Our History Is Being Rewritten | Glossop History

Our History is Being Written - But Do We Have a Chance to Shape It? 

I finally have an opportunity to sit a write through what can only be said as underrepresented times. I have been involved heavily with my other line of work which is assisting with end of life care and bereavement specialist. The world is changing and our social tendencies are changing forever. It might no be obvious from a closed door, or is it. the way we communicate strives of modern technologies, phones, iPads and computers. It is the way we react to other human being when we venture out, for those who seek their government guided walk or exercise. If you know your neighbor or the person you see the Glossop (Northern) way of greeting is an sincere hello and a smile. A resounding reassurance of our fellow neighbor has reignited the community spirit and is changing life forever.

We are reevaluating all aspects of life including, relationships, work, travel and most of all food. Many have taken the opportunity to use local produce, sellers and providers. I hope it will continue long after the storm but its not just that, its how we cook, the ingredients we use, how much and how we store them where the vast adjustments are being made. In the beginning of the outbreak people were hording or panic buying toilet rolls, hand wash and pasta. Along with tins and alcohol (where it was told it would kill the virus along with long lasting food, dried, tins and frozen. Some have gone back to having milk delivered along with bread and companies helping deliver hot meals and addition support to our most vulnerable. It its fantastic to see community groups strategically managing other organisations to help the most in need. The Bureau is doing just that, the headquarters of local operations. It sparks great reminisces of four local gents who I had the pleasure to work with who spoke proudly of being in the Home Guard in Glossop. I they let me document their stories and they were fantastic and I hope to transcribe them to share them with you soon. In addition I will be updating the website as I have been recording mini documentaries for you while you are staying safe at home at will be aired next week.

Some of the other stories they shared were of different training and preparation exercises, call outs and funny mishaps. They have shared some documents with me along with a small box of personal diary's which will take some reading as there is several of them. A document from the evacuation procedures in the town and a permit for a bike is among the items. Glossop was at the epicentre of both world wars because of its vast production power, range of equipment and techniques.

A part of history is repeating itself. The government announced within one of its daily televised updates for manufactures of all kinds to swap to making urgently needed supplies such as asking breweries for alcohol gel and others to make masks, face shields and ventilators. As part of one of my talks and guided tours I share the story of the admiralty walking through the large mills of Glossop and preparing just over 20 different war supplies. There is a fantastic picture in an archive in Cornwall (don't ask me how it got there) of just that. The powers that be stood for a very formal image of the secret war effort in Glossop. Join me on my mini documentaries to see more of this in more detail.

Now we do not hold the power of that but we do still hold the strongest of weapons, our community. So continue to do your bit and Stay at Home. This is our fight, the biggest fight of our generation. I will be continuing to care for our individuals and families that need support more than ever. It was pleasing to see carers from all walks of social care be recognised in tonight's briefing. To all my colleagues, clients, friends who risk their lives for the sake of others, take care and thank you for what you do so well.

On this day at the time of print 11.55pm Captain Tom Moore's 100th Birthday Walk for the NHS
He wanted to raise £1000 for the NHS for is 100th Birthday - Time of print 10.4 Million Great British Pounds had been donated, We as a family have contributed. Well Done Captain!




If you would like to see more see Website: glossoptours.co.uk
Mini Documentations and Tours from April 18th   Be Well Youtube Channel  https://tinyurl.com/u4zefol

A Brief History of The Oakwood, Glossop

The Oakwood public house sits proudly on the corner of High Street West and George Street in Glossop. There has been a building on this site since 1844. The original inn was owned by George Pye and remained in his family till 1875, when it was sold to John Gardener Sykes who had it demolished.  The original Public House was named The Surrey Arms, in connection to the Lord Howard’s family relations. However, it was know locally as “The Big Surrey” to distinguish between the other Surrey pub on Victoria Street. Mr Sykes made plans to build a guest house or hotel on the site.

The building work began on the plans to build a “Grand Style” hotel in 1878. In local papers in November in the same year is said that “A large and handsome hotel to the cost of £6000 is to be erected on the site of the present Surrey Arms with work in progress”. The building had many rooms for guests as well as a hall and billiard rooms upstairs. It possessed a spire with a flag pole that was eventually removed in the 1940s but can be seen on the 1910 tram footage of Glossop featured on the Times Past DVD from the Glossop Heritage Trust.

