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Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire Dales is in Derbyshire.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ashford-in-the-Water [Map]
The Derbyshire River Wye rises at Axe Edge Moor [Map] after which it travels broadly south-west through Buxton, Derbyshire [Map], Millers Dale [Map], Cressbrook, Derbyshire [Map], Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire [Map], Bakewell, Derbyshire [Map] and Haddon Hall [Map] to Rowsley [Map] where it joins the River Derwent.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ashford-in-the-Water, Ashford Hall [Map]
On 23 Sep 1880 George Henry Cavendish (age 70) died in Ashford Hall [Map]. He was buried in the Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].
George Henry Cavendish: George Henry Cavendish and Louisa Lascelles were married. She the daughter of Henry Lascelles 2nd Earl Harewood and Henrietta Sebright Countess Harewood. On 19 Aug 1810 he was born to William Cavendish and Louisa Ocallaghan.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ashford-in-the-Water, Fin Cop Barrow [Map]
Fin Cop Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Archaeologia Volume 12 Section XXV. Discoveries in a Barrow [Fin Cop Barrow [Map]] in Derbyshire. In a Letter from Hayman Rooke, Esq. to Mr, Gough, Read February 11, 1796.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ashford-in-the-Water, Fin Cop [Map]
Fin Cop, Derbyshire is also in Peak District Iron Age Hill Forts.
Fin Cop, Derbyshire [Map] is an Iron Age Hill fort. In 2011 excavations unearthed a mass burial containing only women and children. Carbon dating of the site suggests it was constructed between 440BC and 390BC.
Fin Cop, Derbyshire [Map]. Historic England 1011205
Fin Cop is a steep-sided promontory situated on the western edge of Longstone Moor on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument occupies the north-west corner of the promontory, overlooking Monsal Dale to the north and Wye Dale to the west. It includes a Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age promontory fort and, within the area covered by the fort, an Early Bronze Age bowl barrow and an eighteenth century limekiln with an attached limestone quarry. The promontory fort comprises a level sub-rectangular area defined on the north and west sides by the steep scarps above the two dales and on the east and south sides by earthwork defences. Starting on the edge of Monsal Dale to the north, these defences extend southwards for 225m then curve south-west for a further 160m before ending on the edge of Wye Dale. From this point, a linear feature extends northwards back to the edge of Monsal Dale and is interpreted as the site of the timber palisade that would have enclosed the fort on this side. It consists of a low bank with a narrow berm or terrace to the west and then a slight counterscarp bank. It appears, wholly or partly, to have utilised a natural break in the limestone outcrop. The earthwork defences round the landward edge of the fort consist, for the northernmost 180m, of a bank, ditch and counterscarp bank, then, for the rest of the circuit, of a bank or rampart only. The more massive inner bank is currently c.5m wide by 1.5m-2m high, the ditch is c.3m wide by 1m-1.5m deep and the counterscarp bank is c.2m wide by 1m high. Although no longer visible, it is likely that the ditch extended round the southern section of the rampart and has become silted up and levelled by ploughing since the fort was abandoned. Together with the remains of the counterscarp bank, it will survive as a buried feature and is included within the scheduling. A gap in the double bank and ditch on the east side indicates the original entrance into the fort. Near the western edge of the fort, just north of the eighteenth century quarry, are the ploughed over remains of an earlier Bronze Age bowl barrow. The barrow was quarried for its stone in the late eighteenth century, possibly to feed the adjacent lime kiln. Subsequently, in 1795, it was partially excavated by Rooke. His discoveries included a rock-cut grave built up with stone and covered by a capstone. Inside was a disarticulated skeleton accompanied by two flint arrowheads. Elsewhere in the mound, he found a dry-walled cist, or grave, containing the remains of a cremation, while, on the south-east side three pottery 'urns' were discovered, one of which has since been identified as a ceremonial food vessel. These contained further cremations and one of the 'urns' also contained an arrowhead. Two further inhumations were found on the east side of the mound. In its present disturbed condition, the barrow has a diameter of 24m by 23m and a height of c.0.5m though, originally it would have been between 1m and 2m high. Roughly 20m to the south is an eighteenth century lime kiln set in its own small quarry. The kiln is of the type known as a 'double pye-kiln'. The modern field walls crossing the monument are excluded from the scheduling though the ground beneath is included.
Archaeologia Volume 12 Section XXV. At about seventy-two yards South-east of the barrow is a work [Fin Cop, Derbyshire [Map]] thrown up, with a ditch on the inside of the vallum, which surrounds the top of the hill except on the North-west fide, where there is a precipice fourteen yards from the barrow; at the distance of one hundred and fixty yards beyond this work is another ditch and vallum, where the ditch is on the outside.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ashford-in-the-Water, Long Roods Barrow 1 [Map]
Long Roods Barrow 1 is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Tumuli 1832. In January 1832 a barrow was opened in a field called the "Long Roods," [Note. There are two Long Rood's Barrows: Long Roods Barrow 1 [Map] and Long Roods Barrow 2 [Map]. It isn't clear which is being referred to. The description 'about three hundred yards in front of the left flank of the military works on Fin Cop suggests the latter.] situated about three hundred yards in front of the left flank of the military works on Fin Cop, one mile north-west of Ashford-in-the-Water, on the road to Tideswell, in which two highly ornamental urns were found one broken to pieces, the other whole, and containing a deposit of calcined bones.
Amongst the debris of the barrow a third brass coin of Constantine, of the extremely common 'Gloria exercitus' type, was found.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ashford-in-the-Water, Long Roods Barrow 2 [Map]
Long Roods Barrow 2 is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Tumuli 1832. In January 1832 a barrow was opened in a field called the "Long Roods," [Note. There are two Long Rood's Barrows: Long Roods Barrow 1 [Map] and Long Roods Barrow 2 [Map]. It isn't clear which is being referred to. The description 'about three hundred yards in front of the left flank of the military works on Fin Cop suggests the latter.] situated about three hundred yards in front of the left flank of the military works on Fin Cop, one mile north-west of Ashford-in-the-Water, on the road to Tideswell, in which two highly ornamental urns were found one broken to pieces, the other whole, and containing a deposit of calcined bones.
Amongst the debris of the barrow a third brass coin of Constantine, of the extremely common 'Gloria exercitus' type, was found.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ballidon
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ballidon, Blackstone's Low [Map]
Blackstone's Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Ballidon Moor. On the 30th of July we opened a fine bowl-shaped tumulus [Blackstone's Low [Map]], 15 yards across, situated on Ballidon Moor. The upper part, to the depth of two feet was almost entirely of earth, near the centre presenting the appearance of having been tempered. In this stratum were a few calcined bones, and fragments of a rude urn. Immediately beneath was an accumulation of stones, large and small, forming the base of the mound, which was raised on a rocky and uneven surface, which caused the thickness of the substructure of stone to fluctuate between two feet and a yard. The limestone employed being of a friable nature had become so far decomposed as to yield sufficient sand to choke up the interstices.
After noticing the trifling remains exhumed from the upper bed of earth, we observed nothing until arriving at the sandy stone, amongst which were four skeletons that might have been slightly disturbed before, but from their contracted posture and decayed condition it was difficult to decide, with respect to three of them, whether they had or not; the fourth had certainly been either disturbed at the interment of the others, or had been buried as a skeleton whilst the bones were fresh, as all parts of the skeleton had been collected and the long bones laid side by side. The latter were still unbroken, and it is obvious that they must have been thus arranged while retaining much of their natural strength, had it been otherwise they would have been broken by the stones with which they were in contact. This skeleton was nearer the centre than the others, and a very few inches beyond it we first observed a well-defined stratum of burnt earth, with a layer of pure charcoal above it, interposed between the upper bed of earth and the sandy stone. Pursuing this favourable indication we discovered, almost simultaneously, two very interesting interments which were found by extending the cutting a little beyond the middle of the barrow. The most ancient was about five feet below the summit in a depression in the rock, which was converted into a neat lozenge-shaped cist by four flat stones placed on edge; it was the skeleton of a middle aged man in unusually fine preservation, who lay with the knees drawn up, contrary to the usual custom on his right: side his femur measures 18.6 inches; he was accompanied by one poor flint only, suited to point an arrow. The skull, in perfect preservation, has been engraved in the Crania Britannica, it is chiefly distinguished by the rugged or strongly marked character of the facial bones, and has an internal capacity of 74½ ounces; the nasal bones have been fractured, and re-joined during life, and the teeth were much worn down. The cranium is considered by the learned authors of the Crania Britannica, as a typical example of the brachy-cephalic variety of the Ancient British head, and is engraved as such in Dr. Meigs' Cranial Characteristics of the Races of Men, Philadelphia, 1857.
