Before the Hall

Before the Hall

Above: Lot 27 included an area of land marked as 277. Errwood Hall was later built on this land. Above: This is the full 1832 map – click to enlarge. Or open as a pdf. © Sheffield Archives Many thanks to David from the Furness Vale History Society for sending me...
Errwood Hall 1845

Errwood Hall 1845

Above: The 1845 tithe map on the left reveals that Errwood Hall hadn’t been built at the time it was drawn. Above: Clicking on plot 58 reveals that Samuel Grimshawe owned the land. (Samuel added the ‘e’ at the end of his surname some years later.) I...
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...
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...
Three lost homes

Three lost homes

Above: From left to right; The Hollows, Upper Lodge and Lower Lodge. I’ve finally managed to complete a job I’ve been meaning to do for a while – to add the details of three houses at the northern end of the valley to the ‘Houses &...
Shawstile holloway

Shawstile holloway

Above: This view across the reservoir has only opened up since the felling of the fir trees. I’ve circled the junction of the twin tracks, with the ancient holloway running up the slope on the right. The recent felling of the fir trees on the western slopes...
The Hollows update

The Hollows update

Above: Work started on Fernilee Reservoir in 1932 and was completed in 1937. I’d guess this photo showing The Hollows still standing in the midst of the construction site would have been taken around 1934. Above: I’ve circled The Hollows, and shown where I...
Tracing ‘The Hollows’

Tracing ‘The Hollows’

Above: The sign on the gate advertising teas shows that it can’t have been too far off the beaten track. So where was it? Above: An attractive view of the building (click to enlarge), with the Goyt flowing in the foreground. Chris Simpson recently got in touch...
Mystery building

Mystery building

Above: One of the very few buildings in the valley that Bill doesn’t recognise. The Long Hill road is easily identified by the line of telegraph poles in the distance. The dark stripe running horizontally below is the disused track of the C&HPR. And...
Goyt’s Moss Farmhouse

Goyt’s Moss Farmhouse

Above: Goyt’s Moss Farmhouse lay beside the Old Buxton to Macclesfield Turnpike.  The single-track road to the twin reservoirs is just out of the picture on the right. And the road snaking away into the distance ends close to the Cat & Fiddle, at the...