The Old Man of Mow can be found beside the path of the Gritstone Trail almost at the summit of the hill in the village of Mow Cop.
The Gritstone Trail is a long distance walk of 15 kilometres (9.3miles) which starts at Timbersbrook near Congleton in Cheshire and finishes at Kidsgrove in Staffordshire. The route passes many historical landmarks and features of the area's industrial past including ancient paths, Roman roads, canals and railways. On its way from Cheshire into Staffordshire it takes in Lyme Park, Sponds Hill, Tegg's Nose Country Park, Croker Hill and Mow Cop, it ends at Kidsgove Station which is close to the Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The Old Man of Mow is a 20 foot pillar of gritstone which was left standing after the stone around it had been quarried away.
Another stunning feature along the gritstone trail and also at Mow Cop is, of course, the folly known locally as the castle, which was built by Squire Wilbraham of nearby Rhode Hall. I've featured this ruin on a couple of previous blog posts so I hope you don't mind me including it again. According to Arthur Mee's entry in The King's England for Staffordshire - Mow Cop "It's splendid hill, nearly 1100 feet above sea level, with magnificent views far in Wales, belongs to us all, for it has been given to the National Trust. It is marred by a mock ruin of the 18th century...."
What do you think? Is the hill's outcrop marred or enhanced by the folly? It can be seen for miles around and is such a recognisable landmark.
What do you think? Is the hill's outcrop marred or enhanced by the folly? It can be seen for miles around and is such a recognisable landmark.
Mow Cop is also known as the birthplace of Primitive Methodism. The present church built in 1862 is on the site of the first open air meeting, organised by Hugh Bourne, which took place on 31st May 1807 when 2000 people from as far away as Macclesfield and Warrington attended. The meeting lasted for 14 hours. Here is a link to more information.
There are several wells around the village including the Squire's Well and the Parson's Well. These were built almost as shrines to celebrate and give thanks for the abundance of fresh water and in the past, although no longer, well dressings took place here as they still do in many Derbyshire towns and villages. I saw three of these wells as we were walking around the village but apparently there are more to be found.
This sounds an interesting walk, I've been up Mow Cop but I don't believe I've ever seen the village - in fact I didn't know that it existed! I quite like the folly - I think it adds to the scene rather than detracting.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I love to see the folly from a distance. The houses close to the folly are fairly new but there are some older more extablished ones as you go down the hill and many things left from the old industries around there too:)
DeleteNot a place I know though I did visit Tegg's Nose one time and I know Shutlingsloe very well. I rather like the folly but then folly is a favourite pastime of mine! 'Primitive St' is a splendid address - my mother lives in Nutter's Close (honest).
ReplyDeleteHa, Ha - I love that name. I think the folly rather suits the place too:)
DeleteI've always loved seeing the folly from a distance but have never yet walked up it. Love the Old Man of Moe and Primitive Street - so much history there. Happy Easter x Jane
ReplyDeleteYou can park close to it and just walk into the ruin or across the road along the path to the Old Man of Mow - well worth a visit:)
DeleteI rather like the folly. Can think of worse additions to our landscape.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Jessica and it has been there for such a long time that it is part of the landscape:)
DeleteOh I love the folly. A bit like Old John at the top of Bradgate Park.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes I think I've seen that - am I right in associating Bradgate Park with Lady Jane Grey?:)
DeleteThis was such an interesting walk Rosie and I think the folly is very apt where it is - quite ethereal.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
A few years ago I wrote a blog post about the folly when I'd photographed it in a thick hoare frost and it did look ethereal:)
DeleteWhat an interesting post - these are all places I have never heard of - I like the folly - we have a similar one at Bradgate Park - on a clear day you can see it from miles around - I like them for their eccentricity.
ReplyDeleteAh, another comment about Bradgate Park - I think I've seen it but so long ago now:)
DeleteThe folly draws your eye to the outcrop and overtime will just be remains! 'The meeting lasted for 14 hours' - I am sure that many meetings these days feel just as long!!! x
ReplyDeleteA very long religious meeting but people would go for a whole day, take food and listen to all the speeches as well as participating in the open air services - I expect it took some people just as long to get there and back too:)
DeleteA fascinating view of a local area with its history. Although I would always prefer natural beauty over a folly and something man-made, if something has to go on there - then this is probably the best choice!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the rocks would look like without it? It has been there for so long that it has become an accepted part of the landscape. I wonder how many more hundreds of years it will remain standing? What a thought:)
DeleteLooks like an interesting place. Love the folly!
ReplyDeleteThanks and welcome to my blog - it is a very interesting place and full of history:)
DeleteI've never been around this area - I really do need to retire and get out and explore more! I wouldn;t fancy a 14 hour meeting!! xxxx
ReplyDeleteI expect the 14 hours were interspersed with picnics and services as well as listening to the speakers - I guess if people came from miles around to participate they wanted to see and hear everything. You would find this place fascinating, Diane:)
DeleteThis was an interesting post to read - I've been to Mow Cop but didn't know anything about the history or the village.
ReplyDeleteIt has a fascinating history, Louise and the actual walk looks good too - we may try to do it in sections like we have done the Derbyshire trails:)
DeleteThat sounds like a really good walk... and the village is fascinating. I love industrial history. Jx
ReplyDeleteThere is so much history there, Jan - I've taken a couple of books out of the library to read more about the village and locality - absolutely fascinating:)
DeleteSorry this comment is late. I've just started to get back to blogging after the Easter period. What a fascinating walk! My parents were married in a Primitive Methodist chapel in Berkshire and I went to the Sunday School, but I didn't know about the origins of this form of Methodism at Mow Cop. I've often wondered about the term 'Primitive' so I found the information really interesting.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed your Easter break! I was interested in the start of the Primitive Methodist movement too as my 2x great grandfather on the maternal side was baptised in a Primitive Methodist chapel in Derbyshire:)
DeleteBeautiful village to go and visit! Thanks for sharing! :)<3
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie - glad you enjoyed the visit:)
DeleteHello there, just catching up! I think that the outcrop is enhanced with the folly as it adds more interest! Hope that you are having a good weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteHello Amy, hope you are OK and having a good weekend too. I think the folly certainly makes the outcrop stand out even more and it is a great landmark for miles around:)
DeleteI've never heard of that village, it looks and sounds so interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fascinating place:)
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