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Brookdale Avenue, ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, OL6 7UD

New housing on Bentinck Street.

Detail around the door of the former Egret Mill offices Image

Network Connect is a voice and data communication technology company http://www.networkconnect.co.uk/ They are based in the former office block of Egret Mill on Old Street - built in 1864, the oldest part of a mill complex that dated from 1823. An adjoining 5-storey spinning block was destroyed by fire in 1881 and replaced by weaving sheds, the last part of which were demolished in 2013. http://www.ashton-under-lyne.com/history/cotton.htm For a photograph from 1910 see http://ashton-under-lyne.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/monochrome-moment-egret-mill.html Doorway detail: Image

In a new building at the corner of Old Street and Bentinck Street in the St Petersfield development is the Tameside Centre for Enterprise which according to its website http://www.tcfe.co.uk/ has been established to create new businesses and support existing businesses in Greater Manchester. "The Centre offers incubation space and support for people starting new businesses, accelerator programmes for growing businesses and conference facilities including meeting rooms. Through practical support and flexible development space, our mission is to create a new generation of entrepreneurs and promote business growth."

A popular music venue on Old Street. It lies on the edge of the St Petersfield development and (unlike the Friendship Image) was threatened with a CPO and demolition. It fought to be retained and was successful. The pub was known in 1850 as the Painters Arms and was a meeting place for local masons. It was sold to Oldham Brewery in 1897. Between 1886 and 1893 it was called the Rifle Brigade before reverting to the Painters Arms. In 1897 to became the Globe Inn. In 1985 it became one of the "Fighting Cock" group of free houses and renamed the Gamecock. In 1988 it was bought by John Dyson who renamed it the Witchwood.

The Witchwood is a public house and has been a hub for live indie and rock music since the 1960s. In 2004, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council served a compulsory purchase order on The Witchwood as plans for the regeneration of the surrounding area required the building to be removed. After a campaign to save The Witchwood, supported by regular customers, local amateur musicians, businesses and live venues, live music fans from across the country, Ask Developments – the company regenerating the surrounding area – agreed that The Witchwood would not be demolished on condition that "the exterior would be re-rendered and new windows put in". Witchwood website: http://www.thewitchwood.net/

The sign says "Closed for refurbishment open Spring 2008", something has gone wrong its now Spring 2009

In the middle of the St Petersfield development (proclaimed as Ashton's new urban business quarter) stands the Friendship Inn. It's been friendless for more than four years Image It was built in 1827 by Thomas Schofield and it was the home of the Schofield brewery until it was absorbed by Robinson's.