Above: New vistas above Fernilee! I’m just hoping they’ll let the native broadleaf trees take over – as nature intended. I walked the wide track above Fernilee last weekend for the first time since the tree-felling began back in August. And what a...
Above: Taken in 1934, this aerial photo shows the lane coming north from Goyt’s Bridge at far left, winding down to a small bridge spanning the Goyt (circled), before heading up the Valentine to Fernilee. Someone writing before the construction of the twin...
Above: Bill’s Dad shepherds a few sheep through the construction site at Fernilee in 1932. Above: Bill pictured with a lamb at Oldfield Farm in 1953. Above: Edited by Christine Gregory and Sheila Hine, ‘The Land That Made Us’ was published earlier...
Above: Joe and Prudence Hibbert feature in the video. They lived at Bunsal Farm and were the last family to leave the valley. I’ve just posted another Goyt Valley video on YouTube – on the history of Fernilee Reservoir. It’s less than 10-minutes...
Above: I’m still not 100% sure, but I think the orange circle on the old map shows the view. The solid parallel lines show Shooters’ Clough stream. My thanks to Angela for allowing me to scan a rare postcard from her collection that I’d never seen...
Above: The murder stone lies well-hidden beside the back road between Whaley Bridge and Disley. Three young men were soon identified as the killers. But only one was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. I’ve always thought the story of William...
Above: The scene at the northern end of Fernilee Reservoir. There are similar notices at the southern end. Above: Signs say that mass-clearing will leave the woodland more varied (click to enlarge). But they seem to be planting yet more fir trees. Which I...
Above: Gerald thought these two ladies were maids from Errwood Hall. This photo of two young ladies posing in a car outside Errwood Hall has always intrigued me. Were they a couple of servants from the hall? Or perhaps friends of the Grimshawe...
Above (From left to right): Andrew (pictured with his daughter Isla), has regularly walked the route since 2000. Esme only discovered it during the recent lockdown. But John holds the record as having walked it the longest – since 1938. It’s now a couple...
Above: A look at old maps reveal that these sturdy gateposts once formed an entrance onto the track of the C&HPR. Continuing the quest to identify old stone gateposts in the valley, I came across two fine examples yesterday evening, just as the sun was setting....
