Country Rambles, and Manchester Walks and Wild Flowers

Summary of Railway Stations and Distances

The figures after the names of the respective places denote the number of miles they are distant from the Manchester Station of departure previously mentioned.

I. London Road Station

(a)—London and North–Western.

(1) Through Stockport.

To Cheadle Hulme, 8¼.

„ Handforth, 10½, for Handforth Hall, Norcliffe, and Oversley.

„ Wilmslow, 12, for Norcliffe, Lindow Common, the Morley Meadows, and the Upper Bollin Valley.

„ Alderley, 13¾, for Lindow Common, Alderley Edge, Birtles, and Capesthorne.

„ Chelford, 17, for Capesthorne and Astle Park.

„ Crewe, 31, for Wrenbury, 39½, en route for Combermere.

„ Crewe, 31, for Beeston and Peckforton.

„ Crewe, 31, for Shrewsbury, 63¼, en route to Wroxeter (Uriconium).

(2) Through Stockport.

To Davenport, 7, for Bramhall.

„ Hazel Grove, 8, for the Bramhall Valley, Marple Wood, Dan–bank Wood, &c.

„ Disley, 12, for Middlewood, Lyme Park, Lyme Hall, Jackson Edge, Marple Ridge, the Strines Valley, and Cobden Edge.

„ New Mills, 13½.

„ Furness Vale, 15.

„ Whaley Bridge, 16, for Taxal, Eccles Pike, &c.

„ Chapel–en–le–Frith, 19¾, for Castleton.

„ Doveholes, 22, for Castleton.

„ Buxton, 25, for Ashwood Dale, Miller’s Dale, &c.

(3) Through Stockport.

To Cheadle Hulme, 8¼.

„ Bramhall, 9¾, for Bramhall Hall and the Bramhall Valley.

„ Poynton, 12¼.

„ Adlington, 13¼, for Pott Shrigley and Harrop Wood.

„ Prestbury, 15¼, for Mottram St. Andrew, Bollington, and the Kerridge Hills.

„ Macclesfield, 17¼, for Wild–boar Clough, Shutlings Low, &c.

(4) Through Stockport and Macclesfield, continuing per

“North Staffordshire.”

To North Rode Junction, 22, for Cloud–end, Gawsworth, and Marton.

„ Congleton, 26¼, for Biddulph Castle and Biddulph Grange.

„ Mow Cop, 29¼.

„ Trentham, 40¼.

(5) Through Stockport and Macclesfield, to North Rode Junction, 22, continuing per “Churnet Valley.”

To Bosley, 24, for Cloud–end.

„ Rushton, 26.

„ Rudyard, 29.

„ Leek, 31.

„ Froghall, 38.

„ Oakamoor, 40.

„ Alton, 42, for Alton Towers.

„ “Rocester Junction,” 45½, for Ashbourne, 52, en route Dovedale.

(b)—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire.

(1) Through Ashburys and Guide Bridge Junction, 5, main line.

To Mottram, 10, for Broadbottom, Stirrup–benches, Charlesworth Coombs, the lower valley of the Etherowe, &c.

„ Dinting Junction, 12, for Glossop, 13, for Whiteley Nab, Melandra Castle, Chunal Clough, Ramsley Clough, &c.

„ Woodhead, 19¼.

„ Penistone (through the tunnel), 28, there changing to the Doncaster line, for Wentworth.

„ Wortley, 32½, for Wharncliffe Crags.

„ Oughty Bridge, 36½.

„ Sheffield, 41¼.

„ Worksop, 57.

(2) Through Ashburys, Reddish, and Woodley Junction.

To Reddish, 3¾.

„ Bredbury, 6½.

„ Woodley Junction, 7½, for Werneth Low.

„ Romiley, 7½, for Chadkirk, Marple Hall, Dan–bank Wood, Offerton, &c.

„ Marple (Rose Hill), 9½.

„ High Lane, 11¾.

„ Middlewood, 12¼.

„ Poynton, 13.

„ Bollington, 17, for Pott Shrigley.

„ Macclesfield, 19½.

(3) As in No. 2, to Marple, 9½. Thence

To Strines, 11¼.

„ New Mills, 12¾.

„ Birch Vale, 14¾.

