Cobbles display at Knutsford Heritage Centre, supported by the Horrocks Fund
Members who have done my geology trail around Knutsford will recall the wide variety of cobbles in the George Yard behind the historic Royal George Hotel. Since mid 2004 this area has become a major construction site for a new shopping precinct, to be named Regent Street, with an underground car park, due for completion this year. As a result the cobbles have been ‘lost’ forever. That is with the exception of eleven, which I saved in 2003, with the permission of the developer, for their geological and coaching-era heritage interest. Since then I have been working with the Knutsford Heritage Centre to erect a permanent, outdoor display to show the remarkably clear geological features on their polished surfaces.
I am delighted to say that the MGA Council agreed to support from the Horrocks Fund the full budget cost of £750 for mounting the display (the final cost will be within this!). The project came to fruition on Thursday last week, 16 March, when Fred Broadhurst unveiled them to an audience of invited guests, including our President John Price. I formally handed them over to Mrs Joan Leach MBE representing the Heritage Centre Trustees. A Knutsford Guardian reporter, a young fellow, was gobsmacked by cobbles being made such a fuss of! He couldn't believe how interesting they were! I can't wait to read what he comes up with in the article he writes on the event, which, I hope, will give some free publicity to the Association. Maybe: 'just a load of old cobbles!'?
The Three Freds
The cobbles and the poster outside the Heritage Centre
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