One Tameside Magazine (What's On)
What's On in Tameside
| Portland basin Museum | Setantii - Tales of Tameside | Museum of the Manchester Regiment | Central Art Gallery | Astley Cheetham Art Gallery | Holiday Activities and Events | Libraries |
Portland basin Museum
Visit Portland Basin Museum, a lively modern museum in an historic canal-side setting. Experience the sights and sounds of a 1920s Tameside street with its old - fashioned house, grocers shop and pub. Discover what life was like down the mines and on the farm. Explore local crafts and industries and enjoy our giant historic machines and wharf.
- Free parking
- Shop
- Toilets
- Picnic area
- Fully accessible
- Nuts and Bolts play area
Portland Basin Museum
Portland Place, Heritage Wharf,
Ashton-under-Lyne.
Tel: 0161 343 2878
Open: Tuesday - Sunday: 10am til 5pm, Closed Monday except Bank Holidays.
Setantii - Tales of Tameside
This atmospheric visitor attraction traces the history of Tameside from Celtic times of the present day. Families will love the olden day figures, replica armour and the Anderson air raid shelter with its wartime sound effects.
- Free entry
- Fully accessible
- Lift
- Disabled parking.
Setantii - Tales of Tameside
Town Hall building,
Ashton-under-Lyne.
Tel: 0161 342 2812
Opening times: Monday - Friday 10am til 4pm, Saturday: 10am til 1pm.
Museum of the Manchester Regiment
Explore the history of the Manchester Regiment. Learn about the experiences of generations of Manchester Regiment soldiers; what they did, where and why. Discover what life was like in a First World War Trench and what a soldier was paid. Try on the military hats worn through the ages and see how you size up as a potential recruit. Through exciting new displays in the Forshaw Gallery, including a jeep, costume and interactives, visitors can explore regimental life in the past, present and future.
- Free entry.
- Fully accessible
- Lift
- Disabled parking
The Museum of the Manchester Regiment
Town Hall building,
Ashton-under-Lyne.
Tel: 0161 342 2254
Curator: 0161 342 2254
Opening times: Monday - Saturday 10am til 4pm.
Central Art Gallery
Central Art Gallery is a real gem. Located above the Library on Old Street in Ashtonunder- Lyne, these beautiful gallery spaces host a varied programme of temporary exhibitions with artwork by regional artists.
- Free entry
- Fully accessible
- Lift
- Disabled parking
Central Art Gallery
Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.
Tel: 0161 342 2650,
Curator: 0161 343 2878
Opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 10am til 12.30pm, 1pm til 5pm, Thursday 1pm til 7.30pm, Saturday: 9am til 12.30pm, 1pm til 4pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Astley Cheetham Art Gallery
This attractive gallery was built in 1901 as a gift to the town of Stalybridge by John Frederick Cheetham and his wife Beatrice Astley. Situated above the library, the gallery hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions by regional artists alongside exhibitions from the Collection.
- Free entry
Astley Cheetham Art Gallery
Trinity Street, Stalybridge.
Tel: 0161 338 6767
Curator: 0161 343 2878
Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am til 2.30pm, 1pm til 5pm, Saturday: 9am til 12.30pm, 1pm til 4pm, Closed Thursday and Sunday.
Sorry, the gallery is not accessible for wheelchairs. There is an induction loop.
Holiday Activities and Events
There is always a full programme of activities and events on Bank Holidays and throughout the school breaks. Most of the activities are free and all our sites are great venues for fun and learning for the whole family. For more details please visit the tameside musuems and galleries web page. .
Libraries
Did you know that more people visit libraries than go to football matches?
So, why do all these people go to libraries and what do they find when they get there?
The answer is very simple - we have something for everyone and it's free! You are never too young - or too old - to join a Tameside Library and as this year has been designated the National Year of Reading there has never been a better time to find out what is on offer.
We have lots of great picture books for parents and carers to share with babies and toddlers and all our libraries run weekly Bookstart Time for a Rhyme sessions.
"I’ve been attending Rhyme Time for approx 18 months with my daughter. We both find it really enjoyable and also educational. I really don’t think Natalie would have come on socially without Rhyme Time - keep it going!" (Parent from a Rhyme Time session)
For children and families, there are lots of free activities and events throughout the year and especially during school holidays. Every year our libraries run the Summer Reading Challenge for children to keep them reading over the holidays. All children over 4 years old are welcome to take part: this year the theme is Team Read to coincide with the Olympic Games. Children read books by their favourite authors and get incentives along the way with a certificate and medal on completion. Children under 4 can take part in a Book Crawl where they share books with their parents - and get a certificate!
"It has had a positive effect on my child’s reading interest. She greatly enjoyed the activities held as well" (Parent of a child who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge)
"The girls all love books anyway but they have been very excited about being in the library so often. The events have been great" (Parent at a library event)
"I really enjoyed this. The events my local library prepared for me were fantastic! Thank you to everybody who helped organise them" (Child, age 7, at a library event)
"My favourite book at the moment is by Marcus Sedgwick. It is called Swordhand is Singing and I found it excellent and very spooky. I go to the library for cartoon animation books like the Simpsons, the Treehouse of Horror books and Marvel books such as The Hulk. I’ve recently been chosen to be on the school basketball team so I took some books out and did a little bit of research about the sport. I use the library for school projects, too" (Jack, age 12, about libraries)
Our libraries stock quick reads, literary and modern classics and a wide range of titles by popular and bestselling authors, so whether you want dinner with Delia, an evening with Sir Alex or would like to read the Richard and Judy Book Club titles there will be something to suit your taste. And if you would like to discuss the books you are reading with others you might like to join one of our readers’ groups. We have a number of groups for children and adults including manga readers’ groups, a crime readers’ group and a group for visually impaired readers.
"These are an excellent way of discovering new authors and finding books you wouldn’t know about otherwise. Whatever is read usually sparks off a lively debate. An added bonus is that sometimes authors visit the library to talk about their lives and writing." (Anne, a readers’ group member)
Several of our libraries have books in the community languages of Tameside with the largest collection in the Central Library in Ashton. All our libraries have books in large print, which you can’t buy in the shops, as well as talking books on cassette and CD, so that everybody can enjoy the experience and pleasure of reading.
"Thank you for opening up the world of books again for me" (Visually impaired reader who borrows books on cassette) For people who are unable to leave their house easily we provide a home library service, bringing books and talking books to your door. Our 13 libraries are spread across the borough and all have computers for public use, so you can search the net for free. We also provide some basic computer classes and for those who can’t join a class you can try our computer buddy scheme.
For more information about our services and our events and activities programme go to our website at www.tameside.gov.uk/libraries or if you prefer telephone us on 0161 343 2031 - or better still pay us a visit.
