The Autis Lens

04/11/2023

This page is no longer operating, Please follow the new page The Third Prospectism for new updates and photography plus loads of new features on this newly created page

07/10/2023

Another sneak peak at my new mapping project which is under way at the moment.

Are you looking forward to the map being released to see what it all about.

01/10/2023

Oh what new project am I working on now?

This new project will be huge and ground breaking once completed. it might also need some collaboration on completing the details which are hard to find.

What are you guesses for this new project.

09/09/2023

Introducing Street Names of Manchester map

The map is currently in Beta mode at the moment, whilst I work out through constructive feedback the best way to develop the map.

If anyone knows any street name origins for any streets within the Manchester Council area. I would like to hear them as I'm struggling with a lot of the street name around the borough.

Have you ever wondered how a street gets its name or have you noticed a theme with street names but don't know the origin or meaning behind them. This map has been designed to explore the name origins of The Manchester Street Names.

04/09/2023

Have you ever wondered how Weatherfield Famous Rovers Return ended up on the famous cobbles?

This grand little pub called the Ye Olde Rovers Return. Was the inspiration for the now famous Rovers Return on Coronation Street.

The Ye Olde Rovers Return was a public house in the Withy Grove area of Manchester, constructed in the early-14th century. Demolished in 1958, it was the inspiration for the fictional Rovers Return Inn featured in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street, first broadcast in 1960.

At the time of its construction, Manchester was a small medieval market town, mostly consisting of arable land, and Withingreave Hall was built on a lane with a stream and a grove (or "greave") of willow trees ("withies") running along the opposite side, from which it took its earliest name, "Withy Greave." This is where the street name Withy Grove comes from as it is named after the former Withingreave Hall.

Origins

03/09/2023

Exciting news alert

Do you remember during the pandemic. When I was doing street name origins, which majority of the page followers loved. Well I'm currently working on reviving this project in a new and improved format.

I'm currently working on creating a interactive street name origin project which will be community led to help me to research the name origins, where the names origins are unclear or have mutiple reasons for the name.

Further details of the project will be released over the next week.

P.S The street photography won't be returning at the moment

29/08/2023

Oldham, used to have 5 hospitals with over 1,000 beds in around the 1950/1960s, for the town population of approximal 115,346 people Now the town is only served by one hospital with only 191 beds for town population of 96,420 people.

The hospitals are provided under the national scheme by the Oldham and District Hospital Management Committee of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, the following hospitals with attached special treatment within the borough.

Oldham and District General Hospital, Rochdale Road.
This hospital had 965 beds including 6 amenity and 10 private beds, mainly for acute cases, with 66 beds in c.1960 reserved for maternity cases. It was well equipped for all medical and surgical treatments. It included a modern maternity unit, psychiatric and geriatric wards, out-patients department and a V.D. Clinic.

Oldham Royal Infirmary, Union Street West.
This hospital provided a further 203 beds for acute cases. It had a modern physiotherapy and orthopaedic departments and out-patients department which also included a well equipped casualty section.

Woodfield Maternity Home, Manchester Road.
This maternity home had 20 beds all of which are classified as amenity, i.e. a small payment is required. It functioned as a general practitioners hospital, all necessary facilities and up to date equipment being provided.

Strinesdale Hospital, Moorside
There were 55 beds available for men and women patients who had respiratory tuberculosis and diseases of the chest.

Westhulme Hospital, Chadderton Road
This hospital was divided into three sections providing 34 beds for infectious diseases, 24 beds in the dermatology unit and accommodation for in a separate unit for 32 psycho-geriatric cases and there was no out-patients department.

Also administered by the Oldham and District Hospital Management Committee, but not situated in the Borough. Are Chadderton Hospital Racefield, Royton with 52 beds for men suffering from T.B. and chest diseases.

Dr Kershaw's Cottage Hospital, Trinity Lane, Royton
Which was an excellently equipped general practitioners hospital, with 20 beds for acute cases.

29/08/2023

This is a fascinating photograph of Failsworth in 1822.

Discovered in a book from the local library.

27/08/2023

The 1970s was a great decade for buses service far fetched locations sometimes as Express Routes let look at some of the routes from the 1970s which we have sadly lost today.

X50 Birmingham - Stratford-Upon-Avon - Oxford Gloucester Green
Operated by Midland Reds - Journey time of Approx 2h 47m
Operated 3/4 Journeys Monday to Saturday and 4 Journeys on Sundays in 1979.

X99 Birmingham - Sutton Coldfield - Ashby - Long Eaton - Nottingham
Operated by Midland Reds - Journey time of Approx 2hr 36m
Operated hourly Monday to Saturdays and Hourly sundays.

