From the Chronicle files - 12th June 2025

It is normally snow, ice or collisions that close Back Moor to traffic. But in the summer of 1950, it was gallons of linseed oil and as our picture from the time shows, there were plenty of volunteers to clear up the mess.

The Chronicle reported that the brakes of a truck from Grimsby carrying gallons of the oil suddenly failed on the way down.

The driver managed to prevent a serious accident by steering and crashing into a wall 100 yards from the junction with Mottram Moor and the village police station.

But he could not save the load which rolled into the road.

The barrels burst open with streams of the sticky stuff pouring down the road and into several houses.

The newspaper said housewives raced out of their homes with bottles to scoop the oil up.

What they used it for was not revealed, but linseed oil was once soaked into cricket bats to preserve the wood.

Thankfully no one was hurt in the incident and the traffic, like the linseed oil, was soon flowing freely again.

Vast volumes of rocks and rubble had been carved out of the hillside at Woodhead to create a replacement tunnel under the Pennines and the Ministry of Transport was looking for somewhere to dump it.

The best place seemed to be close to the excavations to prevent lorry loads of spoil being carted miles away, and after a lengthy discussion, Tintwistle councillors agreed.

It was finally decided to tip the lot at Woodhead, but it meant diverting the River Etherow first, but unfortunately the report in the Chronicle did not say exactly where.

Glossop and Hadfield Labour Party was said to be gravely concerned at the shortage of council homes being built, which was forcing young married couples, often involving servicemen returning from the Second World War, to set up home with sets of parents.

There was still a shortage of money and materials to build more homes, and there did not seem to be an easy solution.

Mottram Agricultural Society was holding its annual general meeting at the now sadly closed Pack Horse Inn, and much of the time was spent discussing the big annual show in August.

Members were hoping it would be as successful as the previous year’s event, which attracted 7,500 spectators.

It could be said that if you lived in Glossop then someone was after your blood.

But it was only the National Blood Transfusion Service following a severe shortage of donors in the town.

The Chronicle reported it had the lowest number of donors anywhere in Derbyshire with only 158 people baring their arms the previous year.

Patients from Shire Hill Hospital, Glossop and The Elms, Chapel-en-le-Frith, spent a week’s holiday at Bridlington courtesy of the Derbyshire Welfare Committee.

It had booked an entire hotel to give the old folk a free stay and a thoroughly happy time at the seaside.

Over to sport, and Glossop were hoping to go top of the Lancashire and Cheshire League, but the ‘old enemy’ bad light stopped play in the game with Swinton at North Road.

The visitors were also making a bid for the title and set their hosts a challenging total of 173 for victory, and with Glossop at 57 for four when the match was abandoned, they were probably happy to settle for a draw.

Glossop scored an easy victory over Saddleworth 24 hours later thanks to a glowing display by two all-rounders who played a major part in the High Peak club’s many honours over a number of years.

Archie Cadman hit an unbeaten 50 and Jimmy Wilson made 43, and both were amongst the wicket takers.

Tintwistle were setting a cracking pace at the top of the Glossop and District League, but near neighbours Hollingworth and Hadfield St. Andrews were joint second waiting for the villagers to slip up.

But there seemed little chance of that with Harry Goddard around. He took eight Ashton Trafalgar wickets, the Lancashire side chasing Tintwistle’s 174 but who were all out for just 54.