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Low water reveals #3

Low water reveals #3

Yet more stone features are appearing above the surface of Errwood Reservoir. The four nearest the bank could have been part of the large twin barns which stood beside the lane to Errwood Hall.

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Gateposts mystery solved

Gateposts mystery solved

A grainy photo taken shortly before Errwood Reservoir was flooded in 1968 seems to solve the mystery of the sturdy gateposts that have recently surfaced during the drought of August 2022.

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Low water reveals: #2

Low water reveals: #2

The second part of my attempts to trace features that have emerged during the recent drought; a pair of sturdy gateposts and a junction of lanes, all of which have been hidden since Errwood was flooded.

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Low water reveals: #1

Low water reveals: #1

The water level in Errwood Reservoir has dropped significantly over recent weeks, revealing some interesting features from the past. Trying to identify where they once lay is a fascinating challenge.

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Walk 27: easy 2 mile circuit

Walk 27: easy 2 mile circuit

Walk 27 – an easy two-mile circuit from the small car park half way down Goyt’s Lane along the old C&HPR track, returning along the narrow path to Errwood Reservoir. And very easy to extend.

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Errwood Hall revealed

Errwood Hall revealed

Six recordings from the new ‘augmented reality’ app on Errwood Hall help tell the story of life in and around this grand country house which once dominated the valley and now lies in ruins.

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New info boards

New info boards

It’s great to see that United Utilities seem to be taking more interest in promoting the heritage of the valley – following up the repair of the packhorse bridge by installing three new information boards.

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Packhorse bridge reopened

Packhorse bridge reopened

Great news; the historic packhorse bridge which once lay in the heart of the now drowned hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge has finally been repaired and the barriers removed.

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1846 Goyt Valley plans

1846 Goyt Valley plans

Comparing the recently discovered 1846 plans of the valley with OS maps from the 1890s reveal some fascinating changes, but also poses the question of when Grimshaw turned to Grimshawe.

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Railway mania part II

Railway mania part II

In this second part of Alan Robert’s article on railways through the Goyt Valley, he explains how the attempts to improve the Cromford & High Peak Railway by avoiding the steep inclines ended in failure.

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Railway mania part I

Railway mania part I

In the first of a two-part post, local historian Alan Roberts explains how a railway line proposed in 1846 between Manchester and Matlock would have cut right through the hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge.

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Goyt Recollections part III

Goyt Recollections part III

The final part of Crichton Porteous’s ‘Goyt Recollections’ provides a fascinating picture of the valley in the mid 1950s, describing the area all the way from Goyt’s Bridge to Taxal.

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Goyt Recollections part II

Goyt Recollections part II

In part two of Crichton Porteous’s ‘Goyt Recollections’, he writes about Errwood Hall, the hill-top graveyard and the coal mine. He also talks to an old estate worker about the Grimshawe sisters.

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Goyt Recollections part I

Goyt Recollections part I

Crichton Porteous was known as ‘the Thomas Hardy of Derbyshire’. This is the first of three parts reproducing a chapter from his popular 1954 book, Peakland, and titled ‘Goyt Recollections’.

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Long Hill closure

Long Hill closure

The closure of a long section of Long Hill is frustrating for motorists, but has hit the Goyt Valley’s closest pub particularly hard. New tenant, Leon, has already seen takings down by two-thirds.

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Windgather to Shining Tor

Windgather to Shining Tor

Starting from the main car park, this 11-mile walk includes wonderful views from both Windgather Rocks and Shining Tor, before dropping down to visit the ruins of Errwood Hall.

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A ghostly encounter

A ghostly encounter

A brief extract from a 1963 book includes a report of a ghostly encounter at Errwood Hall: “It beckoned with its long arms to me, and, pointing up the path, it ran with its hollow eyes holding me spell-bound”.

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The two Alexanders

The two Alexanders

Two Alexanders were responsible for the design of Errwood Hall: Roos the young and talented architect, and the wealthy Beresford-Hope who recommended him to his friend Samuel Grimshawe.

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A most romantic location

A most romantic location

A description of Errwood Hall in a popular coffee-table book says it’s “probably the most romantic location in Derbyshire”. It contains some fascinating details, but quite a few inaccuracies.

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Boothman’s Cottages

Boothman’s Cottages

A photo of a derelict building known as Boothman’s Cottages recently came to light. There’s nothing left of it today. Was it connected to coal mining, or simply a stop-off point for weary travellers?

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Vault correction

Vault correction

Another long-held theory of mine goes up in flames, thanks to the discovery of yet another old photo from the archives; the Grimshawe’s hill-top vault wasn’t where I’d always thought it was.

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A tale of two bridges

A tale of two bridges

Two bridges – both close to Errwood Hall. One that I’d never seen before, and another which I wasn’t sure ever existed. All it needed to solve the mystery was a pair of wellington boots.

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Errwood Hall research

Errwood Hall research

Creating the new augmented reality app has posed some intriguing questions, and also unearthed some wonderful old photos. Putting both together is a challenging but fascinating project.

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Errwood Hall layout

Errwood Hall layout

The augmented reality app which will bring the ruins of Errwood Hall to life is still at the planning stage. The first step is to identify the layout of the rooms. Any help would be much appreciated.

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