My Wonders of Greater Manchester: The Not So Perfect 10
Follow on from my previous post on System One’s promotion are my Wonders of Greater Manchester, the subject for my Not So Perfect 10. In no particular order, they are:
- Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens, Dunham Town near Altrincham;
- Victoria Baths, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester;
- Dovestones to Hobson Moor, Greenfield to Mottram-in-Longdendale;
- The 343 bus route, Oldham to Hyde;
- Marple Locks to Gee Cross, Peak Forest Canal, Marple – Gee Cross;
- Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar, Platform One, Rassbottom Street, Stalybridge;
- Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester;
- Liverpool Road Railway Station/MOSI, Liverpool Road, Manchester;
- Hartshead Pike, Ashton-under-Lyne;
- Heaton Park, Prestwich.
Each of these places have had a special place in my heart for the last 25 years. A lot of which were discovered during my time at Ewing School from 1987 – 1990, hence a slight bias towards the Manchester City Council boundary. For the purpose of this post, I shall mention bus routes which pass any of these spots.
Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens: the tail end of 1987 (thank you Ewing School!) introduced me to a most serene corner where Cheshire meets Trafford Borough by means of the River Bollin. Though I’ve never been to the hall itself, I have had the pleasure of visiting the gardens and deer paddock in most recent times, escaping from the hustle and bustle of central Manchester. The deer paddock for me embodies solitude and being away from ‘the world’, a part of Greater Manchester remote from neo-classical shopping cathedrals, concrete and traffic. Yet Dunham Massey is a bus stop away from the centre of Altrincham a few minutes shy of half an hour.
Buses: 5 (Network Warrington)/38 (Warrington Coachways) Warrington – Altrincham stop outside main gates.
Victoria Baths: a fine example of late Victorian/Edwardian architecture, Victoria Baths was the place to be for its Aerotone Bath, Turkish Bath and three swimming pools. The biggest of the three was used for gala events, with in later years one of the three pools converted into an indoor sports hall. The baths closed in 1993 thanks to cuts in council spending, and laid derelict and unused till 2005. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get to see Victoria Baths in its prime, though visited a few of their open events. Thanks to the BBC’s Restoration programme, I was happy to find that the baths will be restored and is progressing very well.
Buses: 50 (Stagecoach in Manchester) Manchester – East Didsbury/130 (Arriva North West) Manchester – Macclesfield
Dovestones Reservoir to Hobson Moor: combining the best of natural and man-made landscapes is the chain of Pennine foothills from Dovestones Reservoir to Hobson Moor. From Greenfield up to Buckton Castle, there are excellent views of Greenfield village itself, Top Mossley and Bottom Mossley, Micklehurst, Heyrod and Carrbrook. South of Buckton Castle is Walkerwood, where a walk towards Swineshaw Reservoir takes you nearer to Chew Valley in the North and Hollingworth Hall in the South. South of Walkerwood, the view sweeps towards Stalybridge, Dukinfield and Manchester, from Heyrod to Hough Hill opposite.
Buses:
- (Mottram) 236/237 (Stagecoach in Manchester) Glossop – Ashton/239 Ashton – Glossop (SpeedwellBus – infrequent service)/387 (First Pioneer) Ashton – Stalybridge – Hyde;
- (Stalybridge) 217/218 (Stagecoach Manchester) Manchester – Mossley Circular/343/344 (First Pioneer/JP Travel/SpeedwellBus) Oldham – Hyde/348 (First Pioneer) Ashton – Carrbrook/S48 Ashton – Carrbrook (SpeedwellBus);
- (Friezland and Greenfield) 343/344 (SpeedwellBus)/350 (First Manchester) Oldham – Mossley – Ashton/354 Ashton – Uppermill – Carrcote (Stotts/First Pioneer).
The 343 Bus Route: one would be wondering why a bus route should merit inclusion as one of my 10 Wonders of Greater Manchester. Its reasons are historical (the link dates from 1904), the scenery, and how its survived amid revisions, service cuts, closure threats and route changes. Since becoming a motorbus route in 1926, it remains the most direct route from Mossley and Stalybridge to Dukinfield to Hyde – linking all constituents of the former SHMD Joint Board. My first exposure to public transport, and long term interest stems from that very route, hence the time I’ve lavished on producing articles, Facebook pages, and a blog devoted to the route itself.
Buses: the 343 services calls at several main interchanges with more frequent routes like the 330 (Hyde), 346 (Dukinfield), 180/184 (Grotton) and the 409 (Oldham).
Marple Locks to Gee Cross: from the junction of the Macclesfield Canal and the Peak Forest Canal to the Goyt Aqueduct are Marple’s 16 locks. I first saw them in 1985 on a brief walk from the Navigation pub up to Compstall, where with my Dad we made use of the 389 route from Dukinfield. Two years after, along with my late Nana, we walked from the start of the 16 locks up to Hyde, continuing our journey on the 343 thereafter. The walk down combines the best of rural and industrial landscape. It includes excellent views from Goyt aqueduct over the River Goyt, Hydebank and Woodley tunnels, and a few good pubs off the towpath. I personally recommend finishing your walk at Hyde and calling in The Cheshire Ring for a pint of one of Beartown Brewery’s ales. Or five.
