Fell’s Experimental Railway
An obvious drawback with trains is that they can’t get up and down slopes. An experiment carried out in the Goyt Valley over 150 years ago tried to solve this problem.
Revealing the stones
Forestry England has recently been clearing undergrowth from the old drive leading from Goyt’s Bridge to Errwood Hall, and it’s revealed some intriguing features alongside Shooters’ Clough.
Green shoots of recovery
The green shoots of recovery are emerging from the devastation caused by the recent fire in the southern Goyt Valley. The cause is likely to have been a portable BBQ. They need to be banned ASAP.
Searching for clues
Joe Brown’s Numbers is a 20-mile orienteering challenge around the Goyt Valley created by the famous climber in the 1960s. I’ve divided it into two more manageable walks with clues.
An earlier challenge?
A recently discovered set of numbers are similar to those on Joe Brown’s orienteering challenge. But these point to Errwood Bridge, which now lies under Errwood Reservoir.
Bunsall Incline cottage
A grainy photo of a building half-way down the Bunsall Incline has always intrigued me. A recently discovered map from around 1855 shows it marked as a cottage, lying opposite a long-lost engine house.
Hot off the press!
Errwood Hall & the Lost Hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge: a treasure trove of old photos, maps and information.
Good or bad guys?
The Braddock family had worked for the Grimshawes since the building of Errwood Hall. So it was a surprise to learn that they were a tight-knit band of notorious highwaymen.
Mystery earthworks
Many theories have been proposed for the mysterious, mile-long earthwork between Watford and Longhill Farms. Was it for a large gun, a railway test track, or perhaps an abandoned turnpike extension?
Trip to the Valley in 1967
Some photos taken in 1967, shortly before the completion of Errwood Reservoir, including views along the Bunsall Incline as well as the suspension bridge which once spanned Fernilee Reservoir.
An alternative view
An original oil painting that appeared recently on ebay could be an early draft of my favourite postcard view of Goyt’s Bridge. The vendor gave me permission to sell copies to help fund this website.
Goyt’s Bridge painting
Just discovered in Buxton Museum’s collection; a late 19th century oil painting showing the highly popular view of Goyt’s Bridge, over the stepping stones towards the packhorse bridge.
Goytsclough parking closed
Forestry England has recently closed off the popular parking areas at Goytsclough with a long row of large boulders in an attempt to stop what they call ‘antisocial behaviour’.
The path to the stones
A photo taken back in late August 2022, when the water level in Errwood Reservoir dropped significantly, revealed the path running down to the second set of stepping stones.
Second stepping stones
A 1918 photo taken from Goyt’s Lane towards Goytshead Farm comes frustratingly close to revealing a second set of stepping stones close to the packhorse bridge in Goyt’s Bridge.
WW1 nurse’s unique photos
Four photos have been discovered of Goyt’s Bridge, taken by a Canadian nurse in 1918. They include both bridges as well as a wonderful view across the now-drowned hamlet.
Before the Hall
A detailed map published in 1832 for the sale of land in the Goyt Valley is the oldest I’ve seen. It must have been at this auction that Samuel Grimshaw purchased the land on which he’d build Errwood Hall.
Hall ruins reopened
It’s good to see that the fencing around the ruins of Errwood Hall has finally been removed and visitors are again free to wander around this historic site. I just hope we can keep the vandals away.
The vanished footbridge
The mystery of the vanished footbridge along the path around the ruins of Errwood Hall deepens. I’m just hoping Forestry England will replace it. But their silence makes me fear for the worst.
Grouse shooting ban
United Utilities has announced that they will ban grouse shooting in the valley from 2027, ending a sporting tradition which has taken place for centuries. The decision has caused a great deal of controversy.
