Whaley Bridge

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Map sources for Whaley Bridge at grid reference SK0181

Whaley Bridge is a small town in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England. Situated on the River Goyt, the nearest settlement is Kettleshulme, around 3 miles away. Whaley Bridge is approximately 30km South of Manchester and 11km North of Buxton ( 53°20′N, 1°59′W), and has a population of around 5,000. This includes the village of Furness Vale , which falls within the boundaries of Whaley Bridge. Districts of 'Whaley', as it is known locally, include Horwich End (grid reference SK006806), Bridgemont (SK011825), Fernilee(SK017784) and Start Lane

Contents 1 History 2 Cromford and High Peak Railway 3 Present day 4 Festivals and traditions 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] History

The name is thought to be of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning "clearing by the road", spellings in early documents include Weylegh and Weyley. In the fourteenth century, it housed the residence of William Jauderell and his descendents (the name also spelt Jodrell).

The River Goyt formed the historical boundary between Derbyshire and Cheshire. The present town of Whaley Bridge was divided into smaller towns in both counties. Historical records show that in 1316 on the Cheshire side there were Taxal, Yeardsley and Whaley with the last two being combined into one district of 'Yeardsley-cum-Whaley'. The Derbyshire side consisted only of Fernilee which included the villages of Shallcross and Horwich. This side was in the Parish of Hope and was part of the Forest of High Peak while the Cheshire side was part of the Forest of Macclesfield. From 1796 Taxal and Yeardsley were effectively joined in that the Jodrell family was the main landowner in both towns although the administration of these remained separate.

The town expanded greatly in the Industrial Revolution. Although there had been coal mines from earlier times, by 1871 cotton mills had become the dominant industry.

The Whaley Bridge Branch of the Peak Forest Canal, approved by Act of Parliament in 1794, terminates here, constructed to carry limestone and coal. The Peak Forest Canal was connected to the Cromford Canal by the Cromford and High Peak Railway, originally using horse-drawn carriages.

[edit] Cromford and High Peak Railway

The northern terminus of the Cromford and High Peak Railway was at Whaley Bridge. This railway was fully opened for the public and for trade on the 6 July 1831 and it linked the Cromford Canal at High Peak Wharf to the wharf at the head of the Whaley Bridge Branch of the Peak Forest Canal.

When this railway first opened, it had seven inclined planes and the last of these was situated within the town of Whaley Bridge itself. Unlike the other six inclined planes, which were operated by stationary steam engines, this one was operated by a horse-driven gin, which remained operational until the 9 April 1952. Approach to the top of the plane was under a very low bridge and, because of this, waggons had to be hauled to and from the top of the plane by horses.

This plane was much shorter than the others, being only 180 yards (165m) long and rising at 1:13.5.

Horses also worked the bottom section of the line and the tracks ran onto a wharf and into two mills. A stone-built transit shed spans the head of the canal and there are entrances on either side for railway waggons. This building is now listed Grade II. Another notable feature on the bottom section is an iron bridge that carries the line across the river Goyt.

[edit] Present day

Whaley Bridge continues to expand as new housing is built, but it retains the character of a small town. As the self-styled 'Gateway to the Goyt' it attracts some tourists, mainly walkers, but it has not become dominated by the tourist industry, unlike some other local towns and villages. With a reasonably good commuter railway service to Manchester many people travel to work in the Greater Manchester conurbation, or in Cheshire. With the recent introduction of ADSL broadband internet services increasingly people work from home.

The town has been twinned with Tymbark, Poland since June 1994.

The town has two primary schools, Whaley Bridge Primary School and Taxal and Fernilee Church of England Primary School, although for secondary education children travel further afield, typically to Chapel-en-le-Frith, New Mills, Hope Valley, Buxton or Stockport.

[edit] Festivals and traditions

Whaley Bridge has an annual carnival, the Rose Queen festival, in the early summer. Also, local wells are decorated with pictures made of flowers, a custom known as Well Dressing.

[edit] See also

• Peak District National Park
• List of Railway Stations

[edit] External links

• Whaley Bridge Website
• High Peak Borough Council
• Peak Forest Canal
• Footsteps
• Whaley Water Weekend
• Location map