Above: The Grimshawes’ family cemetery lies above the ruins of their grand country house, Errwood Hall. At one time there was a building to the left, with a vault below, which would have held the coffins of family members (above left). And it...
Above: The Murder Stone was erected in memory of William Wood at the very spot his brutally mutilated body was discovered, back in 1823. Above: The stone isn’t easy to find. This shows its position on my phone’s map app (click to enlarge). It’s on...
Above: Errwood Hall pictured in its prime. The Grimshawes were certainly a very weatlthy family. So perhaps it’s not surprising that there were rumours of buried treasure! My thanks to R. S-S from the Whaley Bridge Local History Forum for this wonderful...
Above: The 1849 tithe map clearly shows the newer Stonyway Bar toll house at the junction of the two turnpikes. And the old one to the left, which appears to have been converted to a house. Alec has discovered a wonderful website that reveals a lot about the history...
Above: Goyt’s Moss Farmhouse lay beside the Old Buxton to Macclesfield Turnpike. The single-track road to the twin reservoirs is just out of the picture on the right. And the road snaking away into the distance ends close to the Cat & Fiddle, at the...
Above: The view today and in the 1960s. There’s a small car park beside the pond which is an ideal starting point for a short walk along the old railway line. It ends after about a mile at a blocked up tunnel. Walk 12 follows the entire line – as much...
Above: This scenic spot now lies under the waters of Errwood Reservoir. But it once drew visitors from far and wide. I came across this wonderful image during my search for the Stonyway Turnpike map at Matlock Public Record Office (see previous post). It’s a...
Above: I found this 1815 plan in The Derbyshire Records Office. Stonyway Bar is shown alongside the existing turnpike. The red line shows the proposed new route which avoided the worst of the steep slopes. We think the toll booth was moved to where the old and...
Above: ‘Lest we forget!!’. Perhaps it’s written by a soldier to his sweetheart, remembering a trip along the valley they shared when he was on leave from the trenches. I sometimes buy old postcards of the Valley if they’re not already on the...
Above: It’s easy to miss the milestone opposite Anncroft Road in Burbage, particularly as its directions and distances are now buried within the surrounding stones. The inset map shows that it would have stated 10 3/4 miles to Macclesfield. And 1 mile the other...
