The town expanded greatly in the Industrial Revolution and the population almost trebled to 2,322. It is sited above the town of Whaley Bridge in the Derbyshire High Peak area of England. Father Christmas traditionally arrives at the Transshipment Warehouse on the Whaley Wharf of the Peak Forest Canal on a canal boat and processes to the Mechanics' Institute accompanied by his helpers. Historical records show that in 1316 on the Cheshire side there were Taxal, Yeardsley and Whaley, the last two being combined into one district of Yeardsley-cum-Whaley. Parts of the tower may date back to that time, although much of the church was rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries. Should the dam wall completely collapse, areas below the reservoir would be at risk of severe flooding. Damaged Toddbrook Reservoir - the body of water threatening to destroy homes in Derbyshire - has caused thousands of people to be evacuated from the town of Whaley Bridge. Up to this time agriculture and … But what is the history of the north-western reservoir? [27], The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, Whaley Lane, serves the parish of Whaley Bridge and Disley. It is on the River Goyt, 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Manchester, 7 miles (11 km) north of Buxton, 9 miles (14 km) east of Macclesfield and 28 miles (45 km) west of Sheffield. In this building goods and minerals were transferred to and from the many working canal boats servicing local industry. [30][31], Whaley Hall is a large detached Victorian house near Toddbrook Reservoir. The town is included in the electoral division of Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook, electing one county councillor. Professor Roderick Smith, from Imperial College London, said: "Extreme weather events mean that there is increasing unease about the safety of older dams: particularly the need to release excess water safely and easily.". This plane was much shorter than the others, being only 180 yards (165 m) long and rising at 1:13.5. With the introduction of broadband internet services, increasingly people work from home. In 1791 land at Whaley Bridge was advertised for sale, the owner believing that its waterpower would be useful in the textile industry, but the two townships remained very small and only had a population of 853 between them by 1841. [22], The township of Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, Cheshire, was part of the ancient parish of Taxal. The 1.3 million tonne body of water is on the north-west edge of the Peak District National Park, sitting above the small town of Whaley Bridge. As the self-styled Gateway to the Goyt, it attracts tourists, mainly walkers, but has not become dominated by the tourist industry, unlike some other local towns and villages. It was built in 1831, according to some experts, while the Environment Agency record it as being built between 1840-41. November 2012 saw the relaunch of Whaley Bridge's firework event, with a new team of volunteers after the Round Table felt they were unable to continue. browser that [citation needed] In 2009 a fell race, known as the Whaley Waltz, was added to the Rose Queen programme, and it annually attracts over 180 runners. The Peak District Boundary Walk runs through the village. Under the Local Government Act 1894 this became Yeardsley-cum-Whaley Urban District. Schools in these areas could include Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, New Mills School, Hope Valley College, King's School, Macclesfield and Stockport Grammar School. Whaley Bridge continues to expand as new housing is built, but retains the character of a small town. The Derbyshire side consisted only of Fernilee, which included the villages of Shallcross and Horwich. The reservoir was damaged due to flooding in 1964, according to the Environment Agency, but another specialist said it was "unlikely" it had been in an unsafe condition before the heavy rainfall on Thursday. Unlike the other six inclined planes, which were operated by stationary steam engines, this one was operated by a horse-driven gin, which remained operational until 9 April 1952. In 1974 the Local Government Act 1972 came into force, abolishing all urban and rural districts in England and Wales, and replacing them with non-metropolitan districts. Whaley Bridge is surrounded by, but not part of, the Peak District National Park.[23]. [13], On 19 June 1872, a massive flood became one of the worst in English history. Today, there is less intensive agriculture labour and no coal mining in the area. St James, Taxal stands on a site a mile from the town centre and was established in the 12th century. This is usually done by the chair of the Town Council and is accompanied by seasonable music from members of Whaley Bridge Brass Band. Whaley Bridge features in the novel The Manchester Man (1876) by Isabella Banks. The fictional Coronation Street character Minnie Caldwell retired to become a housekeeper in Whaley Bridge in 1976. [citation needed]. [16][17][18] By 6 August, the target reduction in the reservoir water level of 8 metres (26 ft) had been met, with the Canal & River Trust confirming it was down by 8.4 metres (28 ft).