Ashton Moss

3 p.m., weather improving after a wet start, decided to make a quick visit to the Moss and take another look at those sheds of Albert Hulme.

Took the car all the way down Rayner Lane to Albert Hulme's - bumpy, exhaust rattling about, road wet and muddy. Parked the car up. As I was putting my boots on I noticed a couple of men working on the roof of a shed on the other side of the lane. This was the first time I'd seen any activity on this estate. Probably preparing for the forthcoming season.

I set off towards Albert Hulme's, the grass was sodden and squelchy, my boots brought small pools of water to the surface, as I walked along. On the estate there were puddles of water between the buildings. I treaded around them carefully, but the dogs still barked.

I looked around the sheds, and particularly at the long one with the old cigarette signs. A long shadow from a greenhouse annoyingly encroached on it. I was annoyed with myself. I should have realised this would happen when the sun began to set in the afternoon.

I looked at the other buildings. All of them had long shadows striking them. Too late in the day to get the best results here.

1 - 5 Nevertheless, I tried.

But the lighting was too contrasting. These photographs of the end of the long shed and adjoining greenhouse have a striking graphic quality about them, but little else.

Similarly, these photographs of the other end of the shed are over powered by shadows and a dramatic sky.

Not a very productive visit to the Moss.

Tameside Theatre, Oldham Road, Ashton under Lyne. 10 March 1989.

A visit to Ashton's grandiose theatre to see "A History of Tameside" - Local school kids join professional actors to present a history of Tameside.

I had hoped I would learn something about the history of the area, but this production was obviously aimed to satisfy the parents of the pupils rather than the historians. The episodic approach didn't help much either - more a series of sketches illustrating incidents which occured in the districts of Tameside than a chronological history of the Borough.

So what did I learn? Well, I now know that the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside is made up of the 10 Districts of Ashton, Audenshaw, Denton, Dukinfield, Droylsden, Hattersley, Hyde, Mossley, Mottram and Stalybridge; that a TNT factory exploded in Ashton in 1918, destroying a 100 houses and killing 48 people; and that the people of Dukinfield burnt down an unpopular toll bridge in the 1850s. But that's about it.

Nevertheless, the show went down well with the audience (i.e. the parents) who left the theatre flushed with pride.

As for me, I suppose it's back to the library.

Buck and Hawthorn, Katherine Street, Ashton under Lyne. 10 March 1989.

After the theatre I went for a drink in the Buck and Hawthorn. A small town pub. The inside walls are tiled up to three quarter height and decorated with an enormous collection of bottle openers on the upper section. The tiles apparently date back to the 1920s and are still in good condition. Brush grained wood is everywhere, together with a large number of leaded stained glass windows - two of which are at the entrance to the toilets. There is a small snug, a lounge, games room and bar area - complete with a slate seat in a "cubby hole" at the side of the bar known as the "Sin Bin". No juke box, although there is a fruit machine, together with some odd chairs around the bar. These were the only features which looked out of place.

This I suppose is how pubs used to be and as the landlord said: "this is how pubs should be". Sadly though, Robinsons (the Brewery) have other ideas and plan to move the bar, knock a wall down here and there, and do up the toilets. The locals are not too happy about this and have drawn up a petition opposing the proposals. Whether the brewery can be restrained from such an act of vandalism remains to be seen.

Rolleiflex 3.5F.

Agfapan 100 (80 ASA) Rodinal 1:60. 10¾ mins at 68°F.