For me there is a simple pleasure to be had, by simply noticing things that you probably walk past every day and not even look at, take for example a few of these things I snapped on my phone today hence the quality, whilst walking in Eccles. Decorative air bricks with wonderful patterns on them, date stones above buildings, relief sculptures, ornate brickwork especially on chimney stacks, foundation stones even decorative man hole covers. Take a look at the outside of the Carnegie Library, Eccles which opened in 1907, it has the most stunning sculptures set either side of the windows, depicting what look like children reading and another possibly sculpting a bust of a head, cherubs set in laurel wreaths, stained glass windows, and a mosaic with the coat of arms of Eccles. Eccles Town Hall has some really nice ornate carvings especially at the old entrance to the courts, again fluted columns, ornate air grills, stained glass windows and a stunning mosaic floor in the entrance hall, sadly the foundation stone from 1881 is obscured by a hideous looking electricity box, who ever sited it there wants a good kicking.... Joseph Holts pubs are also a good place to look for quirky ornamentations, the Edwardian examples such as The Lamb and The Royal Oak are superb examples of this again with fluted brickwork, ornate air bricks etc. Worth a mention is the old County Bank, now The Ilirain Greek Café/Bistro which was built in 1871, this has some really nice stone carvings including the shields of The City of Manchester and the Duchy of Lancaster, stop and have a look next time you are passing, it also has a stone grotesque figure, just the one, hovering over the door of the Mobile Zone shop on Church Street. Eccles Parish Church is a joy to look around with gargoyles, grotesques on the church roof,, a copper memorial to bell ringers high on the bell tower, stained glass windows, a sun dial, headstones lain against the church wall, we are surrounded by history, take the time to stop and look at what we have in Eccles town centre, go on educate yourself it's all free!
