Turn Right at Mottram Roundabout - Episode 31
Tue 28th February 2017 | General | By Stewart Taylor
Our destination last week was Winsford United.
The photo was something of a giveaway for all of those who have tasted the excellent fare available at Debs Cafe.
The quick link asked about the relationship of this town with the highest village in England which is a mere 28 miles away.
The highest village in England is Flash in Staffordshire. The Flashes are areas of open water produced when salt is eroded by water and the overlying rock collapses. The largest and most well known Flashes are in Winsford.
“Go west, young man” is a phrase associated with the wild west frontiers of the less than United States in the first half of the 19th century. Quite who first said it is disputed but we won’t worry about that as, for the purposes of today, the phrase is wrong on both counts. First of all, I’m going towards the east of our area and, secondly, I’m not that young anymore.
Our journey this week takes us to one of my favourite towns in our region, a town which proudly boasts of having something for everyone and that is certainly the case. A characterful place full of characters is one description, and that certainly stands up to scrutiny.
You want stunning scenery - then come here. Situated in a river valley and between two areas of outstanding natural beauty, there are many and varied walks here to take you away from the stresses and strains of city life, but within easy reach by car of two of the major cities of the north of England.
You want somewhere to refuel after a walk in the countryside - then come here. High quality restaurants serving British, Italian and Thai cuisine can be found here along with a micropub situated just off the town square, which takes on board all that is good in the modern micropub movement – quiet places where good ale and conversation predominate.
You want somewhere to shop - then come here. A multitude of small, independent shops offer the best of the local produce, along with high fashion and hand crafted local wares. This town is said to have the highest proportion of independent retailers in the country.
If you have an interest in the history of industry, then this town is well worth a visit for that alone. Take the Stream and Steam Heritage Trail, which takes the visitor from the earliest water powered mills in the town through to modern day engineering processes.
From the earliest evidence of cotton processing in the town, through to the last of the textile mills built just about 100 years ago which retains its 600 horsepower steam engine as a tourist attraction. On then to high class precision engineering which continues to this day – if you know what the initials RB stand for in aeronautical technology, then you will know exactly where we are.
We have seen before the influence of transport links on the development of the towns in our region, and this one is no exception. It lies on the route of one of the major canals in the north of the country, and it was this waterway which was responsible for the development of industry in the town, as there are no major roads running through the town and there is currently no railway station although there was one pre-Beeching.
Perhaps the most unexpected feature of this town is that it has a beach. You will have by now worked out that we are a long way from the sea, but every August the town square is transformed into a beach featuring all you might expect of a beach with sand, donkey rides and all the fun of the fair. Well worth a visit.
Amongst all of these attractions there is a football ground and, again, this one has much to recommend it. The team which play here can trace their roots back to the early 1970s but, as with a number of our member clubs, there have been a couple of amalgamations since the foundation, and the club we know today was formed in the first decade of this century.
Promotion from a local feeder league into the NWCFL was achieved for the 2009/10 season and FA Charter Standard status was granted in 2014. The club run many junior sides ranging from under 7s to under 18s.
Having just read the above, the reader might think that I sub-contracted this write up to the local tourist board, but I didn’t, I really do like this town.
Quick link - What links this club with the TV programme American Idol?
Turn Right at Mottram Roundabout - Episode 31
Tue 28th February 2017 | General
By Stewart Taylor
Our destination last week was Winsford United.
The photo was something of a giveaway for all of those who have tasted the excellent fare available at Debs Cafe.
The quick link asked about the relationship of this town with the highest village in England which is a mere 28 miles away.
The highest village in England is Flash in Staffordshire. The Flashes are areas of open water produced when salt is eroded by water and the overlying rock collapses. The largest and most well known Flashes are in Winsford.
“Go west, young man” is a phrase associated with the wild west frontiers of the less than United States in the first half of the 19th century. Quite who first said it is disputed but we won’t worry about that as, for the purposes of today, the phrase is wrong on both counts. First of all, I’m going towards the east of our area and, secondly, I’m not that young anymore.
Our journey this week takes us to one of my favourite towns in our region, a town which proudly boasts of having something for everyone and that is certainly the case. A characterful place full of characters is one description, and that certainly stands up to scrutiny.
You want stunning scenery - then come here. Situated in a river valley and between two areas of outstanding natural beauty, there are many and varied walks here to take you away from the stresses and strains of city life, but within easy reach by car of two of the major cities of the north of England.
You want somewhere to refuel after a walk in the countryside - then come here. High quality restaurants serving British, Italian and Thai cuisine can be found here along with a micropub situated just off the town square, which takes on board all that is good in the modern micropub movement – quiet places where good ale and conversation predominate.
You want somewhere to shop - then come here. A multitude of small, independent shops offer the best of the local produce, along with high fashion and hand crafted local wares. This town is said to have the highest proportion of independent retailers in the country.
If you have an interest in the history of industry, then this town is well worth a visit for that alone. Take the Stream and Steam Heritage Trail, which takes the visitor from the earliest water powered mills in the town through to modern day engineering processes.
From the earliest evidence of cotton processing in the town, through to the last of the textile mills built just about 100 years ago which retains its 600 horsepower steam engine as a tourist attraction. On then to high class precision engineering which continues to this day – if you know what the initials RB stand for in aeronautical technology, then you will know exactly where we are.
We have seen before the influence of transport links on the development of the towns in our region, and this one is no exception. It lies on the route of one of the major canals in the north of the country, and it was this waterway which was responsible for the development of industry in the town, as there are no major roads running through the town and there is currently no railway station although there was one pre-Beeching.
Perhaps the most unexpected feature of this town is that it has a beach. You will have by now worked out that we are a long way from the sea, but every August the town square is transformed into a beach featuring all you might expect of a beach with sand, donkey rides and all the fun of the fair. Well worth a visit.
Amongst all of these attractions there is a football ground and, again, this one has much to recommend it. The team which play here can trace their roots back to the early 1970s but, as with a number of our member clubs, there have been a couple of amalgamations since the foundation, and the club we know today was formed in the first decade of this century.
Promotion from a local feeder league into the NWCFL was achieved for the 2009/10 season and FA Charter Standard status was granted in 2014. The club run many junior sides ranging from under 7s to under 18s.
Having just read the above, the reader might think that I sub-contracted this write up to the local tourist board, but I didn’t, I really do like this town.
Quick link - What links this club with the TV programme American Idol?
