Homeward Bound: Bringing Glossop's History Home

Hello, it's been a while.  Thank you for being here. Being back in physical archives, collections and long lost boxes of stuff seems better than ever. It feels like stories are pouring out of every corner and I am making  new discoveries on a daily basis. I have so many  projects to complete and lots to share. The last two years, however, have allowed me to venture far and wide, dipping my toe into collections and archives from around the world. Yet nothing beats finding something and getting up close and personal with it.

I now have access to over 300 items that have all got association with our town. These come from an array of locations from all over and during the last 8 weeks I have carefully coordinated and negotiated the release of these such items. My plan is to return them to Glossop for a set period of time. This would allow locals and visitors to see some of our lost artifacts, discover their stories attached to them and you get to see my life's work coming into fruition once again.

Where have I been? I have been working hard on bringing history to life through social history. I have continued my work throughout the pandemic and extended my sessions, presentations and experiences to people all over the High Peak as part of a project to combat loneliness, online sessions for schools, in and out of care settings and using the power of reminiscence to people in our community who suffer from dementia. I am very proud of the success I have had and even kindly received awards for my unique experiences. I have lots of great opportunities ahead to explore further. 

I am now opening back up to the wider community but I don't expect to pick up where I left off. During the early part of 2020 right up to two days before lockdown I had 4 sessions where I had just over 500 visitors, locals, schools and partners joined me for presentations and experiences. I hope to gradually grow to that potential again but as always I want to improve how to deliver things. One of the major downfalls is I can't seem to find anywhere suitable to build a ground floor space to call 'home'. Over the past 6 years I have even had full support from businesses and private backers to provide a full 2 years of rent to enable me to build the foundations but to no avail. All I need is some space. So I have to think outside the box again as I cannot wait around as there is so much for you to see, feel, do and discover. 

I have been returning to the archives both in a personal and national capacity. From cool cupboards to vast catacombs of interlocking vaults that emanate a real  Da Vinci Code vibe! So I have found some real gems during lockdown and now to not only see some of them in person but to grant the door to be wedged open to allow their birthplace to see them is monumental. This is just what I have aimed for my entire working career and passion to achieve. There is a world of items that haven't seen the light of day, some more than half a century and some have never been in the public eye. I am planning to show some of these items over my next series of talks and presentations, starting with 'Glossop's Fading Footprint'  and 'Stepping into History' . As soon as I can find suitable premises I now have permission from 6 archives to loan items to go on show. 

What is there to see? There is a wide range of items from documents, images, buttons, badges to paintings, personal accounts, patterns, cotton, grand chests and even a silver casket! There are remains of a ship that was contracted by the Woods family, that would ship cotton which I stumbled across in a shed when I was on holiday! All the items have a personal link to the town. There are even some items of great historical importance like a personal letter from the Duke of Norfolk while he was residing at Glossop during the summer. That's right the Norfolks spent time in the summer here! The letter is over 160 years old and mentions grand parties and new roles for the servants. More importantly it reveals the true position and freedom of Thomas Ellison. There is a diary linking Glossop and a visit from William Wordsworth. Personal items from Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Glossop. The list is growing daily and I hope that I can shed light on them for you too in the not so distant future.

Before I go, there is a bear on the hill! Sounds like a children's book doesn't it? But there really is a brown bear right here in Glossop. Why? Well I am just about to write his story as requested. So hold tight for more soon. But unlike my other artifacts, he is still here in his home from home surroundings. 

Sorry it has been so long but health has tried to get in my way but resilient as always I pledge my life to the town. I have strong and deep roots in Glossop but I'll  continue to open up the past though new innovative ways and means to allow you to step inside, to get a unique glance at the past!

Thank you for your time,

Kind Regards Matthew.  

Want to know more? Get in touch, involved or know of some space I can use or rent? 

