History Snippets of Glossop 1986

Here a series of historical snippets describing Glossop life in 1986.



Shirehill Hospital
Shirehill Hospital was opened in the 1800's as a workhouse. It is now a long stay hospital for the elderly. It does not have a casualty Department. There are 8 large rooms and a few rooms where equipment is stored. Four of the rooms are bedrooms and four are day rooms. The women's rooms are on the bottom floor and the men's rooms are upstairs. There are 60 beds in the hospital and all are filled. All the rooms are fully decorated and carpeted to make the patients feel more at home. The patients may do basket making, sewing, knitting, play dominoes or just sit and talk. In the summer the patients can sit out on the verandah. They say it is just like being at home.


The patients at Shirehill Hospital get their first drink at 6.30am. They can get up anytime between 8am and 10am. Breakfast is served at 9am. The patients are expected to get dressed when they get up. At 11am they have another cup of tea and biscuits. Dinner is served at 12 noon and afterwards they can go over to the day centre where they can make baskets or do other activities. On Mondays a lady comes from the library and the patients can loan books. If they feel tired then the patients can go to bed. Those who are bedridden have their own radio and there are televisions in all wards. At 5.30pm tea is served and after the patients may stay up until about 11pm.


The Commercial Inn
The Commercial Inn is a public house in Old Glossop. It is a typical pub which has a games room with a pool table and a darts board. The pool and darts team play other pubs on saturday nights. There is also a domino's team. Upstairs there is a room for hire. It has a small dance floor and a bar. This costs about £25 for one night. The most popular drink is handpumped bitter,which is kept downstairs in the cellar. The pub also sells food,ranging from pizzas to fish fingers and chips. They also do a special childrens menu.All these meals are eaten in the dining room. They also have lots of activities to do with music,for instance they have a disco,live music, and organ playing


Old Glossop Sub Post Office
Old Glossop post office is a sub post office on Manor Park Road. It sells stamps, National Savings Certificates, Premium Bonds,and you can use the National Savings Bank. You can also buy T.V., car and dog licences. The shop also sells gift tokens,sweets and cards. One person works there and he is expected to be efficient in handling money.Approximately 350 pensions and 290 family allowances are paid out each week. Some people travel from Chunal, Hadfield and Old Glossop to use the post office. Thursday is the busiest day because of the pensioners. The next nearest post office is on Victoria Street,Glossop. The Post Office is considering closing many small sub post offices like this one. Two in the Glossop area were closed in 1984.


Glossop Carnival
Glossop Carnival is held on the first Saturday in July. The procession leaves Hadfield School about 1.30pm and goes down Newshaw Lane, then along the A57 through Glossop and finally up Manor Park Road ending in Old Glossop. There are about 40 floats, 6 troops of dancers and 4 bands, including Glossop Band, Tintwistle Band and the Girls Brigade. Each local village sends their May Queen and individuals can enter in fancy dress. The fancy dress entries and the floats are judged by the Mayor of High Peak. A float is a car or lorry decorated specially for the occasion. This year floats included Alice in Wonderland, Fiddler on the Roof, and Victory in Europe Day. The winning float was the Rocky Horror Show. People throw money onto the floats and this is given to local charities.


Glossop Water Supply
Glossop's main water source is the reservoirs. The reservoirs were built in this area because of the high rainfall of over 1,000 mm per year and the impermeable rock. There are two reservoirs, one called Hurst opened in 1961 and one called Swineshaw opened in 1972. Hurst Reservoir has an area of 13.5 acres and a capacity of 36,500,000 gallons. The depth of the water is 25 feet, and it is 588 feet above sea level.Hurst's treated water output is 1.749 mega-litres per day. Swineshaw Reservoir has an area of 21 acres, and a capacity of 56,300,000 gallons. The depth of the water is 34 feet,and it is 558.6 feet above sea level. It's output is 3.04 mega-litres per day.This area is part of the North West Water Authority.


Industry in Old Glossop
Union Carbide is an industrial plant which is located in Old Glossop . Forty one people are employed,most of these are men.The average age of the workers is roughly fifty years old, but the office staff are much younger. The present plant was opened in 1950 and is one of the most modern in Europe.The workers in the warehouse (the main building) all wear protective clothing. Union Carbide produces briquettes of different kinds. This is the only Union Carbide plant in England to make these. To make the briquettes chromium, silicon and manganese are needed. These raw materials are imported from Zimbabwe and Canada.

