A Walk Over Broadhey Hill.

We will start our walk at Furness Vale Community Centre. We are only taking a short circular walk but will pass a number of places of interest.

The Community Centre began life in 1911 when the Jodrell family donated a plot of land on which to build a Village Institute. Opened in 1912, it offered a snooker room with two tables, reading room, library, meeting room, kitchen and bathroom.  For sixpence, villagers could take a hot bath at a time when few homes had that facility. Use of the building dwindled in the 1960s and after a refurbishment it re-opened as a Community Centre and Social Club. The snooker tables had been removed, a stage installed and a licensed bar opened. There have been further modifications including the recent opening of the Community Shop and Post Office.  This is of course, home to the History Society

Looking up Yeardsley Lane. The Institute is on the right

Heading uphill we pass a long row of cottages on the right hand side. These were built at various times in the mid to late 19^th century. The row of four cottages opposite,  dates from 1914. A modern bungalow is set back from the road on the site of four earlier bungalows. The only evidence of these in our archive is a photograph from the school garden, showing their rooftops.

Just beyond is a row of three cottages. These were built in 1822 for Mr Mellor of Diglee Farm. On completion, the village’s fledgling Methodist Church rented rooms here for their first chapel and Sunday school. The rental cost was £5 per annum. Adult education classes were offered in the evenings. It was not until 1839 that the first purpose built chapel opened on Station Road.

30 to 34 Yeardsley Lane, The first place of worship in the village.

Opposite, and largely hidden behind a leylandii hedge is Matlock House. It was built in 1899 by the Hall family, who owned the Station Hotel and Longhurst Farm. Elijah Hall, an important local coal owner was also a member of the family. Matlock House was sold by auction in 1930. Joel Bold, owner of Paragon Garage at Newtown bought it for £200.  His son, Edwin, famously kept a pet fox and also a rook, Billy, pictured here with his mother, Martha.  

Martha Bold with Billy the rook.

An early view of Matlock House with Mr and Mrs Hall

On the far corner of Diglee Road is a large detached house, Burnside. It was built in 1902 for Mr Ernest Saxby of Furness Vale Printworks. The architect was  Edward Salomons of Manchester, a prolific architect who was responsible for many buildings in the city. His work included a number of synagogues, warehouses, theatres, retail premises and a few houses. His most notable work was the reform club on  King Street.  In the garden of Burnside is a gravestone dedicated to “Spider”.  Mr Saxby’s loyal Jack Russell would often accompany him of an evening to the Soldier Dick. He was always relied upon to help Mr Saxby find his way home.

Burnside showing Yeardsley Lane as an unmade track.

Turning right onto Diglee Road, we will pass the three “Australian Bungalows" on the right hand side.  These colonial style homes were said to have been built by a retired sea captain on his return from Australia. The first, No 3 Diglee Road still bears its original name “Yarrawonga”. No 5 was called “Boominoomina" and was the last to be built in1904. It was occupied by Mr Knowles owner of  Furness Vale Colliery and the Brickyard while his new home “Heatherby" was constructed. The last bungalow was named “Taendrum".

The three "Australian" bungalows.

The next house, one of the largest in the village, was originally called Glencroft. It was built in 1890, and like “Burnside”, the architect was Edward Salomons.  It was the home of the Thackeray family who were related to the novelist William Makepeace Thackeray. “Glencroft” was maintained by a large staff including Butler, cook, housemaid, nanny and gardener.  Mr Thackeray was the local vet and at the back of the house was the “Dog’s Hospital”.  The surgery was on the first floor.

Glencroft

Last of the historical houses is ”Heatherby”.  Built in 1909, it was the home, of Mr. R. E. Knowles, proprietor of the Brickyard.  The colliery was just at the rear of the house, in Furness Clough and could be reached through a gate in the garden. The adjacent field, where three bungalows now stand, was home to the pit ponies when they were not working underground.  In the field opposite, was a “glasshouse” which  contained access to a mineshaft.

Heatherby

Continue along Diglee Road until the point where the roads fork.  It’s worth pausing at this point to look back in the other direction and appreciate the view towards the moors and "Chinley Churn".  Bear right here and soon the track crosses Furness Brook.  To the right, a modern barn has replaced the more traditional buildings of Broadhey Farm. 

Here tragedy struck in 1961. Close by, was an old mineshaft, capped with loose railway sleepers.  Four boys had travelled from Stockport and were playing on the timbers when they gave way, plunging two of them to a depth of 50 metres. Stephen Robinson was 12 years old and fell to his death. His 14 year old companion was rescued with a broken arm. His only concern on reaching the surface was the fate of his friend.

The road facing you leads up to Broadhey Farmhouse, now a private dwelling. Turn immediately left and follow the track uphill and around the side of the barns. These housed the farm’s dairy herd until being converted into four homes.

Broadhey Farm. The farmhouse is on the right. The small building at the top of the hill is the only remaining building from the old farm.

Pass through the gate and the path winds its way up the side of Broadhey Hill. As the track sweeps to the right you will see a number of fruit trees. Malcolm Anderson, who owns this field, plans a large orchard although it is really a project for his eventual retirement. In the meantime, he is happy for visitors to pick a few apples or pears for their own enjoyment.

As the track reaches the top of the hill, a small stone building will be seen on the right. This is all that remains of the earlier Broadhey Farm. This was an ancient farm, the earliest recorded date being 1635.  Mine workings caused the water supply to fail and the farmhouse was abandoned in 1869 in favour of the newer location lower down.

The footpath on the left leads across Kiln Hill to Redmoor Farm, Higher Disley and Lyme; on this walk however, we will cross the stile by the gate on the right and head downhill. First though, pause a while and take in the view across the valley towards New Mills, Beard Moor and Kinder Scout.  The path leads diagonally across this first field; look for a small tree on the distant field boundary and here you will find the next stile. Make for Longhurst Farm which lies ahead and climb over two more stiles.

The farm buildings have been extensively modernised and now form several dwellings. A number of stables have been erected alongside for the horses that are grazed in the fields above.  The track leading down to Buxton Road is sometimes known as Shippon Lane. It is believed that this once continued uphill towards Whaley Moor, where it met the old Roman Road near the “Murder Stone”

The farmhouse at Longhurst. This is Shippon Lane looking towards Buxton Road.

Turn right onto Buxton Road and you will soon be back at the starting point, the Community Centre.

The route is marked in yellow on the following maps.