Grindleford
Encyclopedia
Grindleford is a village and parish
in the county of Derbyshire
, in the East Midlands
of England
. It lies at an altitude of 150 metres (492 ft) in the valley of the River Derwent
in the Peak District National Park. On the west side of the valley is the 429 metres (1,407 ft) high Sir William Hill, and to the south-east lies the gritstone escarpment of Froggatt Edge
. Grindleford became a parish
in 1987, merging the parishes of Eyam
Woodlands, Stoke, Nether Padley and Upper Padley.
The nearest city to Grindleford is Sheffield
, the centre of which is about 7 miles (11 km) away. For rail travellers, the Sheffield suburb of Totley is less than three miles away at the other end of the Totley Tunnel
. This is the second-longest rail tunnel in the UK: first-time travellers from the Sheffield direction enter the tunnel in the suburbs and are surprised to find themselves in the middle of Peak District countryside when they emerge. Grindleford railway station
(confusingly located in Upper Padley, half a mile away) is at the western portal of the rail tunnel - on the scenic Hope Valley Line
between Sheffield and Manchester
.
Grindleford is popular with walkers and climbers due to its proximity to a variety of landscapes, including open moorland
, wooded river valleys (including Padley Gorge), several gritstone escarpments, and the broad Hope Valley
. Visitors seeking refreshment are well catered for by a number of establishments, including the Sir William Hotel, the Maynard Hotel and Bar, the National Trust
Longshaw Estate Visitor Centre, and Grindleford Station Cafe (in the old station house).
Padley Hall (or Padley Manor) was a large double courtyard house where, in 1588, two Catholic priests (Nicholas Garlick
and Robert Ludlum
) were discovered and then, two weeks later, hung, drawn and quartered in Derby
. They became known as the 'Padley Martyrs'. Padley Hall today is mostly in ruins, although part of it - probably originally the central gatehouse range - survives, and in 1933 was converted to a Roman Catholic chapel in honour of the martyrs.. The chapel stands not far from the railway line, a short distance westwards from the station. A pilgrimage takes place every year in July.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the county of Derbyshire
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...
, in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It lies at an altitude of 150 metres (492 ft) in the valley of the River Derwent
River Derwent, Derbyshire
The Derwent is a river in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is 66 miles long and is a tributary of the River Trent which it joins south of Derby. For half its course, the river flows through the Peak District....
in the Peak District National Park. On the west side of the valley is the 429 metres (1,407 ft) high Sir William Hill, and to the south-east lies the gritstone escarpment of Froggatt Edge
Froggatt Edge
Froggatt Edge is a gritstone escarpment in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park, in Derbyshire, England and situated in close proximity to the villages of Froggatt, Calver, Curbar, Baslow and Grindleford...
. Grindleford became a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in 1987, merging the parishes of 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...
Woodlands, Stoke, Nether Padley and Upper Padley.
The nearest city to Grindleford is Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, the centre of which is about 7 miles (11 km) away. For rail travellers, the Sheffield suburb of Totley is less than three miles away at the other end of the Totley Tunnel
Totley Tunnel
Totley Tunnel is a tunnel on the former Midland Railway Manchester-Sheffield line between Totley on the outskirts of Sheffield and Grindleford in Derbyshire, England. It was completed in 1893 and was the longest mainline railway tunnel within the United Kingdom that ran under land for its entire...
. This is the second-longest rail tunnel in the UK: first-time travellers from the Sheffield direction enter the tunnel in the suburbs and are surprised to find themselves in the middle of Peak District countryside when they emerge. Grindleford railway station
Grindleford railway station
Grindleford railway station serves the village of Grindleford in the Derbyshire Peak District, in England, although it is about a mile way, the nearest village being Nether Padley....
(confusingly located in Upper Padley, half a mile away) is at the western portal of the rail tunnel - on the scenic Hope Valley Line
Hope Valley Line
The Hope Valley Line is a railway line in England linking Sheffield with Manchester. It was completed in 1894.From Sheffield, trains head down the Midland Main Line to Dore, where the Hope Valley Line branches off to run through the Totley Tunnel .It emerges in the stunning scenery of the Hope...
between Sheffield and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Grindleford is popular with walkers and climbers due to its proximity to a variety of landscapes, including open moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
, wooded river valleys (including Padley Gorge), several gritstone escarpments, and the broad Hope Valley
Hope Valley
Hope Valley could refer to:*The Hope Valley, Derbyshire*The Hope Valley, Shropshire*Hope Valley, Rhode Island, a village*Hope Valley, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth*Hope Valley, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide...
. Visitors seeking refreshment are well catered for by a number of establishments, including the Sir William Hotel, the Maynard Hotel and Bar, the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
Longshaw Estate Visitor Centre, and Grindleford Station Cafe (in the old station house).
Padley Chapel
Nicholas Garlick
Blessed Nicholas Garlick was an English catholic priest, martyred in Derby in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.- Early life :...
and Robert Ludlum
Robert Ludlum (Catholic martyr)
Robert Ludlum was a Roman Catholic martyr. He was born sometime in the 16th century in Sheffield, England. He died in 1588.Ludlum and fellow Catholic Nicholas Garlick were arrested by the Earl of Shrewsbury's agents as they performed Mass at Padley Manor, Derbyshire.They were executed for their...
) were discovered and then, two weeks later, hung, drawn and quartered in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. They became known as the 'Padley Martyrs'. Padley Hall today is mostly in ruins, although part of it - probably originally the central gatehouse range - survives, and in 1933 was converted to a Roman Catholic chapel in honour of the martyrs.. The chapel stands not far from the railway line, a short distance westwards from the station. A pilgrimage takes place every year in July.