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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2012}} |
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{{Infobox UK place |
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|official_name = Whaley Bridge |
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|population = 6,226 |
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|os_grid_reference = SK0181 |
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|country = England |
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|region = East Midlands |
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|shire_county = [[Derbyshire]] |
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|shire_district = [[High Peak, Derbyshire|High Peak]] |
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|latitude = 53.3304 |
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|longitude = -1.9838 |
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|scale = 20000 |
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|constituency_westminster = [[High Peak (UK Parliament constituency)|High Peak]] |
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|post_town = HIGH PEAK<ref>Royal Mail, ''Postcode Update 23'', July 1996</ref> |
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|postcode_district = SK23 |
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|postcode_area = SK |
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|dial_code = 01663 |
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|static_image_name= WhaleyBridge2.JPG |
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|static_image_caption= Whaley Bridge town centre |
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|london_distance= |
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}} |
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'''Whaley Bridge''' is a small town and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[High Peak Borough Council|High Peak]] district of [[Derbyshire]], England, situated on the [[River Goyt]]. Whaley Bridge is approximately {{convert|16|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Manchester]], {{convert|7|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of [[Buxton]], {{convert|9|mi|km|abbr=on}} east of [[Macclesfield]] and {{convert|28|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of [[Sheffield]], and had a population of 6,226 at the 2001 [[census]].<ref>[http://www.highpeak.gov.uk/council/pop.asp ''The High Peak Population Estimates'', High Peak Borough Council, accessed April 1, 2008]{{dead link|date=September 2012}}</ref> This includes the village of [[Furness Vale]], which falls within the boundaries of Whaley Bridge. Other districts of 'Whaley', as it is known locally, include '''Horwich End''' ({{gbmapping|SK006806}}), '''Bridgemont''' ({{gbmappingsmall|SK011825}}), '''Fernilee''' ({{gbmappingsmall|SK017784}}) '''Stoneheads''' and '''Taxal'''. |
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==History== |
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[[File:Whaley Bridge canal basin.jpg|thumb|left|The canal basin in Whaley Bridge on a summer's day]] |
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There is evidence of prehistoric activity in the area, including early [[Bronze Age Britain|Bronze Age]] [[menhir|standing stones]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magic.gov.uk/rsm/25701.pdf |title=Extract from the UK Schedule of Ancient Monuments, National Monument No: 25701 |publisher=Magic.gov.uk |date= }}</ref> [[Tumulus|burial sites]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magic.gov.uk/rsm/22572.pdf |title=Extract from the UK Schedule of Ancient Monuments, National Monument No: 22572 |publisher=Magic.gov.uk |date= }}</ref> and the remains of a [[stone circle]].<ref>{{cite web|author=The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=5484 |title=Report on site visit on www.megalithic.co.uk |publisher=Megalithic.co.uk |date= }}</ref> A bronze-age axe head was discovered in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stonepages.com/news/archives/001132.html |title=Copy of report originally in Buxton Advertiser |publisher=Stonepages.com |date= }}</ref> There has long been speculation that the 'Roosdyche', a complex of banks and ditches on the eastern side of the town, is of prehistoric human origin, but investigations in 1962 concluded that it was formed by glacial [[meltwater]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/5692/roosdyche.html |title=The Modern Antiquarian article on the Roosdyche |publisher=Themodernantiquarian.com |date= }}</ref> |
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The name of Weyley or Weylegh appears in many 13th century documents and is derived from the [[Old English Language|Anglo Saxon]] ''weg leah'' meaning a clearing by the road.<ref>{{cite web|author=University of Nottingham - Institute of Name Studies School of English |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Derbyshire/Yeardsley%20Cum%20Whaley |title=English Place Names Society Database at Nottingham University |publisher=Kepn.nottingham.ac.uk |date= }}</ref> In 1351 the lands of Weyley and Yeardsley were granted to William Joddrell for his faithful service to [[Edward, the Black Prince]]. In the 14th century, it housed the residence of [[William Jauderell]] and his descendants (the name also spelt Jodrell). The Jodrells continued to call their lands Yeardsley Whaley for centuries and when the first local government board was formed in 1863 and the area became an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]], the town adopted its popular name of Whaley Bridge and the town has been called so ever since. |