While taking up this skeleton we met with a large flat stone lying aslant, with its lowest edge within the cist; this was most likely the cover which had given way; the upper end was embedded in stones and burnt sand, interspersed with partially calcined human bones, and others in their natural state; among the latter were some remains of an infant; close above stood a large cinerary urn in an upright position, containing calcined human bones, and protected from superincumbent pressure by a large stone resting at each end upon an upright slab. The urn, 11½ inches high and 9 diameter at the mouth, is ornamented by patterns impressed from a twisted thong, and is in fine preservation, having been found perfect. The bones within it were beautifully coloured by burning, and perfectly clean; amongst them we found a piece of an animal's jaw, rats' bones, a fine bone pin 4 inches long, a fragment of thin pottery, and a flint arrow head, all (including the rats' bones) much burnt. The presence of partially burnt human bones in the sand, the discoloration of the latter, and the occurrence of calcined rats' bones in the urn, demonstrate the fact of the corpse having been consumed upon the spot. The section will render the arrangement of the interments in this curious barrow easily understood.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Baslow [Map]
The River Derwent rises on Bleaklow [Map] after which it passes Bamford [Map], Hope, Derbyshire [Map], Hathersage [Map], Grindleford [Map], Baslow, Derbyshire [Map], Chatsworth House [Map] passing under Chatsworth Bridge [Map], Rowsley [Map] which it is joined by the Derbyshire River Wye, Matlock [Map], Matlock Bath [Map], Cromford [Map], Ambergate [Map] where it is joined by the River Amber. After Ambergate [Map] it passes Belper, Derbyshire [Map], Duffield, Derbyshire [Map] then flows through the centre of Derby [Map] after which it joins the River Trent around 1.4 Km east of Cavendish Bridge, Leicestershire [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Baslow, Stone Low [Map]
Stone Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Tumuli 1830. About the year 1830 a barrow upon the East Moor, near Baslow, called Stone Lowe [Map], was accidentally opened by the farmer in whose stackyard it stood. In the centre he found two large urns, both neatly ornamented, and both containing calcined bones and flints. Inside one of them was a small incense cup, with two perforations through one side. This being fortunately preserved, we are enabled to give a cut of it.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Bonsall [Map]
In Dec 1384 Thomas Wendesley (age 40) was retained for life by John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 44) in peace and war at an annual fee of 20 marks, charged upon the township of Bensall in Derbyshire [Note. Possibly Bonsall [Map]]. The benefits were certainly not all one-sided, for Wensley was expected to use his own influence as a member of the local bench and crown commissioner on the duke's behalf when the occasion demanded.
On 03 Jan 1842 Samuel Moorcroft (age 38) died at Bonsall [Map].
Around 15 May 1852 John Moocroft (age 84) died at Bonsall [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Boylestone [Map]
Around May 1768 John Moocroft was born at Boylestone [Map].
Around May 1803 Samuel Moorcroft was born to John Moocroft (age 35) at Boylestone [Map].
In 1834 Thomas Moorcroft was born to Samuel Moorcroft (age 30) at Boylestone [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Brierlow Bar [Map]
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Brushfield
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Brushfield Barrow [Map]
Brushfield Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Brushfield Barrow 1825. About the year 1825 a tumulus, at Brushfield [Map], Derbyshire, was accidently opened by the farmer in whose land it was. It contained an iron sword, measuring thirty-two inches in length and two inches in breadth, the iron umbo of a shield, an iron knife and buckle. These articles passed into the hands of the late Mr. Birds, of Eyam; and thence, with the exception of the centre of the shield, into the author's museum.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Cales Dale [Map]
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Cales Dale Barrow [Map]
Thomas Bateman 1824. In May 1824 a barrow [Note. There is no known barrow 'half a mile east'. Possibly Cales Dale Barrow [Map] which is 0.6miles NE of Arbor Low. ] situated about half a mile east of the temple of Arbor Lowe [Map] was opened; part of a human skeleton and a broken urn rudely ornamented about six inches in diameter with some calcined bones (doubtless human) near it were found amongst a multitude of rats bones also a dog's jaw-bone. This sepulchre had been disturbed some time previously by labourers getting stone, who, no doubt, had broken the urn to pieces, and who desisted in superstitious alarm on finding a complete human skeleton.
Derbyshire Archaeological Journal Volume 30 1908 Page 155. [Fol. 42.] May 31st 1824. Opening of One Ash [Map] barrow.1
"I re-opened a low [Cales Dale Barrow [Map]] on Mr. Beaumont's farm at One Ash, in the County of Derby, in which we found some further remains of an urn, and the bones and teeth of a skeleton lying with its head towards the S.E. On a previous examination of this barrow in 1818 we found some remains of the urn, and calcined bones, together with a great quantity of the bones of rats, and a few human bones. Having been disturbed by labourers procuring stone, the urn was, no doubt, broken to pieces by them. The barrow was about 6 yds. in diameter, and elevated not more than 3 ft. irom the surface. From the appearance of the urn, which is ornamented in a style rather superior to what are usually found, Mr. Lemon supposes it (the barrow) to have been the burial place of a Briton of distinction."
Note 1. This barrow was opened by Mr.Thomas Bateman on July 31st, 1844, when he found the remains of several interments. At the time, he was not aware that it had been previousiy opened by Mr. Mitchell, but refers to this in his text. Vestiges, p. 54.
Section I Tumuli 1844. On the 31st of July, 1844, a small barrow [Map] on the One-ash Farm was opened; it was very low, being in no place more than a foot above the surrounding ground; owing to this circumstance the bones had been much disturbed and broken by the passing of the ploughshare over the mound. Near the centre of the barrow were the remains of a human skeleton, which had been accompanied by an ornamented drinking-cup, now broken to fragments; about the same place were perceived a great number of rats' bones, a few horse's teeth, a part of a boar's tusk, and a piece of rubbed sandstone, which had been burnt until it had become quite red, together with a few bits of flint. In other parts of the tumulus human bones were discovered, which would indicate this barrow to have been the resting-place of about six ancient Britons.
Since the above account was written it has been ascertained that this tumulus was opened in 1818, by Mr. Samuel Mitchell (age 41), who discovered part of a neatly-ornamented urn, about six inches in diameter, which had contained calcined bones; also some animal bones and an entire human skull.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Carsington [Map]
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Carsington, St Margaret's Church [Map]
On 02 Jul 1593 John Gell 1st Baronet was baptised at St Margaret's Church, Carsington [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Chelmorton [Map]
In 1370 Sir Godfrey Foljambe (age 26) the younger (son of the eminent lawyer and retainer of John of Gaunt (age 29)) confirmed him in possession of part of the manors of Over Haddon [Map], Rowsley [Map], Wardlow [Map], Monyash [Map] and Chelmorton [Map] in Derbyshire, which were to Gaunt himself.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Chelmorton Barrow 3 [Map]
Chelmorton Barrow 3 is also in Prehistoric Peak Distrct Roman and Saxon Barrows.
Chelmorton. 23rd of June we opened a small low barrow [Probably Chelmorton Barrow 3 [Map]] in the neighbourhood of the last, which covered a rock grave three feet deep, the irregular shape of which was corrected by an interior lining of stone slabs. It was chiefly filled with stones, but had a layer of tempered earth above and below them: the latter had the nature of exceedingly tenacious clay, and in it was imbedded the skeleton of a tall man of middle age, who lay extended on his back with the head raised and pointing to the west; the hands, with the fingers extended, were placed on the thighs; an iron knife much corroded lay in an oblique direction across the left side of the pelvis, and was itself crossed by the bones of the wrist. The right femur had been fractured about 6 inches below the neck, but had firmly reunited, apparently with the effect of shortening the limb, Parallel with the right side of the body, for its whole length, was a ridge of dark-coloured earth so remarkably dense that we could not detect the substances of which it was composed in any part excepting between the right humerus and the ribs, where it contained remains of wood and of animal's skin, the earth separating with ease where the latter had been folded, and exhibiting a hairy surface almost as perfect as would be shown by a recent hide under the same circumstances of damp and pressure, colour alone excepted. Although there was a hard mass of tempered earth above the grave, a few water rats had left their bones near those of this Saxon.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Chelmorton Thorn Barrow [Map]
Chelmorton Thorn Barrow is also in Prehistoric Peak Distrct Roman and Saxon Barrows.
Chelmorton. On the 9th of September, we opened a small grave mound [Chelmorton Thorn Barrow [Map]] near Chelmorton Thorn, Derbyshire, measuring about 9 yards across and 2 feet high. By cutting a trench through the middle we found it to consist of pudiled and tempered earth mixed with a few limestones, the latter more plentiful about the centre; beneath these, and very slightly lower than the natural surface, on a very uneven floor of rock, lay a tall but slender skeleton, evidently of a young man of the Anglo-Saxon race, who had been carefully deposited at full length on his back, with the head due west; the arms lay along the sides, but the hands had been placed upon the lower part of the person, the phalanges of the fingers being found in the hollow of the pelvis, which had become flattened by pressure from the earth above. Close to the left side of the pelvis we found two short knives and a buckle of iron, all very much corroded by the destructive action of the puddled earth, which had also decayed the skeleton so much, that it was impossible to obtain accurate measurements of any of the long bones.
It is rather remarkable, that the place has the reputation of being haunted: on the occasion of our visit a person was pointed out who had actually been favoured with a sight of the apparition, which was manifested in the form of a man of unearthly stature, who walked before the seer for some distance, about the hour of four on a summer's morning.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Chelmorton, Deep Dale Barrow [Map]
Deep Dale Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Chelmorton. In the afternoon of the same day, we went to a mutilated barrow [Deep Dale Barrow [Map]], situated in a romantic spot close to the verge of some limestone rocks, overhanging a waterless valley near Chelmorton, called Deepdale, about a mile north-west of the village; but found that the whole remains had been turned over, most likely to extract the stone for building purposes. Of objects indicating its original intention, we observed traces in the presence of comminuted bone, rats' bones, and shreds of flint.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Chelmorton, Great Low Barrow [Map]
Great Low Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Chelmorton. On the 20th of June we examined two barrows on a tract of high land, called Great Low [Map], between Hurdlow and Chelmorton:
he first had been removed almost to the surface of the land so that nothing was found but a small piece of Romano-British pottery. The other, called Nether Low [Map], originally a large barrow, but mutilated by stone getters, still covers an area 25 yards across, and is 4 feet high: it is composed exclusively of stone. Although we failed on this occasion to discover the primary interment we found remains of two individuals, one of whom had undergone cremation; and myriads of rats' bones, which were most abundant near some very large stones on the natural surface, about the centre of the mound.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Chelmorton, Nether Low Barrow [Map]
Nether Low Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Chelmorton. On the 20th of June we examined two barrows on a tract of high land, called Great Low [Map], between Hurdlow and Chelmorton:
he first had been removed almost to the surface of the land so that nothing was found but a small piece of Romano-British pottery. The other, called Nether Low [Map], originally a large barrow, but mutilated by stone getters, still covers an area 25 yards across, and is 4 feet high: it is composed exclusively of stone. Although we failed on this occasion to discover the primary interment we found remains of two individuals, one of whom had undergone cremation; and myriads of rats' bones, which were most abundant near some very large stones on the natural surface, about the centre of the mound.
