Stockport Heritage
Encyclopedia
Stockport Heritage was formed by volunteers in 1987 as a campaigning conservation group to help preserve and regenerate historic and architecturally sensitive buildings in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport
, Greater Manchester
, England
.
Its main work focussed on Staircase House
, a 15th century merchants' warehouse and home with later additions, which had been semi-derelict for a number of years on Stockport's 750 year old Market Place. The group successfully opposed plans to demolish the house.
Stockport Heritage was granted charitable status in 1988, and was renamed Stockport Heritage Trust. The objective of persuading the local civic authorities to take up the Staircase House project was achieved and the House became the flagship of a regeneration scheme for the historic town centre. The House opened to the public in 2005, after a £4 million restoration by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, as a restored historic town house (Staircase House itself) and the town's museum of local history (The Stockport Story Museum) – thus giving the Borough two heritage sites under the same roof.
In 2001 Stockport Heritage Trust sponsored a Stockport friendship link with Dodge City, Kansas, in consideration of the many American descendants of the Dodge family, who emigrated from Offerton, in the Parish of Stockport, in the 17th century. Members of the Dodge Association regularly visit their ancestral homes in Stockport, one of which is Staircase House.
Starting in 1992, Stockport Heritage Trust initiated a blue plaque programme commemorating various sites in the town including the birthplace of John Bradshawe
, the republican regicide and Lord President of the Council of State
of the puritan Commonwealth
of 1649-53. The commemorative plaques now record sites and people throughout the town centre and a blue plaque trail was launched in 2007.
Since 1999 Stockport Heritage Trust volunteers have run a free heritage centre open to the public on Market days in the part-13th/14th century Parish Church on the Market Place. This building has also been the subject of a multi-million pound restoration scheme. Alongside their changing exhibitions the Heritage Trust have an archive of several thousand local images accessible to visitors and Trust members produce books,videos,pamphlets and a local Stockport Heritage Magazine
. They are also involved in events, giving walks,talks and outreach on local heritage, including civic award schemes and committees on tourism and conservation.
Metropolitan Borough of Stockport
The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in north west England, centred around the town of Stockport. It has a population of about 280,600 and includes the outyling areas of Cheadle and Cheadle Hulme, Marple, Bredbury, Reddish and Romiley...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Its main work focussed on Staircase House
Staircase House
Staircase House is a Grade II* listed medieval building dating from around 1460 situated in Stockport, historically in Cheshire, now within Greater Manchester, England.-History:...
, a 15th century merchants' warehouse and home with later additions, which had been semi-derelict for a number of years on Stockport's 750 year old Market Place. The group successfully opposed plans to demolish the house.
Stockport Heritage was granted charitable status in 1988, and was renamed Stockport Heritage Trust. The objective of persuading the local civic authorities to take up the Staircase House project was achieved and the House became the flagship of a regeneration scheme for the historic town centre. The House opened to the public in 2005, after a £4 million restoration by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, as a restored historic town house (Staircase House itself) and the town's museum of local history (The Stockport Story Museum) – thus giving the Borough two heritage sites under the same roof.
In 2001 Stockport Heritage Trust sponsored a Stockport friendship link with Dodge City, Kansas, in consideration of the many American descendants of the Dodge family, who emigrated from Offerton, in the Parish of Stockport, in the 17th century. Members of the Dodge Association regularly visit their ancestral homes in Stockport, one of which is Staircase House.
Starting in 1992, Stockport Heritage Trust initiated a blue plaque programme commemorating various sites in the town including the birthplace of John Bradshawe
John Bradshaw (judge)
John Bradshaw was an English judge. He is most notable for his role as President of the High Court of Justice for the trial of King Charles I and as the first Lord President of the Council of State of the English Commonwealth....
, the republican regicide and Lord President of the Council of State
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
of the puritan Commonwealth
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
of 1649-53. The commemorative plaques now record sites and people throughout the town centre and a blue plaque trail was launched in 2007.
Since 1999 Stockport Heritage Trust volunteers have run a free heritage centre open to the public on Market days in the part-13th/14th century Parish Church on the Market Place. This building has also been the subject of a multi-million pound restoration scheme. Alongside their changing exhibitions the Heritage Trust have an archive of several thousand local images accessible to visitors and Trust members produce books,videos,pamphlets and a local Stockport Heritage Magazine
Stockport Heritage Magazine
Stockport Heritage Magazine was started in 1987 by two founder members of Stockport Heritage, a voluntary conservation group campaigning to save buildings and traditions in the Borough of Stockport, historically in Cheshire, now within Greater Manchester....
. They are also involved in events, giving walks,talks and outreach on local heritage, including civic award schemes and committees on tourism and conservation.