Whaley Bridge

March 20th, 2013.

WHALEY BRIDGE AND ENVIRONS

Distance: 10.7 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Weather: Chilly, light snow, occasional sun

Walkers: Pete Beal, George Whaites, George Dearsley, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Jock Rooney and Tips, Colin Davison, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Micky Barrett

Apologies: Julian Ross (decorating), Malc Halley (Corfu), Ken Sparrow (seeking advice on his balance, physical not financial), Geoff Spurrell (returning from holiday)

B Walkers: Tony Job, Pete Morrall (making his debut)

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Cock, Whaley Bridge

Starting Time: 9.34am. Finishing Time: 2.37pm

Oh what a grey day, to misquote Larry Grayson.

However, the Wanderers’ inestimable bonhomie rose above the persistent, if light, falling snowflakes and slate grey sky to record an impressive 10.7 miles, at least according to Mr Cunliffe’s new-fangled gadget.

We have used the Cock as a starting point so many times your diarist has omitted to research Whaley Bridge itself. The name of Whaley Bridge comes from the ancient crossing place of the River Goyt which was used by the Romans for their road from Buxton to Manchester.

It was later a key point on the major route south from Manchester to London and was a main crossing from Cheshire to Derbyshire.

The road ran from Stockport over Jacksons Edge from High Lane, through Disley by the Rams Head and straight up the hill through Higher Disley, Longside and Stoneheads, where the old posting house can still be seen.

 It then came down Whaley Lane passing directly in front of the Jodrell Arms and straight on down Bridge Street.

 Going over the Goyt on the original Whaley Bridge the road then turned right and ran next to the river passing in front of the White Hart, which is now the back, and then up Old Road to Horwich End.

The route then continued along Elnor Lane south to Wythen Lache and along the Roman road past White Hall to Coldsprings and Buxton. The local road from Chapel over Eccles Pike joined this road on Old Road near the Drill Hall.

We left the Cock and turned left as usual, taking the immediate left turn and soon finding ourselves on the newly renovated Shallcross Incline.

At the end of the path we turned left and at the end of that road, right.

This brought us to a Y-junction and we took a path on the left. This was Elnor Lane.

In true Wanderers’ tradition we were on an early and demanding climb.

By 10.04am the path had evened out. But after only 75 yards of horizontal we had to climb again, following a path to the left which required us to negotiate a five-bar gate.

By 10.16am we had reached the summit. But our joy soon turned to anxiety as confusion – generated as usual by Mr Davison - abounded over which path to take.

After two minutes of map consulting we veered right across open countryside and down a valley.

                                           “Have you got it the right way up” (as the actress said to the bishop).

This brought us onto a road where we turned left and at 10.40am we began a descent.

We past Whitehall (as the sign said) or White Hall, as it is sometimes written, on our right. This appears to be an outward bound centre.

We took a path to the left, following a sign saying “via Combs to Chapel-en-le-Frith”.

At 10.52 Pie Time was declared and despite the butty-less Mr Cunliffe’s urgings we enjoyed a full 10 minutes of feasting. We set off at 11.02am and by 11.25am had reached a road and a sign which said “Combs”.

We turned right past a large pond on our right.

This brought us to an impressive barn conversion with some rather aggressive signs about sticking to paths. We dutifully turned right and began an ascent.

At 11.40am the sun came out, albeit briefly.

We turned left over a railway bridge and then immediately right which brought us along the side of the rail line which took us to Chapel railway station.

Here we turned left past the car park and down the hill. Only a few short weeks ago we were here struggling in deep snow to turn our cars around.

                                                                        50 Shades of Grey

At the bottom of the road leading to the station we went straight over into Alston Road.

This brought us to the main road in Chapel, where we crossed and entered the Roebuck at 12.19pm.

By Mr Cunliffe’s machine we had walked 7.44 miles, although some Wanderers disputed this. Our Pie Time had been taken at an altitude of 1044 feet after 4.25 miles.

At the Roebuck Black Sheep was £2.80 and Tetley’s Mild £2.45.

At 1.33pm we were joined by the B Walkers who had started at the Cock and clocked up four miles trekking up the Goyt Valley to Fernilee, going left at the Royal Oak and then taking a bus to Chapel.

Talk then turned to the travails of Mike “Wally” Walton.

Some Wanderers may have been shocked to receive an e mail from Wally which I publish in full below (with all the grammatical errors).

I'm sorry i didn't informing you, my family and I came down here to Manila Philippines for a short trip, unfortunately we got mugged at the park of the hotel where we stayed. all money, credit card and cell phones were stolen off us but luckily for us we still have our passports with us.

We've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues and our flight leaves in few hours from now but we're having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let us leave until we settle the bills, I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with,I promise to refund it to you as soon as I arrive home.