Let me know at glossop6@googlemail.com 

The Glossop Connection - The Calvert Family

The Calvert Family

Charles Calvert the elder was born into a busy cotton family in 1754. Charles lived on Oldham Street in Manchester close to his father’s business.  At around the age of 25 at social gathering of lords and ladies he crossed paths with the Duke of Norfolk and became good friends. The Duke of Norfolk offered his help, when Charles had to sell his father’s factory, to come and be a personal steward to the Duke at Glossop Hall. Charles stayed at his family home in Manchester during the winter and served at Glossop Hall during the summer.

Glossop Hall where Charles Calvert served the Duke of Norfolk  

In 1793 Charles became a father to his son Frederick Baltimore Calvert who was born in Glossop Hall. There is very little known about Frederick’s mother apart from she also served at the Hall. Frederick was to become one of the greatest English actors. He was taught locally in Glossop before he entered Manchester Grammar School on 12 January 1804. Then he went to the Roman Catholic St. Edmund's College, in Hertfordshire, with a view to receiving Holy Orders.

However, he took to the stage, and in the course of his career alternated leading parts with the elder Edmund Kean who was regarded, in his time as the greatest Shakespearean actor. In 1829 he became elocutionary lecturer of King's College, University of Aberdeen and gave lectures on oratory, poetry, and other literary subjects in the large towns up and down the country. He later traveled to the US with Edmund Kean, featuring in Shakespeare and branching off to give lectures on the English poets.

In 1846 he was appointed master of English language and literature at the Edinburgh Academy. Some years after, he became lecturer on elocution to the Free Church colleges of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

He went on to be married, in 1818 to Miss Percy of Whitby, with whom he had a large family. His youngest son, Michael Talbot Calvert, made a reputation as a tragic actor, under the stage name of Henry Talbot. He died at his home, 2 West Newington, Edinburgh on 21 April 1877.

A boy who was born here in Glossop grew not only into one of the greatest actors of all time but a man of great literary and language refinement, a master of British history.

by Matthew Cox

Olive and Partington Paper Mills, Glossop

The Hidden Gems of Glossop and the High Peak

A brief look at Olive & Partington Paper Mills, Glossop

Glossop was once famous for producing endless miles of cotton products but it is often overlooked that the town produced some of the finest paper in the world. Its produce was used by some of the world leading brands and companies.

The Turnlee Mill stood on Charlestown Road, Glossop. It was bought by Edward Partington and his business partner William Olive around 1874 from Thomas Hamer Ibbotson. Edward Partington brought his flourishing business from Manchester to Glossop only to develop further. The paper mills at Glossop gradually incorporated several other smaller mills such as Tip Mill and Burymewick Mill in order to try and develop the modern method of paper manufacturing using the sulphite process.

The sulphur was brought by the railway to the goods yard in large barrels along with the vast quantities of logs. These were then loaded, by hand, onto the horse pulled flatbeds and trailers which were replaced later in 1917 by the famous fleet of Tiger tractors. Some locals still remember the huge steam tractors hauling many tons of logs and sulphur from the Railway Station up Victoria Street onto Charlestown Road, towards the Turnlee Mills.

One of the 'Tiger' Tractors (No.3) still remains today having been fully renovated by a group of enthusiasts and currently lives in New Mills and visits many national steam events throughout the year 

Guinness, Cadbury's & Women Magazine are just a few from the extensive list of companies that used the paper produced in Glossop. The mill provided over 1,000 jobs and offered “All the year round vacancies”- a slogan of the bygone era.

Disaster struck on 25^th June 1943 as one of the spherical boiling pans, weighing six tons and spanning twelve feet in diameter, exploded killing four men. There were numerous other injuries including burns from the boiling sulphur solution.  The steam Tiger traction engines were used to clear the debris. The appalling stench of the sulphur gases were reported all over the town.

Very little exists of the Olive and Partington Paper manufacturers at Turnlee Mills as many of the buildings have been demolished. You can still see some of the grand architecture such as the main gate stones and walls that still survive.

Today on the site, there are are a few small businesses flourishing from the ashes of what was one of Glossop’s greatest assets. The rest has recently been demolished to make way for a new housing estate but one corner of the original building has been saved and been converted into apartments. It is yet another gem of Glossop Dale that should never be forgotten.