„ Hayfield, 15½, for Kinder Scout.

II. Victoria Station

(a)—London and North–Western.

(1) Through Miles Platting.

To Stalybridge, 7, for Staley–brushes, “North Britain,” and “Bucton Castle.”

„ Mossley, 10½.

„ Greenfield, 12¾, for Bill’s–o’–Jack’s, “Pots and Pans,” Seal Bark, and the “Isle of Skye.”

„ Saddleworth, 13¾.

„ Marsden (through the tunnel), 18¾, for Wessenden Clough.

„ Huddersfield, 26.

„ Leeds, 42½, en route for Harrogate, 60½, Ripon, 72, Fountains Abbey, &c.

(2) Through Ordsall Lane (Chat Moss line).

To Eccles, 4.

„ Patricroft, 5, for Worsley.

„ Barton Moss, 7, for Botany Bay Wood.

„ Huyton, 25, for Knowsley.

„ Edge Hill, 30½.

„ Liverpool, 31½.

(3) Through Ordsall Lane (Chat Moss line).

To Warrington, 21½, for Hill Cliff.

„ Norton, 21, for Norton Park, Norton Priory, and Halton Castle.

„ Halton, 23.

„ Frodsham, 30, for the Overton Hills.

„ Helsby, 27.

„ Chester, 39¾, for Eaton Hall; and viâ Broxton, 36½, for the Broxton Hills; also, viâ Rhyl, 69¾, for Llandudno, 81½, Conway, 85, Bangor, 91½, Beaumaris, &c.; also, viâ Ruabon, for the Vale of Llangollen, Bala, Dolgelly, &c.

(4) Through Ordsall Lane (Tyldesley line).

To Worsley, 5¾.

„ Tyldesley, 10¼.

„ Wigan, 17. Thence to Preston, Lancaster, Grange, &c.

VICTORIA STATION.

(b)—Lancashire and Yorkshire.

(1) Through Miles Platting, 1½ to Middleton Junction, 5¼; thence to Heywood, 10¼, for Bamford Wood.

To Bury, 13¼.

(2) Through Miles Platting, keeping on main line to Rochdale Junction, 10¾. Thence

To Shawclough and Healey, 13¾.

„ Facit, 16½.

„ Bacup, 19½.

(3) Same as No. 2, to Rochdale 10¾. Thence on

To Littleborough, 13¼, for Hollingworth Lake, Whiteley Dean, and Blackstone Edge.

(4) Same as No. 3, keeping on main line to Todmorden Junction, 19. Thence, by Burnley Valley,

To Portsmouth, 22¾, for Cliviger, &c.

„ Burnley, 28.

(5) Through Pendleton to Clifton Junction, for the Agecroft Valley and Mere Clough.

(6) Through Pendleton and Clifton Junction, by the Bury line. [These trains pick up at Salford Station.]

To Molyneux Brow, 4¾, for Hurst Clough.

„ Ringley Road, 7.

„ Radcliffe Bridge, 7¼.

„ Bury, 10.

„ Summerseat, 12½.

„ Ramsbottom, 14.

„ Helmshore, 16½.

„ Haslingden, 18½.

„ Accrington, 22, and thence to Skipton for Bolton Abbey.

(7) Through Pendleton, Molyneux Brow, and Bury.

To Rawtenstall.

„ Bacup, 19½.

(8) Through Pendleton and Clifton Junction, by the Bolton line.

To Bolton, 10½.
Thence, on the original main line,

To Horwich, 17¼, for Rivington Pike.

„ Adlington, 19¼, for the Liverpool Waterworks Reservoirs.

„ Chorley, 22¼, for Whittle–le–Woods.

„ Preston, 30¾,

Thence to Blackpool, 50.

„ Fleetwood, 50½, for sail to Piel, for Furness Abbey, continuing thence by rail to Newby Bridge, Windermere, Coniston, &c.

„ Lancaster, 51½, for the Lune Valley, Morecambe, Silverdale, Grange, &c.

(9) Through Pendleton and Clifton to Bolton, 10½. Thence by the Wigan line,

To Wigan, 18.

„ Gathurst, 21, for Dean Wood.

„ Appley Bridge, 23, for Ashurst and Horrocks Hill.

