Great Hucklow
Encyclopedia
Great Hucklow is a small village in the Derbyshire
Peak District
which nestles under Hucklow Edge between the villages of Tideswell
and Bradwell
. It has a population of about 100. The area is now mainly agricultural, but the village was formerly a centre of the Derbyshire lead mining industry
. The lead vein or rake outcrops to the surface to the west of the village and dives under the rocks of Hucklow Edge on the western side of the village where an adit, known as Milldam Mine, has recently been reopened by Glebe Mines Ltd that connects the various deep mines that had formerly been dug along the edge. This mine is being worked for fluorspar, which is frequently found associated with lead in the vein.
In the village, there is a thriving primary school, which is located up a short lane (School Lane), right under the edge, and a pub, the Queen Anne.
It had a theatre for 40 years, which was run by Dr L. du Garde Peach
and the actors and staff were from the local area. The first production (The Merchant of Venice
, Shakespeare) was in 1927 staged in the Hucklow Holiday Homes. The first set of plays in the New Play House was in 1938, with four one act plays written by Dr Peach. The New Play House was in a converted lead mining building (known locally as cupolas from the lead smelting furnace). The first 200 second hand seats cost 1 shilling and 9 pence each (less than 9p each!). The stage was 28 feet (8.5 m) wide by 30 feet (9.1 m) deep. For many years the theatre brought many visitors to Great Hucklow from all parts of the north of England. The theatre building is still heavily used as an activity centre.
The Unitarian
Old Chapel was founded in 1696 and is still very much in use; it also has a small meeting room which is well used by the community. The Methodist Chapel, built in the early part of the 19th century, was converted to offices in 1999.
The Nightingale Centre, which belongs to the Unitarians, is in the middle of the village and accommodates groups for school and community visits to the area, conferences and provides country holidays for children from inner cities. The Centre brings many visitors to the village from all over the world.
Recently, the village has taken control of the Silance Mine Heritage Site, jointly with the village of Foolow
. This is a 4 hectare area of scrub, woodland and grassland on a south facing slope on Hucklow Edge which was the previous location for lead working at both Silence and Old Grove Mine and more recent re-working of the surface mineral heaps for fluorspar
. The site straddles the parish boundary between Great Hucklow to the west and Foolow
to the east. It is positioned on the boundary between the White and Dark Peak character areas. The long history of mining has resulted in the development of very complex surface soils with those derived from the shales lying in intimate association with soils developing from limestone and mineral material brought to the surface during the mining operations. Both Silence and Old Grove Mines have been extensively reworked for fluorspar at surface, but at the top end of Silence Mine there are the previously unrecognised remains of steam engine buildings and associated structures. These include the back walls of a horizontal engine house and boiler house, the possible base of a chimney, and a small sunken ‘chamber’ that originally was one half of a wheel pit which contained a large flywheel and/or winding drum associated with the engine house. Hillocks remain in the northern part of Old Grove Mine. The Peak District Mines Historical Society are currently excavating the remains of Silance Mine. Details can be found on their web site.
The village is twinned with Parisot, Tarn-et-Garonne
which is a rural village of similar size in the south west of France.
The land rises steeply to the north of the village to Hucklow Edge and at Camphill on the plateau above it there is a popular gliding
field, which in 1954 hosted the World Gliding Championships
.
The village is accessed from the B6049 about a mile north of where it crosses the A623 at the Anchor Inn. The road to the village goes off to the east at the Windmill triangle.
The village is host to an annual martial arts
residency; this is a tradition stretching back almost 30 years. The Tetsudo students can often be found enjoying the delights of inns and hostelries in Foolow
, Tideswell
and Eyam
early in August.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
which nestles under Hucklow Edge between the villages of Tideswell
Tideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
and Bradwell
Bradwell, Derbyshire
Bradwell is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District of England. It lies south of the main body of the Hope Valley, but is usually included among its settlements....
. It has a population of about 100. The area is now mainly agricultural, but the village was formerly a centre of the Derbyshire lead mining industry
Derbyshire lead mining history
This article details some of the history of lead mining in Derbyshire, England.- Background :On one of the walls in Wirksworth church is a crude stone carving, found nearby at Bonsall and placed in the church in the 1870s. Probably executed in Anglo-Saxon times, it shows a man carrying a kibble or...
. The lead vein or rake outcrops to the surface to the west of the village and dives under the rocks of Hucklow Edge on the western side of the village where an adit, known as Milldam Mine, has recently been reopened by Glebe Mines Ltd that connects the various deep mines that had formerly been dug along the edge. This mine is being worked for fluorspar, which is frequently found associated with lead in the vein.