Matthew Cox

Glossop Tours on Twitter

A Snapshot of Glossop North End's History

  Glossop North End Nets 10 -1 in Four Days

As Glossop North End enters its last preparations for the FA Vase Final vs North Shields to be played at Wembley on Saturday 9th May, I have taken some time in the archives to show some of the forgotten magic of GNE.

The following pieces are taken from a study I was involved in during the preparations Glossop North End's 125th Anniversary. 

In 1899 Glossop North End were fighting for promotion and as they entered the new year a string of wins were waiting for them.

  

“Glossop journeyed to Darwen in order to meet for the first time the wooden spoonists of the Second Division … without Gallacher and Colvin, the vacancies being filled by Sutcliffe and Sidebottom, the latter a promising reserve player.

Game a very interesting one … the Glossopians did their duty well. The wooden spoonists have two capable backs, whilst Lumsden found some strong opponents on his side of the field. I don’t think I have seem Williams save more effectively, whilst the forwards, although weakened by the absence of Gallacher and Colvin, played most creditably, Donaldson showing a real liking for the company of Whittaker, the Darwen goalkeeper. Sidebottom was brought into the team, and I must say he is the best of the locals – barring Sutcliffe … that have been tried this season.

Glossop North End - The End of Season 1898/99 

McEwen was partnered by Killean for the first part of the game, Rothwell changing places with the latter after an hour’s play. The captain by no means shaped badly in the front rank … personally I like to see him in the rear … he hasn’t quite enough greyhound for a forward. The halves were all right. The two great events of the week have been the severance of Pryce’s connection with the North End club and the suspension of Clifford for a fortnight.” Glossop-Dale Chronicle 3rd March 1899.

Glossop Football Card 1900

“Glossop North End have had a really good week, netting four points in the English League, and improving their goal average to the tune of ten goals to one … fourth in the table. The question seems to arise one more as to whether the team will reach a point sufficiently high in the table to ensure their entrance into the charmed circle of the First Division. It seems to one that Manchester City and Leicester Fosse have the best chance, and Glossop North End and Burslem will be the most dangerous opponents of the Midlanders.
The Gainsborough men gave the North Enders a good game in the first half, only two goals being scored, and the football in the second moiety was spoiled by the heavy downfall of snow. The Trinitarians tried hard, but they were no match at all for the Glossopians … The Glossop goalkeeper is to be complemented on the manner in which he saved the penalty kick … he advanced and turned the shot for a corner after it had scarcely left the kicker’s foot. McEwen was the better back, and the halves and forwards were all on their best behaviour, with the exception of Colvin, who was evidently suffering from the effects of his recent injuries, and was off form altogether.
On Tuesday the unfortunate Darwen team visited Glossop. Goalkeeper Whittaker failed to turn up and Woolfall took his place … The game was uninteresting … the visitors were only dangerous on three or four occasions ... Colvin was in better trim, and every man played well, though they let their opponents down more lightly than they might have done.”
Glossop-Dale Chronicle 10th March 1899.

Many thanks again to the club & members for permission to use this content. Copyright Belongs to Glossop North End AFC. 


Complied by Matthew Cox - I wish all the club, players management & officials a huge congratulations on their achievements already this season by winning the double of the league & the league cup & the very best for Saturday. VIVA GNE! - It is in no doubt that this season is the best and I mean the very best in living history. To be a part of it was hugely exciting both as a supporter, fan and historian alike. 

From the words of my Dad "Win or Lose Have A Booze!" - FA Vase Final 2009

You can find me on Twitter @Matthew_R_Cox or @GlossopTours

Glossop North End AFC - Samuel Hill-Wood

The Legends of Football - Part One - Lost Heroes, Treasured Pride by Matthew Cox

Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, born on 21 March 1872 the son of Samuel Wood and Anne Kershaw Sidebottom, lived a long and prosperous, public life.

