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The Society normally meets at
7.30 p.m. at Chadderton Central Library,
Middleton Road, on the first Thursday
of each month, unless holidays, etc. necessitate a change of
date to the second week.
Membership Annual subscription
£10.00 . Visitors' donations most
welcome.
Chairman: Mark Johnson. Secretary:
Michael Lawson B.Ed.,M.A. Treasurer: Denis Barrott.
Membership Sec: Enid Johnson
Patron Lady Maureen Black (Radclyffe
of Foxdenton)
President Councillor Sid Jacobs;
Vice President Councillor Jim
Greenwood
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Welcome
Programme of
Events
Visit to Fairfield Moravian Settlement,
Droylsden.
7th June 2001
The Moravian Church traces its origins to 1457, when
it was founded in Moravia, now part of the Czech
Republic. Its official name is Unitas Fratrum, Or Unity
of the Brethren, and it was the first to be formed during
the Reformation period, preceding Martin Luther by sixty
years. Following persecution, the Church was 'renewed' in
1727, and spread to other countries, including England. A
Moravian Church exists at: Westwood just over the
Chadderton boundary, but this evening we have a guided
tour of the historic settlement at Droylsden.
[Meet at Victoria Street Car Park at 7.00
p.m.1
5th July 2001
Visit to Portland Basin Museum,
Ashton-under-Lyne
The Portland Basin, refurbished and re~pened in 1999,
is the centrepiece of the Ashton Canal Warehouse, now
looking much as it did in 1834, when it was first built.
Here we have the opportunity to walk back in time and
learn about Tameside's history, whilst we experience the
lifestyle, industries, crafts, and trades of hygone ages
Call at the Bridge Inn, chat in the chippie, pop in the
grocer's, visit the doctor - discover just how times have
really changed!
[Meet at Victoria Street Car Park a: 7.00
p.m.]
9th August 2001
"Broadway Central to Firwood
Park"
The local history rarnble this year commences a: the
Broadway/Middleton Road junction and proceeds down
Middleton Road as far as Ferney Field Read in the
district known as Nordens. The route then continues down
Ferney Field and along the public footpath through
Firwood Park Estate. After reaching the Rochdale Canal
the route continues to Foxdenton Lane which is followed
for a short distance until a public footpath takes us
hack towards Ferney Field Farm. From there the disused
rallway line is followed along the new linear park to
Hunt Lane and back to Broadway. This raanble takes in a
variety of interesting features and is sure to be as
enjoyable as our many previous local walks.
[Meet at the Car Park outside St. Herbert's Parish
Centre a: 7.30 p.m.]
6th September 2001
Visit to the Weavers' Triangle Visitor
Centre, Burnley
This evening we take a walk through the Weavers'
Triangle - a well-preserved Victorian industrial
landseape. While Chadderton was an important town in the
cotton spinning area of Lancashire, Burnley led the world
in the weaving of cotton cloth. The opportunity is
offered to examine various buildings weaving sheds,
spinning mills, warehouses, foundries, domestic buildings
and a school. See a weaver's cellar dwelling from the
turn of the l9/2Oth century, and inspect a fine
canal-side wharf, before ending the evening with tea and
biscuits in the Wharfmaster's Victorian parlour.
[Meet at Victoria Street Car Park a: 7.00 p.m.
prompt. 'l'he tour is booked for 7.45 p. m.]
4th October 2001
"History and Mystery
Walk!"
Such walks are now popular in many towns throughout
the country, and members may have taken part in them.
This year we have our very own 'ghost' walk led by our
'Man in Black'. The walk goes from the town centre
towards Busk and on to Cowhill, and returns by way of
Stockhrook. Along the way authentic tales of doom and
gloom will be recounted as mernbers visit some of the
places where sad, tragic, and macabre happenings have
taken place in past years. A strong constitution,
together with a vivid imagination, are the order of the
night! [Meet at Victoria Street Car Park for 7.30
p.m. start. Garlic cloves not provided!]
