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Errwood Bridge
“The photo shows a bridge over a stream but seemingly not Goyt’s Bridge. I can sort of remember it, it was a delightful place, the sort my parents sought out for picnics…”
Goyt’s Bridge cafes
“Victorian visitors travelled many miles in their horsedrawn carriages, not just to see the wonderful Goyt Valley in summer, but to admire and enjoy the gardens with their variety and beauty. Then to take tea…”
Life below stairs
“These rich Lords and Ladies had a London Home and also one near Manchester. It was called Errwood Hall and there were five Lords and Ladies, a Priest and 20 servants…”
Visiting the powder mills (1874)
“In the valley at the foot of towering heights, clad with trees and verdure, there are situated the Fernilee Gunpowder Mills, occupying a very extensive area.”
Fernilee Powder Mill
“We are sorry to state that an explosion took place at the Powder Mills, at Fernilee, in the stoving house, by which two unfortunate creatures were in one moment deprived of their existence.”
Cromford & High Peak Railway
Opened in 1831, this 33 mile railway connected the Cromford Canal with the Peak Forest Canal in Whaley Bridge and was a triumph of Victorian ingenuity and determination.
Castedge Coal Mine
Old OS maps show a ‘Coal Pit’ between Errwood Hall and Castedge Farmhouse. The entrance to the mine has long since been blocked and is now covered by thick undergrowth.
Errwood Hall party (1895)
“A very interesting and pleasant gathering took place at Errwood Hall last Wednesday week, when Miss Grimshawe and Mrs Preston entertained the tenantry and tradesmen of the district to dinner.”
Castedge Farmhouse
All that remains of Castedge Farmhouse today is a sad pile of stones beside a junction of footpaths showing the muddled outline of a once attractive and fairly substantial stone building.
The Stepping Stones
The stones allowed pedestrians to cross the River Goyt between Gatehouse Cottage and Goytshead Farm. Wildmoorstone Brook flowed into the Goyt at this point, from high on the moors.
Visiting Errwood Hall in 1883
By a reporter May 23rd 1883: “Errwood Hall, for such is its name, is a modernised building of dressed stone, with rooms of considerable size and number. In the centre there is a noble tower…”
The Grimshawe family
The two sisters knew that the estate was to be compulsory purchased by Stockport Corporation to create the twin reservoirs. And soon after Mary’s death, the sale was completed.
Errwood Hall auction sale
Mary Grimshawe-Gosselin of Errwood Hall died on 23rd February 1930. The auction of the contents of Errwood Hall was held over five days – from June 16th-20th 1930. There were more than 1,800 lots in total.
St Joseph’s Shrine
Those who make the trek up the steep winding track do not go unrewarded, for the Shrine is glimpsed quite suddenly, hiding almost secretly among a few weather worn pine trees.
Graves of the Grimshawes
The small graveyard of the Grimshawe family and their favourite servants stands on top of the hill behind the ruins of Errwood Hall, providing magnificent views over the surrounding countryside.
The Packhorse Bridge
The small packhorse bridge which stood for centuries in the heart of Goyt’s Bridge has miraculously survived. Though not many people who stroll past it may realise it.
Shooter’s Clough Bridge
There were two bridges in Goyt’s Bridge. The one that features in all the photos and postcards is the picturesque packhorse bridge. This bridge stood close to The Gatehouse & Gardener’s Cottage.
Gatehouse Cottage
Although marked on old OS maps as Errwood Cottage, it’s usually known as the ‘Gatehouse & Gardener’s Cottage’, and was situated beside the gates at the foot of the lane leading up to Errwood Hall.
The suspension bridge
I’ve always been curious about the small, picturesque suspension bridge shown in some old photos of the valley, wondering when it was built, what happened to it, and where it was situated.
Goyt memories (1954)
Taken from a 1954 edition of the ‘Peakland’ magazine, Crichton Porteus recollects how the construction of the twin reservoirs led to the destruction of both Goyt’s Bridge and Errwood Hall.
Goyt’s Bridge School
One favourite trip was up the old Roman road, The Street, then across the fields to visit the small shrine of St. Joseph’s, before calling in at the coal mine on the way back for a lesson on its origins.
Finding Errwood Farm
Sarah is searching for Errwood Farm where her grandparents once lived. But although she thinks it was the lowest-lying farm not to be submerged, she’s been unable to locate the ruins.
Over the hills with a tandem
The Goyt Canyon opens suddenly out of the limestone hills, and for some eight miles to Taxal provides an exquisite ‘coast’ through sylvan scenery as rare as it is unexpected.
Fernilee inauguration
This shaky black and white silent film from 1932 records the inauguration ceremony for the construction of Fernilee Reservoir, with Stockport Corporation big-wigs standing apart from the navvies.