From early childhood Samuel Hill-Wood known locally as “Sammy” showed an unbelievable understanding of his family’s cotton business and how it was constructed and managed. Inspired by his father and grandfather to continue the business he was sent to be educated at Eton College. It was here where Sammy first acquired his obsession with sport. On returning from College, Sammy was fascinated to hear that Glossop had set up their own football club (Glossop North End) and that some of his father’s employees were involved. In response he organised a team representing his fathers company named Howardtown F.C. He played alongside employees in local leagues which consisted of teams from butchers, victuallers and rival mills. As the football game grew nationally, Howardtown F.C was not enough for Sammy and he began talks with other clubs. It was around this time rumours began saying that Samuel Hill Wood wanted to “buy” a football club.

Sir Samuel Hill-Wood in 1928

In April 1888 his father, Samuel Wood died aged 69; with this Sammy inherited his fathers business at Howardtown mills, life savings and reputation. This gave him the incentive to carry out his ambition to create a high class football club. Sammy delivered his proposal to the founders of Glossop North End and it was accepted almost immediately. He hand selected a small team of men that consisted of a secretary, two trainers and a scout.  This “Scout” travelled the land observing the top teams of the time such as Manchester City and Preston North End for the perfect players. Sammy expressed in a telegram that, “money is the key “; a quote that still applies today. Sammy also pulled some strings in his cricket line of work, persuading fellow cricketers to come and play for him. By 1890 Glossop North End were playing in the North Cheshire League and things were looking good.

In the early 1800s the game of football was used as tool to encourage young men to go to church and to maintain a “team” spirit on the day of rest. However by the late 1800s the sport had developed not only into a national game but an entertaining enterprise. Samuel Hill Wood had spotted not only an opportunity for investment, but also advertisement on a national scale. When Sammy turned 22 he injected a huge sum of money into the club, big enough in fact to start paying wages and turned the club professional. 

This same year also saw Sammy make his debut in cricket playing for the Derbyshire County first team.  Glossop North End were making national headlines when they entered the Second Division of the Football league.

Sammy loved the attention he and the club were getting so much so he boosted the club yet again with another financial push. 

This gave them the edge they needed drafting in some of the best players from teams from all over the land and even overseas. Building in confidence the team began to draw in huge crowds which brought the money rolling in. This could be seen when Glossop North End played local rivals Manchester City at North Road. Just over 7,000 were in attendance to see City win in a narrow victory over Glossop of 2-1. From this one match they had taken £150.18s.4d on the turnstiles alone

Glossop North End - The team who won promotion in 1899

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There was a huge uproar not just nationally but worldwide when Glossop North End made it into top flight football. In 1899 the nation stared in disbelief that a small town deep within the hills were battling it out on the pitch with some of the nation’s top teams from some of the wealthy cities. This could not have been possible without Samuel Hill Woods astounding insight, a true pioneer of sport. Sammy continued to work closely with the club even taking them to a F.A Cup Quarter Final in 1909.

In 1910 Sammy began a new career as a conservative MP for the High Peak. In 1913 he was involved in top secret government plans and had an early insight of what would unfold to be the Great War. So with that in hand he returned to Glossop and began to sell his shares in the club. But the influences of Sammy remained in Glossop as the "Hillmen” or “Wood’s Men” began their battle in the F.A Cup 1913. Even with Sammy gone from the club, the reputation remained as a record of 10,736 people flocked to see Preston North End at North Road for the F.A Cup 2^nd Round game.

Throughout the years to this day the legend of Sir Samuel Hill-Wood remains. As we celebrate entering the Final at Wembley of the FA Vase, the “Hillsmen” are a distinct reminder of that great pioneer. Just think Sammy had his own football club at the age of 18 and in the space of 14 years his club, Glossop was and still is to this day the smallest town in England ever to have a team grace the top flight football league.

By Matthew Cox 

Follow me on Twitter: @Matthew_R_Cox    or    @ GlossopTours  for more updates about this historic club.

Samuel Hill-Wood of Glossop: The All-Round Sportsman

An All-Round Sportsman Puts Racing On The Map

Heavy Weapon

Samuel Hill-Wood was a true lover of sport he not only triumphed in football and cricket but in greyhound racing too. This is a portrait of Samuel’s successful coursing Greyhound, Heavy Weapon. He was born in 1905 sired by the winning dog, Wartnaby, who sired a number of useful coursing dogs, out of Garbitas. He was the great-grandson of one of Colonel North’s famous Greyhounds, Young Fullerton, who was the same way bred as the legendary Fullerton, arguably the greatest Greyhound of all time, winning three Waterloo Cups and dividing once in five visits to Altcar.

