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The History of the Walking Map of Mellor
In 1991 David Ackroyd conceived the idea of identifying a walk around the boundary of the Mellor Society area. The Mellor Society had been formed some 20 years earlier as a residents’ association with the objectives of promoting and protecting the environment and amenities and of encouraging residents to participate. His idea was based on the ancient custom of "Beating the Bounds". This custom entailed the incumbent, churchwardens and parishioners walking the boundary of a parish to define its extent. This took place during Ascensiontide. Children were held upside down at key points and their heads bumped on the ground (gently we hope) in order that the knowledge would sink in!
In 1992 David, through the Mellor Society, produced a map and directions for a walk of 10˝ miles around the boundary. In places it strays away from the strict boundary, including into Derbyshire, because of the location of rights of way. In Ascension week that year some 150 people walked or ran around the route either clockwise or anticlockwise.
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The success of this venture encouraged Geoff Heath, another member of the Society, and David to expand the idea and to create a book of walks. This was published by the Mellor Society in 1993 under the title "Twelve Mellor Walks". The boundary walk was the first described and this was followed by 11 other circular walks of varying lengths between 2˝ and 7˝ miles. In addition to instructions about the route each walk had a map showing its links with other walks in the book. Historical notes were added by Ann Hearle, a local historian, and sketches or points of interest were provided by Pat Linnell, a local artist. Finally there was a chapter of geological notes prepared by another resident, Hugh Johnson. Following a reprint, 1500 copies of the book were sold and it has been out of print for some five years. However, people regularly ask about it and the Mellor Society has decided to reprint it in 2002. To make this possible, David is rewalking all the walks. Although the walks themselves remain intact so many other pieces of information and landmarks have changed so that the new edition will be a complete revision. |
At the time of producing the book, David felt that the one thing it lacked was a map of the whole area showing all the public rights of way. Such a map would have enabled people to use the walks in the book but also invent their own variations. In addition, not all the rights of way were featured in the walks. It was not until 1999 that David met up with Peter Hewitt, who had worked with David years ago for Stockport Council, that they reactivated the idea of a map as they started to walk the area together. Peter had a particular interest in maps and photography and David had a detailed knowledge of the area. The planning took time, not least because of the need to find a publisher who could produce what we had in mind. Three were eventually identified and Stirling Surveys were selected. They have had a great deal of experience in producing recreational maps and, in spite of their location in Scotland, had personal links with this area. They were able to use 1938 Ordnance Survey maps which are now out of copyright to provide the basis. David added knowledge about the rights of way, other local features and places of historical interest with Peter concentrating on the photographs and the overall design of the map. |
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Finally the map was published and went on sale in June 2001.
