I concur with Fr. Jamie that the Boat House Inn in Shrewsbury is a fine place - Or at least was 15 years ago. I recall they had a stuffed alligator that was claimed to have been fished out of the river many years previously.

The bridge does have some significant similarities, but the date (1922) rules it out of contention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porthill_Bridge

 

Edited by user 13 November 2009 10:40:15(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Thanks to all for yet more great pictures.

For those with time on their hands and a functioning broadband connection there's a nice summary of the history of Errwood Hall and the Grimshawe family via this link:

http://www.grimshaworigin.org/Webpages2/ErrwoodGoyt.htm

The site refers to a book called "The Goyt Valley Story" by Clifford Rathbone, published in 1964, which describes the walk down from the Cat and Fiddle before Errwood Reservoir was built. I'm sure I had a copy of this book, but can't dig it out at the moment. If I find it, does anyone know if it would be infringing copyright to scan the pictures and post them here? I guess it's long since out of print. 

Then thank goodness for Google Streetview .

Good morning all

Thank you to everybody who posted on this topic with such interesting and excellent photos, I was especially impressesd by the quality of your first one parrabuild on posting no.42. Also  of course our very own R S-S who is a mind of information and has enormous resources, a mutual friend tells me he has been very helpfull with this.

I look forward to what is to come R S-S.

george

Good Morning R. S-S.

I trust that you had an enjoyable Christmas and are looking forward to celebrating the New Year.  I am not, for I have been set a daunting task. It is a long walk from Furness Vale to Errwood in this ice and snow and then back again.  I know that I can take the bus to Long Hill but it is still a good trek at this time of year.  I know that the tomb will look picturesque in the snow but I think it would be wiser to wait for brighter weather.  I might of course hitch a lift on Mr. Jackson's buggy.

In the meantime, I am still investigating Furness Clough, it's colliery, brickworks and tramway.  I hope to have more to say on this subject in the near future.

Stepping back a few posts to the Cat and Fiddle reminds me of a tale I was told by an old Macclesfield bus driver.  Back  in the 50's or 60's when the Macclesfield to Buxton service was operated by the North Western company, the bus would often arrive early at the Cat and wait out it's time there.  Most of the passengers were regulars, shoppers and the like and were in the habit of carrying tid bits  for the sheep.  Those animals would invade the bus through it's open doorway, bleating for their treats. The conductor would then have to chase them off before continuing the journey to Buxton.

I heard another story in a similar vein concerning a dog which lived in Birch Vale.  Every morning, it would wait at the bus stop. Attached to it's collar was a purse containing money for the fare. The conductor would replace a few coins with a ticket.  On reaching Hayfield, the dog would take a walk around the village before taking the next bus home.