Old Glossop

OLD GLOSSOP

Distance: Nine Miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Overcast with rain and hail showers

Walkers: Peter Beal, George Dearsley, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, George Whaites and Gavin Eyquem

B Walkers: Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Apology: Jock Rooney (Diving in Azerbaijan).

Leaders: Lawrie Fairman

Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Free car park opposite The Wheatsheaf at Old Glossop

Starting Time: 9.55am. Finishing Time: 2.13pm.

Squally early morning showers suggested the walk might be less than enjoyable. But although the Wanderers were hit by three hailstorms our perambulation proved both bracing and pleasurable.

We set off from the Wheatsheaf, joined by newcomer Gavin Eyquem, of Marple, whose surname would surely make a good Scrabble score.

We negotiated Manor Park, once the gardens of an impressive home owned by the Duke of Norfolk.

We emerged onto Shirebrook Drive, turning left across a small iron bridge and progessing between two houses Numbers 15 and 17.

Evidence of the recent heavy rain was found in the torrent of water flowing through a usually sedate weir on the edge of the park. (see photo)

Q-weir

At the top of the lane we turned right and after about 30 yards crossed a stile on the left and climbed a steepish hill.

We soon arrived at Bank House Farm and turned left onto Hague Street.

We past the rather shabby looking Beehive pub (offering English and Thai food) on the left and on the right a school built by the street’s eponymous Joseph Hague, a local philanthropist.

Hague was born in Chunal in 1695, allegedly into a poor family. As a result he became a pedlar and, through sheer hard work, amassed a considerable fortune.

After retiring Hague decided to use his money to help the people of the Parish of Glossop, initially by endowing a school in Whitfield in 1779. In his will he left money to provide linen cloth in winter for poor people of Glossop and Hayfield.

With the increasing provision of state education the school closed and arrangements were made to use the funds to provide grants for children from the Ancient Parish of Glossop to help with their secondary and further education. The Joseph Hague Trust still survives today.

We turned right opposite Pat-a-Cake Cottage and at the bottom of a hill turned left onto the road that links Glossop and Chinley.

Just after crossing Turnlee Road we went right up a path following a public footpath sign. At the top was a metalled track which we followed until we reached Herod Farm, stopping for a snack from 10.50am until 11am.

Pie Time

Resuming our walk, we were subjected at 11.15am to the first of a series of hailstorms.

We climbed a stile on the right and after coming off the hill turned left onto Old Lane, then right at a dog leg down High Lane.

We passed the Zion Methodist Church, Glossop, which led to a discussion about the word Zion.

Those interested can research here http://www.brin.ac.uk/news/?p=299

But it appears the movement had its origins in the puritans and separatists of Elizabethan England but traces its formal foundations to the Act of Uniformity 1662 and the subsequent ejection from the Church of England of some 2,000 Presbyterian and other ministers who refused to conform to legislation.

This brought us out on the main road into Glossop. We turned left and headed towards Dinting Viaduct but a couple of hundred yards before it we turned right, passing Lancashire Chemicals and taking a small track running parallel with the main road which led us under the viaduct.

Glossop from the snowy hills above.

At 11.55am we suffered the second hailstorm. We went through a gate and now faced a railway line, the line to Glossop. We turned right and crossed over the railway via a footbridge.

We reached the main road and turned left passing an unusual memorial to one Nicholas Garlick from Dinting, born 1555 and died in 1588 in Derby.

He was an English catholic priest, martyred in Derby in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. With two other priests he was found guilty of treason, and hanged, drawn and quartered. The heads and quarters of the three priests were placed on poles in various places around Derby. Nice.

At 12.10pm the Wanderers endured their third hailstone battering. We passed Dinting Station and turned right along a path that a young girl should not take on a dark night.

We turned right through some houses, passing Hadfield School and then Hadfield Nursery School. Turning right at the Spinners Arms (up for sale) we quickly reached our lunchtime hostelry The Anchor at 12.29pm. Here Tetley’s Bitter was £2.48.

We resumed our walk at 1.15pm turning right out of the pub to Hadfield Station and out onto the road from Crowden to Glossop.

We turned left over a stile and were soon at Swineshaw Reservoir, which looks like this in better weather.

Swineshaw Reservoir

We reached the Wheatsheaf at 2.13pm, enjoying Wainwright at £2.80 and Theakston’s also at £2.80.

The B Walkers had ventured from Marple Church to Shiloh Road, crossed to New Mills golf club and negotiated paths across Mellor golf club to the Devonshire Arms.

Next week we will meet at the Lantern Pike, Little Hayfield. Before setting off your diarist invites Wanderers to partake of some hot wine and mince pies at Flat 24, Clough Mill. Drive down Slack Lane (the turning off the main road with the black bollards). Park in the car park at the rear and come to the front of the mill and press the button for Number 24 or call me on 07774 721287. The half way point will be the Kinder Lodge at 12.45pm.