Last weekend Daws and I went out walking. This time we went to Goyt Valley. Surprisingly enough, I’d never been there before even though it’s so close to Tideswell. I have to say I was surprised by the beauty and it’s seeming remoteness. The mist hung in the valley all day and there was ice on the ground. Here are the panoramas I took. The other Photos will appear on my flickr sometime shortly.
I was at the County Archives today. I was looking for any records of black servants in Derby between 1700 and 1800. I started looking at the records for “All Saints” (Derby Cathedral).During my search I found one or two interesting burials. Well, I say Interesting, but I guess only if you enjoy history. I do, so here they are.
All Saints Burials
1762
Jan 28: Thomas Evat who was killed by a Tup
Nov.25: Buried in one coffin, William and Ann Drake
October 7th: Henry Joyce killed in a quarrel by a Butcher.
1763
Feb16: Stanley Mappleby. An infant. Boy was a bastard his mothers
name Yeomans, and she owned (sic)on her death bed.
1764
May 4th: A stranger. Name unknown, a woman.
1765
Oct 24: His Grace William Duke of Devonshire
1769
April: Buried Henry alsop an infant that escaped the fire. Bottom of Abby Bonny.
1770
Buried Hannah Golling in her hundredth year.
I also noted that a Smallpox outbreak killed several infants in this parish this year. Over the years the Parish saw a few priests but I was particularly struck by the beautiful handwriting. The words were exquisitely crafted and writing a whole sentence must have taken several minutes as each and every letter seemed to have been lovingly crafted.
Instagram is a mobile photo sharing application for smartphones.
Instagram is an app you just have to engage with.
Those of you who have read my blog, follow me on Twitter, or who are friends with me on Facebook will know, that I like to evangelise about “The next big thing”.
Well, Intsagram was hailed as ‘The next big thing’ long before I ever got hold of it. Nevertheless, I’d like to take the opportunity to tell you about Instagram, why I love it, Why you’ll love it and why I think it really is “The New Facebook“.
Why I love Instagram
Being a geek of epic proportions, I became aware of Instagram the day it launched, it had been much mooted as being the “next big thing. Of course, the problem with being an early adopter, is that very often new social media platforms can seem more like a ghost town than a playground. Sometimes, social media applications need to be left to mellow before you can get to the meaty goodness. So, I left it and went away for a while to let it mature.
I love Instagram because I love photography. With the advent of digital cameras, and now more importantly, phone cameras, most of us have access to a camera. We don’t need film. We can see and review the photos we take instantly thus we can improve quickly, because we don’t have to wait until the whole film is used up and developed to see how we could improve the photographs we take.
In my youth, even if you had a preper camera, film was incredibly expensive to buy and have processed. there is still a place for film, but it’s mostly for artists and purists, oh yeah, and the old.
People sometimes tell me I’m a good photographer, which is very kind. However, I know I’m an amatuer. In fact, I have no desire to be professional. I simply can’t be bothered to learn all the complex settings on a camera. Nor can I afford to buy a top of the range DSLR.
So I, like most of the millions of other Instagrammers simply use my phone. It’s Incredibly easy, cheap and quick. I can pull my phone out at anytime and start browsing photographs. Users have access to a public stream of photographs. Whenever I see something that takes my fancy, I can show my appreciation by “Liking it“. If I should like the body of work belonging to a particular snapper, I can “Follow” them, just like you follow someone on Twitter.
This fascinating “eye on the world” was instantly a sense of wonder to me. I was already experienced with Twitter and Facebook, so getting to grips with the app was simple. The beauty was that I really didn’t have to read, anyone’s status. There was so little negativity, it was just images, images that gave me joy and allowed me to filter the rage. (Even though I often Rage on Facebook).
As I followed more and more people, I began to find more inspiration. My photography and eye for what was interesting, seemed to improve. My own photographs started to get more and more “likes”. I have only been active on Instagram for a few months now but it’s still a pleasure every day. I’ve uploaded almost 600 photos already, and have close to 200 followers. I can’t get enough of this application.
Ten reasons Why You’ll Love Instagram
1) It’s easy to install and get started with
2) It’s a Free appp, and free to register and use.
3) Unlimited uploads
4) You get to see the work of Amateur and professional photographers from allover the world 24/7
5) You get to spread the love by liking photgraphs of photographers who inspire and excite you.
6) Far less negativity. Feel the love, and feel the mood of other users. Relate
7) Only pictures. Just totally ignore anything that doesn’t interest you.
8) Inspiring. You will find your photography skills improving.
9) It get’s you out. Once you see what others are doing, you will seek out photoshoot locations, and be more active.
10) New friends, yay, we all like being appreciated. People will show you appreciation, because we al have some degree of talent.
Why Instagram is the new Facebook
I say Instagrtam is the new Facebook. Of course, that’s a dodgy statement ight there. Back in April 2012, Facebook’s Creator and CEO Mark Zuckerberg bought Instagram. He paid $1 Billion for it. Yes, It’s not just me who thinks that Instagram is the shiznit. A billion dollars for a small company that at the time was vallued at around half that price.