„ Parbold (Newbro’), 25.

„ Southport, 37¼.

(10) Through Pendleton and Clifton to Bolton, 10½. Thence by the Darwen line,

To The Oaks, 13, for Hall–i’th’–Wood.

„ Turton, 15.

„ Entwistle, 17.

„ Over Darwen, 20.

„ Lower Darwen, 22.

„ Blackburn, 25.

„ Wilpshire, for Ribchester, 27.

„ Langho, 30.

„ Whalley, 32, for Whalley Abbey, Whalley Nab, Stonyhurst, Mitton, and the Ribble.

„ Clitheroe, 35, for the Castle.

„ Chatburn, 37, for Pendle.

„ Gisburn, 43.

„ Hellifield, 49.

(11) Through Crumpsall, to Bury.

To Heaton Park, 4.

„ Prestwich, 4.

„ Radcliffe, 7.

„ Bury, 9, thence to Summerseat, &c., as above.

III. Central Station

(a)—Midland.

The distances are differently stated. Those given below are from Bradshaw’s 3d. Guide.

Through Didsbury, 5¾.

To Heaton Mersey, 7.

„ Romiley, 12¼.

„ Marple, 14.

„ Strines, 16.

„ New Mills, 17½.

„ Chinley, 21¼.

„ Chapel–en–le–Frith, 23, for Castleton.

„ Miller’s Dale, 31¼.

„ Monsal Dale, 34.

„ Hassop, 36¾.

„ Bakewell, 37¾.

„ Rowsley, 41¼.

„ Darley, 43½.

„ Matlock Bath, 46¾.

„ Derby, 62¾.

(b)—Cheshire Lines.

(1) Liverpool Line.

To Urmston, 5.

„ Flixton, 6¼.

„ Irlam, 8¼.

„ Glazebrook, 9½.

„ Warrington, 15¾.

„ Halewood, 25½.

„ Garston, 28½.

„ Liverpool, 34.

(2) Chester Line.

To Altrincham.

„ Peel Causeway, 8½, for the Bollin Valley.

„ Ashley, 10.

„ Mobberley, 12.

„ Knutsford, 14½.

„ Plumbley, 17¼.

„ Lostock Gralam, 19¼.

„ Northwich, 20½.

„ Hartford, 22¼.

„ Cuddington, 25¼.

„ Delamere, 28.

„ Chester (Northgate), 38½.

IV. Oxford Road Station

(1) Bowdon Line.

To Old Trafford, 2.

„ Stretford, 3½.

„ Sale, 5.

„ Brooklands, 5¾.

„ Timperley, 6¾.

„ Altrincham and Bowdon, 8.

(2) Liverpool Line.

To Broadheath, 7¾.

„ Dunham Massey, 10.

„ Heatley and Warburton, 11½.

„ Lymm, 13.

„ Thelwall, 14½.

„ Latchford, 16½.

„ Warrington, 17¾.

„ Hale Bank, 26¾.

„ Speke, 29.

„ Edge Hill, 35.

„ Liverpool, 36¼.

Footnotes

1 i.e. since, in round numbers, about 1810.

2 Father of Mr. Robert Crozier, president, since 1878, of the Manchester Academy of Fine Art.

[3] The two last–named now also deceased.

4 In the Flora Mancuniensis, dictated by the Natural History Class of the Mechanics’ Institution, then in Cooper–street.

5 The “City Library,” now in King–street.

6 i.e. in 1843.

7 Song the eleventh, p. 171, facing which is a map of Cheshire, showing the rivers, out of every one of which rises a sort of tutelary nymph, in design droll beyond imagination.—Vide the Chetham Library copy.

8 On her left breast,
A mole, cinque–spotted, like the crimson drops
I’ the bottom of a cowslip.

9 This noted Cheshire river rises upon Buckley Heath, near Malpas, going thence past Nantwich and Winsford. At Northwich it joins the Dane; soon afterwards there is confluence with the Peover, the united waters eventually entering the Mersey, not far from Frodsham.

10 In addition to the meres already mentioned, there are Pickmere, Rudworth Mere, Flaxmere, Doddington Mere, Combermere, and several others.