Chelmorton. On the 5th of July we resumed the examination of the barrow at Nether Low [Map], and found at the west side about five yards from the centre, four interments, three of which were placed in angle of a shallow depression in the rock, of irregular form. The most important of these was the skeleton of a middle aged man, lying contracted in the western angle, having beneath the head, and in contact with the skull, a beautiful leaf-shaped dagger of white flint, 4½ inches long, with the narrower half curiously serrated. A few inches from this unique weapon, was a plain but neat spear head of white flint. In a joint of the rock at a right angle with this interment, was a slender skeleton, probably of a female in the prime of life, accompanied by a prism-shaped piece of white flint, a piece of hematite, a boar's tusk, and a large globular bead of jet; the last found close to the neck.
The third skeleton was that of a much younger subject, and lay on the rock a little nearer the centre; it was not provided with implements, but between it and the others was a single piece of a calcined human skull. They were all about 4 feet from the top of the barrow.
Another skeleton was discovered about two feet from the surface, in a cist covered by a large flat stone and constructed across the joint of rock occupied by the female skeleton; it was accompanied by stags' horns of large size, and an arrow point of grey flint; and appeared to be the body of a person 17 or 18 years old.
In another cutting, near the outside, we found the remains of an infant, and a very neat instrument of white flint of uncertain use.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Conksbury Bridge [Map]
Ten Years' Digging Appendix. Miscellaneous Discoveries.
In April, 1847, men employed in getting stone under an accumulation of loose limestone, at the bottom of a low hill close to the river Lathkill, at Conksbury Bridge [Map], near Youlgrave, found a considerable number of bones, both human and animal* The former comprised skeletons of four young persons and one infant, none having reached maturity; the latter consist chiefly of the skeletons of two horses. Amongst them were found a short piece of the leg bone of some animal, artificially perforated with six holes, and a plain bronze fibula, of the common Roman type, with the acus still remaining. All the articles (except the perforated bone) were added to the collection at Lomberdale, by the kindness of Thomas Masters, Esq., of Bakewell.
In illustration of this discovery, we may mention that a tall and singularly slender skeleton was found under limestone gravel, in a similar situation at the foot of a hill at Dowell, near Sterndale, in November, 1850; but being unaccompanied by any manufactured object, we are unable to fix any approximate date to the time of its interment.
The River Lath rises near Monyash [Map] flowing through Lathkill Dale [Map], where there are a number of seasonal springs, to Conksbury Bridge, Derbyshire [Map] then Alport [Map] where it is joined by the River Bradford. After Alport [Map] the River Lath flows east to a point around 600m south of Haddon Hall [Map] where it joins the Derbyshire River Wye.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Conksbury Bridge, Conksbury Barrow [Map]
Conksbury Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Thomas Bateman 1824. On the 31st of May, 1824, a large tumulus [Map], sixty feet in diameter, and four feet in height, situated in Haddon field, near the river Lathkiln, almost opposite to Conksbury [Map] was opened; it had been before disturbed by labourers in search of stone, who discovered near the centre a loosely walled vault or cist, containing two human skeletons, and a rude urn of baked clay; they also met with a considerable number of Roman coins in small brass, which were deposited in Haddon Hall. This second opening was made by cutting a trench from the north-west extremity towards the centre, during the progress of which the whole barrow was observed to consist of loose stones thrown together.
About three yards from the centre of the mound were found scattered about a quantity of third brass Roman coins to the number of eighty-two (quere 71 ), and with them some small pieces of lead ore, which would furnish an additional proof, were any wanting, of the remote era in which the Derbyshire lead mines were worked; near the coins was part of a glass vessel, when perfect, about three inches in diameter. In the vault (apparently the only one in the barrow), and doubtless containing the original interments, were discovered human bones, some of which had undergone cremation, fragments of four urns, and traces of decayed wood. The bodies were laid with their heads towards the north-east, and had the usual accompaniment of rats' bones; also the teeth of a canine animal.
The coins, which would pertain to a later interment of the Romano-British period, were of the following reigns: Constantine nine, Constans seventeen, Constantius II nine, family of Constantine three; namely, Urbs Roma one, and Constantinopolis two, Valentinian five, Valens twelve, Gratian three, and the remainder illegible.
Derbyshire Archaeological Journal Volume 30 1908 Page 155. [Fol.4r.] "Memorandum. Opening of Haddon barrow [Map], June 1st 18241.
"With the permission and kind assistance of Dr. Ewer Colie Esqr, I opened the barrow situate on the hill above the Eastern bank of the river Lathkill in Haddon pasture, in the County of Derby which, having been disturbed some years before with the view of procuring stone to build the adjoining fences, had been found to contain human bones, &c. The men who were employed on that occasion, broke into a vault or coffin walled round with loose stone, containing two human bodies, together with a rude urn of unbaked clay, and about 30 Roman coins (one Gallienus) now deposited in Haddon Hall, on finding which they were ordered to desist from their search.
"On the 2nd attempt to open it, I ordered a trench to be cut from the N.W. boundary to the centre, as well as an excavation to be made in the place where the vault was originally broken into. We discovered the vault marked out by stones rudely piled together on each side, and at the ends, which pointed about S.W. and N.E., the head of the skeleton2 lying at the N.E. end of it. Among the rubbish we discovered many human bones, fragments of bones, some pieces of calcined bones, with several Roman coins. The teeth of a dog, and a number of heads and bones of rats and other small animals were discovered here and in other parts of the mound. In the section from N.W. the mound was found full of stones, which seemed to extend through the whole barrow. Among these stones, which were intermixed with earth, we discovered, about 3 yds. from the centre of the tumulus, a quantity of scattered Roman coins, to the number of 703, with some pieces of lead ore, and a portion of glass, which seemed to have formed part of an urn of the same material. The decayed remains of an oaken board4, of about ¾in. thick, were found near the centre of the mount. We couid not discover any other vault than the one described, in the whole tumulus. From the fragrnents found in this excdvation, as well as the former, there must have been at least 4 earthen urns deposited in the barrow5. The coins found were Urbs Roma, one; Constantius, 9; Constantinus, 9; Constantinopolis, 2; Constans, 17; Valentinianus, 5; Valens, 12; Gratianus, 3; and the remainder iliegible. The mound was about 6o ft. in diameter and elevated 4 feet from the level of the ground. I have no doubt of its being constructed in the reign of the emperor Gratian, who was assassinated in the year 3836."
Note 1. Vestiges, p. 30, but the date given as May 31st, 1824, and without any mention of Mr. Mitchell or Dr. Colie.
Note 2. Vestiges, "the bodies were laid with their heads towards the north-east."
Note 3. Ibid. "eighty-two (quere 71)."
Note 4. Ibid. "traces of decayed wood" in the vault.
Note 5. These are said to have been in the vault, Vestiges.
Note 6. The mound, of course, was much more ancient, and the coins part of a hoard hidden in it at the time of Gratian or later. Derbyshire has supplied many instances of Neolithic and Bronze age barrows, which received at later periods deposits, sepulchral or otherwise.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Cressbrook [Map]
The Derbyshire River Wye rises at Axe Edge Moor [Map] after which it travels broadly south-west through Buxton, Derbyshire [Map], Millers Dale [Map], Cressbrook, Derbyshire [Map], Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire [Map], Bakewell, Derbyshire [Map] and Haddon Hall [Map] to Rowsley [Map] where it joins the River Derwent.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Cressbrook, Brushfield Barrow
Brushfield. On the same afternoon, we examined a mutilated barrow [Brushfield Barrow, location unknown] nearer Brushfield, called the "Gospel Hillock [Map]," perhaps from the first Christian Missionary having taken his stand thereon while exhorting the Saxons to forsake the worship of Woden and Thor; and we were much disappointed by finding nothing more than a few calcined bones and a fragment of pottery.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Cressbrook, High Field Hlaew [Map]
High Field Hlaew is also in Prehistoric Peak Distrct Roman and Saxon Barrows.
Brushfield. On the 3rd of August, we opened a finely shaped barrow [High Field Hlaew [Map]] near Brushfield, upon Lapwing HiU, overlooking Cressbrook valley, measuring seventeen yards across and four feet high in the centre, composed of earth, with a few stones in the middle, where a shallow grave, about a foot deep, was sunk in the rock. In it lay extended the remains of a human body, so very much decayed as to be almost undistinguishable, but which we ascertained to have been deposited with the head to the west. Beneath the remnants of bone were many traces of light-coloured hair, as if from a hide, resting upon a considerable quantity of decayed wood, indicating a plank of some thickness, or the bottom of a coffin. At the left of the body was a long and broad iron sword, enclosed in a sheath made of thin wood covered with ornamented leather.
Under the hilt of the sword, which like most of ancient date is very small, was a short iron knife; and a little way above the right shoulder were two small javelin heads, 4½ inches long, of the same metal, which had lain so near each other as to become united by corrosion. Among the stones which filled the grave, and about a foot from the bottom, were many objects of corroded iron, including nine loops of hoop iron about an inch broad, which had been fixed to thick wood by long nails; eight staples or eyes, which had been driven through plank and clenched; and one or two other objects of more uncertain application, all which were dispersed at intervals round the corpse throughout the length of the grave, and which may therefore have been attached to a bier or coffin in which the deceased was conveyed to the grave, possibly from some distant place. The only specimen of a Saxon sword, which was the weapon of the thegn, previously found in this part of Derbyshire, was singularly enough found with the umbo of a shield on the same farm in 1828; thus indicating the connection of a noble Saxon family with Brushfield in the age of Heathendom, the name of which is perpetuated in a document of the 16th century, preserved in the British Museum1.