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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, Derbyshire|Hope]] and was part of the [[Forest of High Peak]], while the Cheshire side was part of the [[Macclesfield Forest|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 until 1936.<ref name="youngs">F A Youngs Jr., ''Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England'', Vol II: Northern England, London, 1991</ref> |
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Up until the late 19th century the population of the area grew slowly. For example in the diocesan census in 1563, Taxal is recorded as having 26 households, and by the mid-18th century Taxal and Yeardsley together only reached 55 households. In 1791 land at Whaley Bridge was advertised for sale, the owner believing that its waterpower would be useful in the textile industry, but the two townships remained very small and only had a population of 853 between them by 1841. Up to this time agriculture and [[coalmining]] had been the main occupations. |
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The town expanded greatly in the [[Industrial Revolution]] and the population almost trebled to 2,322. Although there had been [[coal mine]]s from earlier times, by 1871 [[cotton mill]]s had become the dominant industry. Coalmining took place in the area from its very early days because of a large geographical fault which traverses the Whaley Bridge basin from east to west resulting in the coal outcropping in various places. Documentary evidence of 1587 indicates a well-established coal industry in the "Towneshepp of Weley" known today as Whaley Bridge. Today, there is less intensive agriculture labour and there is no coalmining in the area. |
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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 tourists, mainly walkers, but it has not become dominated by the tourist industry, unlike some other local towns and villages. With a good commuter railway service to [[Manchester]] many people travel to work in the Manchester or [[Cheshire]] areas. With the introduction of [[ADSL]] broadband internet services increasingly people work from home. |
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The town has been [[Twin towns|twinned]] with [[Tymbark]], [[Poland]] since June 1994. |
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===Cromford and High Peak Railway=== |
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The [[Cromford and High Peak Railway]] was granted Parliamentary consent in 1825. It was fully opened for passenger and goods traffic on 6 July 1831. The railway linked the wharf at the head of the Whaley Bridge Branch of the [[Peak Forest Canal]] to the [[Cromford Canal]] at [[Cromford Wharf]]. It had seven inclined planes, the first being 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 9 April 1952. This plane was much shorter than the others, being only 180 yards (165 m) long and rising at 1:13.5. 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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} |
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Horses also worked the bottom section of the line and the tracks ran onto a wharf and into two mills. Another notable feature on the bottom section is an iron bridge that carries the line across the [[River Goyt]]. |
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===Peak Forest Canal=== |
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The Peak Forest Canal and basin were built in the 1790s and opened on 1 May 1800. An important building at the head of the Peak Forest Canal was the Transhipment Warehouse, built in 1832. In this building goods and minerals were transferred to and from the many working canal boats servicing local industry. The building straddles the head of the canal which is fed by the [[Combs, Derbyshire|Combs]] and [[Toddbrook Reservoir]]s to the south.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} |
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The Canal splits just outside Whaley Bridge turning east to end at Buxworth basin and turning west to Marple, the Cheshire ring and Manchester. |
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A new joint project between [[British Waterways]] and several Whaley Bridge community groups to bring this important building back to life, and to serve as a centre of the Whaley Bridge community, was envisaged in 2007 and is the subject of a grant application to the East Midlands Development Agency under their Waterways Regeneration Funding offer in 2008.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} |
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==Governance== |
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===Local government=== |
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[[File:Whaley-Bridge-Mechanics-Institute.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Mechanics Institutes|Mechanics' Institute]], which serves as town hall, function room and library]] |
