Whatever Happened to Pyramid Park?

Who remembers Pyramid Park, Bury’s homage to The Valley of the Kings?

1970 was a far from joyous year for some of British Rail’s passengers. The last of The Reshaping of British Railways closures were under way. In Greater Manchester and Derbyshire, on the 04 January, this affected the service from Manchester Piccadilly to Hayfield. Passenger services between Hadfield and Penistone – on the Woodhead line – ceased operation.

In the spring of 1970, SELNEC launched the Trans-Lancs Express bus route from Bolton to Stockport. Between Bolton and Rochdale it followed the railway line via Radcliffe and Heywood. This closed later that year and led to the introduction of additional part route journeys along the Trans-Lancs Express.

(We Need to Talk About) Piccadilly Gardens

Or rather, why we cannot see flowers in the rain

If you look at Norman Ainsworth’s cine film clip from 1960, this is close to the Piccadilly Gardens I remember. Look at the shoppers taking time out from Pauldens, the shops on Oldham Street, or between buses. As you can see, it was a proper green lung in the centre of Manchester. In my formative years, I remember riding on a donkey named Prince. Its sunken gardens and floral displays offered respite from the diesel fumes. There was even public toilets (a rarity these days).