Monument record 2474 - John Turner Memorial Stone

<1> Peak Park Treasures, E63 (Index). SCH2624.

Memorial stone. Inscribed 'here John Turner was cast away in a snowstorm in the night in or about the year 1753' and on the reverse `the print of a woman's shoe was found by his side in the snow were (sic) he lay dead'. On Ewrin Lane. Carved stone is modern (probably replacing an earlier one). [Braddock R.J. 1981].

<2> David Sterling, 2017-2022, The Goyt Valley, The John Turner Stone (Web Site). SCH9315.

John Turner was a packman (aka jackman) who carried goods, specifically salt, between Chester and Northwich to Derby by packhorse. His home was nearby at Saltersford Hall near Jenkin Chapel. He died during a snow storm on Christmas Eve 1735 whilst travelling home from Bollington. His body was discovered by a search party on the following morning. His horses, which survived, were found in drifts nearby. The print of a women's shoe was found next to his body. The original stone was erected by James Mellor Jnr (1796-1879) of Hough Hole House. The date, 1755, is incorrect on a presumed replacement to the original. The original stone may have been inset into a garden wall at the Old Vicarage in Rainow.

<3> Women's Institute, 1974, The Story of Rainow, p.31 (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH5162.

He [James Mellor Jnr of Hough Hole House] also cut, inscribed and fixed the original stone in Ewrin Lane below Buxter Stoops recording the death during a snowstorm of John Turner. The inscription reads:

Here John Turner
was cast away
in a heavy snow
storm in the night
in or about the year 1735

The print of a woman's shoe
was found by his side
where he lay dead.

The original stone has been replaced by the present one on which the date 1755 is incorrect. John Turner aged 29 ran pack horse team and was the son of Richard Turner, Saltersford Hall, a trustee of Jenkin Chapel and uncle of James Mellor's mother.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ9775, 1909 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

The memorial stone is depicted on this map at its present location.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps, 09/12/2022 (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.