In this edition we go way back to the horse tram era for a structure which was originally opened for trams in 1881 by the Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company in Ashton-under-Lyne.
A fleet of Eades Reversible horse trams, like the Manchester Transport Museum Society’s L53 currently on display at the Bury Transport Museum, were housed in the building with this depot allocated 10 trams plus an incredible 145 horses. It was a two storey building when in use as a tram depot with the trams on the ground floor and stables and workshops above. It remained in use as a tram depot up until 1903 when the final part of the route between Ashton and Stalybridge was converted to electric operation and Ashton-under-Lyne Corporation and the Stalybridge, Hyde M0ssley and Dukinfield Joint Tramways and Electricity Board (SHMD) took over the running.
It may have last been used for trams in 1903 but some 117 years later and it is still standing and like many depots which feature in this series it is now being used for industrial use on the appropriately named Tramway Road off Cow Hill Lane in a historic area of the town. Several businesses occupy the building including the Ashton Carriage Company who operate a number of horse drawn carriages and hearses – the building coming full circle!