So why do you think Zuckerberg was prepared to pay such a hight price for Instagram? Well, long time users of Facebook will know that, until this year the Facebook mobile experience was, less than pleasurable. Initially Instagram was an iphone platform only but when Instagram opened up to Android, Zuckerberg must have known that there was a new kid on the block, and one that ould do what his company was failing to do. Give people a real connceting experience via mobile.
So far, Facebook, has not shutdown instagram. On the contrary, Instagram continues to grow. It’s use of #Hashtags is another reason for it’s growing visibility because users can link the app to their twitter account. then images can be hashtagged and shared across platforms easilly.
Zuckerberg would had to be salivating at this because it gave him a toe in the birdbath. Despite saying that Facebook will never use Hashtags. (Folly, in my opion).
As many of u begin to tire of facebook, we turn to more instant, less, dreary forms of gratification. you can’t rely on old school friends to deliver pleaseurable images to you every day, instead, you have to wade through the drama of their lives, the good bad and the downright ugly.
I don’t suggest that Facebook is going away any time soon, but it has certainly tamed a tiger by buying Instagram. The competition is now only going to work in Facebooks Favour. Meanwhile, site back and watch as more and more users turn their heads to the more open, more playful platform.
Are you on Instagram? If so, get in touch. Tell me below why you love Instagram. Maybe you just dont want to engage. Even so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.
I often like to get out at the weekend. I have to drive about a forty mile round trip to work each day, so inspiration is pretty easy to come by. Before the nights drew in, I often went “pootling” off the main roads to see what village or hamlet lay just off the beaten track.
I recently remembered that Thor’s cave wasn’t that far from my daily route to work of Matlock to Buxton. Taking the A515 route you get to see part of the Peak District not that many of us Tideswellians see often. Taking “The Ashbourne Road” as it’s known, allows you to dip in and out of the country as the road runs close to the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border.
Thor’s Cave
Remembering the routes to Thors Cave
About 12 years ago I went with my friend Dylan to Thor’s cave, we drove from Stoke to Ashbourne, then down into Dovedale, Ilam, then up to Wetton and Hartington. We walked down Beresford Dale in the Manifold Valley. The cave itself itself was up a very steep path that, on a hot summers day can be quite an ordeal for the very young, rather old or the pretty unfit.
I needed a different route. This time I had my daughter and my Good buddy Daws along with me. My daughter is eight, and the weather was showery and damp. I was unsure of what she could and couldn’t do, so I’m introducing her to walks gently.
We drove from Wirksworth down to Ashbourne, driving past Carsington Water and then at Ashbourne turning back onto the A515. Drive through Fenney Bentley, and keep heading towards Buxton. When you see the sign for Alstonfield and Mill Dale, turn right on to Green Lane.
Turn to Alstonefield
Follow the lane down and you drive over the bridge at Milldale. Here you can turn left and drive alongside the River Dove, or you can go up the Hill into Alstonefield (slightly longer).
The Pinch, Milldal
If you do go into Alstonefield, just follow the signs for Wetton. Either way you will arrive near a pub called the Watts Russel Arms. Keep following the signs for Wetton.
Watts Russell Arms
If you follow the signs you can’t go wrong, The road on the right (above) is called Wall Ditch, follow it, take the 2nd right onto Ashbourne Lane, This brings you into Wetton, turn right onto Carr Lane and you’ll find the small car park.
Where to Park in Wetton
From there, it’s just a short walk round the corner and down a lane, which leads you to styles.
Thors Cave
As you go over the styles, you walk down into a dip, then slightly up the bank, don’t go all the way up unless you want to go above the cave. You will see a well worn path leading down on the left. Go down the bank to the Cave mouth.
The Cave itself looks so impressive from the road and valley below. Once you get inside it though you realise, that this is something pretty special. For facts read the Thors Cave Wiki Page.
In early October 2012, I was driving around the Derbyshire Peak District, looking for Interesting places to visit. I was about a Mile or Two North of Newhaven, I came across a sign to Arbour Low. Arbour Low is a large Stone Circle, described by the English Heritage Website as “the most Important prehistoric site of the East Midlands”. I had always wanted to go and find it but had previously not made much effort to find it.
I vowed to return. Two weeks later, my friend and I headed up there. The stone circle is located just behind a modern farm. You can park your car and wander up past the farm house, which i believe is a guest house. It only takes a few minutes to arrive at the stone circle, and I have to say it’s “bloody impressive”.
Derbyshire’s Stone Henge
The stones are all lying flat now but they are huge, and make the “Nine Ladies” stone circle on Stanton Moor seem miniature. This is a proper henge. I took a few photos, which can be seen on my flickr account.
If you are staying in Tideswell and fancy seeing an Ancient Stone Circle and Burial mound, I have included this map to help you get there.
A couple of Weekends ago my friend and I went out for a Drive / Walk.
Drive / Walks are good. You just get in the car and drive to the area you want to go walking do a few miles and then you have the comfort of the car to ferry you back home. Everyone’s a winner.
This particular shot is a smaller version of a large panorama I shot from the top of Parkhouse Hill, Glutton Bridge. We were a bit late in the day when we arrived and so didn’t get chance to walk up Chrome Hill too. I doubt the view could have been much better. See the Full Size image on my Flickr account.
Tideswell to chrome Hill
If you are from Tidza or just staying in the Tideswell are, and fancy a trip to “The Dragons Back”. I have included a route, below.
