From the Chronicle files - Thursday 4th September 2025

It would have taken lots of pennies dropped into collection plates to pay for a Charlesworth church to be professionally scrubbed clean.

Defective guttering had resulted in rain pouring into St John’s and estimates revealed getting the building cleaned and dried out would cost £400, which was a high price to pay in 1950.

So, parishioners of all ages rolled up their sleeves and did the work themselves.

They washed the walls, scrubbed the floors and cleaned the windows which earned the praise of the vicar the Rev. S. V. Presley who told the Chron: “It’s wonderful the way they have rallied round. The last time the church interior had such a face-lift was 11 years ago.”

Meanwhile, 75 years ago...

The Glossop Chronicle was reporting that a Communist witch-hunt was taking place in Glossop schools following a speech by Cllr. Joe Taylor.

The Conservative councillor was demanding an investigation to discover if any ‘Red propaganda was being taught and if so it should be ‘rooted out’.

Proposals were being announced to turn part of Wood Bothers mill on High Street East, Glossop, into self-contained centrally heated flats.

The Chronicle was saying several buildings, including an old and no longer used stables block would have to be demolished.

Still on the Wood family and two years after Sir John Wood had donated Whitfeld House, his ancestral home and extensive grounds to the town council, the estate was still standing empty.

Sir John wanted it to become a hostel for old people and there was anger that his wishes were not being fulfilled.

High Peak Divisional Labour Party was holding  a rally in Manor Park, Glossop, which included a visit and likely lengthy speech from the Minister of Food, the Right Honourable Maurice Webb.

There was also a dance in Victoria  Hall with music to the splendidly named Hannah And Her Boys.

The Calico Printers Association had given its former weigh bridge house opposite the Plough Inn at  Dinting Vale to Glossop Town Council.

Councillors decided to turn it into a bus shelter which it was before becoming a men’s toilet. It was later closed.

Glossop Swimming Baths staff believed in making sure visitors looked well groomed after having a dip.

The Chron reported that an automatic hair cream machine was soon to be installed.

Street lighting in Glossop had gone ‘all electric’ and that spelled the end for the old iron lamp posts topped by a globe containing a flickering gas mantle.

Councillors described them as ‘ugly things’ and planned to get them scrapped.

The cricket season was slowly coming to an end and with it a late show of form for Glossop wicket keeper and batsman Hervey Ashton who had also been turning out for Derbyhire’s second eleven.

He hit a sparkling half-century which included four sixes and four boundaries to steer the North Road side to victory in a Lancashire and Cheshire League fixture at Bollington.

Hadfield St. Charles were being crowned champions of the Glossop and District Sunday School Cricket League after finishing  two points clear of second in the  table Mount Pleasant.

It was also a close call in the Glossop and District Industrial League, Hadfield cannery Maconochies taking the title, with Old Glossop fasteners firm Hawkshead two points behind, second.

As we revealed last week Hadfield St. Andrew’s were champions of the Glossop and District League’s first division.

But the race  was on for the second division crown, where the main contenders were Bardsley, Hollingworth and Ashton Trafalgar second teams.

Non-league football attracted big crowds in 1950 and more than 1,000 fans packed North Road to see Glossop beat Droylsden 3-2 in an exciting Manchester League fixture.

Glossop also beat Buxton Reserves 1-0 to secure their first away win of the season.