earlier this year Tameside Archives Library took delivery of the pre Tameside Magistrates' Court records. They were delighted to receive these, until a large van load of huge boxes arrived. Christine Clough offered the services of the Forum to help unpack and pre sort these records. She, with Harry Lever and Terry Harding, turned up every Wednesday morning until they were sorted into rough town and date order. The records are now sitting on the shelves in good order awaiting cataloguing.

Stamford Park Consultation

Tameside Council is putting together a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore and improve Stamford Park and wanted to know what people thought.

The bid will fund the restoration of Stamford Park with the aims of:

The bid will be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in September 2007.

Earlier this year Tameside Local History Forum in conjunction with Tameside Council were in the park seeking your views and your ideas for improvements.

It was clear that there is great affection for Stamford Park across Tameside and strong support for improving the Park and its facilities.

There are now some exciting plans for the Park and we would now like to give you the opportunity to look at these. Please visit the Tameside MBC website where you can have a look at the plans and add your comments:

The Odd Whim Public House

Formerly a Gatehouse to Ashton and built by the famous 19th Century Prophet John Wroe – was rescued from developers and demolition and subsequently gained listed building status. This important, historical building, which is unique to both Ashton and Tameside is now earmarked for full restoration. ( see below for progress)

Saved from the Ashes

A marble sculpture, reputed to have cost £2000, to the memory of John Whittaker (1776-1840) the founder of Higher Hurst, was in the Queens Road MNC Chapel in 1861. The sculptor J. H. Foley later created the Albert Memorial in London.

Following the closure of Queens Road Chapel in 1967/8 the sculpture was taken to Hurst Community Centre which was subsequently destroyed by fire in 2000.

This sculpture was recovered from the ashes in 20 pieces and it was sent to Liverpool to undergo restoration.

This important piece of local history, described by the art critic Pevsner as “An uncommonly fine, tender piece” will, upon restoration be exhibited at the Central Art Gallery on Old Street Ashton-under-Lyne.

These are both classic, recent examples of the achievements of the Local History Forum in the preservation of our rich Tameside heritage.

News

Scroll down the page for details about the rescue of the Foley Sculpture and the saving of the Odd Whim Pub.

There are currently two exhibitions running which members of our Local History Forum have organised. One is on the landing of the District Assembly rooms in Stalybridge Civic Hall showing the history of Stalybridge Council, which celebrates is 150th anniversary this year. The other is at Portland Basin Museum for the 90th anniversary of the Munitions Explosion in Ashton-under-Lyne