http://mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog Mike Kiernan's Local and General History Site: Blog Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:23:02 -0600 http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=9e9eee192ea054b9db661b93ee8e5a69_4aee2666 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:23:02 -0600 The book I have done about Joseph Higginson will be available soon from St. Mary's Heritage, in Stockport Market Place. Unfortunately they do not have a direct phone number, but if you live some distance away by all means contact me at mike.kiernan@ntlworld.com and I can arrange to get a copy to you. I have also suggested his name be put forward for the Blue Plaque Scheme, for his contribution to the development of Reddish Village. http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=1028c48a5a2f7076a9e80a9b5b044bed_4ae5eb4c Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:32:44 -0500 One of the 'leg-pulls' I have with the good lady wife, Iris, is when I say to her "You know Every Street in Manchester!" She comes from Manchester anyway and would be familiar with the place. Of course the joke is that there is an 'Every Street' in Manchester, it's in Ancoats! She kept threatening to take me into Manchester to see the John Rylands Library, and today we did just that. It is quite surprising though how little I know about Manchester. Of course I know it is an historic city, bathing in the glory of its one time prosperity. These days, once beautiful ornate buildings are looking decidedly shoddy, with rotting window frames and doors where the paint has long since peeled off even to the bare wood. The John Rylands did not disappoint though, with its vast collection of books, some so rare that they cannot be read perhaps. Then there was Lincoln Square, where there is a statue of Abraham Lincoln. The American Civil War caused great hardship to our local towns because of the cotton famine. The blockade of cotton from the southern states meant much unemployment and suffering. But at the time, friendships were formed with Lincoln and his government because of it. Lincoln corresponded with local people and great links were forged with the American nation. These are things you discover when you visit a place and it shows you how little you know. Finding out is great. http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=c835733a9298e9d3d2347e9f4374b306_4abaade9 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:23:21 -0500 Today two kids came into the Houldsworth Pub, to use the toilet. They were carrying skateboards. They went out, and I thought that here was an opportunity to engage with them. Unfortuately, by the time I went outside, they were high-tailing it down the street. Later though, they came back, and I went over and suggested that maybe they should have a skate park, and I gave them the e- mail address of a local councillor who may be able to help. I also suggested that they should design a skate park themselves, and submit the designs to the Council. These kids need something like that, and I know that there are designs on paper for the improvement of South Reddish Park, on Reddish Road; Why not include a skate park ? after all, it is now, along with BMX, a recognised Olympic sport, if I'm not mistaken. If you are a skateboarder, or a BMX freak, get into your local councillor's ribs or your MP, and demand a skatepark/BMX park ! These kids are our future. We should not deny them that freedom of expression that we had in our day, so long as it promotes a sense of responsibilty to our society. We of our generation, forget the foolishness of our day, and condemn the foolishness of future generations, without trying to understand where they are coming from. Only by engaging with them can we do that ! Think about it. http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=57b8f714086e9f53dc0df76cb77a7ffd_4aaadf43 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:37:39 -0500 Well, one of the things I want to do is get myself together a 'Fred Dibnah' kit! I have the flat cap and glasses, but what I needed was a jacket and a pocket watch. Just today, I got the latter, a pocket watch off a market stall, for the princely sum of six quid! But the thing is, it looks the part. So now, all I need is the jacket and a stripy shirt, and my journey to the dark side will be complete! Ooops, sorry, that was a Star Wars quote. But seriously, It would be nice to keep alive Fred's memory, but at the same time, to try and promote the history and heritage of our own town. I can think of no better way than using any latent talents I may have for the betterment of our town of Stockport.There are members of Stockport Heritage Trust who do exactly that, sometimes dressing in period costumes. One of them, John Bardsley, who covers the local history of Romiley, dresses as 'Mr Pickwick' and he looks every bit the part! at such functions as the Chadkirk Festival. And the men of the 'Roman Army' who attend every year, go to great pains with their authenticity. I hope I can do the same. I am proud of them. http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=635539aa1b5c894bfb4c1a7528f4cffe_4aa43bb5 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:46:13 -0500 Yesterday, I went to St. Andrew's Church, on Hall Street, where the Stockport Heritage Trust were celebrating their Tenth Anniversary, in St. Mary's. I am proud to be associated with the group, and will do what I can to support it in my own limited way. It is not just about ancient history, although that is important enough, but the fact that the vast majority of good people in Stockport need to feel that their lives have counted for something. There have been a lot of changes in our town, and not always for the good, but changes nevertheless, and people have had to deal with them. We, who are called 'local historians', are interested in those changes, and are often on hand to record them. I personally do not regard myself as a 'local historian', because the term implies