Where / When

WHERE / WHEN The Journal of Archaeological Wandering

So then, welcome to Where/When!

Where / When is a quarterly periodical, with each edition detailing a specific, carefully curated, walk (or Wander) in the Glossop/Longdendale area (and occasionally further afield). Detailing the walking route, it focuses on the archaeological and historical aspects of that particular area, and importantly the lesser known bits, and the things that might easily be overlooked. It’s much like the website, but as a walking guide instead.

It’s 40 pages long, and kind of arty, full of photographs, a smattering of quirkiness, a jus de oddness, a dash of psychogeography, an undercurrent of the weird, a pinch of history, a pint of archaeology, and is chock full of the usual sort of goodies that this site is famous for. Or something. These walks will take you through a modern housing estate or into a deserted hillside, but it will always follow the history, and hopefully make you see the area – and yourself – differently. And there’s pottery… obviously.

#1 – Ashes, Arches, and Harehills

This Wander takes in the delights of Ashes, Dinting Arches, and the Roman road to Harehills, via post-medieval trackways, saints and sinners, iron age goodies, medieval field systems, and the mysteries of Victorian stonemasons.

#2 – Of Bulls and Bees

This Wander follows medieval and post-medieval tracks from The Bull’s Head in Old Glossop to The Beehive in Whitfield, and takes in the delights of All Saints Church, Glossop Hall, a Roman Road, benchmarks, Howardtown, and host of other delights!

#3 – Of Hives and Heads

This is the second part of the Wander that started with Bulls and Bees, and takes us from The Beehive in Whitfield, via medieval tracks and fields systems, stones and wells, Pyegrove, a Royal Observer Corp post, and a 20,000 year old glacial erratic, to the Bulls Head.

#4 – The Melandra Meander

We start at Melandra Roman Fort, and then up the hill to The Hague, then on to Medieval St Michael & All Angel’s church, Mottram, and then down various trackways to Broadbottom, the viaduct, and on to Gamesleys old and new, and back to the fort to explore it.

#5 – The Longdendale Light

This edition explores the wonders of the Longdendale Trail – far from a straightforward ex-train track from Hadfield to the Woodhead Tunnels, the Trail is actually packed full of history and archaeology – prehistory, Roman, medieval, Victorian – this has it all.

#6 – Old Lanes to Old Glossop

A Wander along the medieval main route between Simmondley and (Old) Glossop, now fossilised into footpaths and odd tracks between buildings. Starting at The Hare and Hounds, we go via medieval fields, sunken tracks, Wesley, The Bonk, and the Wheatsheaf.

#7 – Forts and Crosses: A Mellor Wander

A truly awesome Wander around Mellor – just over yonder! It has medieval field systems and farms, Victorian noise, Iron Age hill fort, medieval crosses, cracking views, a terrifying viaduct, bench marks, a trig point, wonderful gateposts, and it starts and finishes at a pub

#8 – The Bullsheaf Shuffle

Coming in late November, this has two shorter walks with a pint at the end of each. Starting in Old Glossop, one goes round Shire Hill, and explores everything from prehistory and Victorian rifle ranges, the other goes to Padfield and back, via the medieval period. Just in time for Christmas.

Each edition costs £6.50, and is available either via this link (I can post it, too), or from Dark Peak Books, 96 High Street West, Glossop. Or simply drop me an email, or even track me down and thrust some money at me!

It’s published 4 issues a year, and I have some BIG ideas about Where/When – walks elsewhere, for example, but also talks, walks, and general weirdness and fun. So watch this space, and in the meantime, happy Wandering.

If you enjoy what I do and what I write, then please do consider buying me a glass of the stuff that cheers, via Ko-Fi. There is of course no obligation – it’s honestly more important to me that you are all out there wandering and enjoying the heritage of the area… but I’ll never say no! The Ko-Fi link is here, and it’s quick and painless. BUY OLD TCG A GLASS OF THE STUFF THAT CHEERS