Clifford Rathbone’s ‘Goyt Valley Story’ has been out of print for many years. But the current copyright holders, Willow Publishing, have kindly granted permission to publish the first chapter here. The book contains a series of articles written by...
Above: The newspaper report refers to the Hibbert’s farm as ‘Gonsall’. But it must have been Bunsal Farm (far right). The Hibberts are the only family listed on census records going back to 1871 (click to view). The inset image of a well-dressed...
Above: This postcard view of the Cat & Fiddle would have been painted in the late 19th century. Inset: A line illustration of the same view accompanied Strephon’s report of his 1888 visit. Above: The 7th Duke of Devonshire (1808-1891) seems to have been...
Above: This rare photo shows the old Macclesfield to Buxton road as it snakes towards the horizon. The circled house is Marchington Farm. The next building is Moss House. Further along on the right is Moss Hall, and lastly Goyt’s Moss Farm, which now serves as a...
Above: This suave gentleman features in the video (click to enlarge). He is Captain Preston, who married the younger Grimshawe sister, Genevieve, in 1891. He’s pictured on the steps leading up to the family’s hill-top cemetery – which is where he now...
Above: This oil painting shows three cows being driven along the lane from Derbyshire Bridge towards Goyt’s Bridge. The author mentions the small row of paint mill cottages which stood to the right of this view. Goytsclough Quarry was just behind. Today,...
Above: This is the only photo I’ve managed to find of a train on the C&HP Railway line as it approaches the Goyt Valley section. It’s a view across Burbage, southwest of Buxton. It’s just possible to make out Buxton’s famous dome in the far distance. The Cromford...
Above: Our travellers walked from Goyt’s Bridge along the lane towards Derbyshire Bridge. The photo shows three children in front of the mill workers cottages at Goytsclough, which Strephon mentions in his article. They eventually reach a ‘solitary little...
Above: The ford at Taxal was where Strephon and his ‘Young Man’ crossed the Goyt on their way to Whaley Bridge. Walk 6 passes this picturesque spot. The pair enjoyed Whaley Bridge, but were less enthusiastic about the towns and cities just a...
Tracing the route: The writer, his ‘Young Man’ fisherman friend, and their ‘Somebody’ artist and lady companion, turned off the Buxton to Whaley Bridge, Long Hill road, along the same winding track used by most visitors to the Valley...