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Whaley Bridge is a civil parish with the status of a town. At the lowest level of [[local government]] is Whaley Bridge Town Council, consisting of 12 councillors. Three councillors are elected for each of the four [[ward (politics)|wards]] of Fernilee, Furness Vale, Taxal and Yeardsley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whaleybridge.com/pages/council.html |title=''Town Council'', whaleybridge.com, accessed April 1, 2008 |publisher=Whaleybridge.com |date= }}</ref> |
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The next tier of local government is High Peak Borough Council. Whaley Bridge constitutes one of the borough's 28 wards. It returns 3 of the 43 borough councillors. At the last council elections in May 2007, two [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] and one independent councillor were elected.<ref>[http://www.highpeak.gov.uk/contact/councillor_ward.asp ''High Peak Borough – Wards and their Councillors'', High Peak Borough Council, accessed April 1, 2008]{{dead link|date=September 2012}}</ref> |
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The top tier of local administration is the 64-member Derbyshire County Council. The town is included in the electoral division of Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook, electing one county councillor.<ref>[http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/councillors/high_peak/default.asp ''Derbyshire County Council – High Peak'', accessed April 1, 2008]{{dead link|date=September 2012}}</ref> |
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====Civic history==== |
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The township of Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, Cheshire, was part of the ancient parish of Taxal. The township adopted the [[Local Government Act 1858]] and formed a [[local board of health|local board]] to govern the town. Under the [[Local Government Act 1894]] this became Yeardsley-cum-Whaley [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]].<ref name="youngs"/> On the Derbyshire side of the Goyt, the parish of Fernilee was included in Chapel en le Frith Rural District. In 1936 a [[Local Government Act 1929|county review order]] merged the urban district with the built-up part of Fernilee to form Whaley Bridge Urban District, with the new district placed in Derbyshire.<ref name="youngs"/> |
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In 1974 the [[Local Government Act 1972]] came into force, abolishing all urban and rural districts in [[England and Wales]], and replacing them with [[non-metropolitan district]]s. Whaley Bridge became part of the district of High Peak, with a [[successor parish]] formed for the area of the urban district. The parish council resolved that Whaley Bridge should have the status of a town. |
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==Education== |
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The town has two [[primary school]]s, Whaley Bridge Primary School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbps.org.uk|title='Whaley Bridge Primary School'}}</ref> and Taxal and Fernilee Church of England Primary School,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taxalprimary.ik.org/|title='Taxal and Fernilee Church of England Primary School'}}</ref> although for secondary education children travel further afield, typically to [[Chapel-en-le-Frith]], [[New Mills]], [[Hope Valley, Derbyshire|Hope Valley]], [[Buxton]], [[Macclesfield]] or [[Stockport]]. |
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Schools in these areas could include [[Chapel-en-le-Frith High School]], [[New Mills School Business and Enterprise College|New Mills School]], [[Hope Valley College]], [[The King's School in Macclesfield]] and [[Stockport Grammar School]]. |
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Taxal lodge was built in 1904 and was the home of Lt. Col. H. Ramsden Jodrell, Who died in 1950. The lodge then became a Special School, specifically for disruptive and emotionally disturbed children. This Lodge replaced an earlier Taxal Lodge originally built further up the valley on the site it is believed,of the former Overton Hall which is now Overton Farm bearing the date 1810. |
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The current Taxal Lodge closed in 2005 and has also be vacant for many years and has now become vandalized and neglected.[[File:Tl|thumbnail|default|Taxal Lodge as it stands now, vandalised and neglected.]] |
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==Religious sites== |
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The [[Church of England]] parish of Whaley Bridge has two churches. St James, Taxal stands on a site a mile from the town centre and was established in the 12th century. Parts of the tower may date back to that time, although much of the church was rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries.<ref name="parish" />{{Failed verification|date=March 2013}} Holy Trinity, Fernilee was established near the town centre in 1905.<ref name="parish">{{cite web |url=http://whaleybridgecofeparish.org/about/ |title=About Us |accessdate=24 March 2013 |author=|date= |work= |publisher=Parish of Whaley Bridge}}</ref> Parts of the town are included in the Cheshire parish of St John, Disley, and are served by the Church of St John the Divine, Furness Vale.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.achurchnearyou.com/venue.php?V=12880 |title=St John, Furness Vale |accessdate=2008-06-24 |author= |date= |work=A Church Near You |publisher=Church of England}}</ref> |
