Errwood Hall & the Drowned Hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge
£12.95
The history of Goyt’s Bridge and Errwood Hall told in photos, postcards and old maps, from the arrival of the Grimshawes in the 1830s to the flooding of Errwood Reservoir in 1968.
Cllick here for more information about the book, as well as page thumbnails and links to the topics covered. And click the button below to order a copy.
15% special offer: For a limited period I’m offering a 15% discount on orders of more than one book. Which reduces the cost of each book from £12.95 to £11.01. To increase your order, simply add one to your cart, and then increase the number at the next stage. You should then see the 15% discount applied.
Also available in local bookshops. I’ve tried to reduce the postage costs as much as possible, but if you live close to Buxton, they’re available in a few local shops, including Scriveners in Buxton and High Peak Books at Brierlow Bar.
The picturesque delights of the Goyt Valley have been attracting visitors since the arrival of the railways to Buxton in 1863. A favourite excursion was from the Cat & Fiddle following the River Goyt to the small hamlet of Goyt's Bridge, returning to Buxton along the Long Hill road from Whaley Bridge. Postcards views of the valley were hugely popular to send to friends and family.
This book uses many of these postcards, along with old maps and personal photos, to tell the story of the people who lived, farmed and worked in the valley, including the wealthy Grimshawe family who purchased the estate in 1836 to build Errwood Hall, the ruins of which now lie a short distance from Errwood Reservoir.
Printed in full colour throughout on high quality paper with a hardback cover, this 52 page book reflects my fascination with a community that vanished with the construction of the twin reservoirs following the death of the last of the Grimshawes in 1930.
Additional information
| Size: | 210 x 210mm, 48 text pages plus cover |
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22 reviews for Errwood Hall & the Drowned Hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge
Linda Amos (verified owner) –
Thank you very much for the copy of your book that arrived promptly, I can appreciate how many hours of research this has taken, it is a fantastic record of the history of Errwood & the Goyt Valley, I will be passing my copy around our family for them to enjoy too.
Ruth (verified owner) –
Thank you so much for sending me this super exciting book and so quickly! I only ordered it the other day!! It is absolutely amazing !! Photos , research, detail amazing!! I have walked around there all my life and am so excited to know more about the hall and area. Thank you so much ! Superb book
Gail Cullen (verified owner) –
Lovely book so many photos I haven’t seen before. I was excited to read it and after ordering it was delivered very quickly. Thank you
Darren –
I found it very interesting with some great photos. It was a nice touch including the maps and numbering the photos to show the location where they were taken, the information was easy to read and well presented.
Ian Oulton (verified owner) –
Thank you for the book, really interesting read, a lot of history I didn’t know about in the Goyt valley have learned a lot, such a shame the hall and village were lost, will be taking a trip to Cheshire soon will have to has look at some of the places mentioned
Don Dawber (verified owner) –
As a lifelong visitor (introduced by my parents who were both visitors from an early age) to the Goyt Valley and Errwood, who loves the area, I have to say this book is fascinating. David has done a fantastic job collating and gathering all the stories and photos. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the history of the Errwood/Goyt area.
Edwina Currie Jones (verified owner) –
A delight. Wonderful old picture postcards and photos of a bygone era. Complete with maps explaining what happened, and where, as these landmarks have disappeared forever. The book is a labour of love and it shows.
Melanie (verified owner) –
I bought this book as a gift but couldn’t resist a read before I handed it over. I wasn’t disappointed. The book is beautifully presented with fascinating facts about the area. The photographs and post cards are a delight. Each page has a small, easy to follow map to assist with the understanding. A great find.
Vicky –
If you love the history of the Goyt Valley as much as I do then this new book that David Stirling has produced is absolutely amazing. The pictures of all the buildings and history about it is incredible. It’s available to buy through David himself and I got mine from Scriveners bookshop. A definite must read.
