Having travelled back in time along Ten Acres Lane why not come along with me now and see just what’s left – right?
Each Manchester street tells its own tales of homes and people been, gone, rebuilt and buried – whole industries evaporating laid waste by seismic economic forces, land changing use again and again – shop door bells which are a now but a ghostly tintinnabulation on the wind.
Starting from the Oldham Road end the clearance of older terraced homes was followed by the construction of newer 70s social housing.
The former Tootal’s Mill is now owned by Sleepdown Textiles.
Some of the older terraces were spared the wrecker’s ball.
Industrial sites remain fenced and unused slowly returning to some form of urban natural habitat.
The cast-iron Rochdale Canal bridge is still in place – it was itself a replacement for an earlier masonry version.
Mather and Platt’s foundry sheds are just about hanging on – though I am uncertain of their current use and ownership.
The recreation ground is now an extensive community football facility and also home to the National Taekwondo Centre.
This large tract of land once Jackson’s Brickworks is under consideration for a modern private housing development
Much of the inter-war housing stock is still extant.
The sad shell of the Co-operative corner shop currently half storefront church half former tyre supplier is a sorry sight.
The still-standing CWS Works.
Finally passing under the railway bridge and descending into the Medlock Valley – our journey’s end.
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