Poynton Green, 360 degrees of history
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TWEEZERS REQUIRED!! STEALTH REQUIRED! V BUSY SPOT! This cache is placed opposite "The Centre" (formerly known as the Community Centre) in Poynton. The Centre is a community venue used by various groups, and is now run by volunteers. Rooms are available to hire and all proceeds are put back into the upkeep of this beautiful building for the benefit of future generations. History of this (taken from The Centre's website http://thecentreinpoynton.co.uk ) - "1838 a village school was built to provide education for the local miner’s children in Poynton. With a growing population due to the increase in mining activity the school was extended in 1850, and then again in 1890. In the 1899, a new extension was added to provide extra classrooms. The original oak door was rehung at the new entrance with a Vernon crest with the motto "Vernon semper viret" (Vernon always thrives). The school closed it's doors in 1940. During World War II the school was used by the local Home Guard as its headquarters. Then In 1946 it was purchased from the Poynton Collieries Company by two villagers, Mr William Jones Davies and Mr Joseph Higginbotham. In the 50’s and 60’s the centre provided a thriving venue for many local groups and clubs. During the 70’s and 80’s the centre became the number one “Folk Centre” in the country hosting many musical and social events. Today the centre is run by volunteers who ensure that the original 1947 constitution continues to be upheld by providing a venue for a variety of clubs, societies, educational courses, social and musical events to take place for the residents of Poynton and its environs". The Centre is located on "Poynton Green". From the geocache location, look over to row of houses which stand behind the tree and railway carriage which is planted with plants (on the corner of Clumber Lane). These houses were built in 1845 using bricks from the Poynton brickworks, which was situated near where the train station is now. The house on the corner was a sweet shop in the 1920s (see the shop window (now bricked up) on the Park Lane side of the house). The shop was run by a Mrs Moore, who sold sweets to the school children who attended the school opposite. Mrs Moore was known as 'Mammy Moore'. The shop was owned in the 1930s and until 1949 by a Mrs Shard. The Workmens Club (The Workies) stands on the corner of Clumber Road - see website at https://www.poyntonwmc.co.uk/ The first part of the club was built in 1905, financed by Captain and Lady Anson - a Miniature Bore Rifle Club, with a 25 yard indoor small bore shooting range. The building included a recreation room, gym and armoury. This building was single storey and forms one half of the current black and white double fronted section of the current Workies. In 1919, Lord Vernon, owner of the Poynton Collieries, presented the building to the workmen of Poynton. They used the money from a trust fund to build a billiard room on the right hand side and the twin apexed black and white second storey was built overlooking Poynton Green. Opposite The Centre, and next door to the Workies, currently stands 'Grade', a restaurant. The name Grade was inspired by the building's original 1838 incarnation as the headmistresses' house. After 1930, the headmistresses' house was no longer used by the school; a retired nurse lived there from approximately 1930-35, and then the property was bought by Frank Wainwright. Frank converted the shop into a double fronted ironmongers and furtniture shop which remained until he retired in the early 1970s. After Frank's death in the late 1970s, Poynton Workmens Club next door bought the property and is was leased as flats. The owners of Grade opened it as a restaurant in May 2016, under the name 'Fodder'. They were forced to change it's name after a month because of another 'Fodder' restaurant in York. It has recently been announced that Grade has closed. Originally, to the right of the headmistresses' house stood the school headmaster's house, but this building was demolished in 1979 to make way for the new workmen's club extension.
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