that you are some kind of expert, which I am not. As far as I am aware, there is not, in fact, any formal qualification in local history, but maybe there should be. But who would teach us about our history? No, maybe it is best left in the hands of those who genuinely care about our town, and the various districts and villages which make it up, both for the past, and for the future. Members of the Trust give of their free time, because they recognise that the history and heritage of our town is important, and in a sense, they are helping to promote our town through their efforts. For people who are looking for old school photographs, for example, there is a vast collection, and pictures from the past of how an area, or a village used to look, it's all there, although you might not always find what you are looking for. And if you have such photographs, why not donate them, either to keep, or be copied? Here's to the next ten years, and the next! http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=d73dee9ceb5916f5618dd8a25b8d41cc_4aa2f322 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:24:18 -0500 Who cares about our town, Stockport? I for one do, but a dedicated bunch of people do also. Ten years ago, they were given two rooms in St. Mary's Church, in the Market place, and they turned it into a 'Heritage Centre'. In that time, they have amassed a vast collection, not of museum pieces, but photographs, and other memorabelia, of the past of our historic town. When people visit our town, sometimes they are looking at the history of it. Museums may contain artefacts and relics from the past, but can tell you little about the way the town developed. The Heritage Centre is unique, in that there are people who give their free time to do things which explain our history, and they do it, because they are interested in it, and not to gain financial reward from it. The Heritage Centre has photographs from Stockport's past, as well as themed displays, the current one being, for example, the breakout of World War Two, seventy years ago. Go and see it! http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=0ec193172922495fad40abf6c766dea3_4a95c1ce Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:14:22 -0500 Today, Thomas(my son)and I went to the Foxfield Railway, near Stoke On Trent. Originally an old mine railway, it is run by enthusiasts, and is well worth a visit. There is a ride on a train for a couple of miles, and there are engines to be seen, some of which have been rescued from the scrapyard and restored to fully working order. There is a cafe, with a good selection of food, (I had the oatcake with cheese and mushrooms - delicious ! with a cappuchino. Ok, I could have just had a cup of railway tea, but these are modern times ! Go, and visit, and help support this preserved railway, because it is well worth it ! http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=1628f4e59b6fadccc2dc83426eb4e6f3_4a89e369 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:10:33 -0500 Perhaps there are people out there who don't know, I write, on occasion, for the Stockport Heritage Magazine. Contributors are not paid, but many send in interesting articles about the history of the town.I had two articles published in the last edition, and I have had others in earlier ones. I have just done two for the next, which people may find interesting. Our past is important. Those who lived through certain times need to recount their experiences. History is not just about the Saxons and the Normans, or the Romans, important as those things may be. But the ordinary people, who were a part of the development of our town, they are important too. People who worked in the cotton mills, or in places where the cotton industry had gone, to be replaced by other kinds of employment, such as the John Myers Catalogue Firm, which was in Houldsworth Mill. They come and go, but Reddish survives! Their stories need to be told, and if anyone has a story to tell, I would be happy to talk to them. Lets Stand Up For Reddish-Our Village. We are important! http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=dfc92cfeea705eb05eae9aa12cf1571e_4a8348e4 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:57:40 -0500 If anyone has the current edition of the Stockport and District Heritage Magazine, there are two articles which I submitted. The one which mentions the cottages built by Robert Hyde Greg for his workers, shows a picture which is of those on Broadstone Hall Road, where the Little Shop Cafe is. These are opposite Spur Mill, and are not, as far as I am aware, ones built for Greg. The correct row of cottages is further down Greg Street towards the Stockport end, on the corner of Hibbert Street. The mill stood just behind these, next to the canal. http://www.mikeslocalhistory.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=9f327681c798073b7c0fa1cbb0250630_4a81ff5e Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:31:42 -0500 The latest copy of the Stockport Heritage Magazine has two articles by me. One is about the way the old pubs in Stockport have been converted to 'open plan' and the other is about the fine houses which used to exist in South Reddish, some of which are long gone, but some which have been converted to other uses. I hope people enjoy these articles, but also, I am working on two others for the next edition, one about the vast railway infrastructure which existed in the Heaton Mersey area in the past, and another which I am still working on, about the flood markers in Stockport at various places, which can still be seen if you know where to look. I may eventually put something about that subject on the web site, In the meantime, keep buying the mag, despite the rise in price, it is still cheap and is a major source of information about the past history and heritage of our town, and people who contribute to it do so of their own free will, without thought of reward, because it is something they are interested in, and I am one of them. Regards to everyone. - Mike