Above: the collection includes photos of some of the small steam engines that transported materials around the construction site, as well as navvies relaxing in their temporary pub. Many thanks to Norm from the Whaley Bridge Local History Group for allowing me to...
Above: The lane from Goyt’s Bridge snakes around from the left before crossing the bridge and heading up the Valentine to Fernilee. (Shawstile Farm is top right.) It was only recently that I discovered an aerial photo showing a small stone bridge that now lies...
Above: Taken in 1934, this aerial photo shows the lane coming north from Goyt’s Bridge at far left, winding down to a small bridge spanning the Goyt (circled), before heading up the Valentine to Fernilee. Someone writing before the construction of the twin...
Above: The twin stone gateposts and a screengrab from the ViewRanger app showing where they stand. It’s quite probably a sad reflection on me, but I find old stone gateposts intriguing. Especially when they stand alone in the landscape, with no connecting fences...
Above: Elaine asks about this wonderful photo of the Gunpowder Mill band which must have been taken in the early 1900s – or perhaps even the 1890s. Elaine writes to say; I have recently revisited Goyt Valley for the first time in over 30 years and will not leave...
Above: The gunpowder mill once employed around 100 men. Today the ruins lie beneath the northern end of Fernilee Reservoir. Joyce published the 56-page, A5 booklet in 1996. For a signed copy, send a cheque for £8 made out to J Winfield, 13 Jodrell Meadow, Whaley...
Above: The Fernilee Gunpowder Mill band pictured in the early 1900s. There’s a photo on my contact page showing the Chilworth Gunpowder Works Band from Fernilee with blackened faces – like the Black and White Minstrel Show I remember on TV back in the...
Above: Powder mill firefighters with their small water pump. Explosions were relatively common at the mill. It could be a very dangerous place to work. Particularly when fighting fire in a gunpowder mill! Above: This 1910 map shows the size of the powder mill (click...
Above: I’d guess this photo of workers at the powder mill must have been taken in the early 1900s. It looks like they’re posing with a small water pump for dealing with fires and explosions. But it would take a brave man to tackle a fire in a gunpowder...
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