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Wednesday 8 July 2009

Senior Service

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I'm taking many shoots of this local landmark mill 0n Ashton Road, Hyde.. before it is pulled down for housing. Originally it was a cotton mill built at the turn of the 1900s and completed in 1905. Cotton was worked here until 1958, when the factory was sold to a Cigarette making company called J. A. Pattrieouoex. This company made the Senior Service brand of cigarettes, very popular in the 1950s 60s, and 70s and still being made elsewhere today. A good quality cigarette that I remember being smoked mostly by men in the building trade.... a working mans smoke along with the likes of 'Park Drive' which my dad smoked and 'Woodbine' which my mother smoked.
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On the top of this factory in what must have been 10-15 foot blue florescent lights were the words 'SENIOR SERVICE'. These could be seen from miles around, and made the mill a landmark. The Gallaher group purchased the building in 1959 and continued making cigarettes there for over 40 years. The factory was closed in 1999 and production was transferred to Northern Ireland. The building is now home to Findel Education, a supplier of educational products. I for one will be sad to see this building pulled down and houses being built in its place.

9 comments:

ilscuro said...

Yes i will be sad too Tom as i worked there a few years ago.

I think this is the last old factory left in Hyde, after James North's, Ashton Bros, and Redferns.

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

What a beauty. It would be a very sad day indeed to see the building demolished. Is it for certain that it will be demolished Tom? I know a lot of the Mills in the area have now been made into apartments, wish that could be done here. No sign of little one yet? Linda

Patty said...

It's a shame they can't convert it into apartments and keep the building. Looks like it's still in good shape. It's always sad to see a landmark torn down to make room for what some call progress.

Anonymous said...

Hello Tom. I haven't been here in ages. Last time, you were taking a break. What a pleasant surprise to come back to read some of your old posts...and find you posting on a regular basis!

SandyCarlson said...

I hope the new building(s) blend with the landscape as this one does. What a history!

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

What a pity to destroy such smart industrial architecture, it's difficult to protect hese buildings, it takes a long time before Troyes begins to understand the value of its old hosiery buildings.

Jane Hards Photography said...

What a waste of a decent building. Affordable flats would have been perfect. I confess to my borhter and I nicking our dad's park drive when he was working nights. Horrible things. I gave up the fags here's ago though and the petty larceny.

Rose said...

Trying to catch up...was checking to see if your grandson had made an appearance. I guess not....

Gerald (SK14) said...

Not seen it from this angle before. It is true that its fate has been sealed alas - the owners say it has become unsafe.

PS the scarecrows are out in Broadbottom again.