Good afternoon Mr Scope,
I note from post 36 you say that you have not attempted to make a fool of me; then in post 37 you come up with some sort of ‘Etymology’ (whatever that is) and somehow make the two words goit and goat to describe me as a fool.
Well this might be acceptable behaviour from Jackson but I did expect better of your good self.
I shall now, for the final time, establish that the word ‘goat’ is, and always has been, used to describe a man made water course in the town of Whaley Bridge.
There are dozens of man made water courses around this area and the one in your photo is probably the most famous although the one that turned the water wheel on the old Corn Mill on Bridge Street is my personal favourite.
Now then Botany Bleach Works had several water courses and they were all known as ‘goats’ and naturally the men and their relatives referred to any such construction as a ‘goat’
The ‘goats’ at the Botany had to have their sluice gates closed and then they could be de-silted. This was done from time to time when production allowed.
The workforce at The Botany was (and this is a little difficult to describe) at best of limited intelligence. There would be no contenders for Mastermind there that’s for sure. In fact some of the stories I could relate would be difficult for you to believe. But nevertheless they were good, honest working men.
Now The Botany was situated on the banks of the River Goyt. Are you seeing where I’m coming from Mr Scope?
Goit and Goyt sound the same.
So there had to be a way of distinguishing the two so the man made water courses became known as ‘Goats’.
As I say the workers there, although willing, some times got hold of the wrong end of the stick so you could imagine the Chief Engineer saying to six of his men: “Go and clean the ‘goit’ out this morning”
After the Chief Engineer had had his breakfast and went to see how his lads were going on cleaning the ‘goit’ he might well have found them chest deep in water somewhere between Horwich End and Stockport.
So ‘goat’ it was and ‘goat it still is. Will you please pass this information on to Mr Buggyite next time you are in contact with him?
As regards digging out the Well this Friday your offer, kind as it is, is a little short notice for me. But I would happily go some time next week if you can arrange it. I am sure Buggyite has my email address somewhere that you can use.
I don’t think we need to bother with Mr Jackson and his JCB by the way.
It is rather strange, don’t you think, that Jackson recently stated he could remember the corner being cut off the toll house on the Macclesfield Turnpike road and now he says he is a JCB driver.
In my book that makes him the oldest JCB driver in the High Peak with an age of at least 145 years.
So I suppose I must take my hat off to him on that score.
So in conclusion; I hope to see you at the Well very soon and taking up on what you said I think there is sufficient room on the lower side of the goat for us to build a bottling plant.
R. S-S