Turn Right at Mottram Roundabout - Episode 41
Thu 27th April 2017 | General | By Stewart Taylor
Episode 40 found us at Squires Gate.
The photograph of the Royal British Legion banner reminds us that the ground was known as the Royal British Legion Stadium prior to adopting the current name of the Brian Addison Stadium.
The quick link was, possibly, a bit obscure. We asked for a link between this place and Barnes Wallis the inventor of the Bouncing Bomb used in WWII on the “Dambusters” raids?
It is perhaps less well known that Barnes Wallis designed the structure of the Wellington bomber many of which were built at Blackpool Airport which was known at the time as Squires Gate.
So onto Episode 41. “What the Victorians did for us” was a TV documentary series, presented by the eminent polymath Adam Hart-Davis, broadcast back in 2001.
The series concentrated on the many scientific and social advances of the era which was fair enough as these were hugely significant in influencing the type of society we have today but, for me, there was one aspect which could have been covered but wasn’t. This “missing link” was the legacy of Victorian times in terms of architecture and, particularly, public buildings.
Generally, the Victorians didn’t do things by half in that when a building was commissioned little expense was spared and, as a result, some of the finest buildings were the outcome. Many of these were later designated as Listed Buildings and, as such, remain in good repair for all of us to stand and appreciate what good architecture and design was all about.
Regular readers might detect a small rant about modern architecture in terms of both style and longevity coming on here but some examples of late 20th and early 21st century structures have been referred to already in this series of wanderings so, for once, I’ll refrain for the moment.
Instead, let’s have a look at just a few of the many Listed Buildings in our destination today as illustrations of what the Victorians did best.
We start with a library and museum which was built in 1887 on Oriel Road. Designed by J Johnson, this structure sees rock-faced stone with ashlar dressings and a slate roof. Ground floor windows are paired, with round tympana with roundels and foliage, archivolts and imposts. The building now houses offices.
Just one year later we see the construction of swimming baths on Balliol Road. This building, designed by George Heaton, is in the Jacobean Revival style. Built in stone with a slate roof, we see a two-storey five-bay central block flanked by single-story two bay wings. The central bay is canted, and is flanked on the ground floor by round-headed entrances.
In 1890 we see the construction of a Police Station on Oriel Road. Designed by C.J. Anderson, the building is in sandstone with slate roofs. It has two storeys and ten bays. Over the ninth bay is a pedimented tympanum containing the arms of the town and mermaids.
Finally, we find a former Fire Station on Strand Road. This building is in brick with stone dressings. Its main block is in two storeys and nine bays: to the left is a block of three bays, with two storeys and an attic, and at the rear is a tower. Along the main block are eight wide entrances with Doric antae, and above are sash windows.
These are just a few of many examples of notable buildings in the town and demonstrates the tremendous architectural legacy which the Victorians left for us all to enjoy.
But, does all of this really help to narrow down where we are? It does if you are local in that the road names are given, but for a visitor from further afield one or two more clues may be helpful.
What is now a significant town was originally a small hamlet with a beach. Rapid development and the proximity to a strategic centre was at least part of the reason that the town became to be recognised as the most heavily bombed area of the UK during the Second World War with around 90% of the housing damaged or destroyed.
The town has seen some difficult times financially since the Second World War. Immediate post-war development was extensive with new housing estates along with the rebuilding of the many damaged houses.
The decline in the traditional source of demand for labour was recognised at national level as part of a scheme to move Government organisations out off London into the provinces. The town acquired a bank headquarters but the expected outcome of employing local people did not come to pass.
There is a current ongoing scheme, privately organised and funded but with significant public money involved, to expand employment opportunities again in the town. With high levels of mechanisation in most sections these days, it remains to be seen how successful this will be but one thing is almost for certain in that traffic levels in this already congested part of the North West will increase.
In football we see that a number of sons of this town have gone on to play the game at the highest level. I suspect that we will all recognise the names of the most famous of these players and that may be a bit of a giveaway, so lets just say that many played for one of the local top flight clubs and went on to play at International level.
Our final destination takes us to a club which, if circumstances had been only ever so slightly different, could have been a Football League club if not a Premiership club today.
When the Football League was established towards the end of the 19th century only one team per area were permitted to join. The town side narrowly lost out to a local rival and, as such, took a place in the Football Alliance and began competitive matches in 1889.
In 1892 the Football Alliance merged with the Football League to form what was the Second Division. However, the club dropped out after only one season due to financial problems to be replaced by another local side who then went on to great things.
Two World Wars passed before the club emerged again but only for a short period of time. The current club was formed under a different name in 1953 and following success in local and regional football became founder members of the NWCFL in 1982.
Quick link - What links a less than glowing description of a village in Cumbria by the poet William Wordsworth with this town?