I decided that I needed to go and see the Vicar. After all, I needed an “official line” on the matter. I called the vicar, and arranged a meeting. He was kind enough to meet me at his house, and we had a 30 minute chat. I was somewhat disappointed with the outcome
Tideswell Vicar
Around 26 June 2012 I went back to Tideswell looking for the hidden tunnels which of rumoured by live underneath the village. I was told to go and see the vicar. I contacted the vicar by telephone and arrange the meeting at his house. He arranged to see me early in the early evening I was quite hopeful that he would be able to shed some
light on the many questions I had to ask him regarding tunnels under the church.
We sat down and I began to ask the vicar about the rumoured tunnel from the back of the church to Church St. Sadly the vicar said that he did not have any information about tunnels. Like everyone else, he had heard rumours but did not put any stock in
them, as he had never found any evidence of the tunnel or documents
pertaining to tunnels. Next I asked him about the small room that sits over the north door that sits over the south door of Tideswell Church. As you enter Tideswell Church through the South door, (main entrance) on the right there is a small door on the left.
Tideswell Church South door. (note windows to the small office)
It leads to a narrow staircase up to small office. I went in this office as a school pupil at bishop Pursglove School. The room was full of documents and books that, however was about some 30 years ago.
I don’t know how much things have changed but the vicar told me that the little secret office, that seemed so mysterious in the fog of my memory, had been recently cleared out and there was nothing in there. It was now used as a storeroom he assured me.
“What about the records, though, if they have been moved, where are they now?” I pressed.
Any ecclesiastical records were now held at the public records office in Matlock, he rebuffed my renewed pressure off easily. Naturally this was a disappointing conclusion to our meeting, however he did tell me that if I wanted to go into the cellar behind the church that I should ask the caretaker to let me in. He passed me the caretakers number, telling me that he would be on his rounds that evening, and with that we parted.
I dialled the caretakers number.
Under Tideswell Church
Mr Robbinson agreed to meet me and we went around the back of the
church, just in front of the Institute by the old grammar school. there is an opening leading to the boiler house cellar. Mr Robinson produced a large bunch of keys and we went down into the cellar.
Tideswell Church Boiler House Cellar
My interest in the cellar was kindled by other residents who told me that have been into the cellar and told me that they had seen a bricked up archway that was surely the tunnel entrance. As you go down the steps on the right there is a disused coal bunker. On the left, there was evidence of a brick arch this may, at one time have gone under the lady chapel but it’s difficult to tell as it’s been plastered over.
This wall, has an alcove which point into the lady chapel
The end of the Cellar
The celar itself contained the new boiler and evidence of an old boiler of which the pipework has not been fully removed. The cellar itself, was long probably about 12
foot in length and seven feet high. The cellar had an arched ceiling, but I could see no firm evidence that was visible that there was an entrance to any tunnel.
Earlier that day, I had been looking inside the church itself. If you walk into the church, then turndown towards the pulpit and then take a left into the Lady Chapel you will see some very old pews. Behind the first seat on these old pews one of the backboards is missing. If you look carefully, You can see an opening which could be the top of an old door or archway. If you put your arm down into the cavity you can feel the top of the opening or an arch. See my photo. It’s impossible to tell how big this cavity is.
Tideswell Church – Secret Tunnel? See the cavity?
I had hoped that by going into the cellar would allow me to get to this cavity and thus
see the entrance to a tunnel. However, it seems that the boiler and
the boiler cellar are slightly to the right of the lady chapel. In fact whilst I was in the cellar I noticed a grate that looks up into the lady chapel, but not in the right position to line up with the archway behind the pews.
from the cellar looking into the Lady chapel. You can see the pipes of the organ.
All in all the trip approved pretty fruitless. In fact, a thorough, if enlightening disappointment.
The Star Inn
The next night evening, the proprietors of ‘The Star Inn the allow me into their celar beneath the pub. I had heard a rumour that one of the small cellars was at one
time a priest hole. Jerry showed me into the cellar and we looked all
around. There is very little evidence of the room being used for
anything other than storage.
The star inn, small cellar
In truth though I’m not sure what I expected to find, in the cellar of a working pub. Once again dear friends. The trail has gone cold.
To leave you with a drop of optimism in your hearts, I have heard from Miranda Pennock. Miranda used to live at Devonshire House. (See Part 3) where I have already unsuccessfully looked for a tunnel. She assures me there was a room which was a priest hole and that there was a tunnel and her father helped to block it up. I am hoping that we can meet and she might be able to show me exactly where the tunnel was.
blog comment-light at the end of the tunnel?
I have it on good authority from two very trustworthy gentlemen, who have asked me not to mention their names. That there was a tunnel of some sort unearthed, when they dug the footings for what was the ex-Servicemens Club. One of these gents has been in the tunnel and even found a coin dating from 17xx.
So, there’s still some faint hope that we might discover something yet. I know Sheffield University came out to do some surveys, I may well get in touch with them, and see if they fancy looking again. Watch this space. Please leave me a comment below, tell me where to look and who I should speak to next.
I have been writing the Tideswellman blog since 2004, yet, For some reason I have thus far failed to write a post about Tideswell Pubs. Odd really, given that I spent an inordinate amount of time in them when I was a young man.
