Wednesday 22 August 2012

Clough Wood and Greatclose ...

Clough Wood is less than a couple of miles from here but by car and indeed on foot it's half as far again as you have to cross the bridge at Darley Bridge to get there.

After crossing the bridge you follow Oldfield Lane to get into the wood ...

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010

The enormous chimney which rather spoils the view is part of the Enthovens' complex.

Leaving the old lane a short stretch of path brings you to the remains of Millclose Mine ... 

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010  

Beyond the old leadmine the path leads into Clough Wood itself ...

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010  

There was no one about ...


Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010


Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010

 The path I was following was heading west towards Winster but then it split and I took the line that turned sharply back into the wood and which, initially, headed east. It then slowly swung round to head for Winster ...

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010


   In these fields was a farmhouse known as Greatclose. I remember not so many years ago walking through its ruins but in recent times all the stone was taken away until now all that remains is what may have been an orchard ...

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010


Living at Great Close Farm as it was called in 1901 were George Swindell aged 41 ~ a farmer and lead miner ~ and his wife, Elizabeth, aged 45. Also living there [according to the 1901 census] were George and Robert, their sons, aged 13 and 12 respectively, and their three daughters,  Martha, Mary and Kate. They were aged 8, 6 and 2 respectively. 

They were still there in 1911 according to the census taken that year.

Now there is no sign of what had been their home. 

The path leads into Winster ...

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010

No sooner had I reached the road than I turned left along it for 300 yards and took another path heading back into Clough Wood again.

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010

This takes you over an unnamed stream. At least it's unnamed on my OS Map.

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010

By now the afternoon light was beginning to fail and my camera gave the last few photos a blue hue ...

Clough Wood and Greatclose ~ 26th December 2010
  
 The walk featured above was followed on the 26th December 2010

Length of walk ~ 4 miles

Total mileage walked so far in 2010 ~ 380 miles

Total mileage between the 1st September 2009 and the 26th December 2010 ~ 513.75 miles

79 of 2010

12 comments:

  1. There will be snow on the ground before you know it! Nice Walk About -- Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I'm still waiting for summer to arrive Chuck.

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  2. It's so strange to think the Great Close Farm was once a spot where lives were lived and now nothing is left there but countryside. And all in the span of 100 years. Time is a strange thing. The entire walk was quite lovely.

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    1. Yes, that's what I thought too. All those emotions and all those feelings and events are long gone with the house they lived in.

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  3. Looks kind of bleak and uninviting. Maybe it would be better in summer or autumn.

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    1. Far from it ... although you will know by now that I love walking no matter what the time of year Mitch. In fact there's a certain beauty to a cold, quiet walk in a winter woodland which appeals to me no end. I have a similar walk coming along [sometime] which was done in spring/summer ~ that might appeal more to you.

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  4. I wonder why someone felt that the stones had to be removed? I do hope it wasn't with a view to "clearing up the countryside", as it is a huge shame to me when properties like this one just disappear off the face of the earth. After all, it's not as if it was making way for another development (as happens in town). It wouldn't hurt to leave the ruins there, for people to wonder about, now would it?

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    1. I think it may have been the landowners who removed the stone. I assume the farm had been let to the Swindell family back in the early 20th century though I don't know for sure. Perhaps they used the stone elsewhere. I'm sure that I have some slides of my children in the ruins of Greatclose ... if I ever find them I will post them.

      I agree it seems a shame that it is gone. In years gone by someone might ask "What was at Greatclose" ... and they might look at this blog and find out.

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  5. Building stone soon gets recycled. Pretty, but it does look cold. I'm not ready for that yet!

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    1. You and Mitch had better steer clear of the next blog ... and yes, I think the stone could have been recycled.

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  6. I have learned to love all the seasons and find joy in them all.

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    1. Me too Karyn ~ we should make the most of what we have while we can.

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