Three decades of fighting to save town’s heritage
STOCKPORT Heritage ‘Group’ was formed by a small band of enthusiasts 30 years ago this autumn, in a town with a fading sense of identity – its town centre sliced in half by a motorway, and swathes of derelict cotton mills littering the landscape.
We wanted to reverse this, resurrecting the old town centre as a rallying point.
The Market Place and Underbank’s narrow winding streets, cobbled alleyways, steps and character were chock full of memories for local people, and over 700 years old!
On a wet autumn evening a small group met in the old Advertiser building on High Street, then known as the Beehive Wholefood Co-op. We listened to Alan Edwards of the North West Civic Trust, who thought a heritage centre would be a good rallying point for our activities.
Staircase House was then a tottering semi-derelict shell in danger of demolition. Saving this became Stockport Heritage’s first call. The council believed ‘controlled demolition’ of the listed structure with its magnificent carved staircase and rare 15th century cruck framed timbers was the answer.
Our small group campaigned and found experts, including a distinguished architect, Peter Hatfield, who reversed both the council and English Heritage’s opinion of Staircase House, after finding 75 per cent of its timbers intact.
Major fundraising events were organised - including the ancient ‘Beating the Bounds’ ceremony we revived, with the town boundaries being traversed by costumed sponsored walkers, starting and finishing at Woodbank Park.
We led walks, gave talks, and our campaign office was set up on busy Castle Street, Edgeley, where regular open days were held. Jean, my late wife, and I started Stockport Heritage magazine in 1987 to publicise our work for Stockport Heritage Trust and the rich heritage of the town.
This drew hundreds of new enthusiasts who turned up for meetings people clearly felt Stockport was a place that mattered.
Staircase House was finally restored as a Stockport Council-sponsored project, with over £4 million worth of funding, including Heritage Lottery and English Heritage money. It’s open to the public and people are amazed at the extent of this unique and wonderful building with its panelled and beamed rooms. »»Stockport Heritage Trust will celebrate 30 years’ work with a cake and exhibition in their Heritage Centre, St Mary’s Parish Church, Market Place, this Saturday, November 19 from 2pm to 3.30pm, where you can get copies of the magazine.