Once again, a bleak weather forecast proved inaccurate, with the rain failing to appear.  An amazing 36 walkers and two dogs (little and large) assembled in the car park.  The plan was to walk to the Stockport Hydro Electricity Project at Otterspool Bridge.  Off we set, soon settling into chatty groups.  Getting over the roads safely was at the front of the walk leader’s mind!

Through Brabyn’s Park and up to the Peak Forest Canal, then heading west towards Romiley.  Crossing over Benjamin Outram’s aqueduct spanning the River Goyt, and then the Hyde Bank tunnel, arriving at Oakwood Mill, built by Ormerod Heyworth in 1840 as a textile mill.  Converted in the 1930s to a paper mill by TPT Ltd and still run by them today.  Did you know that in the First World War, it manufactured margarine?  Turning off the canal and heading down through Kirk Wood, passing Oakwood Hall on our left, to arrive at Chadkirk, the site of a corn mill in 1709 and the first textile mill in the area around 1730.  Crossing the ‘New Road’, built in 1931 to replace the crumbling and ancient Bunkers Hill Road, with great care and noting what was the Stag and Pheasant Pub (which gained a beer license 1830 but closed in 1920s) on the opposite side of the road, we arrive at the Otters Pool Bridge, built in 1660 as a single lane bridge and only widened to two lanes in 1931. 

Using the power of the River Goyt enhanced by the weir, the Hydro Electricity Project generates renewable power for 60 homes by feeding into the national grid.  Profits are distributed to local community projects, such as the Thumb, and a return is paid to the investors. For more details  www.stockport-hydro.co.uk

Another weir exists a little further upstream, known as Marsden’s Weir.  In 1825, the land was sold to a Mr Marsden, who intended to build an industrial estate with water power provided via the weir.  Failing to get the water rights led to a lengthy period of litigation, which was overtaken by the development of steam power, and the estate was never built.

We crossed back over the busy road and headed towards Marple Hall, pausing briefly at the remains of the Hall to reflect on the lost opportunity to retain a physical link to a seminal point in British history.  This was the former home of John Bradshaw (12 July 1602 – 31 October 1659), President of the High Court of Justice during the trial and sentencing of King Charles I.

Along the Seven-Stiles path crossing the Peak Forest canal into Brabyn’s Park and back to the Thumb.

Join us next time on 4th May for our late ‘Easter walk’.