2014

SJ9594 : A side view of Minerva

taken 10 years ago, near to Hyde, Tameside, England

A side view of Minerva
A side view of Minerva
On the top of Hyde Library SJ9594 : Hyde Library is a statue of Minerva SJ9594 : Minerva atop Hyde Library, the Roman goddess of wisdom and sponsor of the arts, trade, and strategy, holding a book.
Hyde Free Library and Technical School

Hyde Library was originally Hyde Technical School and Free Library. The foundation stone was laid in 1897 and it opened in 1899 replacing the former Mechanics Institute. LinkExternal link

In recent years the building was shared between the library and Tameside College. The library was extensively refurbished in 2006 and a new gallery installed to local artist Harry Rutherford. However in 2012 the gallery was moved to the Central Art Gallery in Ashton under Lyne.

In a first round of "council austerity cuts" the public were presented with three "choices" regarding the future of library services. Smaller local libraries were closed in the light of promised improved facilities at main libraries such as Hyde.

At the beginning of 2015 despite earlier local protests the "library services" were transferred to a few cramped rooms inside the Town Hall.

Despite its historic importance to the town it is not a listed building and as the local council view it as an "un-used asset" its future is insecure and a future sale and demolition remains a possibility. A Facebook Group, Friends of Hyde Library LinkExternal link was set up to try and preserve the building as a facility for the town. In 2022 the building and surrounding land was put up for sale by tender.

See the original Victorian plans for the library on Old Hyde: LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Gerald England and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Public buildings and spaces Primary Subject: Library other tags: Minerva Statue Architectural Detail Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Hyde [362] Other Photos: · Minerva atop Hyde Library ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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SJ9594, 1859 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Gerald England   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 28 August, 2014   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 29 August, 2014
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SJ 9502 9472 [10m precision]
WGS84: 53:26.9531N 2:4.5871W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SJ 9501 9472
View Direction
East-northeast (about 67 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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