Hartshead Pike
Greater Manchester,
England
Hartshead Pike is a hill in Tameside in Greater Manchester, England,[2] and its name is associated with the monument on its summit. It overlooks Ashton-under-Lyne, Mossley, Saddleworth, Lees and Oldham. On a clear day you can get views of Manchester, Cheshire and Snowdonia in Wales. Hartshead Pike Tower has been a Grade II listed building since 1967.
History
During the Roman occupation of Britain, a warning beacon for local garrisons, possibly lit during times of unrest, may have been sited on Hartshead Pike. Local trackways were routes for the Romans to access the Roman road at Limeside.
The name refers to the hill and the tower. The tower is not on the highest part of the hill but its prominent position,[3] 940 feet (290 m) above sea level, has been the site of a beacon or signalling station[2] from early times and may have been the site of a beacon in the late 16th century.[4]
Tower
The circular, grade-II-listed tower is constructed of hammer-dressed stone with a door on the west side and cusped lancet windows. It has a steeply pitched conical roof above corbelled eaves and dormer roof lights.[5]
The tower was rebuilt in 1863 by John Eaton to commemorate the marriage of Albert Edward to Princess Alexandra, replacing a building that had been there since 1751.[4] An inscription stone reused in the tower states "This Pike Was Rebuilt By Publick Contributions Anno Domini 1751".[4]
In the 1930s the tower was open to the public and contained a sweet shop; it closed at the outbreak of the Second World War and the tower entrance was bricked up after the war. During 2020 the tower underwent £61,000 of repairs, to stop it from deteriorating.[6]
There is a well on the summit enclosed by a stone slab. The inscription above the tower's entrance reads "Look well at me Before you go And See You nothing at me throw".[citation needed]
Gallery
- Hartshead Pike Inscription
- Hartshead Pike showing detail of stone well.
- View of Manchester from Hartshead Pike, 8 miles (13 km) away with Fiddlers Ferry Power Station beyond, 27 miles (43 km) away.
- View of Oldham from Hartshead Pike, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) away.
See also
References
- ^ "Medlock Valley: Hartshead Pike". Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Hartshead Pike". Ashton-under-Lyne.com. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
- ^ From Harthead Pike four ancient counties may be seen: Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Hartshead Pike- Ashton
- ^ a b c Burke, Tom; Nevell, Mike (1996). Buildings of Tameside. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council with the University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. ISBN 1-871324-14-9.
- ^ Historic England. "Hartshead Pike Tower (1067991)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Local landmark to have spire and lantern restored". Tameside Correspondent. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- v
- t
- e
- Ashton Town Hall
- Cavendish Mill, Ashton
- Denton Town Hall
- Dukinfield Town Hall
- Hartshead Pike Tower
- Hyde Hall, Denton
- Hyde Town Hall
- Old Street drill hall, Ashton
- Stayley Hall, Stalybridge
- Tower Mill, Dukinfield
- Alder Community High School
- All Saints Catholic College, Dukinfield
- Audenshaw School
- Copley Academy
- Denton Community College
- Droylsden Academy
- Fairfield High School for Girls
- Great Academy Ashton
- Hyde High School
- Longdendale High School
- Mossley Hollins High School
- Rayner Stephens High School
- St Damian's Roman Catholic Science College
- St Thomas More Roman Catholic College
- West Hill School
- Ashton-under-Lyne bus station
- Ashton-under-Lyne railway station
- Denton railway station
- Fairfield railway station
- Flowery Field railway station
- Godley railway station
- Guide Bridge railway station
- Hattersley railway station
- Hyde Central railway station
- Hyde North railway station
- Mossley railway station
- Newton for Hyde railway station
- Stalybridge railway station