Before the flood . . .
A unique community vanished beneath the two reservoirs. Here’s the story in both words and pictures.
Goyt memories: Paul Mason
My dad told me about the time a pig ran off along the path going up to the hall. It ran over the edge and droped in the ravine. My grandad managed to get it out and clamed it for himself!
Errwood Hall gamekeeper
Mel Rogerson writes: “I’ve recently discovered that one of my ancestors was a gamekeeper at Errwood Hall throughout the 1800s and wondered whether you have the dates for the staff photos?”
Shining Tor to Pym Chair
John writes: “Today I walked up to Shining Tor, down and along the valley back to Pym Chair. It is a beautiful area with spectacular scenery and I tried to imagine it as it was before the reservoirs were constructed and the pine forests planted.”
Errwood Hall plasterwork
It seems that rare fragments of Errwood Hall have survived! Some plasterwork copies of the Elgin Marbles were rescued before the hall was demolished in 1934.
Cycling through the Goyt
Peter Jourdain writes: “I found your lovely website and Youtube videos on the Goyt Valley after having searched on the web. I am an American, and have never been to the Goyt, but am a cyclist and cycling historian, with a primary emphasis on the golden era of British cycling clubs and cycletouring in the 1920s and ’30s.”
Cycling the Goyt Valley (1932)
I passed Goyt’s Bridge Farm, which is to be demolished, and entered the lower stretch of the valley, where the second reservoir will be. They have already begun work by the Powder Mill.
Can anyone identify this bridge?
Chris Belton writes: “I’m trying to identify a 1958 photo from my late father’s collection entitled ‘Goyt Holiday’. The photo shows a bridge over a stream but seemingly not Goyt’s Bridge. I can sort of remember it, it was a delightful place, the sort my parents sought out for picnics.”
Walking the Cromford & High Peak Railway
Bill Reid writes: “Thanks for the great videos and information on the Goyt Valey and the Cromford & High Peak Railway. I have used your Walk no.12 to find my way along the old railway between Whaley Bridge and Burbage.”
Fishing the Goyt at Taxal
John Sutcliffe writes: “I was very pleasantly surprised indeed to watch the old cine film of the Goyt Valley, which, needless to say, I didn’t even know existed! For my part, I am now 75 years of age, but my memories of the Goyt Valley, as a then 12-year-old boy, are as clear to me now, as if it was only yesterday when I was last there.”
Locating Errwood Farm
Sarah Dugdale writes: “I was looking at your website and I believe I have some old photos of the area. My Grandparents were living in the area before the war and were re-located to Whaley Bridge. The whole story is a muddle in my head as my dad who could have helped greatly died in November 2000.”
The Moon of Gomrath
The Morrigan captures Colin and imprisons him in Errwood Hall, which her magic restores into a building, which except in moonlight teleports into a lightless magic realm.
The Carter family
Michael Mitchell writes: “My 2x great grandmother was Elizabeth Carter and was born at Errwood Hall 18 Jun 1862. Her father was John Carter who was a butler at the hall in the 1850s. In the 1860 census he is listed as a retired butler, but still living on the property. In 1871 he is living in Castedge and is listed as the farm bailiff.”
Goyt Valley maps
Rob Stephen writes: “I was looking at your videos of your walks and I must say that I am really impressed with your website. But I think to make your website better you could add a detailed map of all the Goyt Valley walks and paths so it is easier to plan where you want to go.”
‘Fantastic’ walks
Alex Evans writes: “I’ve just come across your website and what a pleasure. I was originally looking for some pictures of when the resovoir is low so you can see the remains of the village but then I got distracted (pleasantly) by your website.”
Paul Mason
Paul Mason writes: “Firstly, what a great job you’ve done with this site – lovely to see. I’m the son of the late Winefred and John Mason who built and ran the ‘Dish & Spoon Cafe’, just past the ‘Cat & Fiddle’ pub (photo above). My great-grandfather was a farmer in the valley, and my grandfather was game keeper for Lord Derby.”
Brenda Hewitt
Paul Mellor writes: “I’ve just been watching your Errwood Hall & family graves walk video on YouTube and thought you might be interested to know that my mother, Brenda, is one of the daughters of Jack Hewitt who you mention in the video.”
What can it mean?
I found an online translation service, but the results weren’t very promising: ‘To go forth sea breath very concursationem when thorough consideration if he is among silence tranquilliatem’.
Website update
It's now the end of March 2012 and we've been enjoying a mini-heat wave. The weather's been glorious and it's been ideal for exploring this truly magical part of the Peak District. It's good to see the water level in the two reservoirs back to normal from the low...
Errwood Hall reconstructed
A wonderful digital reconstruction of Errwood Hall by the Furness Vale Local History Society. I’d love to do something similar on Goyt’s Bridge – but wouldn’t know where to start!