My Dad had always told me about the many pubs that there used to be in Tideswell when he was a boy. Since those days in the 1930′s/40′s a lot of pubs had closed. Names like,Three Tuns Inn, The Peacock, The White Hart; The Old Hart Hotel; The King’s Head; The Marquis of Granby; two Miners Arms; The Dog Inn; The Gate Inn; First Drop Inn or The Bellevue; Cliff Inn;The Angel Inn; The Bull’s Head and the Black Horse are just some of the pubs that have gone.
It’s very easy to overlook the role that the village pub plays in our lives, they are so central to the life of a village it is easy o see how they can be taken for granted. Neither of my parents drank in pubs in my formative years, but the pub was still somewhere I found myself regularly, even before the days of partaking in a few jars.
I was aged around eight years old when I went into my first Tideswell Pub. The pub was most probably the George Hotel. This was the result of a childish fad which involved following the crowd I’m afraid. I enrolled in the Dance class that used to be held in the back room. I wasn’t any good at dancing (Another stereotype smashed, right here). I spent most of my time hiding under the tables with Marcus Roberts and Dave Ponsonby. Oddly enough though I still remember all the moves to the cha-cha-cha.
The Horse and Jockey
The next pub, I frequented was the Horse and Jockey. My mum had a job as a cleaner there. She was working for the landlady Mrs Dunn. I can see Mrs Dunn now, in my minds’ eye though I rarely ever saw her to speak to. I used to tagg along with mum when she used to her job. I used to do a bit of bottling up, I can’t say I really remember much about it, in truth I think I was a bit young to be doing that job. Mrs Dunn used to hold many a raffle to which Gerald (Geddy) Hodgson would often provide the prize. He could usually be found enjoying a drink and a cigar, with his large German Sheppard “Shane” lying at his feet.
Mrs Dunns Ghost stories stick in my mind to this day. I remember mum telling me about how Mrs Dunn had been working in another pub before running the Horse and Jockey. This pub was apparently haunted. She told how she had seen a nun walking down the corridor, and then turn into a room that wasn’t there. There was also a more chilling story about a young boy who could be heard crying in one of the bedrooms. Yet, whenever you entered the room, there was no one to be found. Despite these stories taking place in another pub, I never liked to be in the Jockey on my own after hearing those stories.
It would be years before I’d go in the Horse and Jockey again. The next time was a celebration. I was about 15 and Tideswell United under 16′s had just won either the Cup or the League. We were all there celebrating drinking champagne out of the trophy,thanks to a few proud dads. We were all doing the conga round the pub, all smashed and high on life. Happy days, I never did get my medals though.
The George Hotel
Dale Norris
In my early teens I was desperate for money, the prospect of a job at the George Hotel was too good an opportunity to pass up. The landlord was Dale Norris, I knew his daughter, who was in the year below me at school. Dale had built a decent reputation for serving good pub grub. He had several local people working for him. I was one of them and most probably the worst.
The George, had a bloody great Pool table, and it was the centre of the village in early evenings.
The pool table was moved by a recent landlord, much to the chagrin of many locals.
People would go to the George, play pool and then later head over to the club. I never really got to know Dale Norris at the that time, he was a successful businessman, and I was just some oik of a kid. However in recent years we have struck up a bit of an Facebook friendship. We share a love for Tideswell and for the documenting of local history. I asked Dale to summarise his time as landlord of the George Hotel. Here’s what he told me.
“I arrived at The George Tideswell, 17 October, 1980. It was a terrible rainy day, that seemed to go on for a week, as we moved in everything got soaked. I had never served a pint of beer in my life, I had been in business, with Fruit Shops and Wholesale of the same. I Can remember it was a complete change in anything I had ever done or known. It was a terrible struggle for me, in those early days, and it took a long time for me to come to terms with it all. If I had been asked, if I thought I would do that job, for the next 21 years, I would have thought the person asking, was crazy. But I grew into it, all the terrible lows, and the heady highs, and was lucky enough to survive, healthwise, to be there on the final evenings, to shake the hands of countless Tidza folk, young and old. Tideswell, and its people, will always have a massive place in my heart, but then, I think you all know that. “
Dale.
Dale has been building up a great collection, of photos over the years, and recently he has shared them on Facebook. He created, a group called “Friends of the George“. He has also created video slideshows on YouTube of the same photos. A great resource for Tideswell, I’m sure you’ll agree.
The Star Inn
‘The star Inn’ is on High Street, it was always a pub of some mystery. It was where the builders went to drink, it was where deals were done. During my teenage years, it was run by Alec and Mary Fairey. Alec was a builder and Mary was a landlady not to be trifled with. We (Myself, Emma Furness, Philippa Hunstone, Antonia Hunstone, Robert Lingard et al), used to go in there as teenagers, taking advantage of some rule that teens could go in pubs and not drink alcohol. One or two of us would chance the fake id’s (Me and Mark Duffy) but who were we kidding in a village where everyone knew each other? In the 1980′s pubs had to close at 11.30. It was however, rumoured that if you were in before 11pm you could have your breakfast in the Star. Of course that was just a malicious rumour.
