22/03/2022
Stockport, the town where I was born and knew very little about - that is, until I recently joined a guided walk of the town led by local Blue Badge Guide Jean Bailo. What a treat!
Being Stockport and seemingly often in the shadow of its much larger neighbour to the west, the legacy of the Industrial Revolution quite literally looms very large here from the hulking great 22 arch railway viaduct bridge above the River Mersey, which has dominated the town since its completion in 1840 to the remaining red brick mills close by where my grandmother worked from the age of 11 and the story of the Robinson family at the Unicorn Brewery where horses and drays are still in daily use. We paused at Sandy Brow, where in the summer of 1819, local folk gathered before setting off on the ill fated march to Peterloo.
Architecture ranges from Tudor townhouses in the shadow of the colossal Victorian Market Hall - the town has had a Market Charter since 1260 - to classical Georgian and 20th century brutalist, the latter used recently as a filming location for TV series “Life on Mars” and “Ashes to Ashes”.
And there was culture too, including the town’s Art Gallery and so many musical connections.
For me though, the highlight was the unusual statue which stands very close to the busy and noisy A6. I’ve passed it countless times, but to my shame knew nothing about it. Turns out, this is Stockport born James Conway, former Coop milkman, who joined the Royal Marines during World War 2 then in 1942 became one of the “Cockleshell Heroes”.
Conway was captured and killed but has been honoured in Stockport by this wonderful memorial.
Jean varies her walk routes as there is so much here and I'm really looking forward to joining another of her walking tours.