Of course, even had this e mail NOT been an obvious hoax, none of the Wanderers would have been foolish enough to respond.

However, it transpires that Wally’s misfortune had been to have had his computer “cloned” in Sri Lanka.

The cunning cyber bandits then wiped all his contacts not only from his laptop but from his home computer too.

Wally, who was due to combine business with pleasure on his trip, was left like an internet Billy No Mates.

Mr Hart suggested the Wanderers might hold a competition with a prize for the best limerick about the incident, the first the of which should be

“When Wally went off to Sri Lanka….”

One can only surmise what the final word might be.

We left the pub at 1.10pm, turning right into Eccles Road. We carried straight on until we reached open countryside.

At 1.50pm lunch was declared. Mr Cunliffe’s gadget claimed we had done 9.11 miles and were now at an altitude of 1019 feet.

We set off again at 1.57pm, reaching a road where we turned left.

We passed Hilltop Cottage on the right.

Then on the left we passed an impressive Ollerenshaw Hall.

                                                                         Ollerenshaw Hall

  Ollerenshaw Hall

One owner was a businessman called Mr Thornhill who had made his fortune as a carrier in Stockport

In 1822, Thornhill purchased Ollerenshaw Hall for £8000 together with 170 acres and retired from the business. 

Thornhill was described as a man of penurious and parsimonious habits whilst also rather ostentatious.

He was a man with a kind disposition who employed large numbers of local people at Ollerenshaw, who would otherwise have been out of work. Parsimony however, was exhibited in the smallness of their wages.

Thornhill had a curious way of dealing with his labourers. He would make them work in a line and call them to work or rest by sounding a horn. 

Thornhill was also said to have peculiar religious notions involving communion with the spirits of the departed. He was a Methodist of "The New Connection".

In November 1839, at the age of 47, Thornhill married a Miss Barlow, 40, who was heiress to a sum of about £10,000.

His wife had a "temper and disposition not calculated to make him at all happy".

They were said to have a shocking terrible life from violent wrangling and quarrelling.

From his wife or her mother "he never got a sixpence", but only an old bad note (a debt presumably) for £300 from the old lady who thought that he, if anybody, could get it settled.

He managed to retrieve about £170 of it, the remainder being lost.

In May 1841 a legacy of £250 was left to his wife and together they went to the solicitors to collect it.

The sum was produce with a receipt which she duly signed. Thornhill, however, refused to sign unless he got the money. Relenting, she said that he might have half but he still refused.

A dreadful row ensued in which “shocking language” was used by both sides. Ultimately she dashed the pen through her name and the inheritance was never received by either party.

In their quarrels, both Thornhill and his wife frequently talked of divorce and in 1842 she left him.

He contemplated a suit against his mother in law to recover a portion of his wife's £10000 inheritance.

A bill was subsequently prepared by solicitors but in June she took it into her head to return to the hall.

Thornhill decided to drop the proceedings on account of her violence. In December she left home again, not to return until shortly before his death in 1845.

On one occasion, he had his wife sit with him all night long in the coal cellar. At one time he mistook a log of wood for a devil and would have shot at it. At another time he was beset by twelve devils, went out and fired a pistol twelve times after which he was pacified saying he had "killed all the devils".

In his will, Thornhill left between £30,000 and £40,000 to his brother Jonathan to whom he was dotingly attached. His wife was to receive just £5.

The inheritance had also been promised to cousin Walter Thornhill on condition that he live on the estate. Walter challenged the will on grounds of insanity and the jury found in his favour.

By contrast, in February  1916 Ollerenshaw was home to Emily Moon Kerr  (Founder of the Tipperary League, which operated a number of "Tipperary Rooms",  temperance clubs for women).

I also found this on a message board

In the 1950's when Ollerenshaw Hall was derelict for a few years I went round the hall (without permission of course) and in one of the bedrooms was the biggest pile of empty beer,wine and spirit bottles. The pile was enormous and even though the years have passed I can still remember the pile. I did inspect and look for returnable bottles because in those days there was 3d on bottles. Unfortunately there were none.

                                                           Mr Davison puts the Ham into Hamlet

We swung right and then left over a stile. We came onto a road and turned right.

We were now on the outskirts of Whaley Bridge.

After 50 yards we turned right again down a narrow lane with high walls on each side.

This was Bings Road. At the bottom we turned left.

Within a minute or two (at 2.37pm) we were back at the cars.

After de-booting we entered the Cock, where Unicorn was £2.70. Had the Chancellor’s penny been removed?

                                                                    Our Pie Time stop

The B Walkers had done another two miles.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from the top car park at Errwood Reservoir (the car park is apparently called Errwood Hall).

The half-way point will be the Cat and Fiddle and we will finish with a drink at the Cock, Whaley Bridge. Your diarist may be working.