From the Chronicle files - Thursday 31st July 2025

A market rent row story dominated the front page of the Glossop Chronicle exactly 50 years ago in the summer of 1975.

Traders on Glossop’s town centre market were fearing for their future when High Peak Borough Council came up with a raft of rent rises many said they could not afford.

Stall and cabin holders and councillors seemed poles apart in the summer of 1975, with a solution looking impossible.

The council wanted to increase rents on the outdoor market from between 70 and 140 per cent.

Tenants refused to pay and were prepared to stand their ground, claiming such an increase could put them out of business.

What the Chronicle described as a period of hard bargaining followed as traders and council officials met in a bid to reach a compromise.

The Chronicle said tenants had been willing to pay an extra 30 per cent and that anything higher could result in friction between them and their council landlords.

A figure of 50 per cent was finally agreed and life on the cobbles gradually returned to normal once again.

The increases put the daily rent of a stall to £1.20,  cabins from £3 to £4.80 - depending on size - while the  snack bar went up to £4.50

However, the increase was far from popular, and a Chronicle reporter said traders had accepted them ‘grudgingly’.

Mottram and District Agricultural Society was taking space on the Glossop Chronicle front page to advertise its annual show.

It was described as the biggest one-day event in the North of England, with record entries chasing £1,500 in prize money, and attractions which included a visit from the Don Cossack Dare-Devil Riders.

Glossop Carriage Company on Howard Street had a large fleet of coaches, and during the annual Wakes holidays, every one of them was on the road, taking people on one day excursions.

There were trips to Bakewell Show, Shrewsbury Musical and Floral Fete, Southport Flower Show and the York Races.

News has a habit of repeating itself, and in the first week of August 1950, the Chronicle was echoing national fears that conflicts in the Far East could result in Britain being involved into another world war.

Columnist Watchman made a scathing attack on Glossop Town Council for failing to run a recruitment campaign to increase the size of the local civil defence force should the worst happen.

The first move to build what were called overspill estates in Longdendale were taking place, with the urban district council saying it would not be averse to making land available for homes for people from Manchester.

Glossop councillors also seemed keen on the idea, claiming the town had the land, plus perfect transport links with the city.

It was a bad day for members of Tintwistle Rural District Council, who were deciding to ‘write-off’ debts totalling around £210.

Villagers were owing £200 in rent arrears and £9 six shillings in what were said to be dustbin charges. The council admitted there was little chance of recovering the cash.

Most towns were collecting waste paper and tin cans as part of a national salvage collecting campaign, but it wasn’t happening in Broadbottom, Hollingworth and Mottram.

Councillors in Longdendale claimed they did not have the cash and other resources to run such a scheme, and that they regretfully could not put it into operation for the time being.

Glossop magistrates were praising Constable Frank Hulme for his efforts in chasing and apprehending a local soldier who had deserted from the army and embarked on a robbing spree in his hometown.

The 18-year-old was committed to Derbyshire Quarter Sessions on charges of breaking into Glossop Co-operative Society stores and other premises.

It turned out to be a happy holiday for 17-year-old Lilian Goold of Limefield Terrace Broadbottom, who was spending a week in the Isle of Man.

She came first with her rendition of ‘The Holy City’ in a talent competition and finished second in a personality girl contest in a holiday camp at Douglas.

From the moment opener Ambrose Handforth was bowled out without scoring in the first over of the Lancashire and Cheshire League match against Longsight at North Road, Glossop were in trouble.

Half the side were out for 35, the rest following with Glossop on 65, which the visitors passed for the loss of just three wickets.

Hadfield St. Andrews had opened up an eight-point gap at the top of the Glossop and District Cricket League and looked certain to take the title after declaring on 150 for seven and bowling out Bardsley for 72.

Tintwistle went second in the table after beating Hollingworth in a keenly-fought ‘derby’ thanks to a big hitting run fest of 58 by Jim Senior.

Glossop Sunday School Cricket League was dominated by Hadfield St. Charles, who topped the table with 14 points after winning all seven games.

Bottom of the table with two points and one win was Glossop Tabernacle.