Long Street Methodist, Middleton, Manchester
Students from the University of Salford (School of Built Environment) under the supervision of the Program Director of Building Survey, Simon Mclean, return for a more in depth look at the rooms in the ‘community wing’. There was speculation as to the reasons for the cracks in the brickwork starting at high level and extending into the under croft.
Their survey reports for coursework will be submitted in December. I look forward with interest to read their conclusions.
Twenty plus, second year students from the University of Salford, School of Built Environment, under the charge of Simon Mclean (Program Director of Building Surveying) came to survey the school rooms and learn of the issues related to conservation. Reports will be written and submitted for their course assessment. It will be interesting to read their suggestions and ideas for the proposed improvements to prevent water ingress, the heating and the necessary services.
This is the second time that the University has used the Centre for part for their training program. Some ‘high tech’ gizmos were used, the two meters in the photograph were first being checked that they showed the same calibration. Not only did they give a moisture content readings, but also a core temperature and thermal image.
Too clever for me!
Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust is applying to Viridor for a grant to save Edgar Wood’s Arts & Crafts Long Street School. Restoration will mean that the premises will be available for community use.
Please show your support in the Leave a Reply box below or send an email to gpg@talktalk.net by Monday 25th September.
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I support the grant application to Viridor for to restore the Edgar Wood School buildings at Long Street, Middleton so that they can be brought back into community use.
Click here for more information on the building.
Many thanks,
Christine and Geoff Grime
Edgar Wood Society, Middleton Long Street Methodist Church & School, Lever Street, Middleton, Manchester. M24 5UE
The Arts & Crafts Movement in Surrey group (26 members), arrived in Manchester on Monday for their annual trip. They spent this morning visiting Edgar Wood’s master piece in Middleton – Long St. Methodist Church and Schools.
This was followed by a walk around the conservation area looking at Wood’s houses and finally calling in at St. Leonards, with particular interest in the stained glass by Christopher Whall, but could not fail to be impressed by the rest of the Church.
The majority of the group did not know the name Edgar Wood, but after seeing and listening to Christine and Nick, they soon could put EW in context with Voysey, Mackintosh and the rest. With Nick’s knowledge base and his enthusiasm, he left them in no doubt about the importance EW’s work and influence. As Nick had to leave early, the group asked me to thank him and give him a round of applause.
Their itinerary for tomorrow includes visiting EW’s Church of the First Christian Scientists in Victoria Park, Manchester. We wish them well for the remainder of their visit.
The exhibition created and researched by Nick Baker and Richard Fletcher has at last been reproduced on permanent display boards and was arranged today by Ian with the help of Christine and Kirstie. Kirstie by profession is a Graphics Designer and we are grateful for the work she has done in creating the excellent visual impact of the boards. We are fortunate to have Kirstie on the committee team. You must come and have a look, we are open tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday as well as Tuesday and Friday throughout September.
Angela and Barry Corbertt, archivists and experts of the Pilkington Society got our Autumn program of talks off to a flying start in the lecture room of the Edgar Wood Centre. They gave a fascinating account of this famous firm that created many of the most beautiful tiles and pottery of the Arts and Craft period. Members of the society brought along some of their Pilkington pottery for Barry and Angela to comment on.
The vase shown was made in 1931 and designed by William Mycroft, one of the firms longest serving designers.
We look forward to continuing our association with the Pilkington Society and a thank you to Angela and Barry for their talk.
A stitch in time saves nine!
Nine enrolled for the first of our embroidery classes at the Arts and Crafts Church. This was a taster for what we hope will become a regular event in 2017.
Helen Jones, who also runs courses at Hampton Court had maximum attention from the group and concentration was 100 %.
As the workshop progressed hardly a word was spoken by the group of ladies, proof of their concentration. A successful event in every way and thoroughly enjoyed by all participants.
