The prisoner heard the awful decision without any apparent emotion; and shortly afterwards a glass of water or lemonade was brought, which he drank off at a draught.
Topic tags: Miscellaneous...
7. Macclesfield witnesses
The story of the brutal murder of William Wood on the road between Disley and Whaley Bridge now moves to Macclesfield, where Joseph Dale and his two co-accused fled on the following day.
6. The trial begins
The trial of Joseph Dale for the murder of William Wood took place at Chester Castle. One of his co-accused had already hung himself. The other was still at large. Dale pleaded not guilty.
5. Suspects lost & found
17-year-old murder suspect, Charles Taylor, is securely locked behind the grim walls of Manchester’s New Bailey Prison. He uses his stockings and gaiters to escape justice.
Air crash remains
Two small wooden crosses standing over a collection of metal machinery, close to Shining Tor, commemorate a tragic air accident that occurred at this very spot in March 1944.
4. The chase
“…a suspicion arose that these three fellows had been concerned in the deed, and upon examining their old cloathes, they were found much stained with blood.”
3. The inquest
“On Saturday week, an Inquest was held at the Cock Inn, Whaley, on the body of this unfortunate man, who was found barbarously murdered on the old road from Disley to Whaley-Bridge…”
2. Innocent or guilty?
Did 17-year-old Joseph Dale, described in court as “a very peaceable, quiet lad, always good tempered and kind to his family”, pay the ultimate price for a murder he did not commit?
1. The Murder Stone
This small, stone memorial, on the back road between Whaley Bridge and Disley, commemorates William Wood who was murdered at this very spot nearly two centuries ago. It’s a gruesome tale!
Goyt’s Bridge dreamer
A wonderful early photo of Goyt’s Bridge seems to tell an intriguing tale. Why is the young lady so wrapped up in her thoughts, as her men-folk look on, separated by the waters of the Goyt?
Stonyway update
After much discussion on the Goyt Valley Facebook Group, we think we’ve finally nailed down where the first Stonyway Toll Booth once stood. But where it was moved to is still a mystery!
“Lest we forget!!”
“Lest we forget!!” is handwritten on this 1918 postcard of the road from Derbyshire Bridge to Goytsclough. I’m hoping someone may be able to decipher the message on the reverse.
Turnpike milestones
A recent talk in Buxton on milestones inspired me to go in search of any of these small roadside markers that lie close to the Goyt Valley, alongside the old turnpikes.
Derbyshire Bridge
A signpost beside the Cat & Fiddle points towards Derbyshire Bridge at the southern end of the Goyt Valley. But this is Goyt’s Moss. And the bridge is further along the road towards the twin reservoirs.
‘Accidental death’ verdict
I was with the deceased, Thomas Dunn, and when we arrived at my gate I asked if I should go forward with him as it was very dark. He said “Heaven bless thee, George, I shall manage.”
Drunk in charge
He fell back upon some hay, also on to a child. Witness stopped him, and said he could not allow him to drive in a state like that. Defendant said “He had been a sight worse than this many a time.”
Fatal trap accident
At 12 o’clock on Thursday night (18th May 1884) a sad and fatal accident happened at the top of Long Hill, about three miles from Buxton, whereby Mr. Thomas Dunn, of the Nook Farm, Fernilee, lost his life.
Radio Derby interview
BBC Radio Derby’s Andy Twigge is up to the letter G on his regular A to Z feature on places of interest in Derbyshire. Which is how I came to receive a call asking if I’d come on his programme.
GV Facebook Group
If you’re a Facebook user and love the Valley, join our newly launched ‘Goyt Valley Appreciation Society’ Group. All members are very welcome. Contribute, chat and take part in the conversation.
Goyt Valley turnpikes
I’ve often wondered about the history of the old and new Buxton to Macclesfield roads that snake in tandem across the windswept moors. One now derelict, the other today’s A537.
Foxlow Edge burial site?
Could a small circle of jumbled stones mark a Bronze Age burial? And might a small standing stone be an ancient waymarker that once guided travellers across this windswept landscape?
Deciphering the stone clues
Discovering the facts about the twin circles on Foxlow Edge isn’t easy. I hope they’re the remains of a Bronze Age settlement. But the experts seem to be pouring cold water on my dreams!
Ghostly Errwood bride
Rod tells of his encounter with a ghostly apparition on the River Goyt. Could it have been Irma Niorthe, the young French maid who died at 27 and is buried above Errwood Hall?
A couple of mysteries
Mystery no.1; a couple of circles in the landscape high on Foxlow Edge. Mystery no.2; a stone memorial found close to Fernilee Reservoir. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Goyt walks from satellite
Experience one of the most popular walks on the site, the 8-mile circular walk from Buxton to Errwood Reservoir, courtesy of Google Earth and some magical 3D satellite image wizardry.
Samuel’s pseudo bishop
Samuel Grimshaw converted a top-floor room at Errwood Hall into a Catholic chapel, earning the condemnation of an irate letter-writer who complained it was unsuitable behaviour for a magistrate.
The long white road
The last poem written by Roland Leighton was delivered to his fiancé, Vera Brittain, along with his blood-stained uniform. It may have celebrated a walk the two lovers made along Old Goyt’s Lane.
Wrong again!
Another of my theories bites the dust! I was sure the brick pillar that surfaced during this summer must have been one of the supports for the suspension bridge. But it appears not.
Hidden features revealed
The record-breaking temperatures during the summer of 2018 saw the water levels drop significantly in both reservoirs. These photos show some of the features that will soon vanish once again.
Tracing the mill lade
Walking the lade from Goytsclough to the Goyt was the only way I was going to work out how water seemed to defy gravity to feed the giant waterwheel. It seems appearances can be very deceptive!