Ours was not the first footpaths preservation society in Manchester. The Manchester Association for the Preservation of Ancient Public Footpaths was established in 1826 to oppose the actions of Mr Ralph Wright, a Flixton landowner and magistrate. It was active for nearly 40 years particularly under Samuel Cottam's secretaryship when meetings were held monthly in the old Manchester Town Hall in King Street. Its funds were kept in safe keeping until September 1896 when handed over to the newly formed Peak & Northern Society; Samuel Cottam had died just four days earlier at the age of 68.
Saw the formation of the 'Hayfield and Kinderscout Ancient Footpaths Association'. During the Hayfield Association's brief life it had three achievements to its credit. It saved for public use the Carr Meadow - Kinder - Stonyford bridle road, it produced a splendid little guide book with map and illustrations describing the public paths in the Hayfield area and it made the first move in the struggle for the Hayfield Mill Hill - Snake Inn right of way. The Peak & Northern then took up, in 1894, the work which this local association had commenced in so determined a fashion eighteen years previously.
On
the 29th July 1894, an anonymous letter appeared in the 'Manchester
Guardian' pointing out that Kinder was only part of a larger problem.
The public was being excluded from more and more stretches of moor-land,
and there was no authority whose special business it was to see that
old-established rights of way were respected.A meeting was held in the
Piccadilly Restaurant, Manchester, on the 3rd August and the first minute
book of the Society records
'At a meeting held at the above restaurant on this date convened
by Mr. W.H. Chadwick of Church Lane, Gorton, to consider the best means
Of securing the public rights of way over Kinderscout from Hayfield
to the Snake Inn, it was resolved - 'That Mr C.T. Tallent Bateman take
the chair.'After discussing the best method of securing the public
right, it was resolved - "That a society be formed to preserve public
rights of way within 50 miles of Manchester and such society be called 'The
Manchester and District Footpaths Preservation Society'.It was moved
by Mr. Abel Heywood and seconded by Mr. J.B. Cooper -7hat the Society
first deal with the public right of way over Kinderscout from Hayfield
to the Snake Inn.'Resolved - 'That Mr. L. Caradoc Evans of Didsbury
be appointed secretary pro tem"A meeting was held the following
day (4th August) at Hayfield when some gentlemen from Derby and elsewhere
attended and it was resolved to send to the proposed Society a recommendation
that it be called The Peak
District Footpaths Preservation Society and 'those present pledged
themselves to join it'.the Society was formed officially at a meeting
held at 7pm on Thursday 16th August 1894 in the Young Men's Christian
Association Hall, Peter Street, Manchester.
24th September 1896 the 'Manchester Guardian' reported"The Peak District and Northern Counties Footpaths Preservation Society has happily succeeded in its first enterprise. The favourite route over Kinder Scout, from Hayfield to the Snake Inn, has been secured for ever to the public. All that remains to be done is to form a path, erect signposts, and build a small bridge over the Lady Brook near the Snake Inn. Everyone will then be able to take this delightful walk through some of the finest and wildest scenery in the Peak District without let or hindrance. This peaceful victory over the landowners, who threatened for a time to close the path, although within the memory of man the public had always enjoyed the right of way, speaks volumes for the energy and tact displayed by the officials of the Society. The appeal the Society now makes for £500 to pay the legal and other costs incurred in securing the footpath, will gain a ready response). Mr Benjamin Armitage of Chomlea has already contributed about £184 which, it is interesting to know, is the balance of a Fund raised by an old Manchester footpaths preservation society, founded in 1826 and existing as late as 1863. The remainder will no doubt be found by private subscribers. the Society that has rendered such a great public service should not remain a moment in doubt whether its labours are appreciated for it has much work to do in the future"
The Kinder Scout, from Hayfield to the Snake Inn path was formally opened on the 29th May 1897 by the President, Sir WH Bailey, attended by a large body of subscribers and friends. It was a happy coincidence, much commented on at the time, that the celebration of the Society's success should take place within weeks of the commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond jubilee.A small memento was issued by the Committee on the opening day. This consisted of twelve views with letterpress descriptions, a brief record of the work of the Society in regard to the path, and a one-inch scale map of the district showing the route, Though a considerable number of copies was given to subscribers, the publication resulted in a profit to the Society; the booklet was reprinted and copies sold for 1s.