Note 1. Mortgage of Lands in Little Longsdon, Monsall Dale, and Brighterighefield (Brightric's Field,) otherwise Brushefielde, between Thomas Shakerley of Derby and Rowland Eyre of Hassoppe; dated May. 37th Elizabeth. B. Mus: Additional MSS. 6702. fol 45.
Frederick Lukis 1865. Notice Of The Opening Of A Barrow [Map] On Grey Cap Hill, Cressbrook, October 15, 1867 By B. J. F. Lucas, Esq.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Cromford [Map]
Wirksworth [Map] is one of the placed that is possibly the Roman town Lutudarum. The other candidates are Carsington, Matlock [Map] and Cromford [Map].
The River Derwent rises on Bleaklow [Map] after which it passes Bamford [Map], Hope, Derbyshire [Map], Hathersage [Map], Grindleford [Map], Baslow, Derbyshire [Map], Chatsworth House [Map] passing under Chatsworth Bridge [Map], Rowsley [Map] which it is joined by the Derbyshire River Wye, Matlock [Map], Matlock Bath [Map], Cromford [Map], Ambergate [Map] where it is joined by the River Amber. After Ambergate [Map] it passes Belper, Derbyshire [Map], Duffield, Derbyshire [Map] then flows through the centre of Derby [Map] after which it joins the River Trent around 1.4 Km east of Cavendish Bridge, Leicestershire [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Cromford, St Mary's Church [Map]
On 10 Oct 1871 Richard Fitzherbert 5th Baronet (age 25) and Mary Anne Arkwright Lady Fitzherbert (age 21) were married at St Mary's Church, Cromford [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Elton [Map]
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Elton, Barker Barn Barrow [Map]
Barker Barn Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Tumuli 1844. June the 10th, 1844, was opened a barrow [Map] upon Elton Moor, for which there is no distinctive name; it was on this occasion divided into four quarters by our sections, which left very little of the mound unexplored. In the usual central situation was found a previously-disturbed interment, accompanied by a large arrow- or spear-head of flint, a piece of a small urn neatly ornamented, and some animal teeth. On the southern side of the tumulus another interment was discovered, about eighteen inches below the natural surface of the land upon which the barrow was constructed; this skeleton was certainly that of an aged person, the teeth being much worn down; near the head was a piece of spherical iron pyrites, now for the first time noticed as being occasionally found with other relics in the British tumuli. Subsequent discoveries have proved that it was prized by the Britons, and not unfrequently deposited in the grave along with the weapons and ornaments which formed the most valued part of their store; even to the present day, the same mineral is used as a personal decoration by some tribes of the South American Indians. In the rear of the skeleton was a neatly-ornamented drinking-cup, which had been crushed by the weight of the soil, with which it had in a great degree become incorporated; within this cup the following odd assemblage of articles were placed: three quartz pebbles, one of which is red, the other two of a light colour; a flat piece of polished iron ore, a small celt of flint, with the peculiarity of having a round polished edge, instead of a cutting one as is usual; a beautifully-chipped cutting tool, twenty-one circular instruments almost all neatly chipped, and seventeen pieces, or rude instruments, all of flint, which had been turned to a delicate white or gray by calcination. Scattered about in the immediate neighbourhood of this interment were a good many pieces of burnt bones, not sufficient in quantity to compose a complete deposit, and a few rats' bones as usual.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Elton, Borther Low [Map]
Borther Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Tumuli 1843. 4th of September, 1843, a small barrow, about two miles south of Middleton-by-Yolgrave [Map], named Borther Lowe [Map], was investigated, first by digging down the centre, and afterwards by cutting it through to the south side. In the first excavation pieces of urns, horses' teeth, and other bones were immediately found. Proceeding lower down, upon the level of the ground on which the barrow was raised, a rude kind of pavement of rough limestones was found, which was covered with a layer of rats' bones. Yet no human bones were discovered in this part of the mound, which was therefore abandoned, and the south side subjected to an examination, with better success. The ground on the south being removed to the depth of a foot, a skeleton, with the head lying towards the interior of the barrow, was uncovered. It was found to be in a very decayed state, from its being placed so near the surface, within the influence of the atmosphere. On the left side of the skeleton were the remains of a plain, coarse urn, much disintegrated, owing to the reason above stated, a flint arrow-head, much burnt, a pair of the canine teeth of either a fox or a dog of the same size, and a diminutive bronze celt. The contemporary use of weapons of flint and bronze is remarkable: in another place are a few observations bearing upon this point. In other parts of the tumulus were three hones of fine slatestone. In an adjoining field are the remains of another barrow, removed in order to supply materials for a stone fence at the least expense; but there are no records of any discovery of interments having been made at the time.
Middleton. On the 5th of February we re-opened the barrow at Borthor Low [Map], first examined In September, 1843, (Vestiges, p. 48.,) when no central interment was found, although it appears that the cutting on that occasion was carried to within six inches of a skeleton, which lay on its left side in a very contracted posture, and which appears to have been the interment over which the tumulus was originally raised. The only relic found in close proximity to the body, was a rudely formed arrow-head of burnt flint, but in the earth not far distant were two more pieces of flint and a chip from a stone celt. In the course of the excavation we noticed rats' bones in profusion, and near the surface some small pieces of earthenware.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Eyam [Map]
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Eyam, St Lawrence's Church [Map]
In 1823 Bishop Robert Eden 3rd Baron Auckland (age 23) was appointed Rector of St Lawrence's Church, Eyam [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Fenny Bentley [Map]
In 1470 George Beresford was born to Aden Beresford (age 29) at Fenny Bentley [Map].
In 1520 Benedicta Bradbourne (age 25) died at Fenny Bentley [Map].
In 1520 George Beresford (age 50) died at Fenny Bentley [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Grindleford [Map]
The River Derwent rises on Bleaklow [Map] after which it passes Bamford [Map], Hope, Derbyshire [Map], Hathersage [Map], Grindleford [Map], Baslow, Derbyshire [Map], Chatsworth House [Map] passing under Chatsworth Bridge [Map], Rowsley [Map] which it is joined by the Derbyshire River Wye, Matlock [Map], Matlock Bath [Map], Cromford [Map], Ambergate [Map] where it is joined by the River Amber. After Ambergate [Map] it passes Belper, Derbyshire [Map], Duffield, Derbyshire [Map] then flows through the centre of Derby [Map] after which it joins the River Trent around 1.4 Km east of Cavendish Bridge, Leicestershire [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Hopton [Map]
Archaeologia Volume 12 Section I. Dear Sir, Mansfield Woodhouse, Dec. 27, 1793.
The following account of some Roman antiquities lately discovered near Hopton [Map], which Mr. Gell was so obliging as to reserve for my inspection, I did intend to have had the honour of presenting to the Society; but, as it will be rendered more acceptable by the addition of your learned observations, I shall solicit for its admittance into your interesting account of Roman antiquities (Derbeiesscira Romana), which I hope you intend to continue. I am, dear Sir,
Your fincere and obliged humble fervant,
H. Rooke.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Hopton Hall [Map]
On 22 Jun 1593 John Gell 1st Baronet was born to Thomas Gell (age 61) and Millicent Sacheverell in Hopton Hall [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Hopton, Ivet aka Abbot's Low [Map]
Ivet aka Abbot's Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Tumuli 1793. In May, 1793, Major Booke opened a large barrow on a rising ground near Hopton, which is called Abbotts Lowe [Map], and is about 196 feet in circumference. At the depth of about five feet from the top of the barrow was a very large urn, about seventeen inches in diameter, which was placed in an excavation in the native soil, about eighteen inches deep. It contained a deposit of burned bones and ashes, and was broken to pieces in attempting to remove it.
Archaeologia Volume 12 Section I. About a mile South of the above-mentioned valley, on a rising ground near Hopton, is a very large barrow called Abbot’s Low [Map], the circumference of which is 196 feet. As the labourers were preparing this for a plantation, they discovered an urn, which Mr. Gell was fo obliging as to order should not be touched till I came to Hopton. In May last we proceeded to examine the urn, and after removing the stone, N° 2, which covered it, and clearing away the ground to the depth of five feet from the top, and about eighteen inches below the natural soil, I got a distinct view of the urn, which was four feet three inches in circumference, made of coarse baked earth, and full of burnt bones and ashes, in attempting to take it up, it fell to pieces. See the shape of the urn in drawing N° 3. The stone which covered this urn, fee N° 2, measures on the top two feet fix inches by one foot eight inches, and about nine inches thick, it appears to be a soft yellowish free stone, and much corroded; in rubbing off the dirt from the top, which had filled lip the interfaces of the letters, I discovered an inscription, a facsimile of which is on the stone N° 7. There evidently appears to have been more letters above, but they are now fo defaced by time, that nothing can be made out, though very possibly they might have been the letters of the praenomen; the inscription seems to be intended for Gellius Præfectus Cohortis Tertieæ Legionis Quintæ Britannicæ, but it does not appear, by any Roman author, that the fifth legion was ever in Britain, though Mr. Gordon mentions [a] a stone with the V. legion upon it, found in the fort at Grot hill in Scotland; he says, "I likewife found another very rare and curious stone with the following letters upon it, Leg. V. from the letters, two angular borderings appear on each side of the stone, so close and plain, that it leaves no room to doubt of its being read Legio Quinta; nor is there any space whatsoever for another letter to have been put in. I take this to be an invaluable rarity of its kind, being the only stone that ever I found in the island of Britain with the name of the fifth legion impressed upon it" LEGV.