11 See a description of these coins in the Ashton Reporter, of March 14th, 1857.

12 The epitaph, Mr. Kelly kindly points out to me, is veritably Pope’s, but was originally written for the Hon. Robt. Digby and his sister Mary. It was altered and abridged to suit the monument which now bears it,—one to the memory of the Hon. Penelope Ducie Tatton, who died Jan. 31, 1747.

13 It may be well to say that this grand old tree stood by the lodge gates of Polefield Hall, a few hundred yards through the village of Holyrood, or Rooden Lane, on the right towards Besses–o’–th’–Barn. Unlike the Didsbury sycamore, which was in the prime of its princely life, the Singleton horse–chestnut had become decrepid, and during the rigour of the winters beginning in 1878 received injuries from which it could not possibly recover.

14 See above, page 36.

15 Iliad, Book viii., at the end, thus gloriously rendered by the most spirited and poetical, if somewhat rugged, of his translators, Chapman, A.D. 1596:—
And spent all night in the open field, fires round about them shined,
As when about the silver moon, when air is free from wind,
And stars shine clear, to whose sweet beams, high prospects, and the brows
Of all steep hills and pinnacles, thrust themselves up for shows,
And even the lowly valleys joy, to glitter in their sight,
When the unmeasured firmament bursts to disclose her light,
And all the signs in heaven are seen that glad the shepherd’s heart.

16 At which last–named place there is now also (1882) a railway station.

17 It may be permitted here to note that when on Jackson Edge we are close to the home of the accomplished authoress of the well–known and always welcome letters “From the Lyme hills.”

18 In his very interesting “Reminiscences of a Lifetime in Marple and the Neighbourhood,” 1882, a contribution to our local literature which in the accuracy and variety of its entertaining details does the author genuine credit.

19 All needful particulars will be found in the little “Guide to Hayfield and Kinder Scout,” purchasable at Hayfield and at Bowden Bridge.

20 In indicating the share, unacknowledged and unrewarded, which Townley had in the compilation of the “Guide,” we merely wish to give honour where honour is due, neither on the one hand suppressing truth, nor on the other saying a word that shall look like unfair disparagement. It is but just to the memory of a worthy man, now no more, that the living should know what they owe to him.

21 While such is the original and proper sense of the word, the application, as in the case of Wessenden Clough (p. 150), naturally passed on to similar defiles destitute of trees. Not fewer probably than a third of the cloughs mentioned in the present volume are of the latter character.

22 Mrs. Taylor, we are very sorry to say, died, though apparently of supreme vigour, in the spring of 1877, and the cottage is now occupied by a totally different family. Mere Clough, too, is not what it was. Though spared the desecrations of Boggart–hole, the grove of fine trees that once filled the bottom has disappeared. The best of the wild–flowers have also disappeared, or nearly so; and the brook is less often limpid than impure. Similar changes have overtaken everything public in the neighbourhood.

23 On account of their correspondence with others, geologically the same, very extensively present in the portion of Central and Eastern Russia called Perm.

24 The following pages were originally printed in the Manchester Weekly Times of July 10th, 1858. It gave me great pleasure to see that the article was made the subject of comment and lengthy extract in Chambers’s Journal of the following October 16th, a recognition of the general interest of the matter dealt with that seems to me quite to justify a reprint almost verbatim, with corrections that bring it up to the present date.

25 i.e. up to 1858.

26 See the account of the conviction in the Manchester Guardian, of November 30th, 1850.

27 For further particulars respecting old Joseph Evans, see the Gardeners’ Chronicle for November 14th, 1874, from which we have transcribed, being our own words, a small portion of the above.

28 See an excellent description of Hall–i’th’–Wood, accompanied by a drawing, in the Manchester Literary Club volume for 1880, p. 254.

29 Liverpool was omitted even so late as 1635. Vide Selden’s “Mare Clausum, seu de Dominio Maris,” p. 239, Chetham Library, Manchester.

30 “A Year in a Lancashire Garden,” p. 27.

31 In loc. cit., p. 20.

32 A complete catalogue of the thousand botanical works in the Manchester Libraries, with notes upon their various contents, has been prepared by the author of this volume, and only waits publication. Meantime it can be consulted by any person who may wish to use it.