The First Drop Inn
A bit further up the road was ‘The First Drop in’. It had previously been known as ‘The Last Drop Inn’. My experiences in ‘The First Drop’ were truly character forming. During the tenure of the Tickners ‘The First Drop’ was one of the Places to go. Thursday night was ‘Drop disco night’. Holy hell, those nights were jumping.
There wasn’t a Thursday night when we weren’t blind drunk. Tideswell people get to meet people from all over the Peak District and beyond. Buxton people would come, Hope Valley People would turn up, Matlock folk, Ashbourne and Hartington People, Even Chesterfield and Sheffield folk. And after the Pub closed for the night, Tideswell’s only chippy at the time, did a roaring trade. There were quite a few love afairs and punchups started on those Thursdays.
Ex Servicemans Club
Next, I’d like to take a bit of time to talk about Tideswell Club. Tideswell Ex-Servicemans Club was a special place. Most Tideswellians have spent a few happy hours in there, literally. I first went in there as a boy. My Friend Nicky Orr’s dad, Lionel used to run it. We would often go in to play snooker. Once I’d turned 16 I became a member, it was a private members club that accepted members at sixteen. A loophole allowed all members to enjoy a beer, so it was especially popular with every sixteen year old in the district. I used to ride my motorbike up to the club and park up. Go in for a game of pool. I used to play “Substitute”, by The Who” on the jukebox.
Some people didn’t like us playing the old Rock and Roll tunes, Lee Skidmore and I would play the same track over and over, just to wind people up. We always sat in the same seat, by the Juke box and close to the pool Table. There was an old Chap named Bill Lawrence who used to come in for a glass of port. We were all in awe of him as he seemed so old but , he always used to turn up for his drink. We’d practically fight to take him the drinks.
Christmas, Wakes and every other notable occasion was always marked in the club. The disco’s there were a source of community cohesion that you just don’t find nowadays. The cut price beer and large open spaces made it a real winner with the clientele.
Tideswell Club
After many years the club closed for a while, it reopened for a few years as ‘The Cross Daggers Inn’, which was the name of a pub that had stood on its site before the Ex-Servicemans was built. Sadly the Cross Daggers didn’t last. Earlier in 2012 the place was demolished. I’m so sad that Tideswell club has now been demolished. But the old has to make way for the new, it’s the way of the world, always has been.
The Anchor Inn
I’m most likely to do a terrible disservice. Because The Anchor is out of the village I rarely venture up there. Sadly the only time I find myself in that pub is for a wake. Being close to Tideswell Cemetery it’s the ideal stop of point for winter funerals. However, many Tideswellians have stories to weave about this pub. Perhaps they will share them in the comments section.
Please leave a comment below (not on facebook), tell me all about your memories of Tideswell’s pubs, and the happy times you had within them.
After moving from the city to the countryside, I have become aware of much more than just the beautiful scenery.
I have recently begun to notice the sounds that are all around us and to take more notice of these sounds. In truth my fascination started whilst on holiday in France this May.
Whilst sitting around the pool one night, checking my emails in the Wi-fi zone, we heard a strange sound. It was the sound of frogs calling out to each other. The sound was strange and eerie. As the croaks echoed across the water of the swimming pool, I got the idea to record the sound on my phone.
Sound of Frogs Croaking in Gassin, France
When I played the sound back a couple of weeks later, it occurred to me that the sound was so evocative of the moment that it might be rather good fun to do a few more recordings. However the recordings really do have to be impromptu, as opposed to staged or set up.
My next was recorded on a Thursday night in Tideswell. I nipped into the Horse and Jockey for a quick pint. There was a folk group performing in there. They meet there every Thursday night. I simply put the phone down and recorded a snippet. Folk music really isn’t my thing at all, but I have to admit that the quality of the music was fantastic. What’s more, it conjures up an image of days gone by. Have a listen.
Over the coming weeks I’ll serve up a few more sounds, perhaps if people comment, I’ll make it a regular feature.
Maybe you have recorded something you’d like to share with me? Please leave me a comment.
I wrote in my last post about how I am rediscovering the Peak District since moving back to the area in June 2012. Living in Matlock Bath, I’m ideally placed to visit many towns and villages that were previously just a little far out of my reach.
Most days, I drive from Matlock Bath up through Cromford and over the Via Gellia rd to Newhaven. From there I turn right and head into Buxton. In the first few weeks of my journey I noticed a number of signposts to villages I’d never visited or even heard of.
As I outlined before, in the post entitled, “A local stranger”, my curiosity got the better of me and of late I have been paying brief visits to these towns and villages, with the purpose of returning for tea, cakes and a few well scouted photographs.
This week I decided to investigate the villages closer to Ashbourne. Villages I have noticed in recent weeks include Parwich, Alsop-en-le-Dale, Alstonefield, Wetton, Biggin and Hartington. Now I’ve visited Hartington a few times before but the rest were all new to me.
My latest travels around Peak District Villages (click to enlarge)
Staffordhire Peak District & Thors Cave
The great thing about visiting this part of the Peak District is that it straddles the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. You can cross several times between the counties as you drive from one small village to the other. The scenery is a little different from the Northern Peak. Rich Farmland sits alongside Moorland and wooded hills with the River Dove and the River Manifold flowing in the valleys. Another great thing is you can make a mental map of where the pubs are.
