Tag: history

Beginning the Archive: A First Glimpse into the Garnett Documents

The author is meticulously exploring a fragmentary archive of G. Garnett & Sons, a historical worsted manufacturer in Apperley Bridge. Using resources like Grace’s Guide, they are documenting fragile technical drawings and plans from the mill, revealing insights into mid-century engineering and the textile industry’s evolution, while fostering a personal home archive.… Read More Beginning the Archive: A First Glimpse into the Garnett Documents

rbakewell46Leave a comment

It Began With a Message: Investigating the Clockmaker Thomas Ashton

The writer discusses a rare longcase clock by Thomas Ashton, a clockmaker from Macclesfield, notable for its trilingual dial. While no connection is established between Ashton and the later industrial Ashton families, the clock suggests a scholarly commission. The writer invites further information or photographs to enhance understanding of Ashton’s work and its historical context.… Read More It Began With a Message: Investigating the Clockmaker Thomas Ashton

rbakewell46Leave a comment

Tithe Maps: What They Are & Why They Matter

Tithe maps, created between 1837 and the mid-1840s, are essential historical records that detail land use and ownership in rural England prior to industrialisation. Accompanied by tithe apportionments, they list specific plots, owners, and their uses, preserving ancient field names and patterns, offering invaluable insights for researchers and historians.… Read More Tithe Maps: What They Are & Why They Matter

rbakewell46Leave a comment

The Manorial Landscape of Gee Cross and Werneth Low

Land, labour, fields, paths, and memory Before the mills, chapels, and terraces transformed the landscape, Gee Cross and Werneth Low belonged to a much older pattern of land organisation: the manorial system. For centuries, this framework shaped how people lived, worked, and interacted with the land. Its traces remain visible today in field boundaries, footpaths,… Read More The Manorial Landscape of Gee Cross and Werneth Low

rbakewell46Leave a comment

Gee Cross Before the Mills: Quiet Landmarks of an Older Village

Gee Cross, established long before Hyde’s industrialization, is rooted in history as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Key landmarks, such as The Big Tree and The Old School House, reflect the village’s identity, embodying community values and shared experiences that define its character before industrial changes altered the landscape and daily life.… Read More Gee Cross Before the Mills: Quiet Landmarks of an Older Village

rbakewell46Leave a comment

flags: textiles of memory, Identity & contested meaning

Image Credit: Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash “Flags are not just symbols—they are textiles of memory. Woven, stitched, dyed, and flown, they carry the weight of collective identity and the quiet resonance of personal meaning. For nations, flags declare sovereignty. For communities, they signal solidarity. For individuals, they often evoke longing, pride, or protest.”… Read More flags: textiles of memory, Identity & contested meaning

rbakewell46Leave a comment

the cultural history of left-handedness

From superstition and stigma to celebration and skill Left-handedness has long carried cultural weight—far beyond which hand holds the pen. For centuries, it’s been viewed with suspicion, framed as a weakness, or romanticised as a mark of creativity and talent. Clean vs. Unclean in Ancient Cultures In many ancient societies, hands were not equal. In… Read More the cultural history of left-handedness

rbakewell46Leave a comment

mining hyde & gee cross: the hidden depths of hyde’s industrial heritage

While Hyde is best known for its cotton mills, coal mining played a crucial role in the town’s development — especially in and around the village of Gee Cross. The area sits atop part of the Manchester Coalfield, and coal seams were commercially exploited to fuel local industry. Coal in the Hyde Area From the… Read More mining hyde & gee cross: the hidden depths of hyde’s industrial heritage

rbakewell46Leave a comment