These and more can be found on various websites. Many have been collated on the reloaded Doomsday Book on the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-404000-393000/page/1

Complied By Matthew Cox

A Snapshot of Glossop North End's History

  Glossop North End Nets 10 -1 in Four Days

As Glossop North End enters its last preparations for the FA Vase Final vs North Shields to be played at Wembley on Saturday 9th May, I have taken some time in the archives to show some of the forgotten magic of GNE.

The following pieces are taken from a study I was involved in during the preparations Glossop North End's 125th Anniversary. 

In 1899 Glossop North End were fighting for promotion and as they entered the new year a string of wins were waiting for them.

  

“Glossop journeyed to Darwen in order to meet for the first time the wooden spoonists of the Second Division … without Gallacher and Colvin, the vacancies being filled by Sutcliffe and Sidebottom, the latter a promising reserve player.

Game a very interesting one … the Glossopians did their duty well. The wooden spoonists have two capable backs, whilst Lumsden found some strong opponents on his side of the field. I don’t think I have seem Williams save more effectively, whilst the forwards, although weakened by the absence of Gallacher and Colvin, played most creditably, Donaldson showing a real liking for the company of Whittaker, the Darwen goalkeeper. Sidebottom was brought into the team, and I must say he is the best of the locals – barring Sutcliffe … that have been tried this season.

Glossop North End - The End of Season 1898/99 

McEwen was partnered by Killean for the first part of the game, Rothwell changing places with the latter after an hour’s play. The captain by no means shaped badly in the front rank … personally I like to see him in the rear … he hasn’t quite enough greyhound for a forward. The halves were all right. The two great events of the week have been the severance of Pryce’s connection with the North End club and the suspension of Clifford for a fortnight.” Glossop-Dale Chronicle 3rd March 1899.

Glossop Football Card 1900

“Glossop North End have had a really good week, netting four points in the English League, and improving their goal average to the tune of ten goals to one … fourth in the table. The question seems to arise one more as to whether the team will reach a point sufficiently high in the table to ensure their entrance into the charmed circle of the First Division. It seems to one that Manchester City and Leicester Fosse have the best chance, and Glossop North End and Burslem will be the most dangerous opponents of the Midlanders.
The Gainsborough men gave the North Enders a good game in the first half, only two goals being scored, and the football in the second moiety was spoiled by the heavy downfall of snow. The Trinitarians tried hard, but they were no match at all for the Glossopians … The Glossop goalkeeper is to be complemented on the manner in which he saved the penalty kick … he advanced and turned the shot for a corner after it had scarcely left the kicker’s foot. McEwen was the better back, and the halves and forwards were all on their best behaviour, with the exception of Colvin, who was evidently suffering from the effects of his recent injuries, and was off form altogether.
On Tuesday the unfortunate Darwen team visited Glossop. Goalkeeper Whittaker failed to turn up and Woolfall took his place … The game was uninteresting … the visitors were only dangerous on three or four occasions ... Colvin was in better trim, and every man played well, though they let their opponents down more lightly than they might have done.”
Glossop-Dale Chronicle 10th March 1899.

Many thanks again to the club & members for permission to use this content. Copyright Belongs to Glossop North End AFC. 


Complied by Matthew Cox - I wish all the club, players management & officials a huge congratulations on their achievements already this season by winning the double of the league & the league cup & the very best for Saturday. VIVA GNE! - It is in no doubt that this season is the best and I mean the very best in living history. To be a part of it was hugely exciting both as a supporter, fan and historian alike. 

From the words of my Dad "Win or Lose Have A Booze!" - FA Vase Final 2009

You can find me on Twitter @Matthew_R_Cox or @GlossopTours

Glossop North End AFC - Samuel Hill-Wood

The Legends of Football - Part One - Lost Heroes, Treasured Pride by Matthew Cox

Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, born on 21 March 1872 the son of Samuel Wood and Anne Kershaw Sidebottom, lived a long and prosperous, public life.

From early childhood Samuel Hill-Wood known locally as “Sammy” showed an unbelievable understanding of his family’s cotton business and how it was constructed and managed. Inspired by his father and grandfather to continue the business he was sent to be educated at Eton College. It was here where Sammy first acquired his obsession with sport. On returning from College, Sammy was fascinated to hear that Glossop had set up their own football club (Glossop North End) and that some of his father’s employees were involved. In response he organised a team representing his fathers company named Howardtown F.C. He played alongside employees in local leagues which consisted of teams from butchers, victuallers and rival mills. As the football game grew nationally, Howardtown F.C was not enough for Sammy and he began talks with other clubs. It was around this time rumours began saying that Samuel Hill Wood wanted to “buy” a football club.