Note a. Gordon* s Itinerarium Septentrionale, p. 56.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Hulme End [Map]
The River Manifold rises on Axe Edge Moor [Map] after which it travels broadly south past Longnor, Saffordshire [Map], Hulme End [Map], Ecton, Staffordshire [Map], Thor's Cave [Map], Beeston Tor, Staffordshire [Map] and Ilam, Staffordshire [Map] at which it joins the River Dove.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Kirk Ireton [Map]
On 14 Apr 1558 Thomas Gell (age 26) and Millicent Sacheverell were married in Kirk Ireton [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Matlock [Map]
Wirksworth [Map] is one of the placed that is possibly the Roman town Lutudarum. The other candidates are Carsington, Matlock [Map] and Cromford [Map].
Diary of Caroline Girlie. After having spent our time most agreeably with our Derbyshire, as we had before done with our Yorkshire friends, our London party set out on our return to the Metropolis, but in our way back was to stay a few days at Matlock [Map] and see Chatsworth [Map]; the latter we did the morning we left Mr. Slater's, it being about ten miles distant. This celebrated seat in the Peak of Derbyshire of his Grace of Devonshire I must own does not quite answer what report had taught me to expect, tho' undoubtedly striking; but I was told it would appear less so to us than to strangers in general by the Slaters having a key to go through his Grace's grounds, a better and much shorter road than the public one, but that did not give one near so picturesque a view of Chatsworth's [Map] situation as if we had gone down to it all at once from the barren moors. The house is of stone, and the architecture thought very fine, twenty-two rooms on a floor; the windows of the principal storey, seventeen feet in height, are all looking-glass, of panes two feet wide, the frames double gilt; the door, and window-frames, and staircases of marble; ceilings and some apartments painted by Verrio and other celebrated artists; there is some fine tapestry, and in one chamber a most elegant bed, and furniture of fine old print set upon Nankeen, which has a very pretty effect, as the colour of the ground sets off the work. There are many fine pictures; one range of rooms they still style Mary, Queen of Scots, as she was some time here, as well as at his Grace's other seat of Hardwick; there is a very elegant chapel, the altar and font fine marble, seats and gallery cedar, the walls and ceiling painted. The front towards the garden is esteemed a most regular piece of architecture. The frieze under the cornice has the family motto upon it, in gilt letters so large as to take up the whole length, tho' only two words, "Cavendo Tutos," which are as applicable to the situation of the house as the name of the family. The waterworks, which are reckoned the finest in England, were all played off, may be said to be more grand than pleasing, as there is a formality in them, particularly the grand cascade, which takes off every idea of the rural scene they are supposed to afford one, and a kind of triflingness (if I may make a word), in the copper1 willow-tree, and other contrivances beneath the dignity of the place. The gardens are fine. The very disadvantages of the situation contriving to their beauty. On the east side, not far distant, rises a prodigious mountain, so thick planted with beautiful trees that you only see a wood gradually ascending, as if the trees crowded one above the other to admire the stately pile before them. 'Tis said that Marshal Tallard when he returned to his own country, when he reckoned up the days of his captivity, said he should always leave out those he spent at Chatsworth; and I must own this magnificent (tho' at the same time gloomy), place may justly be stiled one of the wonders of the Peake.... In speaking of the waterworks, I forgot to mention the length of the great cascade, 220 yards long with twenty-three falls. In prosecuting our journey of about eleven miles, 'tis hardly possible to describe the variety of beauties; sometimes we were like Don Quixote, almost imagining ourselves enchanted, at another terrified by the huge rocks, which by their stupendous height seemed to threaten every minute to crush us by their fall. In the greatest of our terrors (when in a very narrow road, the above-mention'd rocks on one side, and an immense precipice down to the river on the other), we could not help laughing at the calm answer of one of the postillions, who by often going, I suppose, had not an idea of the danger we apprehended, for only calling out to beg he'd let us walk, and saying, "Where, friend, are you going?" "Only to Matlock Baths [Map], ladies." So indeed we knew, but at that moment doubted the wisdom of our driver, who, however conveyed us very safe to the destined spot. Ceremony seems banished from this agreeable place,. as on entering the long room strangers as well as acquaintances most politely made inquiries about the terrors of the way, &c, which themselves had before experienced. The very early hour of rising at Matlock [Map], gave us the next morning a still finer idea of the uncommon beauties of the place, as a most glorious day gave it additional lustre. The time of bathing is between six and seven, the water warm, and the pleasantest to drink that can be; at eight the company meet in the long room to breakfast in parties. This room and baths were built in 1734 by Stephen Egglinton. 'Tis a very good one, fifty feet long, windows all the way on each side, commanded the most romantic views, one way a fine terrace, beyond that a lawn extended to the river Derwent, which latter is a continual pleasing murmur by the current forcing itself over large pieces of rock; over this rises a most picturesque and natural shrubbery, to an immense and perpendicular height on the crag of rocks. On the left is seen Matlock High Torr [Map], a rocky mountain which, from the surface of the water 1757 to the top, is 445 feet. As there is always a cool spot among the woods, walking seems the particular amusement of the place. At two the bell rings for dinner, and, as before said, ease without unnecessary ceremony reigns here. Every one sits down without any form, those who come first by the rule taking the uppermost seats at the long table. There is a gallery for a band of music, who play the whole time of meals, The fatigue of dress, too, is at this public place quite avoided, as hats are general, as the company walk again till evening, when there is a ball in the long room till supper, and sometimes after. Every one retires very early, as few card-tables are seen, gaming not having yet reached this rural spot. The Boat-house, as 'tis call'd, we went one afternoon to drink tea at, where we bought curiosities of spars, &c, of the miners, men employed to the number of above ten thousand about Matlock [Map] only. We went, too, one morning to see them melt lead at a village near, call'd Cumford, but the heat was so intense we did not stay long among them; and the poor souls told us was often very prejudicial to them. That evening we went in a barge on the river, but it being not navigable, 'tis but in few places the stones and craginess of the rocks will allow of boats. Every evening almost we found new company on our return to supper. Tho' the numbers perhaps were lessn'd, as most likely as many were gone off the same morning, about a hundred generally assembled at dinner. I heard Miss Slater, who sometimes makes a stay there, say that two or three days has made a total change of inhabitants. We tried one evening to ascend the prodigious rock I before spoke of, call'd Matlock High Torr [Map]. Many do, it seems, perform it, but I own I was frighted before I had got a quarter of the way up, and each object below began to appear so diminutive that I, even with some others, consented to be ridiculed for my fears, and with vast joy got down again as soon as possible, and even thought I felt giddy for hours after, and thought myself most happy when I got into the grove, one of the sweetest walks in Matlock [Map].
Note 1. On pulling a string this sham tree deluges the stranger with a shower-bath.
