Glossop 1912

We are continuing into 1912....

At the heart of some of the world’s most devastating events, shocking incidents and even the greatest achievements, are the people from Glossop in the year of 1912. Over the coming weeks I will reveal a whole host of staggering facts, stories, eyewitness accounts, and sporting achievements that took place over one hundred years ago.

I would like to first turn to one of the oldest parts of the original village of Glossop. The stone shaft that makes up the main frame of the Old Cross has stood the test of time. It thought to have been placed here around 1157 when the parish of Glossop was granted to hold a court, a fair and a market around the stone cross. Over the centuries it became custom to announce the new kings and queens and other important messages from the cross, after all it was the centre of the town. It was not until the early 1800s when the cotton industry began to develop further down the river when plans were put in place to pursue a new town centre. It was when the new complex at Howardtown was built in 1838 when things really began to change. Over the next few years it was clear the offices and court room along with the fast development of the new cotton mills, Howardtown, by far superseded the original part of the town. Glossop was granted a borough in 1866 and people began to regard Howardtown as the centre of Glossop.

In 1910 it was moved to where it stands today

The Old Cross never bore the Celtic stone cap to begin with. 1910 saw the reign of George V which was announced at the cross like the many Monarchs before him. The officials of the Borough of Glossop wanted to place a cap on the stone cross not only to mark the coronation of the king but to symbolise the unity of faiths. The cross was moved from its previous position as it was tight against the house behind, to where it stands today. The Celtic cross was finally placed on top of the ancient cross in 1912.

The Old Cross in Old Glossop

Olympic Games 2016 - Throwback Football Heroes 1912

Throwback Football Heroes 1912

The country is making final preparations for one of the greatest sporting events, the Olympic Games.  As the last adjustments are being made in Brazil, however, preparations around the country are taking place in order to select the British Olympic Team.

One hundred and four years ago the Olympic Games in 1912 were to be held in Stockholm and in April that year the British Team were to be selected. At that time the sportsmen who were selected were mostly amateur and unpaid, never the less they were the very best of their field.

Glossop has always been highly active in sport over the years and 1912 was no different. April 8^th saw Glossop FC (formally Glossop North End) grab a vital point against Grimsby Town as Glossop battled against relegation in the Second Division.

Towards the end of the season, two men attend a match at North Road to observe the team. It is believed they were “tipped off” maybe by a current or ex player of Glossop that the team had obtained some “legend” players. Olympic records show that one of the men was Terry Graham, a man who worked for the British Olympic team as a sort of scout.  No one knows for sure but it is likely that the “tip off” came from Samuel Hill-Wood himself as he still owned the club although he was no longer manager. He was in London most of the time, as he was standing for MP for the High Peak.

By the end of the season Glossop FC just managed to scrape out of the relegation zone by goal difference. Immediately after the season had finish the British Olympic Football Team was announced and on the team sheet were players from Glossop Football Club.  Stockholm 1912 saw many great achievements let’s hope Team GB can do the same this year.

 By Matthew Cox

To Be Continued…

History of Glossop's Paths & Roads - Grab Alley

History of Glossop's Paths & Roads 

Part One - Grab Alley

There are many alleys and hidden roads in Glossop that people forget about these days, unless you are a Glossopian.  You will find that many of these alleys are public footpaths and can prove a great asset in order to get you from A to B in a very short amount of time.

One notorious Glossop alley is barely visible today yet many people use it without realising it. There is very little left of the original walkway which has now been replaced with a pedestrian crossing on the car park of Tesco in Glossop. The original walkway ran the full course of the new crossings today from the river on High Street West up towards the supermarket entrance.

The original path connected the lower part of High Street West, up towards North Road for easy access from the Wrens Nest Mills. It also connected with paths to Glossop, Whitfield & Simmondley used mostly by employees to and from home. The pathway was continuously used down the years as it became a handy access to the football at North Road and cricket matches which were played there. It was also a great link between The Hanging Gate Pub (now demolished) and the new Glossop North End football ground on Surrey Street when they moved in 1955.

This walkway was nicked named “Grab Alley” as young ladies who used this footpath were at risk of being “grabbed” by the young men of the town. It was also known for pickpockets to work this part of town.  The path was enclosed by a high wall either side that was topped with triangular capping stones. The original iron bridge matched the height of the wall but was badly damaged by the Whit Monday floods in 1944.  The house which stood next to the footpath, collapsed due to the damage by the flood.  The woman who lived in the house went to look at the damage from the bridge but it gave way into the water and she was swept away by the strong current. Her body was found in the River Etherow at Compstall the following day.


