Railway mania part II
In this second part of Alan Robert’s article on railways through the Goyt Valley, he explains how the attempts to improve the Cromford & High Peak Railway by avoiding the steep inclines ended in failure.
Railway mania part I
In the first of a two-part post, local historian Alan Roberts explains how a railway line proposed in 1846 between Manchester and Matlock would have cut right through the hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge.
Goyt Recollections part III
The final part of Crichton Porteous’s ‘Goyt Recollections’ provides a fascinating picture of the valley in the mid 1950s, describing the area all the way from Goyt’s Bridge to Taxal.
Goyt Recollections part II
In part two of Crichton Porteous’s ‘Goyt Recollections’, he writes about Errwood Hall, the hill-top graveyard and the coal mine. He also talks to an old estate worker about the Grimshawe sisters.
Goyt Recollections part I
Crichton Porteous was known as ‘the Thomas Hardy of Derbyshire’. This is the first of three parts reproducing a chapter from his popular 1954 book, Peakland, and titled ‘Goyt Recollections’.
Long Hill closure
The closure of a long section of Long Hill is frustrating for motorists, but has hit the Goyt Valley’s closest pub particularly hard. New tenant, Leon, has already seen takings down by two-thirds.
Windgather to Shining Tor
Starting from the main car park, this 11-mile walk includes wonderful views from both Windgather Rocks and Shining Tor, before dropping down to visit the ruins of Errwood Hall.
A ghostly encounter
A brief extract from a 1963 book includes a report of a ghostly encounter at Errwood Hall: “It beckoned with its long arms to me, and, pointing up the path, it ran with its hollow eyes holding me spell-bound”.
The two Alexanders
Two Alexanders were responsible for the design of Errwood Hall: Roos the young and talented architect, and the wealthy Beresford-Hope who recommended him to his friend Samuel Grimshawe.
A most romantic location
A description of Errwood Hall in a popular coffee-table book says it’s “probably the most romantic location in Derbyshire”. It contains some fascinating details, but quite a few inaccuracies.
Boothman’s Cottages
A photo of a derelict building known as Boothman’s Cottages recently came to light. There’s nothing left of it today. Was it connected to coal mining, or simply a stop-off point for weary travellers?
Vault correction
Another long-held theory of mine goes up in flames, thanks to the discovery of yet another old photo from the archives; the Grimshawe’s hill-top vault wasn’t where I’d always thought it was.
A tale of two bridges
Two bridges – both close to Errwood Hall. One that I’d never seen before, and another which I wasn’t sure ever existed. All it needed to solve the mystery was a pair of wellington boots.
Errwood Hall research
Creating the new augmented reality app has posed some intriguing questions, and also unearthed some wonderful old photos. Putting both together is a challenging but fascinating project.
Errwood Hall layout
The augmented reality app which will bring the ruins of Errwood Hall to life is still at the planning stage. The first step is to identify the layout of the rooms. Any help would be much appreciated.
Exiting Burbage Tunnel
Thanks to the internet, social media and digital wizardry, we’ve transformed a poor-quality photocopy image of a train exiting Burbage Tunnel into something resembling the original painting.
Goyt Valley Youth Hostel
I’d always understood that Errwood Hall was used as a Youth Hostel for a couple of years after Mary Grimshawe’s death in 1930. But according to recently discovered YHA records, that’s not correct.
Errwood Hall arch
A recently discovered photo of Errwood Hall shows the grand arch which once formed the gateway to the Grimshawe family’s hill-top cemetery. The arch has long since gone, but the steps remain.
The line that never was
A 1941 press clipping explains that Samuel Grimshawe once blocked plans to create a railway through the Goyt Valley. But since it would have passed through Errwood Hall, it’s perhaps not surprising!
Mystery view solved
An old postcard recently appeared on ebay captioned ‘Goyt Valley’. But I really struggled to work out where it was taken. Sharper eyes than mine spotted a bridge arch hidden by trees. Mystery solved!