The River Derwent rises on Bleaklow [Map] after which it passes Bamford [Map], Hope, Derbyshire [Map], Hathersage [Map], Grindleford [Map], Baslow, Derbyshire [Map], Chatsworth House [Map] passing under Chatsworth Bridge [Map], Rowsley [Map] which it is joined by the Derbyshire River Wye, Matlock [Map], Matlock Bath [Map], Cromford [Map], Ambergate [Map] where it is joined by the River Amber. After Ambergate [Map] it passes Belper, Derbyshire [Map], Duffield, Derbyshire [Map] then flows through the centre of Derby [Map] after which it joins the River Trent around 1.4 Km east of Cavendish Bridge, Leicestershire [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Matlock High Torr [Map]
Diary of Caroline Girlie. After having spent our time most agreeably with our Derbyshire, as we had before done with our Yorkshire friends, our London party set out on our return to the Metropolis, but in our way back was to stay a few days at Matlock [Map] and see Chatsworth [Map]; the latter we did the morning we left Mr. Slater's, it being about ten miles distant. This celebrated seat in the Peak of Derbyshire of his Grace of Devonshire I must own does not quite answer what report had taught me to expect, tho' undoubtedly striking; but I was told it would appear less so to us than to strangers in general by the Slaters having a key to go through his Grace's grounds, a better and much shorter road than the public one, but that did not give one near so picturesque a view of Chatsworth's [Map] situation as if we had gone down to it all at once from the barren moors. The house is of stone, and the architecture thought very fine, twenty-two rooms on a floor; the windows of the principal storey, seventeen feet in height, are all looking-glass, of panes two feet wide, the frames double gilt; the door, and window-frames, and staircases of marble; ceilings and some apartments painted by Verrio and other celebrated artists; there is some fine tapestry, and in one chamber a most elegant bed, and furniture of fine old print set upon Nankeen, which has a very pretty effect, as the colour of the ground sets off the work. There are many fine pictures; one range of rooms they still style Mary, Queen of Scots, as she was some time here, as well as at his Grace's other seat of Hardwick; there is a very elegant chapel, the altar and font fine marble, seats and gallery cedar, the walls and ceiling painted. The front towards the garden is esteemed a most regular piece of architecture. The frieze under the cornice has the family motto upon it, in gilt letters so large as to take up the whole length, tho' only two words, "Cavendo Tutos," which are as applicable to the situation of the house as the name of the family. The waterworks, which are reckoned the finest in England, were all played off, may be said to be more grand than pleasing, as there is a formality in them, particularly the grand cascade, which takes off every idea of the rural scene they are supposed to afford one, and a kind of triflingness (if I may make a word), in the copper1 willow-tree, and other contrivances beneath the dignity of the place. The gardens are fine. The very disadvantages of the situation contriving to their beauty. On the east side, not far distant, rises a prodigious mountain, so thick planted with beautiful trees that you only see a wood gradually ascending, as if the trees crowded one above the other to admire the stately pile before them. 'Tis said that Marshal Tallard when he returned to his own country, when he reckoned up the days of his captivity, said he should always leave out those he spent at Chatsworth; and I must own this magnificent (tho' at the same time gloomy), place may justly be stiled one of the wonders of the Peake.... In speaking of the waterworks, I forgot to mention the length of the great cascade, 220 yards long with twenty-three falls. In prosecuting our journey of about eleven miles, 'tis hardly possible to describe the variety of beauties; sometimes we were like Don Quixote, almost imagining ourselves enchanted, at another terrified by the huge rocks, which by their stupendous height seemed to threaten every minute to crush us by their fall. In the greatest of our terrors (when in a very narrow road, the above-mention'd rocks on one side, and an immense precipice down to the river on the other), we could not help laughing at the calm answer of one of the postillions, who by often going, I suppose, had not an idea of the danger we apprehended, for only calling out to beg he'd let us walk, and saying, "Where, friend, are you going?" "Only to Matlock Baths [Map], ladies." So indeed we knew, but at that moment doubted the wisdom of our driver, who, however conveyed us very safe to the destined spot. Ceremony seems banished from this agreeable place,. as on entering the long room strangers as well as acquaintances most politely made inquiries about the terrors of the way, &c, which themselves had before experienced. The very early hour of rising at Matlock [Map], gave us the next morning a still finer idea of the uncommon beauties of the place, as a most glorious day gave it additional lustre. The time of bathing is between six and seven, the water warm, and the pleasantest to drink that can be; at eight the company meet in the long room to breakfast in parties. This room and baths were built in 1734 by Stephen Egglinton. 'Tis a very good one, fifty feet long, windows all the way on each side, commanded the most romantic views, one way a fine terrace, beyond that a lawn extended to the river Derwent, which latter is a continual pleasing murmur by the current forcing itself over large pieces of rock; over this rises a most picturesque and natural shrubbery, to an immense and perpendicular height on the crag of rocks. On the left is seen Matlock High Torr [Map], a rocky mountain which, from the surface of the water 1757 to the top, is 445 feet. As there is always a cool spot among the woods, walking seems the particular amusement of the place. At two the bell rings for dinner, and, as before said, ease without unnecessary ceremony reigns here. Every one sits down without any form, those who come first by the rule taking the uppermost seats at the long table. There is a gallery for a band of music, who play the whole time of meals, The fatigue of dress, too, is at this public place quite avoided, as hats are general, as the company walk again till evening, when there is a ball in the long room till supper, and sometimes after. Every one retires very early, as few card-tables are seen, gaming not having yet reached this rural spot. The Boat-house, as 'tis call'd, we went one afternoon to drink tea at, where we bought curiosities of spars, &c, of the miners, men employed to the number of above ten thousand about Matlock [Map] only. We went, too, one morning to see them melt lead at a village near, call'd Cumford, but the heat was so intense we did not stay long among them; and the poor souls told us was often very prejudicial to them. That evening we went in a barge on the river, but it being not navigable, 'tis but in few places the stones and craginess of the rocks will allow of boats. Every evening almost we found new company on our return to supper. Tho' the numbers perhaps were lessn'd, as most likely as many were gone off the same morning, about a hundred generally assembled at dinner. I heard Miss Slater, who sometimes makes a stay there, say that two or three days has made a total change of inhabitants. We tried one evening to ascend the prodigious rock I before spoke of, call'd Matlock High Torr [Map]. Many do, it seems, perform it, but I own I was frighted before I had got a quarter of the way up, and each object below began to appear so diminutive that I, even with some others, consented to be ridiculed for my fears, and with vast joy got down again as soon as possible, and even thought I felt giddy for hours after, and thought myself most happy when I got into the grove, one of the sweetest walks in Matlock [Map].
Note 1. On pulling a string this sham tree deluges the stranger with a shower-bath.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Matlock Bath [Map]
Diary of Caroline Girlie. After having spent our time most agreeably with our Derbyshire, as we had before done with our Yorkshire friends, our London party set out on our return to the Metropolis, but in our way back was to stay a few days at Matlock [Map] and see Chatsworth [Map]; the latter we did the morning we left Mr. Slater's, it being about ten miles distant. This celebrated seat in the Peak of Derbyshire of his Grace of Devonshire I must own does not quite answer what report had taught me to expect, tho' undoubtedly striking; but I was told it would appear less so to us than to strangers in general by the Slaters having a key to go through his Grace's grounds, a better and much shorter road than the public one, but that did not give one near so picturesque a view of Chatsworth's [Map] situation as if we had gone down to it all at once from the barren moors. The house is of stone, and the architecture thought very fine, twenty-two rooms on a floor; the windows of the principal storey, seventeen feet in height, are all looking-glass, of panes two feet wide, the frames double gilt; the door, and window-frames, and staircases of marble; ceilings and some apartments painted by Verrio and other celebrated artists; there is some fine tapestry, and in one chamber a most elegant bed, and furniture of fine old print set upon Nankeen, which has a very pretty effect, as the colour of the ground sets off the work. There are many fine pictures; one range of rooms they still style Mary, Queen of Scots, as she was some time here, as well as at his Grace's other seat of Hardwick; there is a very elegant chapel, the altar and font fine marble, seats and gallery cedar, the walls and ceiling painted. The front towards the garden is esteemed a most regular piece of architecture. The frieze under the cornice has the family motto upon it, in gilt letters so large as to take up the whole length, tho' only two words, "Cavendo Tutos," which are as applicable to the situation of the house as the name of the family. The waterworks, which are reckoned the finest in England, were all played off, may be said to be more grand than pleasing, as there is a formality in them, particularly the grand cascade, which takes off every idea of the rural scene they are supposed to afford one, and a kind of triflingness (if I may make a word), in the copper1 willow-tree, and other contrivances beneath the dignity of the place. The gardens are fine. The very disadvantages of the situation contriving to their beauty. On the east side, not far distant, rises a prodigious mountain, so thick planted with beautiful trees that you only see a wood gradually ascending, as if the trees crowded one above the other to admire the stately pile before them. 'Tis said that Marshal Tallard when he returned to his own country, when he reckoned up the days of his captivity, said he should always leave out those he spent at Chatsworth; and I must own this magnificent (tho' at the same time gloomy), place may justly be stiled one of the wonders of the Peake.... In speaking of the waterworks, I forgot to mention the length of the great cascade, 220 yards long with twenty-three falls. In prosecuting our journey of about eleven miles, 'tis hardly possible to describe the variety of beauties; sometimes we were like Don Quixote, almost imagining ourselves enchanted, at another terrified by the huge rocks, which by their stupendous height seemed to threaten every minute to crush us by their fall. In the greatest of our terrors (when in a very narrow road, the above-mention'd rocks on one side, and an immense precipice down to the river on the other), we could not help laughing at the calm answer of one of the postillions, who by often going, I suppose, had not an idea of the danger we apprehended, for only calling out to beg he'd let us walk, and saying, "Where, friend, are you going?" "Only to Matlock Baths [Map], ladies." So indeed we knew, but at that moment doubted the wisdom of our driver, who, however conveyed us very safe to the destined spot. Ceremony seems banished from this agreeable place,. as on entering the long room strangers as well as acquaintances most politely made inquiries about the terrors of the way, &c, which themselves had before experienced. The very early hour of rising at Matlock [Map], gave us the next morning a still finer idea of the uncommon beauties of the place, as a most glorious day gave it additional lustre. The time of bathing is between six and seven, the water warm, and the pleasantest to drink that can be; at eight the company meet in the long room to breakfast in parties. This room and baths were built in 1734 by Stephen Egglinton. 'Tis a very good one, fifty feet long, windows all the way on each side, commanded the most romantic views, one way a fine terrace, beyond that a lawn extended to the river Derwent, which latter is a continual pleasing murmur by the current forcing itself over large pieces of rock; over this rises a most picturesque and natural shrubbery, to an immense and perpendicular height on the crag of rocks. On the left is seen Matlock High Torr [Map], a rocky mountain which, from the surface of the water 1757 to the top, is 445 feet. As there is always a cool spot among the woods, walking seems the particular amusement of the place. At two the bell rings for dinner, and, as before said, ease without unnecessary ceremony reigns here. Every one sits down without any form, those who come first by the rule taking the uppermost seats at the long table. There is a gallery for a band of music, who play the whole time of meals, The fatigue of dress, too, is at this public place quite avoided, as hats are general, as the company walk again till evening, when there is a ball in the long room till supper, and sometimes after. Every one retires very early, as few card-tables are seen, gaming not having yet reached this rural spot. The Boat-house, as 'tis call'd, we went one afternoon to drink tea at, where we bought curiosities of spars, &c, of the miners, men employed to the number of above ten thousand about Matlock [Map] only. We went, too, one morning to see them melt lead at a village near, call'd Cumford, but the heat was so intense we did not stay long among them; and the poor souls told us was often very prejudicial to them. That evening we went in a barge on the river, but it being not navigable, 'tis but in few places the stones and craginess of the rocks will allow of boats. Every evening almost we found new company on our return to supper. Tho' the numbers perhaps were lessn'd, as most likely as many were gone off the same morning, about a hundred generally assembled at dinner. I heard Miss Slater, who sometimes makes a stay there, say that two or three days has made a total change of inhabitants. We tried one evening to ascend the prodigious rock I before spoke of, call'd Matlock High Torr [Map]. Many do, it seems, perform it, but I own I was frighted before I had got a quarter of the way up, and each object below began to appear so diminutive that I, even with some others, consented to be ridiculed for my fears, and with vast joy got down again as soon as possible, and even thought I felt giddy for hours after, and thought myself most happy when I got into the grove, one of the sweetest walks in Matlock [Map].