Christine (verified owner) –
The service was excellent, couldn’t be better. Very quick turn around from ordering to receiving the book and very well packed. There was a nice personal touch, which followed through to the card inside the package. It all made the book feel very special. Love the images and maps in the book. The layout is really easy to read and very informative, couldn’t put it down once I picked it up. The facts were informative, I thought I knew a lot about the area until I started reading. The history was fascinating. Looking forward to the next one.
C L. (verified owner) –
I intended giving this on Mothers Day but couldnt wait. Mum has read it twice already and loved every page. Thanks for the signature David.
Barbara Hadley (verified owner) –
What a super book! We have been fascinated by Errwood Hall and beautiful Goyt Valley for many years. The photographs are really interesting and informative. Best £12.95 I’ve ever invested.
Antony Spence (verified owner) –
I just wanted to tell you how wonderful your latest book is. It’s really well researched and I know how much hard work has gone into it, so thank you. Also, as a printer and graphic designer, I also wanted to say what a superb job Swallowprint have done for you, the finished quality is really good.
Amber (verified owner) –
This is a beautiful book and very accessible. I grew up in Whaley Bridge and I have such fond memories of days spent in the Goyt Valley and exploring the ruins of the Hall, so this book is a real treasure and I have already learnt a lot from it.
Dr Roger Beck (verified owner) –
If like me, you have wandered around the banks of Errwood Reservoir, and have come across masonry remnants, relics of a garden and signs mentioning ‘Errwood Hall’ you might have wondered the meaning of these relics of times past. This recent publication of David Stirling’s goes a long way to providing the answers to this mystery. In this very readable small book, you discover that the Victorian industrialist Samuel Grimshaw built his Hall not in insolation but beside the much older hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge, presumably so that the locals might provide some of the staff needed to support his establishment.
This hamlet and its people are now part of the history that this book reveals by means of annotated OS map extracts, old postcard copies and paintings of the scenes that no longer exist, having been demolished then flooded during the creation of Errwood and Fernilee Reservoirs by Stockport Council during the last century. The book takes you through the hamlet and the surrounding farms with photographs of the buildings. It also covers the Fernilee gunpowder mill placed obviously in a suitably remote location!
This is an excellent accompaniment to a trip to the valley of the River Goyt enabling one to imagine times past when viewing what remains; you will also follow in the footsteps of the Victorian and Edwardian day trippers from the nearby metropolis made possible by the coming of the motor car. I am sure you will enjoy this little book as much as I do in your trips to this now lost piece of history. You will have, though, to take your own tea and cake today!
Kathleen Alison Merricks (verified owner) –
We received the book very quickly. It is a fascinating, well-researched history of the area, illustrated with historical photographs. We know the area fairly well, but the book has added to our appreciation of this beautiful part of the country.
It also adds to my appreciation of Alan Garner’s books, most of which are set in or around Cheshire.
Paul A. (verified owner) –
An excellent book which is essential reading for anyone interested in the Goyt Valley. Thoroughly recommended.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
This is a really interesting and informative book
David Easton (verified owner) –
A wonderful book, packed with superb photos, maps and so much more.
Paul Morgan (verified owner) –
A well presented book that has photos illustrations and maps that are used bring back to life the long lost community of Goyts bridge and the surrounding area.
Myrtle C. (verified owner) –
What a great book. It has inspired me to go out there again with friends, family and the book. I haven’t been there for a few years and this book adds so much extra interest.
Mark Higginson (verified owner) –
I can heartily recommend this book. It is splendidly designed and printed in full colour and is packed with well-reproduced illustrations and maps. At £12.95 it is good value and in 48 pages it covers 20 different aspects related to Errwood Hall and Goyt’s Bridge, including its bridges, farms, industries, people, and of course, the now ruined Hall and the long departed Grimshawe family who built and occupied it. The author tackles each topic in a readable and informative style and at the end of it – whether you are familiar with the locality or not – you will be left with a vivid impression of what existed prior to construction of the Goyt Valley’s two reservoirs. Truly, a delightful corner of Derbyshire, now lost to progress. My copy arrived promptly and was well-packed, and I would say if you haven’t yet obtained this excellent little volume, do so while it’s still available!