This particular trip was inspired from a conversation I had regarding Thors Cave. Many years ago, when I was at University,some friends and I walked up through the Manifold Valley and up into Thors Cave and beyond. I had decided to try to find Thors Cave again, not to walk to it but just plot the route. I wasn’t disappointed. After a lovely drive around the villages I finally came to Wetton. I asked a local which way to go and, as luck would have it, I was on the very lane that led right past the cave.
Thors Cave, Wetton
Of course, I was keeping my eyes firmly on the road, but I did manage to pull over for a moment to look at the cave. It was much bigger than I had remembered and I’m really looking forward to the next fine weather day, so that I can pay it a visit. With every day that passes by, I’m loving being back home in the Peak District, more and more.
Please leave me a comment if you have visited any of the villages I have mentioned. Maybe you can make me a recommendation? Tell me about something I must see of a place I need to visit. I promise to go and take plenty of photos.
Since our move back to the Peak District, I have been poking around the local villages. The great thing about driving across the Peak District every morning is that you get to see some stunning views. As well as stunning views, you also get to discover lot’s of little villages you had never visited before.
Blind to the Peak District
The geographical situation of the Peak District can often mean that when travelling in a car you simply go from A to B. We locals tend to ignore the plethora of sign posts to interesting sounding places. Places such as “Ible”, “Slaley” and “Cow Dale”.
Anyway, now that i’m living in Matlock Bath and travelling to Buxton each day, I get to see such wondrous and rustic places close up. I have been noticing all kinds of little places, neglected barns, breathtaking vistas under imposing skies. I’m no longer blind to the Peak District and all her beauties.
Slaley Sign
Village Snooper
When time allows, I drive into these little villages and have a good snoop around. Usually my trip consists of pulling the car over and photographing a notable feature or building.
All of this village snooping serves a larger purpose though. Firstly, I’m having a bit of a recce to see where is good to eat and drink. The Peak District in general has a wide range of country pubs serving great food. Finding them can be a bit of a challenge though because not everyone is a social media geek like me.
Secondly, I’m also finding good places to walk and to come back to and photograph.
I love taking photos, I’m no professional photographer, that’s for sure. I do have some great photos under my belt though, more by luck than judgement. Recently though, I have become lazy. The thought of dragging the big camera out, with all it’s limitations of small memory card and annoyingly short lived batteries comes a poor second to slipping the mobile into my pocket and just leaving.
Photography vs iPhoneography
Since getting my hands on an iPhone, with all of it’s awesome photography apps, I have been snapping away like a mad man. The issue with mobile phone photos is that you don’t really get the quality of a really high quality camera that adapts to the light. Not having a decent zoom can also be an issue.
So I settle on a trade off. I take the iphone with me on a daily basis, places of real note will be visited again on a planned expedition.
Slaley Sign
Over the next few weeks and months I’ll be blogging about the places that I visit and trying to provide you with a bit more information about the places I document. Until then please enjoy these photos that I took on my travels with my iPhone.
Tideswell Tunnels took a new turn this week. I met a young man convinced of their existence, which spurred me on , as I had been somewhat downhearted about my lack of conclusive evidence. I have got several new lines of enquiry. Thing is, once I get started on something I never let it go.
However, I actually need the people of Tideswell to support me, and actively assist me in my research. It should be noted that I’m now encountering reluctancy to talk about the tunnels. However, it is my belief that they are there, so why the secrecy? Some people know more than they are letting on. Help me peeps. Let’s find these tunnels.
Blake House
I called at Blake House, I had previously pushed my letter of introduction through the door, the family who now own the house were more than happy to have a chat. The owner, Phil Dobbin, said that he was fascinated by the concept but hadn’t had a chance to investigate further. Outside the house at ground level there is a small lintel. the stone directly underneath it was loose and we managed to pull it away, revealing a small cavity but noting that could be seen in detail. Mr Dobbin, said he wanted to pull up the flaggs in the garden to investigate further , at some point.
Blake House Tideswell – Tunnell entrance or Coal Hole?
Devonshire House
Paul Harrison at Devonshire House dropped me a line to say that he had an archway in the bottom corner of his cellar that was worth investigating. Oddly enough we had sat in the Star inn just a couple of weeks before chatting about Tideswell history. Odd then that his house should be a prime suspect for one with a tunnel. I called around and both he and his wife Carrie were helpful and enthusiastic.
They let me down in the cellar and Paul showed me a small archway in the bottom right hand corner. It was quite unusual because there seemed to be no logical reason for an arch there. It certainly wasn’t a coal chute because the coal chute was to the left. (unless the visible coal chute was added later). Devonshire House is very old and I’m told that it was one of the King’s Larders, and the original George Pub at one time. The cellar has a vaulted ceiling and still has some old meat hooks hanging from it. As you can see from the image I took on my phone, there is a clear arch. The rubble in front of the arch apparently does down more than 6 ft. Paul said he tried to unearth it but got fed up.
My initial feelings are that this might have been some kind of soak-away or sough which drained water or “other liquid” down into the brook which would run a few yards in front of the house. However, I have heard from three living people that there is definitely a tunnel at Devonshire House. I just haven’t found it yet, I will though.
Devonshire House Tunnel?