Note 1. On pulling a string this sham tree deluges the stranger with a shower-bath.
The River Derwent rises on Bleaklow [Map] after which it passes Bamford [Map], Hope, Derbyshire [Map], Hathersage [Map], Grindleford [Map], Baslow, Derbyshire [Map], Chatsworth House [Map] passing under Chatsworth Bridge [Map], Rowsley [Map] which it is joined by the Derbyshire River Wye, Matlock [Map], Matlock Bath [Map], Cromford [Map], Ambergate [Map] where it is joined by the River Amber. After Ambergate [Map] it passes Belper, Derbyshire [Map], Duffield, Derbyshire [Map] then flows through the centre of Derby [Map] after which it joins the River Trent around 1.4 Km east of Cavendish Bridge, Leicestershire [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Middleton
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Middleton Moor
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Middleton Moor Barrow [Map]
Middleton Moor Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Thomas Bateman 1824. On the 28th of July, 1824, a search was instituted into a barrow [Map] situate on the most northerly, as well as the most elevated, point of Middleton Moor; it measures forty feet in diameter, and is about two feet in elevation. At an early stage of the operations, which commenced by cutting through the mound from north to south, human bones, intermixed with those of the water rat, and pieces of charcoal, were met with; towards the centre the rats' bones increased in quantity, and amongst them were several dogs' teeth. Arriving at the middle, the remains of two skeletons were disclosed to view; the whole in great confusion, and mostly in fragments, many quite black frm having undergone combustion; an iron lance, or arrow-head, three inches long; a piece of iron, resembling a nail; and a singular piece of calcined flint, very neatly chipped into a circular form. Numerous examples of this instrument having been discovered in subsequent researches, they will be here-after designated as flints of the circular form, in order to simplify the accounts as much as possible. No urn was discovered, nor from the perfect search that was made is it probable that any had ever been deposited in the barrow. The remains of one skull lay upon a round sandstone which was in a decomposed state and of a red colour apparently having been burnt. Notwithstanding the confused state in which the contents of this barrow were founds they certainly had not been previously subjected to antiquarian research.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Millers Dale [Map]
The Derbyshire River Wye rises at Axe Edge Moor [Map] after which it travels broadly south-west through Buxton, Derbyshire [Map], Millers Dale [Map], Cressbrook, Derbyshire [Map], Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire [Map], Bakewell, Derbyshire [Map] and Haddon Hall [Map] to Rowsley [Map] where it joins the River Derwent.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Nether Haddon [Map]
On 29 Sep 1679 John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland (age 75) died at Nether Haddon [Map]. He was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire [Map]. His son John Manners 1st Duke Rutland (age 41) succeeded 9th Earl of Rutland. Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland (age 22) by marriage Countess of Rutland.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Newhaven
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Newhaven, Gotham Barrow [Map]
Gotham Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Thomas Bateman 1846. Upon the 1st of April, 1847, a large tumulus [Map] [Gotham Barrow [Map]] near Ghotam was opened, rising about five feet above the natural level of the land, through which a cist was sunk into the rock to a further depth of four feet, and was filled in with stones of great magnitude, thus rendering the excavation extremely difficult, not to say dangerous.
This cist not being in the centre, probably corresponds to another of the same kind on the opposite side of the barrow, of which there are indications; want of time would not on this occasion allow of its investigation. The level in the middle of the tumulus appeared to have been covered with a large fire and upon it were found several teeth of a cow, two rude instruments of flint, and a piece of stag's horn, which has been cut by a saw of flint, or some such primitive instrument. After much labour the bottom of the cist was reached, at a depth of upwards of nine feet from the surface of the barrow, where, by the help of a candle, part of a human skeleton was obtained from beneath an immense stone which could not be removed; fortunately, the excavation exposed the upper extremity of the skeleton, about which the appendages are almost always deposited in the Celtic tumuli in this part of England, so that there is very little probability of anything having been overlooked. The articles in this case were of very meagre quality; in fact, two pieces of stag's horn, the one being a tine rudely broken off the stem, and the other consisting of two branches upon a piece of the horn neatly cut out of the entire antler.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Newhaven, The Low Barrow [Map]
The Low Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Newhaven. On the 27th of April we opened a mutilated mound of earth in a field near Newhaven House, called the Low [Map], two-thirds of which had been removed, and the remainder more or less disturbed. So that nothing was found in its original state; which is much to be regretted, as the contents appear to be late in date, and different in character from anything we have before found in tumuli. The mound itself, being constructed of tempered earth, bore some analogy to the grave hill of the Saxon Thegn opened at Benty Grange [Map] about a year before; and like it was without human remains, if we except a few fragments of calcined bone, which are too minute to be certainly assigned either to a human or animal subject. The articles found comprise many small pieces of thin iron straps or bands, more or less overlaid with bronze, which are by no means unlike the framework of the helmet found at Benty Grange. There is also a boss of thin bronze, 3 inches diameter, pierced with three holes for attachment to the dress (?) and divided by raised concentric circles, between which the metal is ornamented with a dotted chevron pattern, in the angles of which are small roses punched by a die. Another object in bronze is a small round vessel or box of thick cast metal, surrounded by six vertical ribs, and having two perforated ears, serving probably better to secure the lid and suspend the box. Although it measures less than an inch in height, and less than 2 in diameter, it weighs full 3½ ounces. A similar box, with the lid, on which is a cross formed of annulets, found with Roman remains at Lincoln, is engraved at page 30 of the Lincoln Boot of the Archaeological Institute, where it is called a pyx. Two others, discovered at Lewes, are engraved in the Archaeologia, Vol. XXXI., page 437, one of which has the lid bearing a cross precisely similar to the Lincoln example, whence it is certain that they must be assigned to a Christian period, probably not long previous to the extinction of the Saxon monarchy. The last object there is occasion to describe is an iron ferrule or hoop, 1½ inch diameter, one edge of which is turned inwards so as to prevent its slipping up the shaft on which it has been fixed. We also found some shapeless pieces of melted glass, which from their variegated appearance might be the product of fused beads; and observed many pieces of charred wood throughout the mound, which may possibly not have been of a sepulchral character.
A laughable circumstance occurred in connection with one article found here, which is really too good to be lost, t sent a sketch of the bronze box to a metropolitan archaeologist in order to ascertain its use. It was submitted to a well known collector, since deceased, who sent word that it was a Chinese weight I which he had recently seen knocked down at Stevens' saleroom!
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Osmaston
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Osmaston, Omaston Fields Bowl Barrow South [Map]
Omaston Fields Bowl Barrow South is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Omaston Fields Bowl Barrow South [Map]. The monument is a bowl barrow located in the southern part of Osmaston Fields which is situated on the southern ridges of the Derbyshire Peak District. It includes a large sub-circular mound and also the surrounding construction ditch which is buried beneath accumulated soil. The mound measures 50m by 45m by c.4m high
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Osmaston Fields Bowl Barrows [Map]
Osmaston Fields Bowl Barrows is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Osmaston Fields Bowl Barrows [Map]. Two finely preserved Bronze Age Bowl Barrows located in a field around 50m from the road. The south- western barrow is a roughly circular mound measuring 27m by 26m and standing c.0.75m high. The north-eastern barrow is sub-circular and slightly smaller at 27m by 24m by c.0.6m high. Both barrows are of earth construction and have had their profiles gradually lowered by ploughing in the past.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Osmaston, St Martin's Church [Map]
On 16 Feb 1886 James Robinson (age 24) and Annie Elizabeth Hall (age 29) were married at St Martin's Church, Osmaston [Map] in the presence of William bayles hall and Mary-Lucy Hall. He resident at Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map], she at Osmaston, Derbyshire. His father is Isaac Robinson (age 50)described as a Labourer, her father William bayles hall as a Butler.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Osmaston, Tinker's Inn North Bowl Barrow [Map]
Tinker's Inn North Bowl Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Tinker's Inn North Bowl Barrow [Map]. Tinker's Inn bowl barrow, north is a roughly circular earthen barrow situated on the southern ridges of the Derbyshire Peak District. The monument includes a mound measuring 40m by 38m by c.1m high and part of the surrounding construction ditch which is buried beneath accumulated soil. On the north side, the barrow and its ditch have been partially destroyed by agricultural activity. The earth from this side has been dumped on the barrow, giving it a slightly flattened appearance which is probably not original. Access is somewhat difficult; there is a road to the Ark Ashbourne Animal Welfare Centre which doesn't appear to encourage visitors; perhaps a phone call in advance? Or perhaps phone the farm on which the barrow is located which is at the end of the lance that passes Tinker's Inn South Bowl Barrow [Map].
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Osmaston, Tinker's Inn South Bowl Barrow [Map]
Tinker's Inn South Bowl Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Tinker's Inn South Bowl Barrow [Map]. Tinker's Inn bowl barrow, south is a sub-circular earthen barrow situated on the southern ridges of the Derbyshire Peak District. The monument includes a mound measuring 42m by 33m by c.2m high and the surrounding construction ditch which is buried beneath accumulated soil. The barrow has been degraded by ploughing and would formerly have been somewhat larger and possibly more uniformly circular.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Ringham Low Chambered Cairn [Map]
Ringham Low Chambered Cairn is also in Peak District Neolithic Burials.
Section I Tumuli 1843. September 27th, 1843, a barrow, called Ringham Lowe [Map], on Middleton Moor, was reopened. It was first examined by the late Mr. William Bateman in 1821, who found only the fragments of two urns and a piece of charcoal; one of the urns was of fine black ware, the other very coarse and of a grayish colour. The second investigation did not prove much more interesting than the first; the particulars are as follows: in the centre were the remains of a fire which had burnt upon the surface of the ground, before the construction of the mound; there remained pieces of charred wood, either oak or ash, near three inches in diameter. About the same place some more fragments of the above-mentioned urns were found; also numerous chippings of flint; but no bones, either human or animal, were seen. Near the surface of the tumulus a carefully-chipped instrument of flint was picked up, on refilling the excavation.