If you liked this feature and I will look at researching some more long distanced forgotten routes in the future

23/08/2023

In the 1940s, there must have been a few slowly news days around the UK. As I have found online news clippings of newly married couple from Coalshaw Green, Chadderton. In the Buckhamingshire newspapers.

The Weddings of the week feature, in Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury news on Friday 30 May 1947. Featured Mr Nicholls from Coalshaw Green, Chadderton who must had his wedding in Aylesbury.

It superising what you find in old newspapers

22/08/2023

Cryptic News Clippings - #1

Chadderton - Accident - 3dr Ashton Smethurst at the Mona Spinning Co. Injured hand whilst following his employment, followed --- Re.Istait - All the mills in this district re started work on Tuesday morning. with exception of the Summervale Mill.

Published Friday 8th June 1917
Newspaper Cotton Factory Times
County Lancashire England

Can you work out what this Cryptic News Clipping is all about?

19/08/2023

Tribute to a Chadderton Legend Ronald Whittam 21/03/1925 -16/08/2023 aged 98.

Ronald Whittam was born in Chadderton on 21 March 1925 and he was raised in the Butler Green area of Chadderton which a little upcoming hamlet in the 1920s. He was the eldest of three sons and one daughter of Edward Whitham and Mary Whitham. His parents owned a bakery business in Butler Green. Which he worked in after leaving school at age 14.

Ronald attended Stanley Road Council School, Evening Classes and Oldham Municipal Technical College.

Ronald joined the Royal Air Force after becoming 18 years old, during the second world war. He was selected to join the PNB scheme: pilot, navigator, bomb-aimer. He passed the PNB scheme, in 50 Initial Training Wing at RAF Bridgnorth, Shropshire. In 1947 he was demobbed from National Service, then commenced university life but he did consider returning to work in his family Bakehouse in Butler Green. After being demobbed from National Service.

Scientific Career
Fields | Physiology
Institutions | University of Sheffield 1951-1955 - University of Cambridge 1955-1958 - University of University of Oxford 1958-1966 - University of Leicester 1966-1983

Awards and Honours
1986: Honorary Member of The Physiological Society
1973: Fellow of The Royal Society (FRS)
1965: The Royal Society, Bruno Mendel Fellow
1958: Beit Memorial Fellow
1954: John Stokes Research Fellow, University of Sheffield

He passed away peacefully on Wednesday 16th August 2023 at Leicester Royal Infirmary aged 98.

Rest in Peace Ronald Whittam

10/08/2023

I'm deeply saddened to hear the news that Wilkinsons aka Wilko, as entered administration. I'm just hoping that someone out there rescues the company from liquidation.

Over the next few weeks, I will be looking back on Wilko history and it journey from this single store in Leicester.

More info on Wilko Website > https://www.wilko.com/?fbclid=IwAR0VIOGf_7gJNuys8M2bgkUenzjXPOcTGilnoj_-xv31Spi7wtYGXF17opw

08/08/2023

Wheelie when did take over the wheelie bin collections in Chadderton District

Spotted in Chadderton on 08/08/23 two Chorley council wheelie bins

06/08/2023

Stagecoach Manchester Industrial Action - 11/12/13/14 August 2023.

Stagecoach Manchester have been informed by Unite the Union that industrial action will take place on 11, 12, 13, 14 August, affecting services operating from our Ashton, Hyde Road, Sharston and Stockport Depots.

On these strike days, a limited service will be in operation between 07:00 - 19:00 hours on the following services
- 43/192/201/203/219

Service not affected
Middleton Depot - 56/112/113/114/115/116/117/118/119/149/171/172/350/426
Middleton Depot Sunday services - 129/343/415

Wigan Depot - 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/10A/34/34A

Services Affected - Will not operate on 11/12/13/14 August
7 (Stockport)/11/15/23/25/34/34a/38/42/42a/b/c/50/74/76/76a/85/85a/86/101/102/103/111/142/143/147/150/156/191/197/202/205/216/217/220/221/230/231/237/250/253/255/256/312/313/314/322/325/327/330/335/336/337/339/342/344/346/347/358/360/368/370/374/375/378/378A/379/382/383/384/387/389/396/X92.

More Info > https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/manchester/industrial-action

Any questions regarding the industrial actions or alternative travel arrangements I can assist with those.