Eccles Hall
I drew a bit of a dissapointing blank at Eccles Hall. After about ten minutes fighting with the latch on the gate I managed to get in and finally catch the attention of the home owner. I explained who I was and that I was searching for the hidden tunnels in Tideswell. The lady who owns the house told me that she “wanted there to be a tunnell but there just isn’t”.
She also informed me that Eccles Hall and Blake House were built at different times so the myth that Samuel Eccles was visiting his lover in Blake House via tunnel was bunkem. However, this is at odds with the testimony of one living women in the Village who told me that she has been into a tunnel located in the cellar at Eccles Hall. Someone is clearly mistaken.
The Shambles
I called to See Claire Fisher, who lives at The Shambles, you may recall part two of Tideswell Tunnels showed the details Philip Swarbrick had given me regarding a tunnel there. Claire was enthusiastic, but sadly an inspection of her cellar area (now converted) into living quarters revealed nothing. Philip’s description matched perfectly though. So I have stood at the exact spot where the Tunnel is meant to be, but it’s been bricked up and plastered over, so if there’s a way into it, it would have to be out in the yard.
Tindalls
Finally, although not directly related to Tunnels, I approached Tindalls and Chris Ashton, was good enough to let me look at the images he and his wife took of the cellar before it was closed off, and the shop refurbished. I did ask to go down in the cellar but that wasn’t possible at the time due to the manhole cover sticking and Mr Ashton not wanting to break his floor tiles by prying it up. Fair enough. He told me that he’s seen no evidence of a tunnel but was kind enough to explain all the changes to the building and let me copy this brilliant photo of a small cellar room, which, I guess was used for salting meat at one time or another.
Tindalls Cellar Tideswell
I do hope that you are enjoying reading my posts about the quest for tunnels. There is , I assure you a lot more information to come. I’m working on it, and will post it all here as and when I get a chance. Let me leave you with a question:
Do you believe there are Tunnels in Tideswell? if so, where and what makes you believe.
Please leave a comment below, if you know anything or just have an opinion.
However, I did manage to have a very useful conversation with Tideswell Parish Councillor Philip Swarbrick. His Grandfather used to own “Swarbricks Shop”. Today the shop is a private residence.
Swarbricks Shop – Tideswell Site of a subterranean Tunnel
Phil told me that he 100% knows that there are Tunnels under Tideswell because “He has been in one of them”.
Phil proceeded to tell me about his days as a youngster spent in his grandfathers shop. He said that underneath the grids at the front of the shop is part of the cellar where his grandfather used to keep Coal and logs. He told me that in that cellar there used to be a large Zinc Plate on the wall. The very presence of that Zinc Plate nagged at Philip’s subconcious, he wanted to know why it was there. He kept telling me that as a curious young boy, he just couldn’t understand why there was a zinc plate on the wall, he wanted to know what it was covering up.
So one day Curiosity got the better of him and he plucked up courage and pulled the Zinc sheet off the wall. Behind the metal sheet was a hole in the wall, which, when he climbed through it opened onto a “5 ft tall barrel shaped tunnel”, he ventured in.
Philip told me that the Tunnel went straight back, towards the Cliff then took a turn to the left. Given the position of Swarbricks show left would have led up past the back of the “Bulls Head”. He said he got a short way into the Tunnel with a torch but then came to a part where it had caved in.
This is where common sense got the better of curiosity and he turned back. A short time later Philip’s father who was running the shop above decided he needed more room, he was ware that there was a cavity at the back of the shop because the lower floor went further back. Phils father knocked through the wall that was behind the shop counter.
Behind that wall they found a cavity room with a large hole in the floor. The hole, went down into the Tunnel that Phil had discovered. Phil tells me that the hole provided the perfect place to dump the rubble from the shop alteration, and so the tunnel was filled in at that point.
I do not know who owns the house at the moment, but I would like to know and would like to get in touch with them, to see if any traces of evidence remain.
The story doesn’t stop there though. A Neighbour “John Allen” who lived just two doors down from Swarbricks added his anecdote on the “Tideswell People group on facebook”
“ Didn’t they discover a tunnel a number of years back, beneath what was The Medeira House Restaurant, when doing renovations. But elected to just cover it up w/out investigation? I remember hearing something like that, because I was surprised and disappointed that there’d not been any investigation of where it led to. I also remember, as a kid, that a tunnel of some kind was found beneath the floor of the old out buildings behind Hudson’s butchers shop (Markeygate House) which is, of course, right next to Hilly Swarbrick’s old shop. I remember watching Keith Hudson and some of his friends climb down through a hole in the floor using a caving ladder“.
So, the plot thickens. That now makes two people who have told me they have been inside a subterranean tunnel in Tideswell. I also know of a couple of claimants who have since passed on. I prepared a letter and delivered it to some of the properties that I suspect may have a Tunnel, the response has been underwhelming to say the least. No one has gotten in content with me. I still have two very Important ones to deliver though.
Here is a reproduction of a diagram Phil Swarbrick made for me of the old layout of the shop. Please note, the 3d model isn’t to scale as I’m not an expert with the software, but I made it based on a loose sketch made by Philip Swarbrick. It is designed to give you the basic jist of the layout. It’s a split level digram, you can see the false wall with the hole in the floor leading to the tunnel and you can see the metal plate on the wall with the tunnel going backwards toward the cliff.
