He’s pictured on the steps leading up to the family’s hill-top cemetery – which is where he now lies.
This video focuses on the area around the hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge, which now lies submerged beneath the waters of Errwood Reservoir. I’m planning to do another on the landscape lost beneath Fernilee Reservoir, including the gunpowder factory, in a later video.
To view this video in all its high-definition glory, simply click the image to play, and then the expand symbol at bottom right of the screen.
It features some of the old photos of both Goyt’s Bridge and Errwood Hall that people have kindly allowed me to scan and publish on this website, and to plot their position on old maps.
I’ve also tried to recreate a flavour of life in the valley during the time the Grimshawe family lived at Errwood Hall, including local children pictured outside the small one-room school, as well as visitors taking tea in the farmhouse cafes in Goyt’s Bridge.
I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I did making it. Any comments – as well as suggestions for future videos – would be much appreciated.
Page update: October 2020
I’ve now completed the video on the construction of Fernilee Reservoir. Click here to view it.
Thanks for the video it’s absolutely fascinating. I’m from Norwich so to be amongst the hills was a great change. Studied the ‘Goyt Valley’ website before visiting, helped set the scene. Many thanks
We have been visiting the Goyt Valley for a number of years and enjoy the stunning views that the area has to offer, especially around Errwood Hall. I have reviewed the reasoning for the demolition of the hall which seems to have been associated with the development of the reservoir. However when you look at the location of the hall and it’s immediate surroundings it is difficult to understand why the scheme required its removal. Is there any more info on the reasoning for its demolition? Seems such a waste!
I’ve just revisited Errwood Hall six years after first exploring the remains. I have much enjoyed learning more from your website and the video is truly excellent. Professional and highly evocative it makes a great watch. Well done!
After the long hot summer the water level in the reservoir is very low but sadly not low enough to reveal the remnants of Goyt’s Bridge. Hopefully another time…
Thanks once again for the depth of your research.
I met you yesterday at Errwood Hall and you answered a few questions about the Hall and signposted me to this website! Very enjoyable walk and your website is very informative and well produced. Thanks.
Been to the Goyt Valley today and visited the Hall – excellent day out. The passage of time and its effect on places like this is endlessly fascinating. Your ‘then and now’ photos are wonderful. But my device won’t play your video for some reason. Have you uploaded it onto YouTube? Anyway, thanks for the information and photos.
I was at the Errwood valley last June and while visiting Errwood Hall I was wondering about it’s history. So, thank you for the video. I really enjoyed the story you shared with us.
We walk regularly in the forest by the reservoirs and have visited Errwood Hall many times. I have picked up bits of information about the history of the valley from various sources over the years but nothing compares to your lovely website and videos. Very well put together, easy to follow and enjoyable to read and watch. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the pictures and information. I grew up in Whaley Bridge and have spent hours walking around the Goyt Valley both as a child with school and as an adult. My son is now fascinated with the ruins and he loved watching your videos and looking at the old pictures and videos. It is really tricky to find information about local places and your website is brilliant. Both myself and my son have spent hours pondering about why they knocked down the hall. It was great to find an answer. As a teacher I am sure that this website would also be really useful to do a local History study with a great field trip.
Thank you for your work. The history of this place is fascinating. We found this place today and were wondering what it was.
This is absolutely superb. We’re up here for two weeks and visited the ruin today, with some sadness. Your video brings it to life and is incredibly informative. Still feel rather sad though, we lose so much as the years go by.
Just watched your video. Loved seeing the pictures of how the house used to look as there is very little info at the site itself.