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A view of Schwabe’s Chimney, taken from the hill above Rhodes Village. The white houses that once stood on Manchester Old Road can be seen to the right. The Colossus, as the chimney was once known, was built in only 32 weeks, 16 of which were spent digging out the foundations. The chimney was once said to be the largest brick structure in Europe, standing at 358ft. In 1977, Ben Lancaster, a Chadderton demolition contractor, bought the chimney for five pounds and took four years, off and on, to demolish it.
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Recording village life
Harold Cunliffe14/ 7/2005
THIS WEEK, we look at a number of old photographs taken in an around Rhodes Village. Our local historian, Harold Cunliffe, has again been fortunate to come across two interesting books connected with Rhodes during his research.
The first was bought at a car boot sale in Ashton, while the other comes courtesy of Joyce Cooper, who now lives in Worthing.
Rhodes Wood Sluices is the title which has been inscribed on the first book, most probably used by the village's water bailiff in the course of his duty. Each page shows meticulously recorded data which has been beautifully inscribed in pen and ink.
The first entry, made on 27 June 1879, reads: "9am - opened sluices to feed the fountain". Another reference to the fountain was made on 19 August 1890, which reads: "Sent some water down to the fountain. Mr Hill and some London gentlemen have come to visit."
Harold's research indicates that the fountain in question was the much-missed Edgar Wood-designed water feature, which was commissioned in 1887 and used to stand in the centre of town.
The last entry in the water bailiff's book was made on 5 December 1951, terminating 74 years of thorough record-keeping.
Mrs Cooper's book also contains meticulously-recorded details, but these are to do with amounts of money deposited with the treasurer of the Association for the Prosecution of Felons in the Townships of Great and Little Heaton, established on 7 April 1830.
It would appear that the Earl of Wilton gave the first donation of £3. Other donations came from Otho Davidson - 10 shillings (the equivalent of 50p in today's money) - and Mary Jackson, who gave three shillings.
Total funds in the first year amount to three pounds and thirteen shillings. But on 30 March 1849, those involved with the association decided to discontinue its activites, after 19 years in existence.
Its chairman, Jonathan Whitehead, announced that funds amounting to twelve pounds, seventeen and thrupence would be re-distributed to subscribers. Perhaps Rhodes felons were being dealt with by the local police?
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