Today the same walkway is used by hundreds of people everyday as it is part of the Tesco Stores part of the pedestrian crossings but to many locals it will always be known as Grab Alley.

By Matthew Cox 

www.glossoptours.co.uk

A History of Dinting Station

A History of Glossop Railway Line & Beyond..

Part 3 of 6 - Dinting Station - "Rich Past, Present & Future"

The first train to arrive at Dinting Station was on 24^th December 1842. In the early days of travel the line from Manchester to Sheffield terminated at Dinting, however, in those days the station was in fact called Glossop. Then the traveller would then have to board a coach and horses for the remainder of the way which made the total travel time about 5 hours.


On the 9^th June 1845 the one mile branch to Glossop opened for goods traffic but because it was built by the 13^th Duke of Norfolk it did not have to obtain an Act of Parliament. The former “Glossop” station became known as Dinting. The first station was a wooden structure until it was replaced by a permanent building in 1847. Another outer building was created and was known at “Glossop Junction” as well as an ornate engine shed. A coaling stage was created and a series of goods yards and shunting bays leading to Mottram Yard.

On 18th September 1855 a train stopped short of the platform. Not realising that they were still on the viaduct three passengers left the train and fell to their deaths.
In 1884 new facilities were built on the triangular junction they included ample accommodation, the Station Masters house, first and second class waiting rooms and even a home for the Permanent Way Inspector.  

Dinting Station was given a new lease of life in 1967 in the form of The Bahamas Locomotive Society a working steam engine museum that attracted thousands of people. The museum also attracted world famous engines such as the Blue Peter and Mallard. The Museum out grew Dinting and move to Yorkshire in 1991.

A couple of years ago Friends of Dinting Station was created to preserve and maintain Dinting Railway Station’s rich past.

By Matthew Cox

Check Out More Glossop History

A History of Glossop, Manchester & The Woodhead Railway Line

A History of Glossop Railway Line & Beyond...

A History of Glossop, Manchester & The Woodhead Railway Line

Part 2 of 6 - Glossop -"The Link to Foreign Lands"

The Glossop branch was built by the 13^th Duke of Norfolk when the historic Manchester to Sheffield line bypassed the town in 1845. The Duke gave his land and paid all the expenses for the one mile extension from Dinting Vale to Glossop. The initial station was complete with a private waiting room with a fire place and a small room for the station master, porters and other staff. Glossop station was initially for the sole use of the Duke of Norfolk when he resided during the summer months at his manor house, Glossop Hall. 

Glossop Central opened for goods traffic on 9^th June passenger traffic began on 30^th June 1845.

Glossop station provided a direct link to the outside world, as there was only one stage coach that ventured out of the town a week to Manchester and Sheffield before the railway was built. The Duke welcomed new shipments of coal, slate & wood. He saw the potential for growth and commissioned a goods depot and yard adjacent to Glossop Central in 1847. The goods yard was complete with the Lord Howards Lion, which still stands to this day, a reminder the Duke freely gave his land and money.

The railway was responsible for the rapid growth of the town, throughout the late 1800s. Over 50 mills scattered the valley dependant on a variety of shipments such as cotton from America and timber from Scandinavia.  The Duke of Norfolk sold the line and gained double profit to what would become the Great Central Railway.

The station was renamed on 10^th July 1922 as Glossop Central.

Glossop Central expanded the passenger section of the station opening a booking office in 1847 and a waiting room for the 1^st and 2^nd Classes. The station also had refurbishments in 1912 when the iron stanchions were put up that still exist today. As the town began to thrive a second passenger platform was built.

The railway transported local troops during the two world wars which proved to be a great asset as some of the Glossop men were in the first wave of the Dunkirk landings. They also brought evacuees from Lowestoft to safety in Glossop

During the early 1940’s Glossop, along with the rest of the Manchester and Sheffield via Woodhead line, were making preparations for electrification but was halted due to the 2nd World War.  The line was the first all-electric line in Britain with the first electric train arriving in 1954. The station was refurbished to meet the needs of the new trains but resulted in the closer of the waiting rooms.

In the 1980s the goods yard was closed then in 1982  the second platform closed.

In 2002 Friends of Glossop Station (FOGS) were set up and set upon saving and preserving the historic station. They were responsible for new improvements including new skylights reopening and renovation of the waiting rooms and a new booking office in 2011. 

By Matthew Cox

Check Out Upcoming Events & Workshops at 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.