The industrial action does not affect Stagecoach services operated from our Middleton and Wigan Depots. The following services will operate as normal: Middleton services

31/07/2023

The City of Manchester, has been missing a vital outer circle circular service for over a decade now. This is due to many reasons as to why it never been done in Manchester but Birmingham and West Midlands PTE has done it decades before us and Manchester is still not taking the bate.

I have looked into how a Outer Circle route could work in Manchester. Especially because are Outer Ring Road is a motorway not a classified A Road. Which makes planning a bus route slightly more difficult, as you don't really want bus just sticking to the motorway and not making any money.

My proposed Outer Circle service would be numbered 60A - Anticlockwise and 60C - Clockwise and the route would start in Stockport New Bus Station and finish there after visiting Gatley, Northenden, Trafford Centre, Swinton, Heaton Park, Moston Railway Station, Guide Bridge, Denton and Bredbury Industrial Estate. To name a few destinations.

This route would ultimately allow passengers travel further for work. Without the need for mutiple interchanges and modes of transport and it might attract car users out of there cars and on to buses.

I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for further enhancement to this proposed route. Oh it would also be lovely for Mr Burnham and his bee network team to take note of this route suggestion.

30/07/2023

Hi Everyone

I would like to explain the recent seen changes to the page and explain what happened with Owdham Vaults.

This page has evolved since it was launched as a local history page called Owdham Vaults in early 2020. It has even gone through a few names changes in the process and there is now a less of focus on Local History. This is because the author of page has an on going battle with Anxiety and it was getting difficult to maintain Owdham Vaults and keeping page focused on Local History around Oldham.

When I set up Owdham Vaults, I wanted to focus on preserving today's history for tomorrow's generations. This heavily involved photography which I loved but my unique genera was causing a few issues which led to the decline of Owdham Vaults and eventually closure of the YouTube Channel in 2022 and brought to the end of my photography project which I loved to do and helped to deal with my ongoing mental health issues but I couldn't carry on with the negative feedback for the general public, regarding security breaches and general cause of concerns of how the photographs was taken but there was some great responses to the project. The photography project was street scene preservation and street name origins.

Anyways, The Autis Lens formerly Owdham Vaults page will now be the central hub for me the author to share variety of interests and projects with you. From bus routes proposals, my healthier eating journey and anything else I feel is entertaining or interesting for you. This page will also show case the true challenges that a adult living with Autism has to deal with.

Finally, the YouTube channel will be still available for viewing but for people who are not aware. I have stopped filming in 2022 because I was going through a career change and also the aforementioned issues and technical reasons which meant I could no longer publish to the channel.

07/07/2023

I have discovered a timetable from the golden days of public transport in Greater Manchester. This timetable has a timing point hinting to something which has since long gone.

The timing point in question is Royton Railway Station, can you guess which service would have used this as a timing point and what period of time this service operated from.

06/07/2023

Historically, Oldham used to be connected to The Trafford Centre by a bus service 58 which operated via Middleton and M60 motorway. This connection has be heavily missed and under my proposals would see these connections restored on vastly different route.

My proposed would provide Oldham with it first every 3 hospital connections, including a new connection Salford Royal Hospital, as well as Royal Oldham Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.

The route mainly serves the A576 which connects Trafford Park to Middleton so it makes sense for bus service to provide a regular frequent service along it for people who have not got a car.

These are only my ideas and proposals, they are not indorsed by TFGM.

01/07/2023

I know the residents of Saddleworth, has been calling for a better and more streamlined bus network for years, but the operators and TFGM are not listening. Instead they just keep cutting the network back to the bare bones.

I have been listening to the concerns of Saddleworth Residents and I have now acted by creating bus routes I would like to see serve Saddleworth and provide the connections that the folk of Saddleworth desperately need or may want.

Introducing the first route proposal of 6 routes serving the various villages and localities of Saddleworth. The new little bee 309 service would connect the villages of Denshaw, Delph, Dobcross, Uppermill, Grasscroft with the large towns of Rochdale and Ashton. This would therefore restore the vital missing link to Rochdale from Denshaw and other Saddleworth Villages. This service would also provide a handy connection to railway services in Mossley and Greenfield, as well as Metrolink Connection in Rochdale, Newhey and Ashton.

The route has been designed to offer an alternative and scenic radial route to the more direct route between Ashton and Rochdale via Oldham and Royton.

This route is only proposal of what route I create and like to see being operated.

28/06/2023

My vision for the Bee Bus Network, is taking shape very nicely and brand new destinations and connections are already being created.

I have opted to focus my attention on creating the core network first before moving on to the Little Bee Network. There is however a very little bee routes already created mainly around the Airport area.

The new bus numbering system is taking shape as well.