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The [[Roman Catholic]] Church of the Sacred Heart, Whaley Lane, serves the parish of Whaley Bridge and Disley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacredheartwhaleybridge.co.uk/index.htm |title=Sacred Heart Church |accessdate=2008-06-24 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Sacred Heart Whaley Bridge and Disley}}</ref> |
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The [[United Reformed Church]] and [[Methodism|Methodists]] formed a [[local ecumenical partnership]], the "Whaley Bridge Uniting Partnership" in 1983, subsequently joined by the [[Baptist Union of Great Britain|Baptists]]. The partnership has three places of worship: Whaley Bridge Uniting Church, Fernilee Methodist Church and Kettleshulme Chapel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbup.org |title=Whaley Bridge Uniting Partnership |accessdate=2009-11-28 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=}}</ref> |
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The Good News Church is an evangelical church based in the Gospel Hall, Old Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goodnewschurch.co.uk/ |title=Good News Church, Whaley Bridge |accessdate=2008-06-24 |author= |year=2008 |work= |publisher=Good News Church}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whaleybridge.com/pages/churches.html |title=Places of Worship |accessdate=2008-06-24 |author= |year=2003 |work= |publisher=Whaley Bridge Town Council}}</ref> |
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Whaley Hall is a large detached Victorian house near Toddbrook Reservoir. Since 1979 it has been a retreat house and conference centre run by the "Community of the King of Love": an ecumenical community of men and women.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whaleyhallckl.org.uk/page5.html |title=Whaley Hall |accessdate=2008-06-24 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=The Community of the King of Love}}</ref> |
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==Festivals and traditions== |
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Whaley Bridge has an annual carnival month in June. This launches on the second weekend of the month with 'Whaley Water Weekend', commonly known as W3.<ref>http://whaleywaterweekend.co.uk/</ref> Launched in 2000, W3 started out as a small community event on the canal basin. It was relaunched in 2010<ref>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whaley-Bridge-Water-Weekend/289466988342?ref=hl</ref> as a music and arts festival, building on its waterways core. The last two events (2011 and 2012) saw over 2000 visitors, with record numbers taking advantage of free short canal boat rides and a longer heritage trips, with a commentary, to [[Bugsworth Basin]]. 2012 saw W3 enter into a partnership with [[Canal & River Trust|the Canal & River Trust]] where they adopted the basin and the arm of the canal that ends at Tesco.<ref>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whaley-Bridge-Canal/442570389112019?ref=hl</ref> |
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The weekend of W3 is followed by the [[well dressing|Well Dressing]] Weekend, a traditional Derbyshire event in which the local well is decorated with large collages of cones, flower petals, etc. Carnival month ends with the Rose Queen Carnival, started over a hundred years ago,<ref>[http://www.whaleyrosequeen.co.uk Whaley Bridge Rose Queen Carnival]</ref> where groups of local young people from the town, Rose Queen royalty from other villages and invited bands process through the main streets in their finery and on decorated floats culminating in events, stalls and entertainment held at Whaley Bridge Bowling Club.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} In 2009 a Fell Race, known as The Whaley Waltz, was added to the Rose Queen programme and annually attracts over 180 runners. Organised by Goyt Vally Striders, the race starts in the centre of the village and climbs 900 ft to Windgather Rocks and finishes after crossing the River Goyt on Forge Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goytvalleystriders.org.uk/pages/waltz.html%7C|title=Whaley Waltz Fell Race|author=Mark Whelan}}</ref> Following the Carnival is the Rose Queen Pet Show, 2012 July 4, where locals bring their pets to compete in different classes. |
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November 2012 saw the relaunch of Whaley Bridge's firework event, with a new team of volunteers after the Round Table felt they were unable to continue. This also incorporated the town's first lantern parade.<ref>http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/more-help-needed-in-whaley-1-5041126</ref><ref>http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/community-steps-in-to-save-display-1-4979816</ref> |
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The final event of the year is the switching on of the Christmas tree lights outside the Jodrell Arms Hotel, close to [[Whaley Bridge railway station]]. This is usually done by the chair of the Town Council and is accompanied by seasonable music from members of Whaley Bridge Brass Band. [[Father Christmas]] traditionally arrives at the Transshipment Warehouse on the Whaley Wharf of the Peak Forest Canal on a canal boat and processes to the [[Mechanics' Institute]] accompanied by his helpers. Businesses make their contribution to the town's Christmas decorations by way of small trees above their shop windows and bright lights around their shop fronts.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} The Town Council erects two large trees each year, the second being by the Soldier Dick public house at Furness Vale. |
