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Mapping Bramhall Group |
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Summary | Mapping Bramhall is a research group looking at Bramhall past, present and future. In addition to topics which we all research, individuals pursue their own interests and report back to the group. |
Venue | Meet third Monday in the month at 2:00pm at Co-ordinator's home. |
Contact | Val Murray - Telephone details are in the paper copy of the newsletter |
groups@bramhallu3a.org.uk with 'U3A Mapping Bramhall Enquiry' as the subject |
We research Bramhall, past, present and future, both individually and as a group. The group only functions because everyone makes a contribution. Individual research topics include Bramhall history, schools, buildings and their uses, oral history, care homes and industry. Group activities have included an annual local walk, sitting and observing for fifteen minutes, tracing rivers and footpaths, recording bridges, cafe and tree surveys and favourite maps.
Findings are presented at the monthly meetings and a paper copy is lodged in our archive which now contains more than 120 items. Tea, biscuits and sharing local news are an important part of the meetings which take place round the leader's kitchen table.
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Members of the Mapping Bramhall Group surveying the Ladybrook Valley |
2021 Report: View
During the first five months of 2021 we continued to meet on Zoom. We shared a session looking at images on the Stockport Archive website,
discussed our researches into local businesses based outside the village centre, colours in the village,
what happens along the boundary of Bramhall (supposing you can define it!) and garden observations.
Then in June we had our annual walk, the last to be conducted by Tony who has now sadly left Bramhall.
We resumed meeting at the coordinator’s house in July. We revised our recommended tradespeople list,
exchanged personal memories and maps of Bramhall and fed back our research into local footpaths.
Our 2022 programme includes a virtual tour of the recycling facility at Longley Lane - instead of an actual visit, continuing our footpath project,
a study of moss, local woodland, terraces and natural regeneration. We have been in discussion with Stockport Local History Library about a destination for our archive.
Val Murray
January 2022
2020 Report: View
At first during Lockdown we exchanged news and observations by email but most of the group
has gradually got used to meeting via Zoom every month. We have talked about our favourite
things in Bramhall. These ranged from cafes and shops to views, individual trees, buildings and gardens.
We all did the same walk (separately) through the centre of the village and reported our observations.
We shared a successful session looking at photos online on the Stockport Image Archive.
Coming up we have a survey of non village centre businesses and a report by individuals about what happens
at the edges of Bramhall (The boundary proves difficult to define!!). Every month we are recording something
of note in our gardens. We have been contacted by a group planning an archeological dig in the field at Benja Fold
to try to uncover an old barn.
So, we keep in touch and look forward to gathering round the kitchen table before too long!
Val Murray
2019 Report: View
U3A Mapping Bramhall Group Report 2019
Membership of the Mapping Bramhall Group remains fairly steady. We continue to meet monthly
round the leader's kitchen table. Everyone contributes to the programme in one way or another
and our archive has topped 150 items which is the result of the work of members. We are
beginning to discuss a way of using this and making it more widely available.
In 2019 we continued the pattern of individual research projects and group activities which
included local history, gravestones in Bramhall, Local transport, local dentists and a presentation
of a walk to the village. Group projects included a survey of hedges and a local walk.
In 2020 we will continue to examine our local environment and maps of all kinds. Our programme
will have a slightly different emphasis with more group projects and outings.
Discussing local events and issues over tea and biscuits is as ever an important and enjoyable
part of our activity.
Val Murray
November 2019
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This document last modified Saturday October 09, 2021
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