Report - Ha'penny Shelter, Stockport, 2017

[Alley]

Not very exciting, but this thread https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/springmount-mill-stockport-december-2017.t111790#post-1194979 reminded me of it, as it's attached to the mill.

I think it is under an old school (now gone) so could have been used by both places. Between 1874 and 1898, Brinksway Chapel was located on the Eastern flank of the Mill and re-purposed as one of the local schools. The Chapel / School was built on elevated land above Brinksway, so one of the ways to access the grounds would be by the steep cobbled path that is gated off from the main road.

This would serve as one of two ways for access, as Spring Street higher up the hillside could also be used. Spring Street / Mount is now the site of the modern School and playing fields.

Discovered by SoundLighGo as me and @FreshFingers were having police called on us by nosy neighbours, for climbing the gate to the mill.

At first glance, basement/store rooms, but with thick offset walls (are they called baffle walls?) it seemed likely to be a shelter. There are two brick rooms, with arched ceilings.

Spring Mount Mill

Remains of ?school above

First room, full of sawdust (dumped from the mill)

Second room

The writing on the wall appears to be pencil: WILFRED HALFPENNY LEFT Friday October 1955 TO THE BOYS WEEP. We named it after you.

Does it go further? This is looking towards Brinksway air raid shelter

It looks possible, but found nothing inside Brinksway to confirm. Red = Brinksway, blue = Ha'penny

Bricked up entrance in the mill

 

[Camera Shy]

Interesting, never knew of, or saw the tunnels. Didn't know there was a school above either.......must brush up on my local history !

 

[albino-jay]

Good stuff this. Had a nosey at here a while back and ive always wondered what used to be at the top of the gated paths.

 

[tarkovsky]

Nice find!

 

[Nickindroy]

Nice one Alley, one of the prime goontubers got in here, thought he'd found Brinksway. Must've wondered why it was so small.

 

[FreshFingers]

Between 1874 and 1898, Brinksway Chapel was located on the Eastern flank of the Mill and re-purposed as one of the local schools. The Chapel / School was built on elevated land above Brinksway, so one of the ways to access the grounds would be by the steep cobbled path that is gated off from the main road.

This would serve as one of two ways for access, as Spring Street higher up the hillside could also be used. Spring Street / Mount is now the site of the modern School and playing fields.

I'd say that the back-filled section of the shelter would be bricks and rubble from the demolished School, and with the Chapel being built as a separate building having no direct link to the mill, the route from the mills basement would make sense. Who knows, but it's exploring these places that creates the wonders and fascination.

 

[Alley]

I'd say that the back-filled section of the shelter would be bricks and rubble from the demolished School, and with the Chapel being built as a separate building having no direct link to the mill, the route from the mills basement would make sense. Who knows, but it's exploring these places that creates the wonders and fascination.

Thanks, you're probably right. Shamelessly stole your history and edited my post

 

[FreshFingers]

The cheek of it! I'll remove my post for the full effect eh??

Joking aside, with reference to @Nickindroy, you can give this place the reference it deserves. I wonder if it was used in anger.

 

[Theundergroundheskey]

I was here on wednesday trying to find an entrance to the brinksway air raid shelter (failing miserably and falling in a whole lot of mud) was debating returning to find if the entrance was through this but reading this you have saved me many hours of disappointment thank you very much

 

[FreshFingers]

Keep trying. Took me a while, but quite obvious if you can overlay a map or two. Bit of elimination, and you'll find it. Have a search for Hunt Street

 

[Theundergroundheskey]

thank you for the advice I hope I decipher this correctly and find my way

 

[FreshFingers]

Just mind your valuables as you get closer to the entrance!

 

[Xplr]

Not very exciting, but this thread https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/springmount-mill-stockport-december-2017.t111790#post-1194979 reminded me of it, as it's attached to the mill.

I think it is under an old school (now gone) so could have been used by both places. Between 1874 and 1898, Brinksway Chapel was located on the Eastern flank of the Mill and re-purposed as one of the local schools. The Chapel / School was built on elevated land above Brinksway, so one of the ways to access the grounds would be by the steep cobbled path that is gated off from the main road.

This would serve as one of two ways for access, as Spring Street higher up the hillside could also be used. Spring Street / Mount is now the site of the modern School and playing fields.

Discovered by SoundLighGo as me and @FreshFingers were having police called on us by nosy neighbours, for climbing the gate to the mill.

At first glance, basement/store rooms, but with thick offset walls (are they called baffle walls?) it seemed likely to be a shelter. There are two brick rooms, with arched ceilings.

Spring Mount Mill

Remains of ?school above

First room, full of sawdust (dumped from the mill)

Second room

The writing on the wall appears to be pencil: WILFRED HALFPENNY LEFT Friday October 1955 TO THE BOYS WEEP. We named it after you.

Does it go further? This is looking towards Brinksway air raid shelter

It looks possible, but found nothing inside Brinksway to confirm. Red = Brinksway, blue = Ha'penny

Bricked up entrance in the mill

Do you know if there is an entrance to the school?

 

[FreshFingers]

The demolished School?

 

[Matt81]

This is awesome to know of ha'penny shelter.. I always wondered about ha'penny and brinksway around there and.. though sad about springmount mill i remember what it looked like before these YouTube goons and morons had at it..