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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.
Goyt’s Bridge emerges
A unique collection of photos show Errwood Bridge emerging from beneath the water during a long dry spell in the autumn of 1984. It was one of two bridges in Goyt’s Bridge. But this wasn’t saved.
Birds of the Valley
I’d love to discover more about the flora and fauna that can be found in the Goyt Valley. I know the valley attracts quite a few bird-watchers. So birds seemed the obvious place to start.
Mystery building
A mystery building alongside The Valentine has even Bill Brocklehurst stumped. And he’s lived and farmed in the Goyt Valley for most of his life. Perhaps it was Mrs Pickup’s shop…
Cat & Fiddle rescued (1918)
The Cat & Fiddle has stood empty for nearly two years. But it seems the pub has always had a chequered history. Some 100 years ago the Grimshawe sisters saved the day by accepting an offer from Mr Frood.
The valley in 1930
A collection of grainy photos shows the Goyt Valley just before construction work started on Fernilee Reservoir. Help identifying some of the more obscure images would be appreciated!