Sir Samuel Hill-Wood in 1928

In April 1888 his father, Samuel Wood died aged 69; with this Sammy inherited his fathers business at Howardtown mills, life savings and reputation. This gave him the incentive to carry out his ambition to create a high class football club. Sammy delivered his proposal to the founders of Glossop North End and it was accepted almost immediately. He hand selected a small team of men that consisted of a secretary, two trainers and a scout.  This “Scout” travelled the land observing the top teams of the time such as Manchester City and Preston North End for the perfect players. Sammy expressed in a telegram that, “money is the key “; a quote that still applies today. Sammy also pulled some strings in his cricket line of work, persuading fellow cricketers to come and play for him. By 1890 Glossop North End were playing in the North Cheshire League and things were looking good.

In the early 1800s the game of football was used as tool to encourage young men to go to church and to maintain a “team” spirit on the day of rest. However by the late 1800s the sport had developed not only into a national game but an entertaining enterprise. Samuel Hill Wood had spotted not only an opportunity for investment, but also advertisement on a national scale. When Sammy turned 22 he injected a huge sum of money into the club, big enough in fact to start paying wages and turned the club professional. 

This same year also saw Sammy make his debut in cricket playing for the Derbyshire County first team.  Glossop North End were making national headlines when they entered the Second Division of the Football league.

Sammy loved the attention he and the club were getting so much so he boosted the club yet again with another financial push. 

This gave them the edge they needed drafting in some of the best players from teams from all over the land and even overseas. Building in confidence the team began to draw in huge crowds which brought the money rolling in. This could be seen when Glossop North End played local rivals Manchester City at North Road. Just over 7,000 were in attendance to see City win in a narrow victory over Glossop of 2-1. From this one match they had taken £150.18s.4d on the turnstiles alone

Glossop North End - The team who won promotion in 1899

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There was a huge uproar not just nationally but worldwide when Glossop North End made it into top flight football. In 1899 the nation stared in disbelief that a small town deep within the hills were battling it out on the pitch with some of the nation’s top teams from some of the wealthy cities. This could not have been possible without Samuel Hill Woods astounding insight, a true pioneer of sport. Sammy continued to work closely with the club even taking them to a F.A Cup Quarter Final in 1909.

In 1910 Sammy began a new career as a conservative MP for the High Peak. In 1913 he was involved in top secret government plans and had an early insight of what would unfold to be the Great War. So with that in hand he returned to Glossop and began to sell his shares in the club. But the influences of Sammy remained in Glossop as the "Hillmen” or “Wood’s Men” began their battle in the F.A Cup 1913. Even with Sammy gone from the club, the reputation remained as a record of 10,736 people flocked to see Preston North End at North Road for the F.A Cup 2^nd Round game.

Throughout the years to this day the legend of Sir Samuel Hill-Wood remains. As we celebrate entering the Final at Wembley of the FA Vase, the “Hillsmen” are a distinct reminder of that great pioneer. Just think Sammy had his own football club at the age of 18 and in the space of 14 years his club, Glossop was and still is to this day the smallest town in England ever to have a team grace the top flight football league.

By Matthew Cox 

Follow me on Twitter: @Matthew_R_Cox    or    @ GlossopTours  for more updates about this historic club.

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

Help Please

This week I have been flooded with lots of questions from regular readers, who have been asking for my help. I have managed to solve and answer most of them but I have hit a brick wall with some of the others. I would like to ask you if you have heard or know the history of some these places.

First, there is a building on the corner of Arundel Street and Edward Street opposite the Friendship pub in Glossop. So far I have discovered it was used by the Salvation Army up until the 1950s when it was then used as a Scout Hut. It is still called the scout hut today although it is now used as a private workshop but what was it before the Salvation Army used it? The building on the corner clearly looks like it was a shop. Do you know?

Electric Palace 1950s

I have another question for you. The Electric Palace stood on George Street, where the Medical Centre is today. It was the 1st purpose built cinema in Glossop but it only ever showed silent films. It opened its doors in 1921 until 1931. The building remained standing until 1958 but what was there before it became a cinema? I have been told it may have been Braddock’s Roller Skating Rink around 1909, but was it? If it was a skating rink, it would have been a real novelty at that time. Do you know?

If you know anything about the Old Scout Hut or the Braddock’s Roller Skating Rink or have a history question yourself? Contact me on:

Email: glossoptours@live.co.uk

Twitter : glossoptours

www.glossoptours.co.uk