Etherow Country Park is now owned and managed by Stockport Council and is an award winning Green Flag Park. It was established in 1968 as one of Britain’s first Country Parks and is a popular retreat from urban living. Over a quarter of a million people now visit the Park each year to enjoy the natural beauty of ancient woodland walks along the Etherow river valley, in the foothills of the Peak District National Park. The Park was once part of the estate of George Andrew who built Compstall Mill in the 1820s. Operation of the cotton mill required a large workforce and in the tradition of mill owners of the day, George Andrews built the village of Compstall, the church and school. The mill was powered by 50 million gallons of water per day, collected from above the weir. That’s enough water to fill 150 swimming pools! Held back by the weir, the River Etherow broke its banks upstream to create valuable wetland habitats. The water then passed down the feeder canal and across what is now the car park to drive the water wheel, ‘Big Lily’.