Heavy Weapon was owned by Samuel the all-sports man, after leaving Glossop North End he captained the Derbyshire cricket team for three seasons and became chairman of Arsenal Football Club in 1929. He was also passionate about coursing but in some quarters was apparently not a popular owner. In 1913 he was considered a ‘parvenu’ by the Stud book correspondent as he had owned dogs for only 11 years!

Heavy Weapon was declared the winner of the Waterloo Cup in 1910 running in the final against J W Fullerton’s Full Stream who was drawn distressed. He also proved very useful as a stud dog siring. He was owned by Edward (later Sir) Hulton, who set up the first picture library.

Hill-Wood won the Waterloo Cup again in 1913 with "Hung Well". His dogs were trained by Denny Smith, who trained more winners than anyone apart from Harold Wright.

Benacre Cup

Heavy Weapon’s portrait was painted by Wright Barker (1864-1941) in circa 1911. A painter of large hunting and sporting scenes, animals and rural landscapes that often featured cattle, he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists.

In Addition to his Waterloo Cup success, Heavy Weapon also won the 15ct gold Benacre Cup in 1909. The portrait achieve £12,500 in auction two years ago along with Benacre Cup which was also sold for a sum of £11,400. The items went to auction after being passed on by a decadent of Samuel Hill-Wood and some of the proceeds went to the retired greyhound charity.

By Matthew Cox    Check out glossoptours.moonfruit.com

Over Exposed on Higher Shelf Stones - Glossop

Over Exposed

Glossop is well known for the vast amount of plane wrecks that litter our surrounding moorland. It attracts many walkers, climbers’ historians and explorers from around the globe.  The subject has lured many photographers and film crews over the years and they have become the centre of legends.

There are over 50 wrecks in our area and every single one of them has their own story to tell. The most famous of them is the Boeing B29 Superfortress, “Over Exposed”, on Higher Shelf Stones.

The Superfortress was not a standard B29 heavy bomber; she was actually an RB-29, the photographic reconnaissance variant of the aircraft. Soon after the end of the war it became imperative for the western powers to monitor the build-up and deployment of Soviet troops. So photo missions were flown from the UK right up until the end of the Cold War. "Over Exposed" was one of three RB-29s which were tasked to assist with the deploying of the "Able" atomic bomb.

Results at Bikini Atoll

On July 1st 1946, B29 Superfortress "Dave's Dream", accompanied by "Over Exposed", took off from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands to take part in Operation Crossroads - the Atomic Bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. The B29 was to drop an atomic bomb which was to explode over Bikini Atoll Lagoon. It was then the job of "Over Exposed” and its 25 cameras to photograph 'Dave's Dream', the bomb being released and then to return a few days later, to record results.  The results were truly devastating although they evacuated everyone from the nearby island they sunk three destroyers and two aircraft carriers of their own. 

The Superfortress “Over Exposed” crashed on the 3^rd November 1948, killing all thirteen crew members. Apart from the crew the aircraft was carrying sacks of mail homeward bound to the USA, and a payroll of £7,000 for the staff at Burtonwood.

Sixty four years on, many of the major structural parts remain such as the undercarriage struts, pulley wheels for internal control cables, and even large sections of the fuselage, have survived the ravishes of the Bleaklow weather. The most instantly recognisable parts of the aeroplane are the four 18 cylinder Wright R-3350-23 engines, which are in a remarkable state of preservation.

One of the Wright R-3350-23 engines

A few years ago a gun turret from the RB-29 was found in near perfect condition. It was believed that it had been preserved near a river and was dislodged by recent flooding. It was brought off the moorland by some of the Glossop Mountain Rescue Team and put on display at the Glossop Heritage Centre for the 60^th Anniversary of the crash. 


 By Matthew Cox

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