Low water reveals #3

Low water reveals #3

Above: The stone closest to the shore is now a couple of feet above the water line. Above: This gatepost is furthest away and the only one of the four to be finely carved (click to enlarge). With September now upon us, and lots of rain on the way, I thought the water...
Gateposts mystery solved

Gateposts mystery solved

Above: A grainy black and white photo of the area soon to be flooded under Errwood Reservoir reveals clues to the purpose of the recently exposed gateposts. I think I’ve solved the mystery of the twin gateposts featured in the previous post. They’ve...
Low water reveals: #2

Low water reveals: #2

Above: A screengrab from my phone shows where I was standing when I took the photo of the twin gateposts. The sturdy gateposts that recently appeared above the surface of Errwood Reservoir lie on the opposite bank to those featured in the previous post and are a bit...
Low water reveals: #1

Low water reveals: #1

Above: These twin stone gateposts once stood either side of the entrance to Goytsbridge Farm. Anyone who has visited the valley over recent weeks will have seen that the water level in Errwood Reservoir has dropped very low. And it’s revealed some fascinating...
1846 Goyt Valley plans

1846 Goyt Valley plans

Above: Fernilee Gunpowder Mill expanded significantly between 1846 and the late 1890s. The trees along the C&HPR track to the right also show that it had been abandoned. The detailed 1846 plans of the valley discovered by Alan Roberts for his research into the...
Boothman’s Cottages

Boothman’s Cottages

Above: Boothman’s Cottages would have been a bleak place to live in winter. But well-placed to pick up custom from the many travellers who passed this way. Above: An old photo showing the remains of the engine house (click to enlarge). There’s nothing now...
A tale of two bridges

A tale of two bridges

Above: The photo is captioned ‘Bridge Near Errwood Hall: A view of a bridge surrounded by trees with a view of people walking towards the trees. May/June 1964.’ The orange circle shows where it must have crossed Shooter’s Clough, half way along the...
Errwood Hall layout

Errwood Hall layout

Above: This view of Errwood Hall from the other side of Shooters Clough provides a good idea of the layout. I’d guess it dates to the late 1920s. I’ve circled where we now think the Catholic chapel may have been situated, rather than the top storey turret....
Goyt Valley Youth Hostel

Goyt Valley Youth Hostel

Above: A wonderful photo captioned “Morning toilet at the Goyt Valley hostel”. Click below to expand the full image. Photo YHA Archive. I’d always understood that Errwood Hall was used as a Youth Hostel for a couple of years between Mary...
Mystery view solved

Mystery view solved

Above: Chris’s eagle eyes had spotted the arch of a bridge at top right. This postcard view dating back to the early 1900s popped up on ebay the others day, captioned ‘Goyt Valley’. But I struggled to make out where it was taken. I thought it might...