Before the coming of the railway, people
use to travel by stage coach and the Old Bell Inn, not far from the
Delph crossroads, is a prominent example of a nineteenth century coaching
inn. It was here, in 1835 that the Princess Victoria and her mother,
the Duchess of Kent, called on their way to York Festival.
To approach the village from the crossroads, it is necessary to travel
along The Sound. A road originally constructed and named in 1801; the
year in which Nelson destroyed the Danish fleet in Copenhagen Sound.
On arrival in Delph village, visitors will find a higgledy-piggledy
sprawl of stone built
cottages, shops, pubs and restaurants: their uneven roofs snaking off
the main high street into mysterious little wynds and alleys.
It is here they can pause and browse in the Saddleworth Crafts Co-operative
and the nearby souvenir shops; taste an oriental dish at the China Village
or sample the Tapas at the Bulls Head next door. Before wandering on
towards the Swan Inn.
In around 1760, John Metcalf (Blind Jack of Knaresborough) stayed at
the Swan Inn whilst building the turnpike road from Standedge to Thurston
Clough. In the evenings it is said that he played cards with the locals.
Blinded by smallpox from the age of six, Jack was a remarkable character
who, despite his disability, lived a full life being at various times
a soldier, farmer and publican, as well as a road builder.
Reaching the River Tame, which flows under the main road near the Rose
& Crown, you arrive at Delph Bridge. Over the bridge by the right
of the White Lion and some distance up the hill you can join Waterworks
Road leading to the remains of Castleshaw Camp (a Roman fort) and the
calming waters of the adjacent reservoirs.
The foundation of the fort is linked to the construction of the nearby
Roman road, which had been built to link Chester and York. Between AD79
and AD120 the site experienced four distinct phases of development,
seeing the establishment of two forts and two fortlets.
Delph’s development over the years owes much its early transport
links; the ancient Roman road, the turnpike roads of the eighteenth
century and of course to the Delph Donkey railway line.
David Needham
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