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10,000 years of Stockport
Paul R Taylor31/ 3/2006
A MUSEUM that chronicles the lives of Stopfordians during the
past 10,000 years has opened to the public.
The Stockport Story Social History Museum in Market Place tells the
story of the town through historical treasures and interactive
displays.
Artefacts on display include the early flint tools of
hunter-gatherers from Mesolithic times, a Neolithic flint chisel, a
Bronze Age dagger and rare Iron Age pottery.
Visitors begin in the Origins gallery, learning what life was like
in Stockport during the Palaeolithic Period, Neolithic Period,
Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman times.
They then proceed through the Dark Ages and onto the Medieval
Stockport gallery "The Making of the Town", before discovering how
Stockport was transformed from a small settlement to a thriving
market and then an important centre for textile production.
The museum is located next to Staircase House, an 18-room property
dating from the 15th century. The house was once home to the
wealthy Shallcross family and has been laid out as it would have
been across the centuries.
Scott Manton, museum curator, said: "By visiting both Stockport
Story and nearby Staircase House visitors can learn about the
changing faces of Stockport, socially and economically.
"The two attractions will be a winning combination, giving a real
insight into not only days gone by, but also a greater
understanding of the present and inspiration for the future."
Several of the objects on display were found at the Old Vicarage in
Mellor, where archaeologists discovered an Iron Age hill
fort.
Owners Prof John and Anne Hearle discovered there were ancient
treasures buried in their garden during the long hot summer of
1995. Anne noticed that while most of grass was so dry it had
turned brown, there was a strip next to her vegetable patch that
had stayed green.
The patch was found to be above a ditch that had retained some
moisture, and an examination of the area later revealed that Anne
had discovered the remains of an Iron Age fort.
"It was wonderful to have discovered this deep Iron Age ditch in
our garden.
"Through the efforts of a host of volunteers led by Manchester
University's archaeology unit, we have uncovered some wonderful
finds.
"By displaying them in Stockport Story everyone can have a chance
to enjoy them."
In October 2006, the second phase of the museum will open to the
public, completing the journey through time. Victorian Stockport,
Stockport in the wars and the lives of Stopfordian's today.
Cllr Pam King, leisure boss, said: "The early part of Stockport's
history is probably the most fascinating, especially as we are
displaying archaeological finds never seen before.
"Both Stockport Story and Staircase House help to make our historic
market place a truly fascinating place to visit, and together we
have the best of the North West's heritage attractions all in one
place."
POSTERS designed by schoolchildren in the 1950s and 1960s have
been found in Stockport Council's archives.
Council employees, who were planning the celebrations for the town
hall's centenary in 2008, found around 100 posters hidden away in a
draw.
The Keep Stockport and Britain Tidy posters were designed as part
of a competition and reflect the era they were created in, with the
emphasis on soldiers, being British and the future.
The council now wants to trace the artistic children, who would now
be between 48 and 60 years old.
Jason Carroll, venues manager, said: "We are keen to re-open the
archive to allow the public to view these pictures as part of the
celebrations. Much of the artwork is exceptional.
"We would very much like to hear from the people who created these
posters, who were of course children at the time.
"We have produced a list of names of all the children, along with
their dates of birth and the schools that they attended.
"We are interested in what they have done since they left school,
and if they can remember what inspired them to take part in the
competition.
"We would like to get pictures of them, both then and now, to
display. The aim is then to display all the posters and
information, and have the public judge them as part of a
competition."
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