Miss Hobson's History of Furness Vale.

Miss Hobson, who taught at Furness Vale School was an early researcher of our local history. She mounted an exhibition at the school and the boards displaying her village timeline are among the History Society archives. We also have Miss Hobson's notebooks in which she recorded much of her research. As these are scanned to the computer and transcribed, we will publish some of these items.

 Change of address.   The village bank moved in 1914 from the premises opposite the school, to Jackson's shop.  It had perhaps been sited at no 116 Buxton Road which was later to become the doctor's surgery. It moved to the corner of Station Road and again in 1933 to 99 Buxton Road. The bank finally closed in 1974.

Furness Vale Co-operative Society was formed in 1860 following a meeting at the National School in Whaley Bridge and opened the following year with a capital of £80.  Their first premises was the same shop at the corner of Station Road which they occupied until moving to a purpose built store opposite.

First Buses.  1901  Rhodes mineral water manufacturers in Whaley, ran buses between Whaley and New Mills (3d all the way).
                       1921 The first buses ran through to Buxton.

The Furness Vale Bank

The Furness Vale Bank

The Manchester and County Bank first opened a branch at 47 Buxton Road, at  the corner of  Station Road in 1908.  This was open daily during full banking hours.  On the 28th April 1930 the branch moved to new premises at 99 Buxton Road but opening times were now limited. 
The bank shortened it's name in 1934 to County Bank and in the following year was taken over by another Manchester company, the District Bank.
The Furness Vale branch closed on 2nd October 1939 for the duration of the War in common with many banks because of staff shortages.  On 22nd October 1946 it re-opened as a sub-branch of Whaley Bridge.
In 1962 District Bank was taken over by National Provincial but retained it's identity. National Provinical and Westminster agreed to merge in 1968 and over the following 18 monthe the operations of the three banks were combined. From 1st January 1970 the Furness Vale branch traded as National Westminster.
The Furness Vale branch closed on 9th August 1974, for many years this branch had been open just three days a week between 10am and 2pm.
47 Buxton Road became a butcher's shop, originally owned by Johnny Jackson, later by Harry Moorcroft.and finally by James Lavin.  This building is now a private residence.   99 Buxton Road which is two doors past the Antique shop going towards Newtown is also now a private residence. The Antique Shop is still of course, in business.    Here is a re-creation using 3D computer modelling software.

With thanks to the Royal Bank of Scotland archives and Willis Ford for much of this information

note: The first bank premises appear to have been in one of the shops opposite the school, perhaps 116 Buxton Road, moving two or three years later to 47 Buxton Road.

For The Right Of Light 2s 6d per annum

29th March 1901 at the Station Hotel, Furness Vale an auction was held by George Brady to sell both the pub and adjoining shop.   The pub had lately been occupied by Samuel Hall and was currently being run by grocer and provisions dealer James Hall.   Inn and shop were in one block and each had the "usual out offices".  The buildings were described as substantial and in good condition.  The ground plot was of 480 square yards, leasehold with an annual ground rent of £4.1s.  The inn was purpose built, modern and commodious having bar, bar parlour, smokeroom, taproom, kitchen and cellars.  Above was  a large clubroom  and 6 bedrooms.  There was a large yard with good stabling. Loose fixtures and trade utensils were to be taken by the purchaser at valuation of the auctioneer.  Further details were available from Mr James Hall on the premises or Elijah Hall of Furness Vale
7th January 1920 Turner & Son were to auction at the Macclesfield Arms a number of Hotels, Public Houses, Beerhouses, Off Licences and Cottages.   The sale included the Station Hotel and adjoining shop.  The shop was let  at £14 6s per annum with the tenant paying the rates.  The 999 year lease had begun on 29th September 1864, the ground rent was still £4 1s.  The London and North Western Railway was paid a sum of 2s 6d per annum "for the right of  light"

Also in the 1920 sale was The Shepherds Arms, Whaley Bridge with the stables &c., adjoining thereto situate between the new and old main road from Manchester to Buxton.

Lady Pit, The Beard and Bugsworth Colliery

In 1949 a 100 foot high brick chimney still stood at Lady Pit.   Lightning struck on the 5th December bringing down the 80 year old structure.  Bricks were scattered up to 300 yards away.  

More solid is this stone air shaft still standing alongside Dolly Lane.  The only other evidence that this was a busy coal mine is the old railway embankment stretching across the field on the other side of the road. 

Lady Pit in 1896 employed 36 miners and closed in 1903. 

Ringstones

Ringstones Colliery closed in 1896 although some workings had been abandoned in 1878.

There were three pits; the "top pit" is shown on the 1875 OS map at the head of the clough. The "bottom pit" at Ringstones, is still very evident and the capped shaft is surrounded by caravans.  Further down the clough was a third shaft near the masonry which still straddles the brook.

The mine was connected to the canal wharf at Bridgemont by a tramway and until recently a raised embankment was to be seen running down the middle of the field below the caravan site. 

In 1875 the works at the foot of the clough was a tannery. The site was occupied later by the Blandola Seaweed works.

Furness Vale Brickyard

A 3D digital model of the brickyard under development.  The main buildings are yet to be added.

Manchester Street Scene (1901)