A recently discovered press clipping from 1964 reveals that the picturesque packhorse bridge that once lay in the heart of Goyt’s Bridge was very nearly lost due to an administrative error.
Packhorse bridge saved
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Topic tags: Goyt’s Bridge...
1950s & ’60s snapshots
A series of family holiday snaps taken in the late 1950s and early ’60s, before the flooding of Errwood Reservoir, provide a unique view of both Errwood Hall and the packhorse bridge.
Bob’s high and dry!
The ghostly figure of Bob looks out across Errwood Reservoir as the water level continues to drop dramatically. Will he be first to see Errwood Bridge appear above the surface. Time will tell…
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.
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.
Well remembered
A treasure trove of recent discoveries from Facebook members include a 1930s photo of Errwood Hall, plus footage from a 1948 film and a 1966 colour photo showing the packhorse bridge.
Errwood Hall 1845
An 1845 tithe map shows that Errwood Hall hadn’t yet been built, even though Samuel Grimshawe purchased the land some 13 years earlier. I thought work had started well before then.
Rubbish finds
A spot near the reduced waterline may once have been a midden where rubbish from Goytsbridge Farm was dumped. Most of it is of little interest, but a few attractive items have been found.
Low water reveals #3
Yet more stone features are appearing above the surface of Errwood Reservoir. The four nearest the bank could have been part of the large twin barns which stood beside the lane to Errwood Hall.
Low water reveals: #2
The second part of my attempts to trace features that have emerged during the recent drought; a pair of sturdy gateposts and a junction of lanes, all of which have been hidden since Errwood was flooded.
Low water reveals: #1
The water level in Errwood Reservoir has dropped significantly over recent weeks, revealing some interesting features from the past. Trying to identify where they once lay is a fascinating challenge.
1846 Goyt Valley plans
Comparing the recently discovered 1846 plans of the valley with OS maps from the 1890s reveal some fascinating changes, but also poses the question of when Grimshaw turned to Grimshawe.
Goyt Recollections part III
The final part of Crichton Porteous’s ‘Goyt Recollections’ provides a fascinating picture of the valley in the mid 1950s, describing the area all the way from Goyt’s Bridge to Taxal.
Mystery view solved
An old postcard recently appeared on ebay captioned ‘Goyt Valley’. But I really struggled to work out where it was taken. Sharper eyes than mine spotted a bridge arch hidden by trees. Mystery solved!
Pictures in colour
I recently came across a book called ‘Pictures in Colour of Buxton and the Peak District’. Published in the early 1900s, it includes three photos taken in and around the Goyt Valley.
Errwood Hall drive
A rare discovery: a postcard from the early 1900s shows the drive from Goyt’s Bridge up to the Grimshawe family’s grand country house, Errwood Hall. It’s a very different scene today!
Gail’s Goyt’s Bridge cards
Two very similar postcard views of Goyts Bridge are probably separated by only a few years, but reveal a massive change in fortunes for this wonderfully scenic spot beside the Goyt.
Whispers of the gods
A 1937 newspaper article published just before the opening of Fernilee Reservoir tells of a glorious landscape that has been lost forever – wrecked in the interests of the community.
Goyt’s Bridge 1967
A rare photo of Goyt’s Bridge in 1967, just a few months before this upper part of the valley was flooded. And some views of the same area during the most recent severe drought, in the early 1990s.
The arch mystery
Gary’s photos of Errwood Bridge emerging during the 1984 drought show it had two arches. But all the pre-flood photos I’ve seen only seem to show the one. Bill Brocklehurst solves the mystery.
Locating the bridge
Gary’s photos of Errwood Bridge emerging from the waters of Errwood Reservoir during the drought of 1984 sparked a lot of interest. I’ve included some maps, and a ‘then & now’ fade, to show its position.
Goyt’s Bridge emerges
A unique collection of photos show Errwood Bridge emerging from beneath the water during a long dry spell in the autumn of 1984. It was one of two bridges in Goyt’s Bridge. But this wasn’t saved.
The valley in 1930
A collection of grainy photos shows the Goyt Valley just before construction work started on Fernilee Reservoir. Help identifying some of the more obscure images would be appreciated!
Goyt’s Bridge dreamer
A wonderful early photo of Goyt’s Bridge seems to tell an intriguing tale. Why is the young lady so wrapped up in her thoughts, as her men-folk look on, separated by the waters of the Goyt?
The long white road
The last poem written by Roland Leighton was delivered to his fiancé, Vera Brittain, along with his blood-stained uniform. It may have celebrated a walk the two lovers made along Old Goyt’s Lane.
Three new views
Three recently-discovered postcards dating back over a century show the wonderfully picturesque hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge before it vanished below the waters of Errwood Reservoir.