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Corporation Street, STALYBRIDGE, SK15 2JS

The rapid growth of industry in Stalybridge was due to the introduction of machinery. This was, however, met with violent opposition. After the arrival of Luddites in the area, the doors of mills were kept locked day and night. Military aid was requested by the mill owners and a Scottish regiment under the Duke of Montrose was sent to the town. It was led by Captain Raines who made his headquarters at the Roe Cross Inn. The Luddite disturbances began in November 1811. Gangs of armed men destroyed power looms and fired mills. The disturbances in Stalybridge culminated with a night of violent rioting on 20 April 1812. The social unrest did not curb the growth of the town. By 1814 there were twelve factories and by 1818 the number had increased to sixteen. The Industrial Revolution led to a rapid increase in the town's population in the early part of the 19th century. The population of the town by 1823 was 5,500. In the following two years, due in part to an influx of Irish families seeking better wages, the population rose to 9,000. Stalybridge was among the first wave of towns to establish a Mechanics' Institute with a view to educating the growing number of workers. Only a year after the establishment of Manchester Mechanics' Institute, Stalybridge founded an institute of its own. Its doors opened on 7 September 1825 on Shepley Street with a reading room on Queen Street.

In 1867 Stalybridge was disturbed by the arrival of William Murphy. Records of this man indicate that his sole interest was to sow the seeds of dissent between Roman Catholics, who by this time had grown to significant proportions, and Protestants. He succeeded in this goal only too well for a full year. During 1868 there were a number of violent disturbances and rioting created by Murphy, who described himself as a "renegade Roman Catholic". In his lectures to the public "pretending to expose the religious practices of the Roman Catholic Church", he became a master at whipping up a crowd into a frenzy. Newspaper reports of the time told of his common practice of waving a revolver in the air in "a most threatening manner". On one occasion he incited a riot of such proportions that Father Daley, the parish priest of St Peter's, took to the roof of the church to defend it. A man was shot. The parish priest was tried but eventually acquitted at the Quarter Sessions. Following this incident, the community began to settle down and Murphy chose to extend his political activities elsewhere.

The blue plaque on the wall of Stalybridge Civic Hall reads: TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH ADA JANE SUMMERS M.B.E., J.P. (1861 - 1944) First woman councillor in Tameside and elected first Woman Mayor of Stalybridge in November 1919 A month later Mrs Summers was sworn in as a magistrate, becoming the first woman to adjudicate on an English Bench. In October 1920 she was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Borough's magisterial duties. Known locally as "The Lady Bountiful", Mrs Summers had many interests and was president of a variety of groups and societies. Her admirable work for the town gained her an M.B.E. On May 31st 1939, the town council made her an honourable Freeman of the Borough Unveiled by Philip Buckley, Chairman of Tameside Magistrates on March 27th 2000

The Civic Hall occupies the Grade II listed https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068023 former Victoria Market Hall which dates from 1866. Access is from the rear of the building.

The Parish Church of Holy Trinity and Christ Church is next to Victoria Market Hall on Trinity Street in Stalybridge town centre. The church was built 1851-2; it is a Grade II listed building. This view is from the opposite side of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

On Dean Street, at the rear of Image https://www.tameside.gov.uk/stalybridge/civichall

Until the 18th century the Manor of Staley formed part of the parish of St Michael and All Angels, Mottram. The first church to be built in Stalybridge was Old St George's Church on Cocker Hill, which was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester on 25 July 1776. The church collapsed on 15 May 1778. After the Industrial Revolution, the rising population and the settlement of people from various parts of the country meant that Stalybridge became a centre for a wide range of denominations and sects. The history of these churches in the town is complex, with some churches having occupied many different sites. The influence of the churches in the town remained strong well into the 20th century and formed part of the basis of Stalybridge's sense of identity. The first Methodist chapel was erected in 1802 on the corner of Chapel Street and Rassbottom Street. The Baptist chapel on King Street, was opened by the Particular (Ebenezer) Baptists. This chapel was subsequently occupied by the Congregational Church on 3 October 1830. The Particular Baptists moved to a new chapel on Cross Leech Street on 28 October 1828.

Staly Ward #2 Conservative Club is next door to the Judge's Bar.

View east from Trinity Street.