Split level Diagram showing the location of a Tunnel under Swarbrick’s Shop
If anyone has anymore information about Tunnels in Tideswell, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. This is something that the whole village needs to know about. It’s our hidden heritage.
Showing its limestone hills, its church and buildings, and the locals who work in the quarry.
NOTE: This film has a French soundtrack.
Details
Release year 1944 Director A. Reginald Dobson Production company G.B. Instructional CinematographerJack Parker Running time (minutes)09 mins 46 secs SupervisorG.J. Cons Original Description
‘This film describes an upland settlement, Tideswell in the Derbyshire hills. Tideswell is built of local limestone, and many of its inhabitants work in neighbouring stone quarries. A hillside stream supplies power for the mills. Farms are mixed, but there is less arable land than pasture; sheep and cattle thrive on the upland pasture.’
(Films of Britain – British Council Film Department Catalogue – 1946)
Trivia
The quarry featured in the film is now the Miller’s Dale Quarry nature reserve.
Working titles for the film included ‘Upland Settlement’ or ‘Upland Village’, in keeping with other films in the ‘Human Geography’ series, such as Lowland Village and Coastal Village.
Thanks to Pete Hakwins for sending me the June 2012 Village Voice. It’s the Tideswell Village Voice Magazine and comes out monthly or Bi monthly. Pete’s given me permission to post it here for you just as another way of getting the news out there.
Any Tideswellian knows that there are Tunnels under the village. However, it seems that in living memory the number of people who have actually been down into these tunnels is few and far between.
For whatever reason, it is a topic that has fallen from the collective memory of the village.
I remember reading as a boy that there was a tunnel from Blake House to Eccles Hall. It was in the little blue book that every Tideswell family seemed to have “A History of Tideswell by W. Walker; 1951.
In addition to this there was always talk of a tunnel that led from Tindalls Shop to the Church opposite. Tindalls used to serve as a Gaol, long before it was utilised as a bakery.
Then I heard that there was….
A Tunnel from the Church to Church Avenue, number 1 or number 2.
A Tunnel from Swarbricks shop to Tindalls
A Tunnel / Priest hole in the Star which might go to the Vicarage or Blake House
A Tunnel from the Church to Wheston
A Tunnel from the Church to Monksdale.
Tideswell Tunnels
With all these supposed Tunnels, it’s a wonder Tidza doesn’t collapse into a subterranean labyrinth. So I raised the question via You Tube and the Facebook Group “Tideswell People”. https://www.facebook.com/groups/21177142561/
Tunnels under Tideswell
So again, I say to you, good people of Tideswell. Where are these Tunnels, and if you have access to one, can I come and photograph it…or its blocked up entrance? I want to get into these tunnels if possible. Tideswell deserves to know its history.
Thanks to Pete Hakwins for sending me the VillageVoice. It’s the Tideswell Parish Magazine and comes out monthly or Bi monthly. Pete’s given me permission to post it here for you just as another way of getting the news out there.
Today, I took my daughter to Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent, We were both excited as she had never been and I haven’t been in years. When we arrived at Festival Park, that’s where the excitement ended.
The queue was at least a hundred people long. To be fair though, it is the Easter Holidays, and it is a popular destination. After parking 500 meters away we walked back and joined the queue thankfully, the sun was shining. I’d hate to have been standing out there in the pouring rain. It did rain later, and anyone queueing would have been completely soaked.
The next source of irritation for me was, when you are asked if you want a locker, and let’s face it, most people probably will want a locker, the cost is £1.50 That in itself is expensive for a locker, but guess what? Waterworld keep a quid of that money.
The changing rooms were extremely busy but we managed to find a cubicle and locker and get out into the pool area. We had a swim and a splash about in the shallows and enjoyed the waterfall features. I particularly liked the heavy rain effect of one of the waterfalls, it actually pummels you, best massage I have had in years.
The waterslide near to the entrance is good fun and the queue is tolerable, it only takes a few minutes to get up and go round again. The others though, well, for me the queue was intolerable. We waited for 20 minutes and moved about 2 feet. In the end we gave up trying.
Mr Chaudry, why not section users off into different colour groups (by wristband)? Then dedicate a half hour period to that colour, that way everyone could actually get a go on the water slides. Considering that it costs £18 for two of us to get in we got to paddle around in the shallows, and go on a fairly tame water slide by the door. That isn’t good value for money in my book. Had I taken several children, I’d be fuming at spending so much in return for so little.
The staff were polite and courteous though, and that’s a plus point because it’s hard to get quality service in Stoke. You have got that right, Mr Chaudry. Obviously the whole thing is geared towards making money, there are several poolside food outlets, and they seemed to be doing a roaring trade. I don’t mind so much but realisticly, it should be about the swimming.
Cleanliness was an issue for me. Personally the thought of bathing with about 500 other people makes my skin crawl, god only knows what bugs and nasties might be in the water but the staircases and poolsides could do with a refresh. Rust was evident, and stagnant backwashed water puddles are everywhere.
If that’s your thing “for the sake of the kids” then crack on, and pay waterworld a visit. It’s a great way to pass a few hours and spend a heap of cash. If that doesn’t appeal to you, I’d give it a miss.