What are your thoughts on this new network I have started to create and would you like to see more single in depth route proposal posts.

20/06/2023

The current route numbering system is out of date and confusing with mutilple routes using the same numbers or prefixes. I have come up with my own route numbering system. Which is modern and streamed lined for the modern generation, to make travelling by bus simpler and easier for all.

1-299 | Your Core Network - Route operating direct from point a to point b
300-599 | Your Little Bees - Routes that goes out of there way to provide connections to areas that the core network can't reach. The services would be frequent at every 30 minutes Mon-Saturday and Every 60 Minutes on Sundays, using the smallest buses aviable.
600-699 | Your Cross Boundary Services - Routes which takes you out of the bee network county.
S700-S899 | Your Future Generation - Services designed for school students only and helps to indentify school buses.
X1-X99 | Your Express Services - Services the utilises various modes of rapid transport like Guided Busways, Motorway Services and Long Distanced Services.

The numbering system is still work in progress and I would love to hear your feedback on my proposed numbering system

17/06/2023

Route Proposal 1 | A service connecting Manchester with Hollingworth Lake via Newton Heath, Chadderton, Oldham Hospital, Shaw, Buckstones, Newhey and Kiln Lane.

Historically the service 182 operated a similar route between Manchester and Rochdale via Newton Heath, Chadderton e.t.c in 1986 under GM Buses. However since the 2010s the 182 service has seen a series of route downgraded which includes curtailments and frequency changes. The operator has justified these changes to be due to poor passenger numbers on the route.

My proposal for this existing service would be to withdraw the existing route and replace it with a whole brand new route and frequency. The new service would provide an exciting new connection to Hollingworth Lake from the North Manchester areas. Which have poor poverty levels and people on low incomes looking for an affordable day out locally. Manchester has never been connected to Hollingworth Lake, near Littleborough by public transport ever before. Why has it not been done is the question? Also under my proposals there is the option of a possible new connection to Littleborough Railway Station by bus. Just incase of railway dispuration.

Pros
Better catchment reach for day visitors to Hollingworth Lake from the North Manchester area, without a car or other means of transport.
A direct service serving mainly main roads, except when serving Buckstones and Kiln Lane.
Connection to Metrolink services at Central Park (Short Walk) Shaw & Crompton
Connection to other local bus services in Newton Heath, Chadderton and Shaw
Providing excellent connections along the route to Royal Oldham Hospital, for staff, patients and visitors.
Cons
The route will no longer call at Royton Town Centre or High Barn
The route could suffer low passenger numbers in the winter period or bad weather.
The route would no longer provide onward connection at Newton Heath Metrolink Stn

Please remember these proposals are the subjects of my own personal views and ideas, therefore not endorsed by TFGM or the operators. There will be no proposed changes to any routes mentioned or referenced in these proposals

I would love to hear your thoughts on this route proposal and suggestions on further enhancement to the service.

14/06/2023

Over the last few weeks. I have been sharing an insight into how I would plan bus routes and create a corporative and connected bus network around Greater Manchester, if I had the opportunity to design the Bee Network.

I will be entering the next phase of project creating a visual bus network map with all my own suggestions and ideas. Which will either based on the 1986 bus network or common logical sense. I will be sharing each route suggestion on here, for you feedback and suggestions.

I have already identify 6 routes I would want to work on first and be the first batch to be added to my imaginary network map. In this first batch there are plans for 2 services to terminate at Central Park Metrolink Interchange, a new connection for Hollingworth Lake and better routes for Greenfield and Saddleworth.

I'm open to ideas and suggestion from you regardingthe bus network and what routes you would like to see or lost service to be revived.

10/06/2023

Route Proposal 2 - A line between Blackley Cemetery and Westwood The Gateway via Bowker Vale, North Mcr Hospital, Moston, Failsworth, Hollinwood, Freehold and Chadderton Mall [North Manchester Rambler] - *Only fantasy proposal not a real proposal*

The route is proposed to start as loop of Blackley Cemetery Glenbrook Road/Heaton Park Road and Victoria Avenue | Before rambling it way around North Manchester estates and industrial area serving Heaton Park - Bowker Vale for Metrolink Connections -Cheetham Hill - North Manchester General Hospital - Smedley - Cheetham for Manchester Fort Shopping - Monsall - Harpurhey - Newton Heath - Failsworth Estates - Failsworth Metrolink Station - New Moston - Hollinwood Morrisons - Coalshaw Green - Whitegate - Freehold Metrolink - Chadderton Mall before terminating in a loop at Westwood The Gateway of Featherstall Road North/Quebec Street and Elenor Street.

