Above: Bob looks out across a very low level Errwood Reservoir. The blue dot on the map shows where he normally stands, just below the water line.
At the time of writing, in early July 2025, the water level in Errwood Reservoir is the lowest I’ve ever seen it, and could well drop even further over the coming weeks. But it’s still got some way to go before Errwood Bridge rises above the surface, as it last did during the drought of 1984 (see Gary Dixon’s photos).
I often get asked about the ghostly figure in white who stands with rod in hand at the southern end of the reservoir. This is Bob, and he’s said to have been created some years ago by a couple of fishermen to scare the cormorants away. Although they don’t seem to take much notice!
His football head surfaced above the water at the end of March. And he’s now quite a distance from the shoreline. After the spending the winter below the surface, he needed a fair bit of TLC to repair him. Trevor, Jane and Sue have all helped restore him to tip-top condition.
Above: I used a mapping app to plot the position of three sets of gateposts that have recently appeared above the waterline on an OS map of Goyt’s Bridge dating back to the late 1890s. Click the Now button to view today’s satelite image, or drag the green slider.
Gate posts A: On the right of the lane from Goytsclough as it nears Goyt’s Bridge.
Gate posts B: A group of four stone posts with another larger one a short distance further north.
Gate posts C: These two posts stood before the front door of Goytsbridge Farmhouse.
Above: The photo on the left is taken from Gateposts A, looking north along the reservoir. The photo on the right was taken in 1984, but from the other direction (the twin gateposts are just visible).
I’ve circled a short stretch of stone walling in both photos. It’s just a couple of feet above the surface today. The 1984 photo shows how much further the water level has to drop before Errwood Bridge will be exposed.
