Captain John Butler has always fascinated me. He was the Master of the Grimshawe’s ocean-going yacht, The Mariquita, and is buried in the hill-top cemetery above the ruins of Errwood Hall.
Topic tags: Errwood Hall...
New valley panorama
A newly-dicovered photo across the Goyt Valley dating back to the 1920s reveals some fascinating detail – Errwood Hall in the far distance and a possible ice cream kiosk beside Errwood Bridge.
Discovered; a lovers’ walk
In 1880 a writer described “a footpath high above the carriage-way… a lovers’ walk; a deep-green wooded way made for Phillida and Corydon”. My thanks to James for pointing me in the right direction.
A birds’ eye view
Top of my Santa wish-list is a drone to capture the Valley from the air. But I’m not confident about persuading my good lady wife that it’s worth the hefty price tag. Wish me luck!
Goyt’s Bridge video
It’s taken a while, but I’ve finally managed to complete a short, 12 minute video showing how the twin reservoirs completely changed the landscape of this part of the Goyt Valley.
Errwood Hall bridge
An 1880 report of a trip to Errwood Hall mentions a ‘lovers’ walk high above the carriageway’. But where was this scenic walk? And was there a bridge that has now been lost?
Killing at Errwood Hall
An 1847 newspaper clipping reports a ‘desperate burglary, in which one of the burglars was killed’ at Errwood Hall. The gamekeeper was said to have fired the fatal shot. But did he?
The last of the Grimshawes
The death of Mary, the last of the Grimshawes, in 1930 marked the end of a century-long era in the Goyt Valley. Work on Fernilee Reservoir began soon after. And Errwood Hall was to be demolished.
Ghostly goings-on at the Hall
The women wore hats with brims – not fussy or posh, what I would call ‘Sunday go to meeting hats’. I think this woman might have been in her fifties or so. Her companion was younger and thinner…
Life below stairs
“These rich Lords and Ladies had a London Home and also one near Manchester. It was called Errwood Hall and there were five Lords and Ladies, a Priest and 20 servants…”
Errwood Hall party (1895)
“A very interesting and pleasant gathering took place at Errwood Hall last Wednesday week, when Miss Grimshawe and Mrs Preston entertained the tenantry and tradesmen of the district to dinner.”
Visiting Errwood Hall in 1883
By a reporter May 23rd 1883: “Errwood Hall, for such is its name, is a modernised building of dressed stone, with rooms of considerable size and number. In the centre there is a noble tower…”
The Grimshawe family
The two sisters knew that the estate was to be compulsory purchased by Stockport Corporation to create the twin reservoirs. And soon after Mary’s death, the sale was completed.
Errwood Hall auction sale
Mary Grimshawe-Gosselin of Errwood Hall died on 23rd February 1930. The auction of the contents of Errwood Hall was held over five days – from June 16th-20th 1930. There were more than 1,800 lots in total.
Graves of the Grimshawes
The small graveyard of the Grimshawe family and their favourite servants stands on top of the hill behind the ruins of Errwood Hall, providing magnificent views over the surrounding countryside.
Gatehouse Cottage
Although marked on old OS maps as Errwood Cottage, it’s usually known as the ‘Gatehouse & Gardener’s Cottage’, and was situated beside the gates at the foot of the lane leading up to Errwood Hall.
Goyt memories (1954)
Taken from a 1954 edition of the ‘Peakland’ magazine, Crichton Porteus recollects how the construction of the twin reservoirs led to the destruction of both Goyt’s Bridge and Errwood Hall.
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.
2: Errwood Hall & the Graves
This 1.2 mile walk from Errwood Hall car park is the shortest in the series, but is also one of the most popular, visiting the ruins of Errwood Hall as well as the hill-top cemetery of the Grimshawes.
3: Valley Views
An easy 1.2 mile stroll from Errwood Hall car park along a narrow but scenic path that’s easily over-looked, passing along the opposite side of Shooter’s Clough to visit the ruins of the hall.
4: Errwood Hall & the Shrine
This 2.7-mile walk from Errwood Hall car park passes three of the most historic sites in the valley – Errwood Hall, the hill-top graves of the family who once lived there, and St. Joseph’s Shrine.
7: The Rhododendrons
A short walk of just under two miles from Errwood Hall car park along paths that burst with colour when the rhododendrons surrounding the ruins of Errwood Hall are in full bloom.
8: Errwood > Shining Tor
At just over 6 miles, this walk from Errwood Reservoir up to Shining Tor – one of Cheshire’s highest landmarks – is one of the longest in the series. But the rewards are some wonderful views.
15: Errwood > Goytsclough
This 4.2-mile walk from Errwood Hall car park passes the ruins of Errwood Hall before rising up to reach open moorland, returning along a mix of stony tracks and riverside paths.
26: Windgather > Shining Tor
From The Street car park, this 10.7-mile walk passes Fernilee Reservoir to reach Taxal before turning south to Windgather Rocks and then Shining Tor, returning along Errwood Reservoir.
28: Twin Reservoirs Circuit
This complete, 7.6-mile circuit of both Errwood and Fernilee Reservoirs starts from The Street car park and passes the ruins of Errwood Hall as well as the historic packhorse bridge.
Errwood Hall reconstructed
A wonderful digital reconstruction of Errwood Hall by the Furness Vale Local History Society. I’d love to do something similar on Goyt’s Bridge – but wouldn’t know where to start!
The Grimshawe family
The Grimshawes of Errwood Hall and their descendents were the main employers and land-owners in the Goyt Valley until the estate was sold to Stockport Corporation in 1935. I've just posted an excerpt from Gerald Hancock's 'Goyt Valley Romance' which details the...