Bamford is a cute tiny village in the Peak District National Park. As Guy’s studies have eased a bit of pressure off him, so we have started to venture into our area and explore. And, as we have done so, so we have discovered centuries of history at our fingertips.
The village we live in, Bamford, was an old mill town based on the River Derwent. The mill was constructed around 1780 and was used as a cotton mill until the mid 1960’s when it was turned into an electric furnace manufacture until the 1990s. It has now been converted into terraced houses and apartments and many of the residents of Bamford worked at the Mill when it was an electric furnace manufacturer. The Mill sits on the edge of the river and is a path we frequently use to access the fields and our favourite ThornHill Way- the old railway line that was used to carry construction materials north to build the Ladybower Dam.
Stanage Edge:
A few weeks ago we went for sundowners on a Friday night to Stanage Edge. It’s a pleasure as its probably only 5 minutes drive from us and is a popular destination with climbers and hikers. We have run across the top and walked to both ends now for sundowners. Our first South African faux pas was trying to go for sundowners in February on a beautiful day, it meant us sitting in down jackets with a sleeping bag over us and freezing.
However three months later, it was lovely. You definitely have to choose your seasons in the UK! Stanage Edge overlooks Bamford Edge (which overlooks Bamford) and is a gritstone escarpment. It’s highest point is called High Neb at 458m. The Peak District symbol is the millstone, and one of the best places to see them (apart from Padley Gorge… see below) is along the edges of the Edges. Millstone production took place along the Eastern Edges from medieval times, through to the first half of the 20th century. These particular millstones are thought to date from the early nineteen hundreds and were probably pulping stones. They were abandoned where they were made when the industry collapsed as French millstones were imported cheaper and also ground finer flour. It’s amazing to walk through the scrub and notice millstone after millstone lying on its side, buried and forgotten. Symbols of a bygone era, and a lot of hard work. Stanage Edge is a very popular climbers haunt and on most days you will see figures lining the horizon. It has some wonderful walking and cycling paths as it is flat on top with views for miles in all directions.
The first time we came up here was early spring and one of the first days we ran in shorts and tshirts. What a wonderful feeling after wearing thermals and long sleeves for so long! A lot of the ground on top is peat bog which allows for springy landings and take offs (and muddy feet after the rain). The second time we explored here, we went towards High Neb and noticed the strange occurrence of hollowed out, numbered rocks on top. We couldn’t figure out what they were for, but later learnt that they are remnants from when the property was privately owned, and operated s a grouse farm. These numbered water troughs were carved around 100 years ago to collect rainwater for the grouse.
On the top of the Edge there is an old cobbled road that is apparently a medieval paved packhorse road. Remains of it can be seen, as well as remains of the Long Causeway Roman road which works its way over the edge on its route from Templeborough to Brough-on-Noe, crossing Hallam Moor and passing Stanedge Pole, an ancient waymarker on the route to Sheffield. This Pole was also used for centuries as a boundary marker between the parishes of Sheffield, Hathersage and Ecclesfield (and it looks really old!).
We haven’t yet found Robin Hoods Cave that is reputed to be in the cliff edge. The area seems to have some links to the Robin Hood legend as his reputed birthplace was Loxley, 8miles to the north and just west of Sheffield. At St.Michaels Church in Hathersage, lies the supposed grave of Little John.
North Lees Hall
We had to look for this historic mansion as it is not visible from the road side, but on our first long run yesterday, we found a footpath that led directly past it. Just below the road that traverses Stanage Edge is a turn off that leads you down though a valley towards Hathersage. We took the footpath just before this road and ran down a lovely trail that came out at the house. It is a beautiful stately home that consists of a tower and side wing, it was originally built in the late 1500’s. Charlotte Brontë paid ‘two or three visits’ to North Lees Hall when staying with her friend Ellen Nussey in Hathersage. She is said to have written Jane Eyre whilst staying at the property (published in 1847) and it became the model for Thornfield Hall, the home of her hero Mr Rochester. Apparently she describes many features of North Lees in the novel, including the battlemented façade, the view from the roof and the Apostles Cabinet, a unique item of furniture belonging to the Eyres. The Eyres were a local family and resided at North Lees for two generations during the 15th century. They took up the tenancy again in 1750 and lived there until 1882. Stanage Edge was the setting for the Pride and Prejudice film with Keira Knightley.
Carl Wark
Running has certainly been a fantastic opportunity to explore the area and this was one of those times we literally stumbled across something special, completely unexpectedly!
This wall is thought to be remnants of a Iron Age fort dating back to between 5-8th Centuries BC. It has a large flat area behind which is elevated off the surrounding landscapes by natural cliffsides.
Padley Chapel
This was another unexpected treat when we were trying to run the route of the Hathersage Hilly triathlon. A tiny chapel stands to one side and if one peaks through the gap in the wall, ruins of a larger stone building are evident in the ground. Padley chapel is the remains of Padley Manor, thought to have been built originally in the 14th and 15th centuries and came to Sir Thomas Fitzherbert on his marriage to Anne Eyre in the mid 16th century. Both families were staunch Roman Catholics and it was because of this that Sir Thomas was arrested at Padley in 1588 by Lord Shrewsbury’s agent. Three priests were found in hiding in the house and were taken for trial at Derby. Having been found guilty they were hanged, drawn and quartered on the 25th July of that year. They became known as the “˜Padley Martyrs’. Sir Thomas spent the rest of his life in the Tower of London and died there in 1591. Padley Manor was confiscated by the Crown. Padley chapel today is a conversion from the original in 1933 to become the “˜Martyrs Chapel’.
Hope Cross
We went cycling with our friend Ben to see Hope Cross. He had mentioned it, and we had never seen it so we thought we would go exploring. This unfortunately meant climbing the unrideable “Beast” to come out at the intersection where Hope Cross stands.
It is apparently on a former Roman road (sometimes known as Doctor’s Gate), and stands 7 feet high with a square capstone bearing the names of Edale, Glossop, Hope and Sheffield on its faces.
The date 1737 is carved on the shaft below the Hope face and this is the date this medieval stoop was either restored or replaced.
Summer has blessed us with beautiful exploring weather and long days of sunshine. There is so much to see and do here, so we will continue to update you with our adventures and explorations…
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. “T.S.Eliot
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