A ghostly encounter

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Cat & Fiddle: a brief history

Cat & Fiddle: a brief history

TV and radio historian Michala Hulme charts the intriguing fortunes of the famous Cat & Fiddle Inn, perched high on windswept moorland, close to the source of the River Goyt.

Errwood Hall cellars

Errwood Hall cellars

A recently discovered photo taken in 1988 shows a young boy peering into a hole in the centre of the Errwood Hall ruins. I wonder whether it might be the entrance to the cellars.

Three new old photos

Three new old photos

Three old photos recently popped up on ebay, captioned ‘Goyt Valley 1950s’. But where were they taken, and was the date correct? There’s only one man who knows the answer…

Joseph Oyarzabel?

Joseph Oyarzabel?

Two new photos said to be of Joseph Oyarzabel – son of Samuel Grimshawe’s butler – pose more questions than answers. Any help to discover the facts would be appreciated.

Bringing the ruins to life

Bringing the ruins to life

A virtual reality app designed to bring the ruins of Errwood Hall back to life is an exciting project. But you have to wonder what Samuel Grimshawe would have made of it.

Rare photo discovered

Rare photo discovered

A fairly dull and faded photo of a well-dressed dining table is only the second image that’s come to light taken inside Errwood Hall. So it has a lot of historical interest and value.

The Heathers

The Heathers

Gunpowder Mill worker, Allen Heather, and his wife Annie, had four sons and five daughters. All of them went to Goyt’s Bridge School. And one paid the ultimate sacrifice during WW1.