Introduction

Millennium Wood

"Confused yet?"

Strines is a rural Cheshire village, which is partly served by Stockport Borough Council and partly by Macclesfield Borough Council. We also share a border with High Peak Borough Council, which is in Derbyshire. Confused yet?

[Click here for a map...] (opens in a new window.)

Over the years the councils have changed the boundaries several times, so without ever moving, some of us have lived in several counties. These are however invisible boundaries as far as the folks round here are concerned. Our community is made up of people from Strines, Woodend, Hague Bar and Brookbottom.

Strines area is a beautiful part of the world steeped in history and set in the picturesque Goyt river valley. There are some very old properties in and around Strines dating back many hundreds of years, however the majority of properties were built after the print works was established circa 1790.

The main part of Strines village is built on a stretch of the B6101 connecting Marple with New Mills, whereas the rest sprawls up the hillsides at either side of the valley. Woodend and Hague Bar are further along the B6101 towards New Mills.

Track to Brookbottom

Brookbottom is a small hamlet hidden away just over the hillside towards New Mills. It can be found at the top of the lane, which runs from under the Railway Bridge on Station Road Strines, up the side of Brookbottom wood. This route is not suitable for vehicles and is quite a steep walk (see photograph, left), but don't let that put you off as the prize which awaits you at the top is a quaint little country pub called the Fox Inn.

In the area we have three pubs, The Royal Oak on Strines Road, The Sportsman's Arms also on Strines Road and The Fox Inn at Brookbottom. We also have a village Post Office and shop, a C of E Church with Church Hall, a Methodist Chapel, a village School, two Swing Parks, The Millennium Wood which is open to the public, a railway station, a canal and a recreation ground which consists of two tennis courts, a bowling green (Sadly not in useable condition at the moment) and a pavilion with indoor table tennis.

Pubs, Church and Post Office

As with many rural villages, social activities mainly centre around the Church and the pubs and Strines is no exception. The pubs all serve food, offer traditional pub games and organise many events and entertainments. However, that is where the similarity ends, as they are all very different.

Both The church and Chapel hold regular services, and in the case of St Paul's, the hall has been used over the years as a venue for group activities and for village meetings.

"...Annual BullSh*t competition..."

Being rural, Strines has its fair share of farms, some of which have been known to hold the odd barn dance. One of the more quirky village pastimes used to be the Annual Bulsh*t competition. A farmer would measure out a plot of land in a field, fence it off and then he divides it up (on paper) into approx. 100 squares. Villagers then paid their money and chose a square. When all the squares had been taken, the farmer would turn his bull out into the fenced of plot of land and everyone who had bought a square would stand around the edge and wait to see whose square the Bull would sh*t in!

Apparently it could take some time and they often made a day of it, having picnics and listening to a brass band (who I understand where involved with organising the event). This competition has not taken place for a few years, but we hope to revive it in the near future. Well we wouldn't be a real village if we weren't a bit odd!

Bridleways

The surrounding countryside lends itself very well to all types of outdoor activities, including walking, (The Goyt way runs through the area), cycling and of course horse riding which is very popular as we have a good system of bridle paths. Also Mellor and Townscliffe, New Mills and Disley Golf courses are all within easy reach.

None of the pubs currently offer accommodation but we do have a guesthouse and a caravan park. We welcome visitors to the area and do get quite a few, mainly for the walking, also the peak forest canal is well used. People taking boating holidays often call in at the local pubs, whilst moored up on the canal side for the night.

Mill Pond and Famous Chimney

There are many interesting things to see in and around Strines. We have a very pretty mill pond with an ornate dove coat in the centre and two prominent landmarks, a cross high up on the hillside, which was erected in the early 1960's, and a factory chimney, which can be seen for miles. Locals are quite fond of the chimney. I know It may sound odd, but in a way it is "Strines". A local man recently said to me "Where ever you go, you know you're close to home when you see the chimney". Unfortunately due to the downturn in the textile and printing industry, Strines Print Works has now closed. The site and its buildings were recently sold to a property developer who has submitted plans to demolish it and build 132 houses in its place.

Mellor and Townscliffe Golf Club

Locals are not especially happy about this for many reasons, but I for one, will be particularly sad to loose the chimney!