The Rev.John Simpson was ordained and moved to the Bahamas and then to Western Australia to take up a post as a young priest. While there he became a close friend of the Brierley family, formally of Rochdale, who had been closely involved in the setting up of the Co-op Movement. B.C.Brierley was a personal friend of the young architect, Edgar Wood, who designed and built Barcroft (Marland, Rochdale) for him.
John was responsible for returning the Brierley family artefacts back to their original homeland in the hope of finding some interested associations in Rochdale. 769 lots of memorabilia went under the hammer at Capes Dunn in 2015 of which several items were purchased by EWS members. This year John has made a personal visit to the UK and EWS member and owner of Barcroft, Georgina, was keen to show him the EW properties in Middleton, especially Long Street and invitations were also accepted by the Mayor (Councillor Ray Dutton) and the Mayoress , Councillor Jim Gartside and his wife Jane a former councillor, were part of a large party attending.
As part of the Victorian Society’s AGM weekend, almost one hundred members from all over the country visited the Arts and Crafts Church this afternoon. The programme consisted of a brief resume of the work of Edgar Wood, a look around the church and school and exhibitions. Four groups of approx twenty went on escorted walks to see the Edgar Wood buildings in the Conservation Area, while those less mobile had a ‘virtual tour’ at the church. Before departing they enjoyed afternoon tea provided by Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust.
A rewarding afternoon was had, but only possible as a result of all the work by the Edgar Wood Society volunteers: the research group for providing up to date findings and those who wrote and edited new and revised leaflets and guides, those who led the walks and the ladies for providing over 100 cups of tea/coffee and not forgetting those who set up and cleared up after the event. A big thank you.
For the second year running the Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust has not been successful in receiving a grant under the Listed Places of Worship scheme for dedicated repairs to roofs, gutters and drains.
The application ticked all the correct boxes and matched funding was in place, being supported by the Edgar Wood Society, Middleton Township and others. This Church is on the National Buildings at Risk Register, yet still did not get grant approval. We are very disappointed.
Members of the EWS and friends had an excellent day out visiting St.Martin’s at Marple Bridge, St. Mary the Virgin at Buxton, the museum and various delights around the Pavilion Gardens. Thank you to Anthony from St. Martin’s and Eric at St. Mary’s for showing us around and our own Nick Baker for his expert commentary at the venues.
Images show: Stained glass by George Wragg at Buxton Museum. Part of the rood screen
at St.mary’s. Lady Chapel ceiling and door handle at St. martin’s, work by Sedding and Henry Wilson. 
A new leaflet is being distributed across the borough and further afield for visiting Middleton’s Golden Cluster. Look at the events/calendar for visiting times. The Lord Mayor of Manchester accepted a leaflet while visiting the East Lancs Railway and at Middleton’s May day celebrations, Sally was on hand in the Heritage gazebo to pass on a leaflet to Liz McInnes, the MP for Middleton and Heywood.
Twenty one Rotary Club members from Royton and Shaw were our first group of visitors in 2016. They started the day at St. Leonard’s Parish Church, where they were guided by Leon McLeod. Lunch followed at the Old Boar’s Head, where they learnt about the recent Continue reading “First Group Visit of 2016”
Christine was nominated by Dave Lees for a Manchester Histories Community Award. Christine was one of three short listed for the Pickstone prize and is shown holding the award for being highly recommended by the judging panel. The ceremony took place in the grand surroundings of banqueting room of the Manchester Town Hall. Dave gave an excellent, timed five minute presentation about Christine’s role in promoting Middleton’s history over the last twelve years and her close involvement in the pending restoration of Long Street Methodist Church and School. Representatives from Middleton’s historical and civic societies and Mr.N.Barton from the planning department of RMBC came to give their support.
The building was broken into between Sunday lunch time and Monday morning, January 3-4th. Fortunately nothing was stolen and the intruders did not manage to get into the adjacent Arts & Crafts Church. A lot of damage was done as they forced open internal doors. Emergency repairs had to be made to secure the premises.
Emergency roof work to replace slipped stone tiles has started. These are the latest ones to slip, which are occurring more frequently.