In those days many local authorities were building new reservoirs, and the Society had to intervene on a number of occasions to prevent the closure of footpaths on land acquired for water gathering grounds. The Hayfield-Snake path had not been opened long when the attention of the Society was drawn to the Bills in Parliament for converting the Upper Derwent into a valley of reservoirs. Parliamentary action was taken in 1904 and, after protracted negotiation, all the threatened paths were secured or satisfactory substitutes arranged. Subsequently it came to the notice of the Society that pedestrians wishing to use the road from Slippery Stones on the eastern side of the reservoirs had been turned back. the Society took the matter up with the owner and very shortly the public right of passage was admitted, and a 'Private Road' notice was amended to read Private Road: except to pedestrians'.When the Ashton, Stalybridge and Dukinfield Waterworks Board lodged their bill for making of the Chew Reservoir, the now well-known Greenfield - Crowden footpath, was affected and it was only after Parliamentary action had been taken in 1907 that negotiations with the Bill's promoters resulted in the inclusion of clauses to provide a substitute path. In a more recent case the Society's officers discovered that a legal right of way still existed under the waters of a reservoir which had been in existence for several years. Fortunately, it did not prove necessary to organise a party to assert our right of passage -the water board gave us a new path instead.
Doctor's Gate Roman road had been a public way for centuries, but after the new turnpike road was built in the 1820s, the old road was allowed to fall into very bad repair. Grouse shooting became popular and shooting tenants long resisted the determination of Manchester and Sheffield walkers to enjoy their rights along this ancient way. Following negotiations over many years, with Joseph Macauley and GHB Ward of Sheffield playing a prominent part, the Footpaths Society reached an agreement in 1912 with the owner. He agreed to reopen the path and repair some portions of it while, on their part, the Society undertook to use their influence to persuade pedestrians not to use the path during the grouse breeding and shooting seasons. However, that the Society did not admit any limitation of the public's right to use the path at all times, and it was an integral part of the gentleman's agreement that the path should never be physically closed. This arrangement worked for several years, but early in the post-war period the landowner, and his successors in title, took to closing the path during the breeding and shooting seasons. the Society considered the agreement had been violated and advised the public to use it at all times. Eventually, in 1928, the owner gave way and the public right was firmly established. Much credit for this and other early successes was due to Col HT Crook, one of the Society's founders and for many years Honorary Surveyor and President.
It was not until 1929, when the Society had been in existence for 35 years, that we actually fought a court case. It says much for the skill and adroitness of the Society's officers that so much was achieved without direct legal action; we were fortunate in having legal people among our officers who appreciated the desirability of keeping out of court as far as possible! The Benfield footpath dispute was like a great many others we have been involved in- It must have been clear to everyone that a public right of way existed, yet the local council refused to take any action to establish the public right. The dispute dragged on from 1924 until 1929 during which time several demonstrations were arranged. On one occasion more than 200 people went over the path but the obstructions were always replaced. Finally, one of our Members took out a summons against the farmer and won the case. Years afterwards, Edwin Royce questioned whether it had been worthwhile to go to so much trouble over 'the muddy little Benfield track', but the case showed the Society had teeth and was prepared to use them.
The old bridleway between Westend and Alport Castles had been obstructed at intervals over a number of years from 1923 onwards. This proved to be a protracted and difficult case and it was not until 1940 that it was finally settled in favour of the public, for which we are deeply indebted to Harold Wild. In the early twenties the Society played a part in securing the reopening of a number of paths around Haddon Hall. The Bakewell Council was prevailed upon to remove certain obstructions erected by the landowner and legal proceedings were instigated but the case was settled out of court in favour of the public.
National
Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949
Interest in National
Parks, access to mountains and footpaths now reached its zenith. Years
of agitation by the open-air and amenity movement culminated in the passing
of the above Act. One consequence was the colossal survey of all footpaths
in the country. Our Society organised a voluntary survey in its own district
and was fortunate in securing the services of Norman Redford, the right
man for the job if ever there was one. Under his leadership the voluntary
surveying of paths in our district was carried out with great vigour
and thoroughness. This survey involved an enormous amount of work - collecting
evidence, lodging objections, appearing at hearings, seeking witnesses,
etc. The crucial task of finding witnesses to appear at Quarter Sessions
was much to the fore and much of the drive and initiative in these efforts
was supplied by the indomitable Arthur Smith.Another important consequence
of the 1949 Act was the gradual freeing of Kinder Scout, Bleaklow and
other moorland areas devoted to grouse shooting or water gathering, the
whole Access Area now amounting to some 60,000 acres out of a total of
some 70,000 in England and Wales. The ancient discontents out of which
our Society was born had thus been remedied and we are grateful to all
concerned, especially the pre-1949 fighters and propagandists, GHB Ward,
Edwin Royce, PA Barnes, Tom Stephenson and to the Access Committee of
the Peak Park Planning Board under the chairmanship of our former Secretary,
Philip Daley.