Buses:
- (Hyde) Hyde bus station is 5 – 10 minutes walk away from the Cheshire Ring/Manchester Road towpath with several buses from Ashton, Stockport, Dukinfield, Denton, Glossop and Manchester. 343 (First Pioneer/SpeedwellBus/JP Travel), 387/389 (First Pioneer) also serve Hyde from Stalybridge;
- (Woodley) 330 (Stagecoach Manchester) Ashton – Stockport/380 (Arriva North West) Stockport – Greave;
- (Marple) 383/384 (Stagecoach Manchester) Stockport – Marple Circular/394 (SpeedwellBus) Stepping Hill – Marple – Glossop/67 (Bowers) Stockport – Tideswell/358 (Stagecoach Manchester) Stockport – New Mills – Hayfield/375 (Stagecoach Manchester) Stockport – Marple – Mellor.
Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar: real ale aficionados the world over would be familiar with the Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar due to its unspoilt interior and variety of cask and bottled real ales. It’s also an excellent place for cheap food, including their famed black peas. Their Full English Breakfast is always worth trying, likewise their liver and onions. Unsurprisingly it is one of my regular haunts. There is also regular folk nights and quiz nights.
Buses: bus stop outside railway station forecourt, bus station 5 minutes walk away.
The Central Library, Manchester (temporarily closed for refurbishment): Vincent Harris’ rotunda is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. I have always found the Social Sciences room the most peaceful part of the library. In recent years, my writing group have availed themselves of the Committee Room facilities.
At this moment, the library is being refurbished with temporary facilities on Deansgate, opposite Spinningfields. I hope that the refit will work well. The refurbishment of the 1936 town hall extension next to the Central Library is long overdue.
Liverpool Road Station, Manchester Museum of Science and Industry: there is more to Liverpool Road station than the 1830 booking hall. The warehouses and the power hall makes this one of the best free museums outside London, and one of my favourites for over 25 years. I first visited MoSI when the Air and Space Museum attracted a separate admission charge, back in 1985. At the time, there was only the Power Hall, the station buildings, and the Air and Space Museum. Food came from a former buffet carriage, and subsequent museums for electricity, gas and water were less than five years away. Whilst MoSI is free for the permanent exhibitions, touring exhibitions attract a modest admission charge. Go to the permanent exhibitions before the ConDems force MoSI to impose admission fees!
Buses: Manchester city centre is well served by bus. The 33 (First Manchester) Wigan – Manchester service stops at Liverpool Road; Metroshuttle services stop nearby at Spinningfields.
Hartshead Pike, Ashton-under-Lyne: a short distance away from Mossley and Ashton-under-Lyne is a well known viewpoint once used as a beacon station. The current structure atop Hartshead Pike was built in 1863 and on a clear day, the counties of West Riding of Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire can be seen. To me, it’s also an indication that Mossley is only minutes away on the 350/S50 bus. The views are superb.
Buses: 350 (First Pioneer) Ashton – Mossley – Oldham/S50 (SpeedwellBus) Ashton – Mossley Hey Farm/217/218 (Stagecoach Manchester) Manchester – Mossley Circular.
Heaton Park, Prestwich: my final place was a more recent re-discovery, following a long gap since my first visit (Ewing School, March 1989). The year 2005 saw me rediscover Manchester’s finest open space, courtesy of the Trans-Lancs Vehicle Rally. As well as the sight of several buses and other restored vehicles, I reacquainted myself with the open gardens. The following year, I broke the duck of visiting the hall, after visiting the farm nearby. What I love about Heaton Park is how rural it is, despite being 5 miles away from Manchester city centre. I also like Wythenshawe Park for similar reasons. For me, it’s the boating lake and the restored trams from there to the Middleton Road entrance which swings it in favour of Heaton Park. Oh, and it is well served by bus and tram, which also sways it.
Buses: 135/137 (First Manchester) Manchester – Bury (Bury Old Road)/59 (First Manchester) Manchester – Oldham – Rushcroft.
Over to you
If you have any Wonders of Greater Manchester you would like to share, see my previous post if you wish to add your photo to One Manchester’s Facebook group. Alternatively, feel free to discuss them on here.
S.V., Saturday 11 September 2010.
Dunham Massey – lovely. Much as I consider the 5 to be my fave bus route in the country, I’d also cheerily recommend walking there from Altrincham, over the golf course and far away, or down the canal towpath.
I love the 5 route as well, though have only travelled up to Dunham Massey on that route. I’m going to have to do the walk from Altrincham myself in the near future.