Down To The Park: Walkden Gardens, Sale

The start of a new series that looks at Greater Manchester’s parks and gardens

At this moment in time, this pandemic is (hopefully) coming to an end. We are still encouraged to practice social distancing and try not to use public transport for non-essential travel. The message of “Hands, Faces, Space, and Fresh Air” and the lighter nights make trips to the park most favourable.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 19 April 2020

A look at the more lasting changes that will affect Oldham and Saddleworth bus passengers

Though Oldham and Saddleworth passengers weren’t as badly affected by MCT Travel’s demise as those in Tameside, there are still a few significant changes. At the sharpest end of these changes will be Royton passengers, particularly with the 402 and 412 routes.

It is also worth noting that the following changes will be effective from the 19 April, in spite of lockdown. Therefore temporary timetables will be in operation, even with newly tendered routes.

An Absolute Beginners’ Architectural Guide to Oldham Cotton Mills

A potted guide for beginners about a dwindling part of Oldham’s landscape

Ever since my formative years, the cotton mills in Oldham and Tameside have been a source of fascination for me. What piqued my interest was the sheer size of the buildings. Also how the early cotton mill architects predated Mies van der Rohr in building such vast structures for commercial usage.

The Road Least Travelled: The Chadderton to Shaw Circular Route

Is this Greater Manchester’s most obscure bus route?

If you mention the 22 in relation to Greater Manchester bus routes, the first one that springs to mind is the long withdrawn route from Bolton to Stockport. The one that has been split at the intu Trafford Centre of late, renumbered 2 and 25.

Today, there is only one 22 route in Greater Manchester with a decent frequency. A service from Ashton-in-Makerfield to Warrington with an evening extension to Wigan. Did you know that Greater Manchester has a second 22 route?

Bury and Rochdale Bus Service Changes, 27 October 2019

Special Report: Transdev’s radical renumbering of local buses in Bury and Rochdale

• Bury and Rochdale local services renumbered;
• Plus tweaks to other bus routes in Rochdale and Bury.

For the first time in East of the M60‘s existence, we shall be looking at the service changes affecting Bury and Rochdale passengers. As many of our blog’s regular readers are based in Oldham and Tameside, we mainly focus on bus services in those two areas. Owing to the scale of the service changes in Bury and Rochdale, they are worthy of acknowledgement due to the ramifications this may have on Greater Manchester’s bus network.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 27 October 2019

Saddleworth at sharp end of First service cuts

• Triple whammy of cuts for 180 route;
• 184 becomes Oldham – Huddersfield route with Sunday extension to Manchester;
• 425 route split and cut back.

Have First Greater Manchester saved its most severe service cuts for Halloween? If you live in Greenfield, get County Cars’ number added to your mobile phone quickly.

You Know You’ve Spent Too Long in Oldham If…

A wry look at the joys of East of the M60‘s other immediate locality

Before local government reorganisation in 1974, Oldham was large enough to warrant its own County Borough. On the 01 April 1974, this was superseded by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, taking in part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and a few Urban District Councils. This included municipalities in Royton, Chadderton and Failsworth.

Go Cheapway… to Royton

A look at the small town along the 409 bus route

In Transition: though of a compact size, Royton town centre has a lot to offer. Image by Jeremy Sutcliffe (Creative Commons License – Some Rights Reserved).

The last five years have seen some upheaval for Royton. Some of which has been consistent with many small towns throughout the UK: bank closures, pub closures, and the rise of online shopping. Since 2012, issues of a Roytonian nature have affected the town’s shopping centre.

Enviro 400s Reach 409 Route

In pictures: First Greater Manchester’s latest addition and review

Prior to disbandment in 1969, Manchester Corporation tried most of their innovations (trams, tram replacement and one man operation) on the 53 route. It was claimed that ‘if it worked on the 53, it would work anywhere else’ within the Manchester Corporation boundaries. Over the last 16 years, First Greater Manchester has had a similar maxim with the 409 route from Ashton to Oldham and Rochdale. This February saw the route as its guinea pig for their new livery.

Go Cheapway… to Tandle Hill

‘Open my eyes and look around/Colours and concepts I confound…’*

As Tandle Hill was a favoured meeting place for Radicals and Socialists, Beech trees were planted to stop future meetings, leaving us this lovely woodland. Suffice to say, I am none too happy as to why they planted the trees in the first place, but then again…

The idyllic woodland of Tandle Hill Park belies its footnote in labour history. Up to the Peterloo Massacre, it was a meeting place for Radicals and reputed to used for drilling and practicing up to the 16 August 1819. Following on from the events which led to the Great Reform Act and other progressive legislation, it became a private game reserve of the Thornham Estate, who also planted the Beech trees.