During the spring of 1952, the Society's
longstanding disagreement with the New Mills UDC, about repairs to the
bridge over Rowarth Brook, featured in the 'Manchester Guardian' under
the above heading. The article continued
Rowarth Brook in fair and dry weather bickers down past Rowarth
village and into the river Sett farther down the valley as innocently
as any in the country. After any rain, however, it shows its fickle
nature'. Several times during heavy rains it had stormed the banks,
once giving the finishing blow to a two storey building, and on another
occasion flooding a nearby inn to a depth off our feet knocking down
stonework and, on the testimony of the landlord left 'the men's convenience
overhanging the torrent by a thread'."Rowarth Bridge still stands
but in name only. It was the brook's last whim after heavy rain in after
1944 to make a sinuous turn and avoid the bridge entirely. The three
planks and handrail now stand in pirate fashion ready to launch the unwary
walker into the slowly widening gulf at the side."A principle was at stake here. The Peak District & Northern
Counties Footpaths Preservation Society began correspondence with the
New Mills U.D.C. five years ago about the need for a longer bridge
but neither side would give way. The Council said it would cost £200
for the appropriate repairs. the Society obtained an estimate to the
effect that the repairs could be done for £54. New Mills Council also
based its case on a legal principle and not on tile matter of costs.
It admits liability only for 'repairing and maintaining the surface
of paths and highways in its territory'. But where has the surface
of the Rowarth footpath gone? 'Down the brook, down the Sett down the
Goyt, down the Mersey, and into the sea. No surface, no repairs'."After
many years of disagreement between the Council and the Society a compromise
was reached. A new bridge was erected in 1982 and dedicated to - Harold
Wild, of course!
Diamond jubilee Year and the first Annual General Meeting to be held in the Friends' House, Mount Street, Manchester.Diamond jubilee Celebrations "To celebrate the foundation of the Society in 1894, Members and friends gathered at Lyme Hall on 4th September 1954. Parties walked from Middlewood and other places, and a representative gathering had tea, after which speeches were made by the Mayor of Stockport, our President, the Chairman and others. The celebrations are not yet ended. For there is to be an exhibition at Manchester Central Library next March which will be opened on the first day by the Lord Mayor of Manchester. It is also hoped to have a smaller exhibition at the Manchester Ramblers' Association Rally at Lyme Park on 26 June. Membership "We require a constantly increasing membership to renew the Society's life blood. Apathy and complacency are our greatest enemies. There are too few workers for too much work, some who could do more are doing less. Ours is a fine heritage of footpaths, but it will assuredly melt away like last winter's snow, however many Acts of Parliament may exist, if the walkers of yesterday and today do not realise their responsibilities. When a beautiful scene is faced with desecration or a historic building with demolition, a great outcry arises. But when a footpath equally beautiful or of equal antiquity is threatened, in silence it is often allowed to disappear. The same knight-errantry is required in the defence of a footpath as of an old hall or precious scene.
Canal towpaths
The question of
canal towpaths figured in our annual reports many times after 1955 when
the British Waterways Board claimed they were not public but merely sufferance
paths. Our opposition was not very successful in Lancashire. But in 1967
the Board appealed to Quarter Sessions against the scheduling of the
towpath of the Peak Forest Canal as public and we produced enough witnesses
to establish the status of all of the towpath, except for 1 1/2 miles
between Hyde and Dukinfield. The Board had withdrawn their opposition
to 9 1/2 miles of the Macclesfield Canal southwards from Marple and subsequently
yielded with other canals.
the Society's 1968 AGM agreed to shorten our name to 'Peak and Northern Footpaths Society'.
In 1978, the Society mounted a campaign against a clause in the Greater Manchester Bill which would have enabled both county and district councils to apply direct to the Crown Court for footpath closure orders. As a direct result of the pressures applied by Members of the Society, well supported by our many affiliated Societies, the offending clause was completely re-drafted to specifically exclude footpaths, bridleways, cartways, RUPPs and 'byways open to all traffic'.
In 1980 the Society established an Archive and Record Section in premises at Hazel Grove. A large room was furnished and equipped with steel shelves, filing cabinets, large table and seating for up to 12 people. Definitive footpath maps were filed for easy reference and work started on a card index system of the Society's activities, particularly the recording of footpaths in the Society's area, a long term project in view of the number of records involved. It has been invaluable to have such a wealth of information available, particularly when dealing with footpath disputes and public inquiries. The evolving nature of their work needed a more suitable title to describe the range of their duties - COSA is the acronym for the Consultations, Orders, Signs and Archive, -; Unit. Team Members have shown remarkable diligence in their work and weekly attendance, sometimes including bank holidays, throughout the years. We are all very indebted to them.
Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Act permitted landowners to apply to the local authority for a footpath to be deleted from the definitive map on the grounds that it is not public. The first example in 1984 was Heywood FP95 at Delph House Farm, Birtles which had been saved in the 1970s when, after a public inquiry, the Secretary of State decided the path was useful part of the network of paths around the Ashworth Valley. In 1984, the owner applied to the Greater Manchester CC for the deletion of the path on the grounds that it should not have appeared on the map in the first place. Yet another further public inquiry but this time we lost the case and the path.
Our success in saving Marple FP187 was celebrated with a victory walk in January 1989, was a triumph of co-operation between the Society and the Ramblers' Association. The path had been obstructed by a two metre high electrified deer fence. We wrote to Stockport MBC in July 1983 asking that the path should be re-opened to the public; the Council replied promptly that any obstructions would be removed but then procrastinated over the issue until October 1987 when they made an order to divert the path on to a non-definitive path; this had existed for a period far in excess of the time needed for 'deemed dedication'. the Society and the RA took exception to a local authority condoning an illegal act: the RA was successful in prosecuting the landowner who was convicted in the Magistrates Court and ordered to remove the obstruction. An appeal was lodged and the matter dragged on across the summer until it was withdrawn at virtually the last minute. A public inquiry was held at Marple in September into the diversion order at which the two societies and interested individuals set out their strong objections. The inspector's decision, refusing to confirm the order, was announced just before Christmas giving Stockport little choice but to act and two gates were installed in the deer fence by the middle of January.The long running saga of the Windmill Woods path, claimed by this and the Knutsford Civic Society came to a head when the Department of the Environment ordered Cheshire CC to promote a Creation Order. Following an objection by the landowner, a public inquiry was held in Knutsford in 1989. There was strong public support, considerable evidence was produced and the inspector found in our favour.
1994
The Society celebrated a century of footpath preservation.
By Leslie Meadowcroft, the Society's Chairman since 1971It is not just 100 years of eternal vigilance by the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society that is being celebrated in 1994. The founding fathers began their work in 1826 when the actions of a Flixton landowning magistrate, in attempting to deny public rights, brought about the formation of the Manchester Association for the Preservation of Ancients Footpaths in 1826. The efforts of that organisation continued for many years and, in 1896, it handed over its funds to the newly formed Peak District & Northern Counties Footpaths Preservation Society, to support its fight for the Hayfield to Snake Inn footpath.the Society remains a vigorous and energetic defender of the public rights. the Society is organised by volunteers who give generously of their time and money to further the cause of maintaining rights-of-way throughout town and countryside.With the introduction of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in 1981, the Society was given the remit to monitor proposed changes to the rights-of-way network in the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South and West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. It is almost unique in that, with the exception of the smaller Chiltern Society, it is the only regional organisation to have government recognition under the Wildlife Act; this also resulted in enlarging considerably the operational area of the Society.The Society maintains a large library of documents, correspondence and other information in its archives including a complete set of official Definitive Maps for the whole of its territory with the notable exception of Lancashire. We welcome the news that the County Council may now be willing to remedy this discrepancy.In remote districts, far from the beaten track, the Society's signposts indicate the routes of the most inconspicuous footpaths. Virtually all have been erected by Members, who also supply and transport the tools for digging and erection by their own muscle, often carrying posts, signs, picks, crowbars and spades over miles of open country and rough moorland to sites inaccessible to vehicles. There are now over 250 signs throughout the Society's area.Many complaints of obstructions of footpaths and unauthorised diversions by landowners and others are brought to the notice of the Society which makes every effort to resolve such problems by negotiation. The many issues relating to footpaths, diversions, closures or creations proposed by local authorities or other interested bodies, are now dealt with by a team of assessors who meet weekly. Maps are constantly brought up-to-date, correspondence sent to various interested parties with proposals, recommendations and suggestions made when alterations to the network are under discussion. the Society never baulks at taking a problem to a public inquiry or the magistrates court, and often does, to preserve a right-of-way for the benefit of the many who wish to walk that way.The work is never ending and continues because of the selfless efforts of those who recognise and appreciate the value of the countryside, continuing a tradition set by the founder Members and the many persons who have given such service to the Society during its long history. We hope our successors will continue to provide the necessary effort, finance and other support to protect a priceless resource, namely the footpath network allowing literally millions to enjoy this green and pleasant land.
