Reddish Vale facts for kids
Reddish Vale is a beautiful green area in the Tame Valley, near Reddish, Greater Manchester, England. It's a great place to explore nature! The main part of the vale is found at the end of Reddish Vale Road.
Reddish Vale Country Park is a special park looked after by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. It covers a huge area of 161 hectares (that's about 400 acres!). This includes parts of the original Reddish Vale, Reddish Vale Farm, and fields like Woodhall Fields. Some parts of the park are even protected as a local nature reserve, which means they're important for wildlife.
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Exploring Reddish Vale
Reddish Vale is mostly a green space with lots to see. You'll find thick woodlands, flat meadows along the river, and sloping fields where horses graze. There's also a golf course nearby.
At the end of Reddish Vale Road, you'll find a small car park and a visitor centre. From here, many paths lead off in different directions. The most popular paths follow the River Tame, both upstream and downstream.
The Famous Viaduct
A very noticeable landmark from the visitor centre is the huge brick railway bridge, called a viaduct. It has sixteen arches and was built in 1875. This impressive bridge carries the Hope Valley Line trains high over the Tame Valley.
There's an old story that a local witch put a curse on the viaduct. The legend says that anyone who counts its arches will have bad luck!
An old railway line used to run from Reddish Junction to Stockport, crossing the viaduct. This old line has now been turned into a public path for walking and horse riding. It connects different parts of the country park and is even part of the longer Trans Pennine Trail.
Old Industries and Nature
Near the viaduct, you can see two old ponds. These ponds were once used by a calico printing factory called Reddish Vale Print Works, which was very old, dating back to before 1800. The factory used water from the river to power its machines and for its printing processes.
The printing works closed down by 1975 and has since been taken apart. The land where it stood is now a lovely butterfly park! Today, the ponds are popular for fishing and are home to herons and many different kinds of ducks.
Woodhall Fields and More History
Woodhall Fields are in the southern part of the park, further down the river. There was once a small dam (called a weir) here. This weir helped feed the Portwood Cut, a channel dug in 1796. This channel carried water to the Portwood area of Stockport to power mills there.
Interestingly, part of Woodhall Fields was once used as a landfill for a type of ash. This ash has turned out to be a great place for orchids to grow!
Historic Buildings Nearby
While not directly inside the vale, two old halls overlook the area. Arden Hall, built in the late 1500s, is sometimes called 'Cromwell's Castle' because Oliver Cromwell supposedly stayed there. Hyde Hall, from the 1600s, also adds to the historic feel of the landscape. Both of these buildings are private homes and not open to visitors.
Things to Do in the Vale
There are several activities to enjoy in and around Reddish Vale:
- Golfing: The Reddish Vale Golf Club covers a large part of the area.
- Farm Fun: Just above the visitor centre, you'll find Reddish Vale Farm. It has horse riding stables, meerkats, and a children's farm where you can meet animals.
- Walking and Cycling: The Trans Pennine Trail and the Tame Valley Walk both pass through the park, offering great routes for walking, cycling, and horse riding.
Homes in the Vale
Today, not many houses are left in Reddish Vale. There are a few terraced houses (houses joined together in a row) opposite the farm. At the bottom of the road, near the visitor centre, is a large house called Tame House. This building used to be the offices for the old calico printing works.
Further along, there was once a large Victorian house and two rows of terraced houses, similar to the ones still standing. These were taken down in the 1960s.
Long ago, there were also nine houses built for the workers who constructed the viaduct. These were later removed when the mill ponds were made bigger.
Protecting the Vale
Over the years, there have been ideas to change parts of Reddish Vale. However, local people have always strongly opposed these plans to protect their beloved green space.
For example, in 1988, there was a concern that parts of the vale might be sold to builders. About 3,000 people gathered in the vale to protest, showing how much they cared about keeping it natural. Stockport Council eventually bought the land in 1995, helping to protect it.
Later, in 1990, a plan to build an artificial ski slope in Woodhall Fields was met with strong opposition. Over 7,000 people signed a petition against it! Groups like the Tame Valley Defence Group worked hard to protect the vale from such changes.
In 1992, the golf club had plans to use part of the vale for landfill (burying waste). Again, the Tame Valley Defence Group, with support from local health officials, successfully stopped these plans. These examples show how much the community values and protects Reddish Vale.
Images for kids
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The LNWR Royal Train travels over the Reddish Vale Viaduct in 1905.