Thomas Bateman 1846. On the 17th of the same month a very remarkable tumulus was visited, which is situated upon a piece of ground near the village of Monyash, called Ringham Lowe [Map]. The upper portion being removed, it now presents the appearance of an oval elevation of considerable extent and trifling height, bearing in its present state no slight resemblance to the temple at Arbor Lowe, this idea being strengthened by the immense stones of which the kistvaen is composed.
The oval measures about fifty-four yards by thirty-five, and is thickly studded with vaults of the usual construction, many of which radiate from the central part of the barrow, where one of rather superior size is placed. The latter was cleared out on the above-mentioned day, and was found to consist of four large stones; the one employed to form a side of the cell was ascertained to measure four yards in length, from four to five feet in width, and two feet in thickness; within lay the skeleton of a very old man, upon a flooring of flat stones; with him a small piece of gray flint, apparently a part of a knife, and a cow's tooth. These bones retain much of their natural appearance, being hard and sound, excepting at the ends, which are entirely removed by decay. Two other vaults were opened without success, and in no part of this barrow which could be examined were any traces of calcined bone or pottery apparent.
Near one extremity of this oval tumulus is a small barrow, as at Arbor Lowe; it is much flattened by cultivation, and on opening afforded no relics, its contents being merely a disjointed human skeleton amidst a profusion of rats' bones.
Ringham Low. On the 7th of June, we went to the large chambered tumulus near Monyash, called Ringham Low [Map], some of the cists in which had been examined in 1847 (Vestiges, p. 103), for the purpose of investigating a cist that had been accidentally discovered. It was rather north of the centre of the mound, with the ends east and west (No. 1 of the Plan,) and was rhomboidal in shape, measuring eight feet six inches in length, by four feet in width, the sides were mostly formed by four very large stones, one of which was upwards of nine feet long; the bottom was paved with five slabs of limestone pretty well fitted to each other, the average depth was about eighteen indies. It was filled with limestone gravel, and small stones, covering a large quantity of human remains, most of which were in the utmost disorder, though near the bottom they had been less disturbed, and perhaps, in one or two cases, retained their original position. These have since been ascertained to include the remains of twelve individuals, comprising two infants and ten adults, mostly exhibiting the lengthened form of skull I have before observed to be constantly found in tumuli of the same description as the present.
The lower part of the gravel, and the interstices between the paving-stones, abounded with rats' bones; and on removing part of the floor we found that many human bones had been drawn beneath it by these restless creatures. In clearing out these joints we found three very beautiful leaf-shaped arrow points of white-flint, one of which, considering the material, is of wonderful execution; it measures 2¼ inches in length, is an inch broad in the middle, and weighs less than 48 grains, although it is not made from a thin flake, but is elaborately clipped all over both surfaces. We observed fragments of the skulls of oxen, teeth of horses, dogs, &c, but no trace of pottery, although a little charcoal was mixed with the clay on which the pavement rested.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Youlgreave [Map]
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Youlgreave, Bee Low Barrow [Map]
Bee Low Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Section I Tumuli 1843. The first tumulus opened this season was situate upon the Meadow-place Farm, near Yolgrave, and is generally known as Bee Lowe [Map]; it was decided upon to open it on the 16th of June, when it was found to be impossible to excavate it in a proper manner, owing to the trees growing upon the sides; therefore the only method of examining it was by sinking a hole down the centre of the mound, which consisted of loose earth and stones, amongst which a profusion of rats' bones was met with. In the course of this excavation the broken fragments of a human skeleton were turned up, which made it evident that one interment at least had been disturbed at some former period. Amongst these bones were found a small arrow-head of flint, elegantly formed, two rude instruments of the same material, and about half a dozen horse's teeth. On reaching the native soil, which was about four feet from the top of the barrow, the primary deposit was found, consisting of burnt bones, amongst which was part of a bone pin, also calcined; and near to the same place lay some fragments of a well-baked clay urn, very tastefully ornamented with a chevron pattern, and which had been of the form of vessel designated "drinking cups" by Sir Richard Hoare, by which name they will be distinguished in the subsequent parts of this work, as a simple way of expressing their difference from the sepulchral urns and incense cups, although it is by no means certain that they were made use of for the purpose implied by the words "drinking cup."
Youlgrave. On the 3rd of May, we made a second investigation of the tumulus at Bee Low [Map], near Youlgrave, which was first imperfectly opened by us in 1843, the excavation being then confined to the centre; but the mound being a bowl-shaped one, upwards of twenty yards diameter, it was thought worth while to make a further trial in it, which was begun by digging from the old cutting in the middle to the south side. The first discovery made when we had proceeded about three yards, was a skeleton lying on its left side with the knees drawn up, and the head to the east, so that the face was turned to the outside of the barrow. It was about eighteen inches below the surface of the mound, and did not seem to have been placed in a cist, although two or three courses of flat stones were carefully laid over it: near the head were three small instruments of bronze, two of them awls, and a few bits of the same metal that had been melted, and which had originally been small instruments of similar character. This skeleton having been taken up, we perceived the ground on the right or western side of the trench to decline; following this indication, we came to an irregular grave cut in the rock, the bottom about 4 feet 6 inches from the surface of the barrow: it was surrounded by a lining of small flat stones placed on edge, and within this lining was a regular pitching, like a street pavement, of clear chert stones very closely packed, extending over the whole grave; above them earth and stones had been thrown in without' order, but underneath them was the skeleton of a young person resting in the usual contracted position, with the head to the south-west, the elbows almost in contact with the thigh bones, and the hands in front of the face. At the angle formed by the bending of the knees, was a beautiful drinking-cup, only 6½ inches high, ornamented by two variations of the lozengy pattern; it still retained its upright position, and close to it was a very fine instrument of white flint, upwards of four inches long, which may have been used either as a knife or saw. While tracing out the western extremity of this grave, our attention was drawn to a very large stone, set up in a direction from S.E. to N.W., on a little higher level than the bottom of the grave, which was at length found to be one end of a rectangular cist, the other sides and cover of which were formed of similar slabs. Its internal dimensions were 3 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet deep; and it was filled with stiff earth and small gravelly stone, amongst which, near the top, were fragments of calcined bone, and a small bronze awl or pin; removing the earth down to the floor (which was rock), we there found the bones composing the skeleton of an aged man, with a short round cranium, carefully placed in a heap in the middle, the long bones laid parallel with each other, and the skull put at the top of the heap, with the base upward. The bones being perfect, it is evident that this arrangement had been made whilst they were fresh and strong; and it is not a little singular that a similar mode of interment exists among the Patagonians, who make skeletons of their dead previous to burial. After removing these bones we found two small flints, and a piece of stag's horn at the bottom. Great quantities of rats' bones were found through the whole of the excavation, but they were observed to be most abundant and best preserved around the second interment, with which, it may be proper to mention, there was a single piece of an infant's skull, no other of its bones being found by a most careful examination. The accompanying plan represents the position of the various interments in the barrow; the flat stone shewn with burnt bones in the centre, being found in 1843.
Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Derbyshire Dales, Youlgreave, Harthill Moor Barrow 1 [Map]
Harthill Moor Barrow 1 is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.
Thomas Bateman 1845. A discovery, made in the month of June, 1845, of a large urn inverted over a deposit of calcined human bones, at the outer edge of a small barrow [Map] upon Harthill Moor, which was undergoing a process of demolition, in order that the land might he brought into cultivation, coupled with a knowledge of the very productive character of that neighbourhood in matters of antiquity led to a successful search for the whole contents of the barrow on the 12th of June. The elevation of the tumulus above the surrounding land was so slight as to be scarcely perceptible; and had it not been for the accidental discovery of the large urn, the other interesting remains would have probably remained in obscurity. But to return to facts: the remains of the large urn and its contents being carefully collected, it was found to be of very coarse material, and singular workmanship, presenting a strong contrast to the remains of two elaborately-ornamented and really elegant urns, which were found on cutting a short distance into the mound, lying amongst a confused stratum of calcined bones. On arriving at the centre of the tumulus, a very large sandstone was perceived, on the south side of the excavation, which was at first supposed to be a rock. Close to the edge of this stone was found an interment of calcined bones, accompanied by two broken incense cups, of novel form and very superior workmanship, and on examining the bones two rude instruments of flint were discovered amongst them. On clearing away the earth from the side of the large stone, the upper edge of one of smaller dimensions was perceived, which proved to be one side of a very perfect cist, measuring from the floor to the under side of the cover three feet from end to end four feet six inches and about three feet in width; the immense stone which formed the cover was about two feet in thickness and about seven feet square on an average. This cist, divested of the surrounding earth, would present to view the erection usually denominated a cromlech. It was found to be almost entirely full of fine and beautifully clear sand, amongst which were large quantities of calcined human bones, some small pieces of an urn, and upon its floor were very evident remains of heath. (A correct view of this cist, as it appeared when opened, forms the vignette in the title-page of "Barrow-digging by a Barrow-knight," 1845.)
On the 14th of June, 1845, at a very short distance from the preceding barrow, another small cist was discovered, at a short distance beneath the surface, measuring two feet in length, about one foot in width, thus forming a perfect parallelogram. It was found to contain a large quantity of human bones, which had undergone cremation, and a few pieces of pottery, one of which formed part of the edge of the large urn which is mentioned in the preceding account as having led to the discovery of the others. No other antiquities were found, although the excavation was continued for a considerable extent in the immediate neighbourhood.