In the beginning
Rudyard has been identified as an estate called Rudegeard in the early 11th century. The name is derived from Old English words meaning the shrub rue and an enclosure.Later it was known as Rodehyerd or Rudierd and consisted of scattered farms, stretched from Gun Hill towards Horton.
The Early Years
For 50 years after the Reservoir was built, Rudyard was a peaceful place with only the surrounding landowners allowed access to the shoreline and the lake itself!1849 marked the opening of the North Staffordshire Railway Churnet Valley Branch. This didn't go down too well with Fanny Bostock, who had inherited Cliffe Park Hall from her cousin (and lover!) John Haworth. She fought a 5 year long high court action and ultimately secured a permanent injuction preventing the NSR from using the lake for commercial activities.
Open for business
In 1903, North Staffs Railway Co acquired the Cliffe Park estate and a year later they secured an act of parliament to allow commercial activities on the lake.After overturning the Bostock act of 1856, the NSR were now empowered to rent out motor launches and rowing boats on the lake, and by 1905 a golf course had been laid out, using Cliffe Park as the clubhouse.
BLACKPOOL OF THE POTTERIES
Rudyard offered ordinary folk a wealth of distractions away from their everyday lives.
BOAT HOUSES
A number of boathouses began to appear, including ``The Lady of the Lake``, built for the Davenport family, silk manufacturers from Leek.
Boat Hire
Boat hire was available on both sides of the lake. Companies operated by the Heath and Halls were fiercely competitive.
Events
The North Staffordshire Railway would arrange all kinds of events, including tightrope walks and regattas.
Golf Club
Rudyard Lake Golf Club was formed in 1906 and was the first golf club in North Staffordshire.
THE WAR YEARS
Many child evacuees were sent to live in Rudyard during the war years.We are lucky to have many accounts from the evacuees who came to Rudyard as well as photos and documents about soldiers who served in both wars. The video section has several videos about Rudyard during the war, including a short documentary called 'Recollections of Rudyard' as well as a talk by local resident, Geoff Buxton.
PEOPLE OF INTEREST
THE ARCHIVE
History is being made every day. Here are the latest articles from our volunteers. We welcome contributions from the public so please do not hesitate to contact us.-
History of the North Staffordshire Railway Company
The following extract is taken from the 1908 edition of The Official Illustrated Guide to the District Adjacent to the North Staffordshire Railway: The Company was formed in 1847, with a capital of £5,820,000, but twelve years previously a committee had
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“Delaney’s” – Café Extension
The Rudyard Lake Trust are pleased to announce the completion of the extension to the café at the Lake.
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George Orwell
George Orwell visited Rudyard in the inter-war years during his research for The Road To Wigan Pier which sought to expose the working and living conditions of the economically deprived North of England.
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Houses of Rudyard
Rudyard village consists primarily of four roads which meet at the mini-roundabout in front of what was the Railway Hotel, a location known in the past as Harper’s Gate.
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The Visitor’s Centre
The Rudyard Lake Trust (founded in 1996) has as one of it’s key Objectives ‘to educate the visitors to the area’. The temporary facilities which were ‘inherited’ consisted of portable cabins to accommodate not only a Visitor’s Centre but the
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Carlos Trower – The African Blondin
Carlos Trower, an Afro-American tight rope walker who called himself ‘The African Blondin’ was born in the late 1840s in New York and began tight-rope walking at an early age.
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Day at the Lake
On the 30th April, 1st & 2nd of May 2016, Wild Rumpus, producers of the award-winning Just So Festival created a large-scale outdoor experience at the Lake.
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Flora – George Lovenbury Sketches
FLORA - George Lovenbury Sketches.
by Alan Weeks
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