Catch-Up 11 - Thursday 1st August!
A new month - must be making progress with these catch-ups... even though, I note, we have slipped into December in the real world!
Back on the well-dressing trail, we met up with Kirstie in Winster for a wander across the old lead-mining moorland to Bonsall - two villages high to the west of Matlock
Another lovely warm day, initially bedevilled by unreasonable mist &, later, by unseasonably-closed pubs!
Winster Market House
When this was built, at the beginning of the 18th century, Winster was one of the biggest towns in Derbyshire
Granted a Market Charter in 1711, its prosperity was based on the lead-mining boom
A ruin by the end of the 19th century, it became the first NT property in the Peak District
Love this relic from Winster's past! Looks like Henry Tomkins had fingers in a lot of pies!
'House of Lead', the Market House, & Morris mosaic, created by Bobbie Harvey, local artist, & Winster school-children
Wensley Dale (No, not that one!) which leads down to Wensley & Darley Dale, just north of Matlock on the A6
Those are old lead-mining spoil heaps in the foreground
After bemoaning the lack of 'Limestone Way' markers (Postscript 8 & before we moved here!), this was our first indication that it is a way-marked trail... albeit only partially!
Wesleyan Chapel well-dressing in Bonsall, based on their Flower Festival themes
Curiously this was the only village dressing we saw that was secured behind locked gates & this right at the top of the Dale & on the edge of the moor
Perhaps this is the cause of their concerns! Who knows what kind of wretched rogues & ruffians might descend on this peaceful community... drinking & gambling!?
Apparently this is the Official World Championship & has been held at 'The Barley Mow' on the 1st Saturday in August for nearly 25 years!
It's based on a tradition of moorland hen-racing between Derbyshire villages going back over 100 years!
And, yes! They do have entries from all over the world!
I've read, elsewhere' that 'The Barley Mow' is, also, probably the best pub in the world.... but it wasn't open today!
Fountain dedicated to the memory of Henry Ford (No, not that one!).... of Manchester
We ended up sitting outside The Fountain Tea Rooms (in the background here) - ice cream & cold lemonade! 'The King's Head' was closed, too!
Bonsall's Nether Green well-dressing, one of eight in the village
Created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of 'The Flying Scotsman's' retirement - one of several on this theme that we visited
Church of St James
Built, originally, on the hill at the top of the village about 1230, it was extensively updated by the Victorians
Market Place Dressing
Our Lady, Star of the Sea
An ancient title for the Virgin Mary & a translation of Stella Maris
Caught my eye as we've come across quite a few sailors' Missions with this name on our coastal journeyings.... & here we are, just about as far away from the sea as you can get in Britain!
Bonsall's Market Cross
This has been here for over 300 years but, unlike neighbour Winster, Bonsall's application for a Market Charter was declined!
The steps show the steepness of the main street towards the top of the village
John Wesley preached from here... but, in these parts, that's not unusual!
Bonsall's 'New Well'
Again, we've seen several WWF dressings - just liked the simple design & presentation of this one!
On our way back now & just look at that lovely blue sky!
This Wyn's Tor, which probably didn't give its name to the village!
Most intriguingly there's a disused lead mine up there which was called 'Beans & Bacon Mine'!
Lead Ore House, Winster
Best-preserved example in the Peak District
This was the lead miners' nightsafe! Their ore was locked up here to keep it safe until the next day - they were worried about rogues & ruffians then, too!
At last! An open pub!
And open all day, probably on account of the campsite nestled away behind it!
They declared themselves not in the least surprised that we'd failed to find a pub doing business in Bonsall!
Built as a farmhouse in 1653, this became an inn about a hundred years later
Named after the lead miners' measuring dish - a rectangular vessel holding about 15 pints of ore: 9 dishes made one load!
Perversely, we sat around the corner in the shade.... all that sun & so little refreshment!
