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 ...
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 ...
Beyond the old leadmine the path leads into Clough Wood itself ...
There was no one about ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
This takes you over an unnamed stream. At least it's unnamed on my OS Map.
By now the afternoon light was beginning to fail and my camera gave the last few photos a blue hue ...
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
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 ...
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.
This takes you over an unnamed stream. At least it's unnamed on my OS Map.
By now the afternoon light was beginning to fail and my camera gave the last few photos a blue hue ...
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
