Catch-Up 7 - Wednesday 24th July!
School holidays, so that's why Kirstie is walking with us.... though we're still on the well-dressing trail, albeit after dipping into a little industrial archaeology!
The population of Stoney Middleton was decimated by the Black Death but, as near-neighbours to Eyam, were chief providers of food for that infamous plague village
Only a couple of miles from Baslow & Chatsworth so we popped in at the farm shop again to stock up with 'interesting' burgers!
Had been happily heading up Coombs Dale until we decided to head off past an old lead mine for the recently-re-opened High Rake Quarry
Coombs Dale, above Stoney Middleton, but at a slightly precipitous angle - Sore Knees!
Now that's better! Bit more sideways level (less painful!) but still more climbing to the top!
Wow!
There was once a lead mine here..... there have been countless battles to stop the quarrying on Longstone Edge but it appears that work has restarted
Apparently it's all about fluorspar - handy in the production of aluminium
What amazes me is that the quarries here were started by hand & probably before the world had heard of fluorspar!
Little Longstone & Monsal Head, where we were walking only a few days ago
Les was impressed how it all seems to come together!
On the way back down to Stoney Middleton & this is the disused Darlton Quarry, used for the extraction of limestone & the production of lime
Just like the Churnet Valley!
And this is what's left!
Wonder what the Churnet Valley would look like if you took away the trees
Miniature version of the Grand Canyon?
A tale as old as the hills... one wonders what caused her demise just a couple of years later!
These cottages look old enough to have been around in Hannah Baddaley's time
Wonder if she landed on the Indian restaurant's roof?
Repaired to 'The Moon Inn' in Stoney Middleton before embarking on our tour of the village well-dressings
There's an old murder tale associated with this establishment.... but I'll save that for my next visit!
The cross, curiously, was erected to mark the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846
Main village well-dressing outside St Martin's church
Couldn't find an angle to photograph the unusual octagonal church building because of a huge marquee & various circles of chairs in the grounds - something else for next time!
Apparently, the original was built by Joan Eyre in thanksgiving for the safe return of her husband from the Battle of Agincourt
Stoney Middleton has its own Roman Bath &, as a spa, was preferred by some to Buxton
The spring gives rise to this stream, waterfall & pool - our favourite dressing here!
And, last of all, we spent an age looking at this wonderful collection of dressings dating back over 75 years!
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