In the village, there is a thriving primary school, which is located up a short lane (School Lane), right under the edge, and a pub, the Queen Anne.
It had a theatre for 40 years, which was run by Dr L. du Garde Peach
L. du Garde Peach
Lawrence du Garde Peach was an English author and playwright for radio, stage and screen. He may be best remembered as the author of over 30 books for Ladybird's Adventure from History series of nonfiction children's books, published from 1957 until his death...
and the actors and staff were from the local area. The first production (The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
, Shakespeare) was in 1927 staged in the Hucklow Holiday Homes. The first set of plays in the New Play House was in 1938, with four one act plays written by Dr Peach. The New Play House was in a converted lead mining building (known locally as cupolas from the lead smelting furnace). The first 200 second hand seats cost 1 shilling and 9 pence each (less than 9p each!). The stage was 28 feet (8.5 m) wide by 30 feet (9.1 m) deep. For many years the theatre brought many visitors to Great Hucklow from all parts of the north of England. The theatre building is still heavily used as an activity centre.
The Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
Old Chapel was founded in 1696 and is still very much in use; it also has a small meeting room which is well used by the community. The Methodist Chapel, built in the early part of the 19th century, was converted to offices in 1999.
The Nightingale Centre, which belongs to the Unitarians, is in the middle of the village and accommodates groups for school and community visits to the area, conferences and provides country holidays for children from inner cities. The Centre brings many visitors to the village from all over the world.
Recently, the village has taken control of the Silance Mine Heritage Site, jointly with the village of Foolow
Foolow
Foolow is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District.The village green contains an ornate cross, similar to the one at Wheston but possibly of later date. It is inscribed with the date 1868, when it was moved from the site of the Wesleyan Reform Chapel and its shaft was replaced. A former bull...
. This is a 4 hectare area of scrub, woodland and grassland on a south facing slope on Hucklow Edge which was the previous location for lead working at both Silence and Old Grove Mine and more recent re-working of the surface mineral heaps for fluorspar
Fluorite
Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon...
. The site straddles the parish boundary between Great Hucklow to the west and Foolow
Foolow
Foolow is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District.The village green contains an ornate cross, similar to the one at Wheston but possibly of later date. It is inscribed with the date 1868, when it was moved from the site of the Wesleyan Reform Chapel and its shaft was replaced. A former bull...
to the east. It is positioned on the boundary between the White and Dark Peak character areas. The long history of mining has resulted in the development of very complex surface soils with those derived from the shales lying in intimate association with soils developing from limestone and mineral material brought to the surface during the mining operations. Both Silence and Old Grove Mines have been extensively reworked for fluorspar at surface, but at the top end of Silence Mine there are the previously unrecognised remains of steam engine buildings and associated structures. These include the back walls of a horizontal engine house and boiler house, the possible base of a chimney, and a small sunken ‘chamber’ that originally was one half of a wheel pit which contained a large flywheel and/or winding drum associated with the engine house. Hillocks remain in the northern part of Old Grove Mine. The Peak District Mines Historical Society are currently excavating the remains of Silance Mine. Details can be found on their web site.
The village is twinned with Parisot, Tarn-et-Garonne
Parisot, Tarn-et-Garonne
Parisot is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France.It is twinned with Great Hucklow - a rural village of similar size in the Derbyshire Peak District, England.-References:*...
which is a rural village of similar size in the south west of France.
The land rises steeply to the north of the village to Hucklow Edge and at Camphill on the plateau above it there is a popular gliding
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
field, which in 1954 hosted the World Gliding Championships
World Gliding Championships
The World Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere....
.
The village is accessed from the B6049 about a mile north of where it crosses the A623 at the Anchor Inn. The road to the village goes off to the east at the Windmill triangle.
The village is host to an annual martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
residency; this is a tradition stretching back almost 30 years. The Tetsudo students can often be found enjoying the delights of inns and hostelries in Foolow
Foolow
Foolow is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District.The village green contains an ornate cross, similar to the one at Wheston but possibly of later date. It is inscribed with the date 1868, when it was moved from the site of the Wesleyan Reform Chapel and its shaft was replaced. A former bull...
, Tideswell
Tideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
and Eyam
Eyam
Eyam is a small village in Derbyshire, England. The village is best known for being the "plague village" that chose to isolate itself when the plague was discovered there in August 1665, rather than let the infection spread...
early in August.
External links
- The Village Web Site
- Silence Mine
- Silance Mine Heritage Site
- Derbyshire UK - Hucklow website
- Glebe Mines Web Site
- The Nightingale Holiday and Conference Centre, Great Hucklow
- The official Parisot Web Site
- Link to Google Books that mention the Hucklows.
- Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club at Great Hucklow