Above: A photo of Dickie’s skull from Clifford’s book. I hadn’t heard of the legend of Tunstead Dickie’s skull before reading Clifford Rathbone’s ‘Goyt Valley Story’; a collection of articles he wrote for the Macclesfield...
Above: Known as ‘the human fly’, Joe was acknowledged as one of Britain’s finest mountaineers. He carved orienteering clues into rocks at 20 locations around the valley. The one above right is on the back of the shrine beside the lane leading down to...
Above: Clifford pictured on the path leading to the ruins of Errwood Hall in 1955. Many thanks to Willow Publishing for allowing me to post a pdf version of Clifford Rathbone’s ‘Goyt Valley Story’ on the site. First published in 1955, the booklet...
Above: The nearby Cat & Fiddle pictured under a blanket of snow shows just how severe the weather could get on these moors. Many thanks to David from the Furness Vale History Society for sending these details about a tragedy that happened in Goytsclough back in...
Above: Goyt Valley Romance was self-published by Gerald (below). Gerald Hancock’s ‘Goyt Valley Romance’ was the inspiration for my launching this website back in 2012. He sadly died some years ago, and was in the later stages of his illness when we...
Above: Neil on the left interviews yours truly at the ruins of Errwood Hall. Professional photographer, Neil O’Connor, got in touch a few weeks back to ask whether I’d be happy to be interviewed for a video he was creating on a walk passing the ruins of...
Above: Anne and Samuel Grimshawe’s memorial in Taxal Church. Although it’s usually locked, Taxal Church is well worth a visit if you can get hold of the key. There are some fascinating memorials inside, including one to George II’s ‘Yeaoman of...
Above: Samuel Grimshawe’s cousin, Fredrick Upton Gaskell (circled), pictured in 1883 with members of the annual shooting party. These four very similar photos were among a collection that Gerald Hancock, author of ‘Goyt Valley Romance’, allowed me to...
Above: the collection includes photos of some of the small steam engines that transported materials around the construction site, as well as navvies relaxing in their temporary pub. Many thanks to Norm from the Whaley Bridge Local History Group for allowing me to...
Above: Jack Hewitt (sitting at far left with his daughter) was manager of Castedge coal mine, which lay just below Errwood Hall. It’s one of five posts currently on the website which explore the topic of coal mining in the Goyt Valley. The very first post on...