Turn Right at Mottram Roundabout - Episode 41
Thu 27th April 2017 | General
By Stewart Taylor
Episode 40 found us at Squires Gate.
The photograph of the Royal British Legion banner reminds us that the ground was known as the Royal British Legion Stadium prior to adopting the current name of the Brian Addison Stadium.
The quick link was, possibly, a bit obscure. We asked for a link between this place and Barnes Wallis the inventor of the Bouncing Bomb used in WWII on the “Dambusters” raids?
It is perhaps less well known that Barnes Wallis designed the structure of the Wellington bomber many of which were built at Blackpool Airport which was known at the time as Squires Gate.
So onto Episode 41. “What the Victorians did for us” was a TV documentary series, presented by the eminent polymath Adam Hart-Davis, broadcast back in 2001.
The series concentrated on the many scientific and social advances of the era which was fair enough as these were hugely significant in influencing the type of society we have today but, for me, there was one aspect which could have been covered but wasn’t. This “missing link” was the legacy of Victorian times in terms of architecture and, particularly, public buildings.
Generally, the Victorians didn’t do things by half in that when a building was commissioned little expense was spared and, as a result, some of the finest buildings were the outcome. Many of these were later designated as Listed Buildings and, as such, remain in good repair for all of us to stand and appreciate what good architecture and design was all about.
Regular readers might detect a small rant about modern architecture in terms of both style and longevity coming on here but some examples of late 20th and early 21st century structures have been referred to already in this series of wanderings so, for once, I’ll refrain for the moment.
Instead, let’s have a look at just a few of the many Listed Buildings in our destination today as illustrations of what the Victorians did best.
We start with a library and museum which was built in 1887 on Oriel Road. Designed by J Johnson, this structure sees rock-faced stone with ashlar dressings and a slate roof. Ground floor windows are paired, with round tympana with roundels and foliage, archivolts and imposts. The building now houses offices.
Just one year later we see the construction of swimming baths on Balliol Road. This building, designed by George Heaton, is in the Jacobean Revival style. Built in stone with a slate roof, we see a two-storey five-bay central block flanked by single-story two bay wings. The central bay is canted, and is flanked on the ground floor by round-headed entrances.
In 1890 we see the construction of a Police Station on Oriel Road. Designed by C.J. Anderson, the building is in sandstone with slate roofs. It has two storeys and ten bays. Over the ninth bay is a pedimented tympanum containing the arms of the town and mermaids.
Finally, we find a former Fire Station on Strand Road. This building is in brick with stone dressings. Its main block is in two storeys and nine bays: to the left is a block of three bays, with two storeys and an attic, and at the rear is a tower. Along the main block are eight wide entrances with Doric antae, and above are sash windows.
These are just a few of many examples of notable buildings in the town and demonstrates the tremendous architectural legacy which the Victorians left for us all to enjoy.
But, does all of this really help to narrow down where we are? It does if you are local in that the road names are given, but for a visitor from further afield one or two more clues may be helpful.
What is now a significant town was originally a small hamlet with a beach. Rapid development and the proximity to a strategic centre was at least part of the reason that the town became to be recognised as the most heavily bombed area of the UK during the Second World War with around 90% of the housing damaged or destroyed.
The town has seen some difficult times financially since the Second World War. Immediate post-war development was extensive with new housing estates along with the rebuilding of the many damaged houses.
The decline in the traditional source of demand for labour was recognised at national level as part of a scheme to move Government organisations out off London into the provinces. The town acquired a bank headquarters but the expected outcome of employing local people did not come to pass.
There is a current ongoing scheme, privately organised and funded but with significant public money involved, to expand employment opportunities again in the town. With high levels of mechanisation in most sections these days, it remains to be seen how successful this will be but one thing is almost for certain in that traffic levels in this already congested part of the North West will increase.
In football we see that a number of sons of this town have gone on to play the game at the highest level. I suspect that we will all recognise the names of the most famous of these players and that may be a bit of a giveaway, so lets just say that many played for one of the local top flight clubs and went on to play at International level.
Our final destination takes us to a club which, if circumstances had been only ever so slightly different, could have been a Football League club if not a Premiership club today.
When the Football League was established towards the end of the 19th century only one team per area were permitted to join. The town side narrowly lost out to a local rival and, as such, took a place in the Football Alliance and began competitive matches in 1889.
In 1892 the Football Alliance merged with the Football League to form what was the Second Division. However, the club dropped out after only one season due to financial problems to be replaced by another local side who then went on to great things.
Two World Wars passed before the club emerged again but only for a short period of time. The current club was formed under a different name in 1953 and following success in local and regional football became founder members of the NWCFL in 1982.
Quick link - What links a less than glowing description of a village in Cumbria by the poet William Wordsworth with this town?
