Hayfield and the Secret Swimming Pool.

This week we went north again to Hayfield to have a look around the village. We went in Robs car and it took just over an hour, parking up just after 07:00. We had a general wander around and found a lovely little memorial garden with a plaque to 4 children that had tragically died. We went up Kinder Road and found the village shops that are in BBC's "The Village" and then the highlight for Geoff was the house where Arthur Lowe of Dads Army fame lived. After a bit more exploration we decided to go across to the other side of the village and look around there. Hayfield is split i n 2 by the A624 and has 2 distinct area's. We met a couple of really friendly people and in particular this chap was just getting into his car to go fishing when we started talking to him. He told us about Park Hall Manor (Which is also in "The Village") but more interesting he told us about an abandoned swimming pool in the middle of some woods. near Little Hayfield. So that was the target we set off passing some lovely scenery and into the woods. We got to the back of Park Hall Manor first then through these magnificent woods and onto the swimming pool. It must have been staggering in its heyday, i would think used by the rich folk only.

The Secret Swimming Pool

St. Matthews Church Tower

The Pack Horse Pub

a GR postbox

Reflection of St. Matthews in the river Sett

Plaque to 4 children in the memorial garden

Hayfield war memorial

Village shops

River Sett

Geoff outside "Mr. Mannering's house"

This is where Arthur Lowe lived in Kinder Road.

This stone tablet above the entrance to the old Co op 

Ike

Rob at one of Hayfield's springs

This lady was jogging and stopped to give us some directions.

This is what Hayfield looked like in 1963 when Geoff took this pic.

Ike practising his safe cracking skills.

Wood pile for next winter.

Lovely leafy lane

Just lazing in the Sun

This old mill is now up market residential units.

Its not real

Geoff snapping the Manor

Magnificent Park Hall Manor

Deep in the woods is this abandoned swimming pool

Rob practising his diving technique 

one of the last remaining statues

Pillars of the Earth

The grounds around the pool were adorned with these pillars that at one time were topped with statues.

This is what it looked like in 1960

The woods were still covered with bluebells

The Lantern Pike which has links to Tony Warren & Pat Phoenix  of Coronation street.

Last glimpse up the valley before returning to the car.

This was a cracking little walk just over 4 miles where we met some interesting people and visited an area that even Geoff hadn't been to. The swimming pool was a great bonus to the morning.
Cheers