What is it with UU?
Why does United Utilities no longer allow memorial benches? And why are there no public toilets in the valley? And why have they installed hideous wire fencing along the bridge?
Out with the Toad Patrol
The Toad Patrol do a wonderful job ensuring as many as possible of these small amphibians survive the hazardous journey across Old Goyts Lane from their habitat to their spawning ground.
PRoW application update
Things finally seem to happening with the application to preserve public rights of way along a stretch of the old Cromford & High Peak Railway which once led into the Goyt Valley. But we need your support.
Ranger records #2
With the deadline fast approaching, I’ve managed to complete the final batch of scans of the records kept at Derbyshire Bridge Rangers’ hut – some 88 pages in two folders.
Ranger records #1
I’ve finally made a start on scanning a fascinating collection of photos and documents which were once displayed in the Derbyshire Bridge Rangers’ hut. Here’s the first batch…
Well remembered
A treasure trove of recent discoveries from Facebook members include a 1930s photo of Errwood Hall, plus footage from a 1948 film and a 1966 colour photo showing the packhorse bridge.
Derbyshire Bridge road closure
The narrow, one-way road between Errwood Hall car park and Derbyshire Bridge has been closed until December 1st – or earlier if Forestry England manage to complete their tree-felling sooner.
Twin boulders found
A popular postcard from well over 100 years ago posed a bit of a mystery as it’s not a view anyone recognised. But Sue and Tim were up to the task and donned their wellies to try and track it down.
Errwood Hall 1845
An 1845 tithe map shows that Errwood Hall hadn’t yet been built, even though Samuel Grimshawe purchased the land some 13 years earlier. I thought work had started well before then.
Bodies in boots?
The discovery of two cars in the pond beside Goyt’s Lane, and rumours of bodies being found in the boots, attracted media attention. There were also four safes plus a cache of bullets.
Rubbish finds
A spot near the reduced waterline may once have been a midden where rubbish from Goytsbridge Farm was dumped. Most of it is of little interest, but a few attractive items have been found.
Low water reveals #3
Yet more stone features are appearing above the surface of Errwood Reservoir. The four nearest the bank could have been part of the large twin barns which stood beside the lane to Errwood Hall.
Gateposts mystery solved
A grainy photo taken shortly before Errwood Reservoir was flooded in 1968 seems to solve the mystery of the sturdy gateposts that have recently surfaced during the drought of August 2022.
Low water reveals: #2
The second part of my attempts to trace features that have emerged during the recent drought; a pair of sturdy gateposts and a junction of lanes, all of which have been hidden since Errwood was flooded.
Low water reveals: #1
The water level in Errwood Reservoir has dropped significantly over recent weeks, revealing some interesting features from the past. Trying to identify where they once lay is a fascinating challenge.
Walk 27: easy 2 mile circuit
Walk 27 – an easy two-mile circuit from the small car park half way down Goyt’s Lane along the old C&HPR track, returning along the narrow path to Errwood Reservoir. And very easy to extend.
Errwood Hall revealed
Six recordings from the new ‘augmented reality’ app on Errwood Hall help tell the story of life in and around this grand country house which once dominated the valley and now lies in ruins.
New info boards
It’s great to see that United Utilities seem to be taking more interest in promoting the heritage of the valley – following up the repair of the packhorse bridge by installing three new information boards.
Packhorse bridge reopened
Great news; the historic packhorse bridge which once lay in the heart of the now drowned hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge has finally been repaired and the barriers removed.
1846 Goyt Valley plans
Comparing the recently discovered 1846 plans of the valley with OS maps from the 1890s reveal some fascinating changes, but also poses the question of when Grimshaw turned to Grimshawe.