This route follows the 2003 151 Higher Blackley to Chadderton route, the route has since various extension and changes since 2003 but I think the 2003 route was the best route with the right connections compared to the present day route variation.

There is lot of room for flexibility and adjustment with this route. Like a extension to terminate at Royal Oldham Hospital.

Once again this is solely my own ideas and thoughts of route ideas I would like to see be created under the new Bee network umbrella.

10/06/2023

I'm working on the next batch of route proposals, which would be for the North Manchester Rambler network of 4 routes. The routes would not be designed for end to end travel, instead they are being designed to provide connections to work, healthcare and leisure oppurtnties where the core bus network doesn't reach.

The North Manchester Rambler Network would consist of this 4 routes which are currently going through design phase.

150 | TBC to TBC
151 | Higher Blackley (Finningley Rd) to Chadderton Mall via Bowker Vale, North Manchester Hospital, Failsworth, Hollinwood, Whitegate
152 | Cheetham Hill to Rochdale via North Manchester Hospital, Polefield, Bury, Fairfield Hospital
153 | Middleton to Greengate via Mills Hill, Chadderton Fold, Oldham, Limeside, Hollinwood, Whitegate, Broadway Business Park

These routes are my own ideas and suggestion and are not endorsed by TFGM or currently being planned by them. It my own vision for the network of routes.

More details on the 4 routes will be released over the next month and I'm open to suggestions and ideas regarding the route proposals

10/06/2023

Anyone travelling to Manchester City Centre this weekend on the Metrolink. Please be advised the trams are now operating this weekend but there will be multiple stop closures in the City Centre due to the amount of events happening in the area.
Saturday 10th June
The following stops will be closed during the day:
Market Street and Shudehill - Closed all Saturday
Heaton Park – from 9pm until the end of service
Piccadilly Gardens – between 3pm and approximately 5pm
Exchange Square – between 12pm and approximately 5pm
Sunday 11th June
The following stops will be closed during the day:
Heaton Park – From 9pm until end of service
Exchange Square – between 12pm and approximately 5pm
Piccadilly Gardens – between 3pm and approximately 5pm
Market Street – between 3pm and approximately 6pm
Shudehill – between 3pm and approximately 6pm.

30/05/2023

Route Proposal 1 - A link between Woodhouses and Ashton Moss Leisure Park - The Medlock Rambler.

Geographically Woodhouse and Littlemoss are literally neighbours just divided by a massive patch of green belt. Unfortunately this has made incredible difficult to connect these two localities by in the past or attempts to connect them as never been tried.

However I have found practical solution to connect the two localities of Woodhouses and Ashton Moss Leisure Park with a bus service.

The route would start at Woodhouses Ashbourne Drive before continuing through Failsworth, Lime Green, Limeside, Copster Hill, Hathershaw, Bardsley for Access to Park Bridge and Daisy Nook, Waterloo, Taunton, Daisy Nook, Littlemoss, Droylsden Shopping Centre, Audenshaw for Metrolink Connections and finally terminating at Ashton Moss Leisure Park.

The route would mean you cross over the M60 motorway three times, which is excellent news if you haven't got a car. Also this route will provide residents of Failsworth much needed new connections to Park Bridge and Daisy Nook County Parks, as well a new connection to Ashton Moss for Leisure and Work.

The route was inspired for the historical Mayne of Manchester 232 Manchester to Oldham service via Littlemoss, Ashton, Glodwick iin 1986.

What are your thoughts on this route suggestion and have you got any other feedback regarding this route idea.

29/05/2023

In the next few days, watch out for a brand new feature on this page. As I start to share my visions and ideas for more connected bus network around Greater Manchester.

I'm currently ironing out technical glitches with my mapping software but once that sorted I will be sharing with you my route suggestions, which will use withdrawn routes, present routes and some logical missing connections ideas.

The first route would be something including these two destinations Limeside and Ashton Moss Leisure Park

13/05/2023

Who remembers Hampson Bakery in Oldham?

Today the Saturday 13th May 2023, the old signage of Hampson was revealed. As the pound bakery sign has either been nicked or getting replaced by a new sign.

Hampsons was a sister company to Sayers the Bakers, which was established in 1912 by Fred and Lylian Sayer. Sayers remained a family run business until 1977 when it was sold to United Biscuits and the again to Warburtons in 1990.

In 2019, Sayers the Bakers went int administration but was brought by a new company Sayers and Pound bakery.

This store on Henshaw street was a Hampson Bakery until around the mid 2000s. Then it was briefly rebranded to a Sayers store before rebranding again to Poundbakery