Pity we didn't go out on Saturday rather than yesterday. Saturday was sunny [we spent the day in Meadowhall] whilst Sunday was overcast with the sun peeping through just very occasionally.
We parked at Upperdale just below Monsal Head and then walked along the Monsal Trail. Someone [the Peak Park Rangers presumably] have been cutting back the trees beside the Trail and so this opens it out more.
We got to Cressbrook Mill and even on a cold day D's Brew Stop was busy with people sitting outside sampling the drinks and hot vegetable soup. It's good to see the Mill now full of apartments. If nothing had been done who knows what would have become of this historic old mill.
We pressed on, rising up the hill before bearing right to Ravensdale Cottages - by the way English Nature have posted a notice that no ravens have been seen of late looking for nesting sites in the tor you can see in the background in the photo. I'm never sure who owns these cottages - are they part of the Chatsworth Estate or private ?
We climbed up through the Cressbrook Dale Nature Reserve. Here the walls and even some of the old trees are covered with moss which adds to the feeling of dankness.
Eventually we came out into the open and turned right to head onto the access land where we eventually reached Wardlow Hay Cop - a trig point seen from miles around. A trig point we hope to paint in due course. It was good to use some access land. So far we've not been out on it much.
After that we followed the concessionary path down into Hay Dale where we walked down the quiet lane back to the car.
I've not worked out how far we'd gone - probably less than five miles - but it was an enjoyable walk on someone special's birthday.
Monday, February 20, 2006
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2 comments:
It is good to see the Wye Mills buildings restored. However, I do wonder how many of the people living in the expensive apartments know of the history of ill-treatment of children in the Victorian Mills.
John Waller has recently written a book about one of the most famous of these child workers - Robert Blincoe - whose story was used by Charles Dickens as the basis for Oliver Twist. The children were enticed away from workhouses by the promise of good working and living conditions, and found themselves in an even worse enviroment. The book is called "The Real Oliver Twist" and is a good read for anyone interested in local history or the Victorian era in general.
G
It sounds an interesting read. There must be a lot of sad tales to tell about both Cressbrook and Litton Mills.
I recall there being a boundary post or marker at Litton Mills which has some significance, near the cottages by the riverside. As usual I can only vaguely remember a part of the story - perhaps someone will be able to tell us more.
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