Louise Marsden spotted this intriguing photo on Picture the Past’s Facebook page. It’s titled ‘Goyt Valley Relief Expedition’, and was published in the Buxton Advertiser.

The description says: “Leaving from outside messrs Burgons Stores on the afternoon of Monday 27 February 1933. The original photograph is held in the bound volume ‘The snowstorm of 24/26th February 1933’.”

Above: click either button to switch between views, or drag the green slider.

Snow has been falling for the last few days here in Buxton, so I thought it was a good opportunity to try and capture a similar view, and create this ‘then and now’ fade.

Mike has tried to discover more about the rescue expedition in the archives, but has so far drawn a blank.

All the buildings in the Goyt Valley had been marked for demolition following Stockport Corporation’s purchase of the Errwood Estate in 1930 to build the twin reservoirs. So I wouldn’t have thought there were many people left to rescue when the snowstorm hit in early 1933.

I’ll update this page if we manage to discover any more information.