8th November 2001
Rochdale Canal Restoration
Update
Once more we welcome Brian Holden from the Rochdale
Canal Society, who will give us the latest news on the
restoration of our local waterway. Opened in 1799-1804,
the 'Rochdale' was the first trans-Pennine canal and the
most successlul in terms of tonnage. During the 20th
century it gradually fell into dereliction and became
closed to through traffic. In recent years plans to
reopen it for its bicentenary in 2004 have gone ahead,
and in Chadderton a new lift bridge is to be constructed
this summer to carry Foxdenton Lane over the canal.
6th December 2001
"From Heathens to Red
Devils"
Our 'Red Rose' county is home to many famous soccer
clubs, but without doubt the most successful is
Manchester United. Two of our members, Reg Lord and
Matthew Butterworth, trace the historv of this
world-famous club. Our near neighbours were once even
closer when, in 1878, they were formed at Newton Heath in
north Manchester. In 1885, they turned professional,
seven years later were admitted into the Football League,
and in 1902, were renamed Manchester United! The move to
Stretford was made in 1910, and their new ground was
named Old Trafford - the present 'Theatre of Dreams' and
home to the 'Red Devils'.
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2002
3rd January 2002
Annual Party: Theme "The Georgian
Era".
This year's party takes as its theme the Georgian
period. The accession of George I in 1714, ushered in the
Hanoverian Dynasty, and the opening of a new era in
British history. Commercial and industrial prosperity
increased but the period also produced a mental and
religious revolution. On the home scene the Hortons were
lords of the Manor and maintained their residence,
Chadderton Hall, at its most magnifcent. Once again
Society member, Christine Dennis, has undertaken to
provide a full and apprcpriate menu. Costume is
optional!
7th February 2002
"In the Steps of the
Brontes"
The Brontes were an extraordinary literary family who
came to live in Haworth, in the West Riding of Yorkshire,
in 1820. All six children died from illness while young
but during their short and sad lives the three youngest
sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, were to leave the
world a priceless legacy of novels, poems, songs, and
short stories. This evening Margaret Curry, returning to
Chadderton for her seventh visit, takes us on a journey
through the area so well loved by the Brontes, and whose
history and natural beauty gave the sisters the
inspiration for their literary masterpieces.
7th March 2002
"Fairs, Feasts, and
Festivals"
Celebrations are an important part of life for most
people. In Chadderton we used to have 'Cowhill Wakes'
which was a fair held each August from 1886, to about
1960. Many of us remember well the May Day entertainments
with their homemade 'maypoles', whilst the doggelel verse
of 'cob-coalin', prior to Bonfire Time, still haunts
those of us above a certain age. This evening we welcome
fbr the first time Ray Rush fiom Macclesfield, Cheshire,
who describes some of the celebratory customs of Britain
which mark the passage of the seasons.
11th April 2002
"The Radclyffes - Family of
Distinction!"
In his 'Book of the Radclyffes' Charles Hampson makes
the statement: '"No family in England has played a more
intimate part in shaping the nation's destiny; none is
more closely interwoven with every phase of England's
history, artificers of its glory, workers in the
tradition" The family first entered into Chadderton's
history about 1367, when John de Radcliffe married the
heiress to the Manor, Margery de Chadderton, In 1454, at
the division of the Manor, Elizabeth Radcliffe married
her cousin, Robert Radcliffe of Ordsall, and they built
the first Foxdenton Hall. This evening Society members
Michael Lawson and Mark Johnson consider the influence,
locally and nationally, of the various branches of this
family.
2nd May 2002
Twenty-Seventh Annual General
Meeting
The Annual General Meeting provides the opportunity
for members to consider future policies and the way they
would like to see the Society progress in the future. We
have commenced our project to create a 'Chadderton
Heritage Centre' and this will he one of the major issues
under discussion, All members are asked to be present at
this important meeting at which the election of Trustees
and various officers will also take place.
