Geograph - photograph every grid square

In 1802 the Manchester and Sheffield Turnpike Company built a new road to avoid the steep gradients of the Winnats Pass. Unfortunately this took it over the face of Mam Tor (‘Mother Hill’) which has also become known as the shivering mountain due to its propensity for landslides. In fact it is known that slips have been occurring here for at least 3,000 years and that major slides are associated with periods of heavy rainfall. The road, which became designated as the A625, presented an ongoing maintenance problem and major works were necessary on many occasions culminating in a six week closure for reconstruction in 1966. The dry summer of 1976 followed by a wet winter resulted in further significant movement in February 1977; although the road was patched up it only reopened as a single carriageway across the affected area. In the end the decision was taken to abandon it and the road closed for good in 1979. Since then the road has deteriorated further and is now completely impassable for wheeled vehicles.