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.
Topic tags: Taxal...
Windgather to Shining Tor
Starting from the main car park, this 11-mile walk includes wonderful views from both Windgather Rocks and Shining Tor, before dropping down to visit the ruins of Errwood Hall.
Taxal Church memorial
A memorial to Anne and Samuel Grimshawe in Taxal Church poses some interesting questions. Had their son and daughter fallen out over Samuel’s conversion to Catholicism?
Powder Mill Bridge
A recently discovered photo shows the Powder Mill Bridge which now lies under Fernilee Reservoir. It would have been an important crossing point over the Goyt for local workers and families.
Taxal Church fades
Three ‘then and now’ fades show a more positive side to Taxal’s Rev Evans, including the installation of six new and recast bells, the rebuilding of the chancel, and the expansion of the graveyard.
Rev Evans bound over
He delivered another blow, when witness seized hold of the rector and asked him how he dare strike a member of the congregation. The second blow struck a man who went between them.
The pugilistic parson
Amidst great uproar, Mr Nall said that “the Rector would see whether he was a coward or not”. The Rector’s reply was that he would “take Mr. Nall by the neck and remove him”…
The remarkable rector
According to his 1922 obituary, Rev. Samuel Evans, rector at Taxal Church for 35 years, was ‘very brusque and had a staccato form of speech, which probably frightened children’.
Whaley Bridge to Taxal
An easy walk from Whaley Bridge to Taxal provides easy access into the northern end of the Goyt Valley for anyone using public transport. I find this part of the valley wonderfully picturesque.
Taxal Bridge
A photo captioned ‘View of footbridge over stream (possibly Goyt Valley) c.1854’ was a fascinating find. But identifying where it once stood wasn’t so easy. Could it have been the one over the Goyt at Taxal?
5: Whaley Bridge to Taxal
A gentle 2.9-mile stroll from the canal basin at Whaley Bridge to the Goyt, passing Taxal Church to reach Hillbridge Wood Nature Reserve, returning along the other side of the river.
6: Taxal Edge
Starting from The Street car park in the valley, this 7.3-mile walk passes along a forest track before climbing up to Taxal Edge. There is also a shorter option that avoids the climb.
24: Fernilee Res. > Castle Naze
Starting from the foot of the Bunsal Incline, this 12 mile walk passes along Fernilee Reservoir and the hamlet of Taxal before climbing Combs Edge to enjoy some fantastic panoramic views.
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.
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.”