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00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
PAST PROGRAMME OF EVENTS.
Year 2000 to 2001
8th June 2000
Visit to Chetham's Library,
Manchester.
Chetham's Library, founded in 1653, is the oldest
public Library in Britain. It was formed under the will
of a wealthy Manchester merchant, Humphrey Chetham
(1580-1653) who also endowed a hospital school for poor
boys - now the equally-famous Chetham's School of Music.
The Library and Hospital occupy a building dating from
1421, which was originally built as a college of priests
to serve the nearby collegiate church of St. Mary, now
Manchester Cathedral. The library holds more than 100,000
volumes of which about 60,000 date from before 1851.
There are documents dating from the 12th century, rich
collections from the 16th and 17th centuries, and a
wealth of material on the Manchester region.
{Meet at Victoria Street Car
park at 7 p.m. or Chethams Library at
7.30p.m.}
6th July 2000
Visit to Rochdale Museum Archives
Storage.
This archive storage building, which was only
opened in recent years, stands on the site of the former
Thomas Robinson milling machinery makers. The complex
comprises a number of controlled environment rooms in
which the Rochdale Museum Service stores an impressive
collection of documents, clothes and artefacts. The
archives are not normally open to the general public and
this evening's guided visit promises to be most
interesting as members browse through the various
collestions of memorabilia.
[Meet at Victoria
Street car park at 7.10 p.m.]
10th August 2000
"Nimble Nook to
Whitegate"
This month's local history ramble commences at Nimble
Nook, at one time one of the many hamlets within our
township, but now not so clearly defined. Historically it
was centred around its inn which dates back to the late
18th century and was known as the Gamekeeper, and
the Green Man, before settling for its present
name of the Sportsman. The area through which the
walk is made was developed mainly during the past
century, with parts being significantly altered in recent
years. However, there are still a number of features of
note whilst other buildings now demolished, such as
Chadderton Power Station at Slacks Valley, once added an
element of prestige, if not necessarily beauty, to this
locality.
[Meet at the Car Park
outside Gorse Bank/Foxdenton Schools at 7.30
p.m.]
7th September, 2000
"Chadderton Swimming Club and Henry
Taylor"
Chadderton Swimming Baths was opened by the
Urban District Council in 1894. The swimming club dates
from this period and throughout its history has enjoyed a
reputation for excellence. Among its many notable members
the name of Henry Taylor is perhaps the best known. His
unofficial title of "Britain's greatest -ever amateur
swimmer" is well deserved for during his career of half a
century he won numerous trophies including four Olympic
gold medals, a record long unbroken. This evening Bernard
Edge, former secretary of the club, invites us all to
share in the triumphs and tribulations of this impressive
aquatic organisation.
5th October, 2000
"Curiouser and Curiouser"
Returning for her sixth visit to Chadderton Margaret
Curry is assured of a warm welcome as always. Over the
years she has invited us to share her journeys throughout
the length and breadth of the country as she covers such
diverse topics as water mills, Derbyshire well dressings,
and Lady Anne Clifford's fight for her rightful
inheritance. This year her subject is not quite so
obvious but should be just as entertaining as we are
shown some of the oddities to be found in the English
countryside - from the unusual or bizaare, to the
downright gruesome!
9th November, 2000
"Looking Back at
Royton".
Francis Stott, community librarian at Crompton, and
local author and historian, talks about our neighbouring
town of Royton and its people - our country cousins?
While it shares with Chadderton many of the aspects of
growth associated with the Industrial Revolution and the
cotton industry, its general development was somewhat
different. The Victorian town evolved from its ancient
hamlet centered on Royton Hall, former home of the
Byrons, Percivals and Pickford-Radcliffes. By 1910, with
the erection of its public baths, Royton had all the
facilities of a small northern industrial town, and a
population that had reached 15000.
