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The Goytsclough murders
Two young men brutally murdered, and one who just managed to escape a similar fate. It’s hard to believe this happened in picturesque Goytsclough, and well within living memory.
Packhorse bridge photos
I’ve just come across some wonderful photos of the old packhorse bridge on Flickr. I’m not sure when they were taken – perhaps in the ’30s or ’40s. The bridge now spans the Goyt about a mile upstream.
‘Bunty’ – a special teacher
Chris remembers ‘Bunty’ Sidebottom, a very special teacher at Fernilee Infant School: “She was extremely glamorous and had friends in high places in TV land: the BBC and Granada, Manchester.”
Relief expedition on the way
An intriguing photo dated 27 February 1933 and titled ‘Goyt Valley Relief Expedition’ shows a number of horsemen carrying provisions to the valley from Buxton following a severe snowstorm.
A summer’s day walk
The previous video was photographed to capture the colours of autumn. This one was recorded during a gloriously warm and bright summer’s day. There’s also two versions to choose from.
A chilled stroll to the valley
My attempt at a bit of slow-TV features a leisurely stroll from Buxton’s famous Opera House to the ancient packhorse bridge over the Goyt, backed by some of my favourite chilled jazz tracks.
Rainow to Lamaload walk
Starting from Rainow, walk 22 in the series is just under 10 miles, and crosses some fairly bleak moorland to reach the evocative ruins of Thursbitch, before returning alongside Lamaload Reservoir.
Goyt Valley on ViewRanger
All the walks on this website are now available on the ViewRanger app. Which should make following them a lot easier for anyone with a smartphone. Well that’s the theory!
Lost in a snowstorm
“He left Macclesfield on Sunday at about four o’clock in the afternoon, and when found at six o’clock on Monday evening – 26 hours later – he was snow-blind, inarticulate, and frozen…”
Cat & Fiddle update
It seems the Cat & Fiddle Inn, perched high on the moors beside the Buxton to Macclesfield road, has been saved. Which after a couple of years standing derelict and forlorn, is wonderful news.
Taxal Church fades
Three ‘then and now’ fades show a more positive side to Taxal’s Rev Evans, including the installation of six new and recast bells, the rebuilding of the chancel, and the expansion of the graveyard.
Site’s back up
It all happened just as I was working on another post about the Rev Sam Evans. I did wonder whether he’d managed to reach out from beyond the grave to exact his revenge.
Rev Evans bound over
He delivered another blow, when witness seized hold of the rector and asked him how he dare strike a member of the congregation. The second blow struck a man who went between them.
The pugilistic parson
Amidst great uproar, Mr Nall said that “the Rector would see whether he was a coward or not”. The Rector’s reply was that he would “take Mr. Nall by the neck and remove him”…
The remarkable rector
According to his 1922 obituary, Rev. Samuel Evans, rector at Taxal Church for 35 years, was ‘very brusque and had a staccato form of speech, which probably frightened children’.
Goyt Valley booklet
Published in the late 1970s, this pocket guide to the Goyt Valley contains some fascinating information, with topics ranging from rock formations to the Chilworth Gunpowder Mill.
25ml Goyt Valley walk
South Manchester’s Long Distance Walking Association recently held a 25-mile challenge through the Goyt Valley. My legs wouldn’t be up to it. But here’s the route for those built of sterner stuff.
New Buxton to Goyt walk
With winter fast approaching, I thought I’d add another walk to the series to capture the glorious colours of autumn in the valley. This 9-mile walk from Buxton includes some famous landmarks.
Issue Tor Quarry
A few people on the Goyt Valley Facebook Group have recently mentioned Issue Tor Quarry. Gary said it’s a very eerie place. And Chris thought a hermit had been living living there. So I was curious to take look.
The Hollows update
Thanks to Bill and Chris, I’ve managed to pinpoint the house known as The Hollows which featured in the collection of photos taken in the early 1930s, before work started on Fernilee Reservoir.
Tracing ‘The Hollows’
One of the collection of 1930s photos of the valley had even Bill Brocklehurst stumped. And he’s lived and farmed in the valley virtually all his life. But I think we’re getting closer to identifying it.
Goyt’s Bridge 1967
A rare photo of Goyt’s Bridge in 1967, just a few months before this upper part of the valley was flooded. And some views of the same area during the most recent severe drought, in the early 1990s.
The arch mystery
Gary’s photos of Errwood Bridge emerging during the 1984 drought show it had two arches. But all the pre-flood photos I’ve seen only seem to show the one. Bill Brocklehurst solves the mystery.
Locating the bridge
Gary’s photos of Errwood Bridge emerging from the waters of Errwood Reservoir during the drought of 1984 sparked a lot of interest. I’ve included some maps, and a ‘then & now’ fade, to show its position.