Historic Cottage Grade II listed

The Grey Cottage is close to the centre of Disley village in a conservation area on Jackson’s Edge. Designated a Grade II listed building with English Heritage, and built of local gritstone, the oldest part dates back to around 1680, with a further addition about a hundred years later. Ownership has been traced back to 1840 when it was bought by the retiring landlord of The Ram’s Head pub, a local hostelry which can be seen from the house.

Later in the 19th century The Grey Cottage was the home of a journeyman calico printer, James Ralston and his family and was one of the early subscribers to the first church clock for St. Mary’s Church, which dates back to 15th century. The church has recently celebrated the 500th year anniversary of its first Chapel of Ease. James Ralston kept a diary set out in copperplate handwriting, describing some incidents in his life, including conversations and arguments with his friends and drinking partners, and tales of home medicine before the days of anaesthetics.

A later owner of the house, Allan Monkhouse, sub-editor of the Manchester Guardian, and novelist with nine novels to his name, also wrote fourteen plays, some of which were staged in London at the Gaiety Theatre.

Allan Monkhouse had wide correspondence with famous authors of the day, including George Bernard Shaw and J B Priestley. A collection of his letters is kept at The John Rylands Library, Deansgate, Manchester, and a further collection can be found at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside, Cumbria.

His son Patrick Monkhouse was Literary Editor of the Manchester Guardian in the 1930s and was active in the movement for access to the countryside, following the famous Kinder Scout Trespass in 1932. He supported and promoted the idea of National Parks, and wrote several books on walking in the Peak District, Lake District and North Wales.

The Peak District National Park was the first National Park being designated so in 1948.