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

Announcement: Glossop History - The Way We Were

I have been working on a verity of different projects over the last twelve months. From documenting rare and previously undiscovered finds, rediscovering documents and artifacts in private or locked or away collections, providing talks to clubs and schools as well as providing assistance with the ever threat of damage to our local heritage.

This is around my other passion which working with individuals who suffer from dementia. I work closely with the community and provide a ward winging experiences and sessions to engage and enhance a person’s day. This enhances the opportunity to social interaction and the ideal environment to reminisce, remember personal memories and create new ones along the way.

There will be two presentations this year that will be of note and I cordially invite you to join us. The first is on the 26^th October 2019 at Partington Theatre, Henry Street, Glossop. This will be an evening presentation/ workshop titled The Way We Were. It is the perfect combination of both of my passions. We will have a brief look at our social history, local events and images that are proving to be somewhat iconic.

There will be more updates soon regarding the latest request for permission for more housing in the old part of the town which is set to destroy not only history of our town but the skyline forever.

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

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