7th December, 2000
"Heraldry at Lancaster
Castle"
As the county town Lancaster held its own assize
courts and on several occasions inhabitants of
Chadderton, charged with a whole series of offences, were
taken there to await trial and verdict. The castle, a
place to be feared by many, had a special place in the
lives of the High Sheriff of Lancashire and on six
occasions between 1591 and 1775, Lords of Chadderton and
Foxdenton held this important position. At the end of his
year of office a ceremony was held at which the sheriff's
coat-of-arms was hung in the shire hall of the castle,
and the heraldic devices of our local lords may still be
seen on display. Alick Hadwen, from Preston, visits us
for the first time to give an illustrated talk on this
fascinating subject.
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2001
4th January, 2001
Annual Party - Theme "The
Forties"
The theme of the society's annual party this year is
the nineteen-forties. The first five years of that decade
were preoccupied with the Second World War, while the
years that followed, comprised a period of austerity and
reconstruction. Whether viewed from a military or civil
perspective, the "Forties" should provide plenty of
inspiration for those members who wish to add to the
festivities by coming along in period costume. Many
thanks to Christine Dennis who once again, will be
responsible for the catering-based on Forties Food!
1st February, 2001
"Sixty Years of Spinning Yarns - Part
Two"
Ken Brough, who visited us two
years ago, continues his tales of life in the local
cotton industry. With the news of the impending closure
of Chadderton's last mill actively engaged in cotton
spinning - by a strange co-incidence named the
"Chadderton Mill" - the choice of subject seems most
appropriate. At one time the town had nearly 60 cotton
mills covering the landscape. Today only 15 of these
industrial giants survive, each bearing mute testimony to
the industry that once placed our county of Lancashire at
the centre of the world stage.
1st March, 2001
Visit by Oldham Local Studies Archive
Officer
This evening we welcome for the first time Maria
Sienkiewicz, Oldham's Archive Officer. She will give us
an insight into the resources and working of the vast
Archive Department of the Local Studies Library, and it
is planned that she will bring along several items
associated with the history of Chadderton.
5th April, 2001
"The Life and Times of Bishop William
Chadderton"
William Chadderton, who was born about 1540 at
Nuthurst in our neighbouring township of Moston, was a
direct descendant of Geoffrey de Chadderton, the first
Lord of the Manor of Chadderton and Foxdenton back in the
13th century.. Embarking on a career in the church he
held the office of Warden of Manchester Collegiate Church
(now the Cathedral) before becoming Bishop of Chester and
then of Lincoln. Society members Michael Lawson and Mark
Johnson give an illustrated account of the life of Bishop
Chadderton setting it within the wider context of the
turbulent religious changes of the sixteenth century.
3rd May, 2001
Twenty-Sixth Annual General
Meeting
All members are asked to attend this important meeting
at which the election of Trustees and Officers will take
place. The AGM provides the opportunity for members to
discuss the future direction of the Society and to put
forward their views on any aspect of the Society's
policies.
Special Visit-December 2000
Christmas Market at Skipton
On Sunday 10th December 2000, it is proposed that
Society members and friends visit the market town of
Skipton for the day. The trip will include visits to the
castle, the church and the famous Christmas market. The
visit will be by coach and interested members should
contact Christine Dennis, as soon as possible, for
further details of cost, etc.
The Society normally meets at 7.30
p.m. at Chadderton Central Library,
Middleton Road, on the first Thursday
of each month, unless holidays, etc. necessitate a change
of date.
Membership subscription on
application. Casual visitors donation of £1.00
most welcome.
Chairman: Mark Johnson.
Secretary: Michael Lawson B.Ed.,M.A.
Treasurer: Denis Barrott. Membership
Sec: Enid Johnson
Patron Lady Maureen Black (Radclyffe
of Foxdenton)
President Councillor Sid Jacobs; Vice
President Councillor Jim Greenwood
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