tarboat's photos with the keyword: tameside

Auto-Masters Ltd is a family firm that was founded in 1947. It specialises in producing special purpose machinery for a wide range of industries along with manufacturing and designing Harnden plastic bag making machinery and the Rowland range of friction material and foundry equipment. This is their premises at Hyde shortly before it was all demolished and now housing stands on this site. The company is now based at Hadfield, Glossop.

The use of terracotta ornamentation for walls and pillars was common in the late nineteenth and first quarter of the twentieth century. Much has been replaced or swept away these days, so it was good to find this survivor in Mill Lane, Hyde. There had been more along the block but this was the sole survivor. A look at the wall further along showed that the bricks were from the Black Hill Brick Co Ltd Entwistle Bolton Lancashire but that may not be the source of the decorative pieces.

Ray Mill at Stalybridge was built for Ray Mills Ltd which was registered in 1907 with a capital of £100,000. Completed in 1908 it was electrically powered from the outset. In 1911 it was joined with the nearby Victor and Premier Mills under the name of Victor Mill Ltd. Ray Mill contained 66,528 ring spindles and over 9,000 doubling spindles when completed. Courtaulds took over the mills in the 1960s and cotton spinning ended in 1982. The mill continues in multiple occupation including warehousing. The lads in the left corner of the frame are demonstrating the regular reaction that photographers get whilst working in the street. Nice one lads, this photo is your five minutes of fame!

Clarence Arcade, Stamford Street Central, Ashton-under-Lyne, is Tameside's only covered Victorian shopping arcade and was built in 1893. As the focus of shopping moved away from Stamford Street the arcade fell on hard times but has now been refurbished and many of the former shops are now offices. Inside it is eerily quiet and devoid of people.