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==Notable residents== |
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* Clive Beddall [[OBE]], journalist, broadcaster and editor of ''[[The Grocer]]'' magazine, was born in Whaley Bridge.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} |
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*[[Abraham Bennet]], scientist, was baptised in Taxal.<ref>{{ cite journal | author=Elliott, P. | title={{PDF|[http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/content/klgdd0umcmvjqnpr/fulltext.pdf Abraham Bennet F.R.S. (1749–1799): a provincial electrician in 18th century England]|279 KB}} | journal=Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London | volume=53 | pages=59–78 | year=1999 | issue=1 | doi=10.1098/rsnr.1999.0063}}</ref> |
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*[[Jack Bond]], [[Lancashire CCC|Lancashire]] and [[Nottinghamshire CCC|Nottinghamshire]] cricketer, was landlord of the Jodrell Arms.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} |
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*[[Edwina Currie]], politician and television personality, currently resides in Whaley Bridge.{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}} |
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*[[Betty Driver]] [[MBE]], [[actress]] and author, most famous for her role as [[Betty Williams (Coronation Street)|Betty Williams]] on the British [[soap opera|soap]] ''[[Coronation Street]]'', was once the landlady of Whaley Bridge's Cock Inn.<ref name=corrienet>{{cite web|url=http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/driver_betty.html |title=– Betty Driver |publisher=Corrie.net |date= }}</ref> |
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*Michael Heathcote, Groom of the Pantry and Yeoman of the Mouth (food taster) to [[King George III]].<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=la0_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA282&lpg=PA282&dq=michael+heathcote++Yeoman+of+the+Mouth&source=bl&ots=mQWTouV2ho&sig=kgmgJ-h8bUQfU6uhEVAQDXJ6xVc&hl=en&ei=flkeTYanFIOqhAexrpG3Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=michael%20heathcote%20%20Yeoman%20of%20the%20Mouth&f=false Taxal], Cheshire, ''English Counties Delineated'', [[Thomas Moule]]</ref> |
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*[[Bill Jones (footballer born 1921)|William 'Bill' Jones]], [[Liverpool FC|Liverpool]] and [[England national football team|England footballer]] and [[Military Medal]] winner, was born in Whaley Bridge in 1921.<ref name = You&Yesterday>[http://www.youandyesterday.co.uk/articles/Jones,_William_-_Football_star_born_in_Whaley_Bridge_won_Military_Medal You & Yesterday]</ref><ref>[http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=1597&ap=p&searchname=Jone FA Player Archives]{{dead link|date=September 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/jones3/ Liverpool FC Player Archives]</ref> |
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*[[Jennifer Pinches]], British artistic gymnast, lives in Whaley Bridge.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/other-sports/whaley-bridge-olympian-jennifer-pinches-announces-retirement-from-gymnastics-1-4918398 |title=Whaley Bridge Olympian Jennifer Pinches announces retirement from gymnastics |newspaper=Buxton Advertiser |date=11 September 2012 |accessdate=15 August 2013}}</ref> |
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==Literary references== |
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Whaley Bridge features in the novel ''The Manchester Man'' (1876) by [[Isabella Banks]]. |
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The fictional ''[[Coronation Street]]'' character [[Minnie Caldwell]] retired to become a housekeeper in Whaley Bridge in 1976. |
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==See also== |
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*[[Peak District|Peak District National Park]] |
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*[[Whaley Bridge railway station]] |
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In the travel section of ''[[The Sunday Telegraph]]'', a headline article 'My Top Ten Train Trips' by [[Tony Robinson]] writes of the Manchester to Derby journey, "It is not a trip to do all in one go; stop off at the dramatic little town of Whaley Bridge and have a stroll around the historic Peak Forest Canal Basin". |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.whaleybridge.com/ Whaley Bridge Website] |
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* [http://www.whaleybridgehistory.co.uk/ Whaley Bridge History Website] |
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* [http://www.whaleybridgephotos.co.uk/ Whaley Bridge Photographs Website] |
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{{Derbyshire}} |
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[[Category:Towns in Derbyshire]] |
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[[Category:Towns and villages of the Peak District]] |
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Revision as of 12:11, 4 November 2013
Jake Fields