Goyt’s Bridge School
One favourite trip was up the old Roman road, The Street, then across the fields to visit the small shrine of St. Joseph’s, before calling in at the coal mine on the way back for a lesson on its origins.
Finding Errwood Farm
Sarah is searching for Errwood Farm where her grandparents once lived. But although she thinks it was the lowest-lying farm not to be submerged, she’s been unable to locate the ruins.
Over the hills with a tandem
The Goyt Canyon opens suddenly out of the limestone hills, and for some eight miles to Taxal provides an exquisite ‘coast’ through sylvan scenery as rare as it is unexpected.
Fernilee inauguration
This shaky black and white silent film from 1932 records the inauguration ceremony for the construction of Fernilee Reservoir, with Stockport Corporation big-wigs standing apart from the navvies.
Goyt’s Bridge before the flood
This silent film was one of two taken in 1932, during the construction of Fernilee Reservoir. It features the hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge, which now lies submerged beneath Errwood Reservoir.
Welcome . . .
…to everyone who shares my passion for the magical Goyt Valley, close to Buxton in the Peak District National Park.
Valley walks
There are some wonderful walks in and around the Goyt Valley. I’ve included some personal favourites.
Before the flood . . .
A unique community vanished beneath the two reservoirs. Here’s the story in both words and pictures.
Goyt memories: Paul Mason
My dad told me about the time a pig ran off along the path going up to the hall. It ran over the edge and droped in the ravine. My grandad managed to get it out and clamed it for himself!
Errwood Hall gamekeeper
Mel Rogerson writes: “I’ve recently discovered that one of my ancestors was a gamekeeper at Errwood Hall throughout the 1800s and wondered whether you have the dates for the staff photos?”
Shining Tor to Pym Chair
John writes: “Today I walked up to Shining Tor, down and along the valley back to Pym Chair. It is a beautiful area with spectacular scenery and I tried to imagine it as it was before the reservoirs were constructed and the pine forests planted.”
Errwood Hall plasterwork
It seems that rare fragments of Errwood Hall have survived! Some plasterwork copies of the Elgin Marbles were rescued before the hall was demolished in 1934.
Cycling through the Goyt
Peter Jourdain writes: “I found your lovely website and Youtube videos on the Goyt Valley after having searched on the web. I am an American, and have never been to the Goyt, but am a cyclist and cycling historian, with a primary emphasis on the golden era of British cycling clubs and cycletouring in the 1920s and ’30s.”
Cycling the Goyt Valley (1932)
I passed Goyt’s Bridge Farm, which is to be demolished, and entered the lower stretch of the valley, where the second reservoir will be. They have already begun work by the Powder Mill.
Can anyone identify this bridge?
Chris Belton writes: “I’m trying to identify a 1958 photo from my late father’s collection entitled ‘Goyt Holiday’. The photo shows a bridge over a stream but seemingly not Goyt’s Bridge. I can sort of remember it, it was a delightful place, the sort my parents sought out for picnics.”
Walking the Cromford & High Peak Railway
Bill Reid writes: “Thanks for the great videos and information on the Goyt Valey and the Cromford & High Peak Railway. I have used your Walk no.12 to find my way along the old railway between Whaley Bridge and Burbage.”
Fishing the Goyt at Taxal
John Sutcliffe writes: “I was very pleasantly surprised indeed to watch the old cine film of the Goyt Valley, which, needless to say, I didn’t even know existed! For my part, I am now 75 years of age, but my memories of the Goyt Valley, as a then 12-year-old boy, are as clear to me now, as if it was only yesterday when I was last there.”
Locating Errwood Farm
Sarah Dugdale writes: “I was looking at your website and I believe I have some old photos of the area. My Grandparents were living in the area before the war and were re-located to Whaley Bridge. The whole story is a muddle in my head as my dad who could have helped greatly died in November 2000.”
The Moon of Gomrath
The Morrigan captures Colin and imprisons him in Errwood Hall, which her magic restores into a building, which except in moonlight teleports into a lightless magic realm.
The Carter family
Michael Mitchell writes: “My 2x great grandmother was Elizabeth Carter and was born at Errwood Hall 18 Jun 1862. Her father was John Carter who was a butler at the hall in the 1850s. In the 1860 census he is listed as a retired butler, but still living on the property. In 1871 he is living in Castedge and is listed as the farm bailiff.”