Eventually in 1901 it was bought by Robinsons Brewery and it remains with the same brewery to this day.  It had a major renovation in 1991 where it uncovered the original oak panelling on the first floor. Robinsons renamed the pub The Oakwood in relation to their findings. In more recent times it has undergone more renovations, however it still possess the fantastic glass windows that advertise the billiard rooms and Burton Mild and Bitter Ales. It also has a castle carved into its stonework but can you find it?

The Oakwood still uses the hall upstairs for music, concerts and theatre performances. So next time you are in town, take a look for yourself at Glossopdale’s fantastic history.

A huge overhaul has just taken place bringing the public house right up to date but with plenty of historic charm. A big highlight of the High Street today.

www.glossoptours.moonfruit.com

Matthew Cox

Samuel Hill-Wood of Glossop: The All-Round Sportsman

An All-Round Sportsman Puts Racing On The Map

Heavy Weapon

Samuel Hill-Wood was a true lover of sport he not only triumphed in football and cricket but in greyhound racing too. This is a portrait of Samuel’s successful coursing Greyhound, Heavy Weapon. He was born in 1905 sired by the winning dog, Wartnaby, who sired a number of useful coursing dogs, out of Garbitas. He was the great-grandson of one of Colonel North’s famous Greyhounds, Young Fullerton, who was the same way bred as the legendary Fullerton, arguably the greatest Greyhound of all time, winning three Waterloo Cups and dividing once in five visits to Altcar.

Heavy Weapon was owned by Samuel the all-sports man, after leaving Glossop North End he captained the Derbyshire cricket team for three seasons and became chairman of Arsenal Football Club in 1929. He was also passionate about coursing but in some quarters was apparently not a popular owner. In 1913 he was considered a ‘parvenu’ by the Stud book correspondent as he had owned dogs for only 11 years!

Heavy Weapon was declared the winner of the Waterloo Cup in 1910 running in the final against J W Fullerton’s Full Stream who was drawn distressed. He also proved very useful as a stud dog siring. He was owned by Edward (later Sir) Hulton, who set up the first picture library.

Hill-Wood won the Waterloo Cup again in 1913 with "Hung Well". His dogs were trained by Denny Smith, who trained more winners than anyone apart from Harold Wright.

Benacre Cup

Heavy Weapon’s portrait was painted by Wright Barker (1864-1941) in circa 1911. A painter of large hunting and sporting scenes, animals and rural landscapes that often featured cattle, he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists.

In Addition to his Waterloo Cup success, Heavy Weapon also won the 15ct gold Benacre Cup in 1909. The portrait achieve £12,500 in auction two years ago along with Benacre Cup which was also sold for a sum of £11,400. The items went to auction after being passed on by a decadent of Samuel Hill-Wood and some of the proceeds went to the retired greyhound charity.

By Matthew Cox    Check out glossoptours.moonfruit.com

Glossop Street Parties

As the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee draws near people are preparing to celebrate. This year there is a whole variety of events to mark the occasion including the lighting of huge beacons right around the country. However, here in Glossop we have kept with the tradition of street parties. Surely no one can resist a party? A chance to have drink, relax and spend some time with friends and family.
The tradition of street parties as we now know as residential events that take place in their own streets seem to have taken off on a large scale in 1919. They were held in July as 'Peace Teas' as a genuine celebration of the signing of the Versailles peace treaty after the First World War. They were tea parties that were focused on a special treat for children in those times of hardship and were quite formal sit down affairs.

These residents led street parties were a popular mass participation and were probably a development of more formal public street dinners that had historically been held, such as for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Then after the Second World War the entire county went street party mad. The craze continued with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second. Street parties have been seen on many occasions since such as the Golden Jubilee and the Royal Wedding last year.

At the end of this month there will be small exhibition in the Glossop Railway Station depicting 60 years of Glossop past and present. There will also be a celebration walk on the 26th May and on the 9th June.

I am looking for photographs of Glossop street parties over the years. It would be great if we could find one from 1953 Coronation.

If you would like to share your photographs memories then please get in touch.