Latest news with #PeakDistrict
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
New haul road to Peak District quarry near Wirksworth approved
Planners have granted permission for a new access road to be built to a quarry in the Peak County Council approved a plan by applicant Ben Bennett Jr Ltd, for a new haul road on 0.84 hectares of land east of Grange Mill Quarry, near Wirksworth. The quarry, located off the B5056 just south of the Peak District National Park, produces high-quality limestone used in products including pharmaceuticals, plastics, rubber, glass, and sealants.A spokesperson for the council said the existing haul road was "likely to become increasingly unsafe over time", so the new road would replace that. The proposed road would only be used for haulage operations and a one-metre high stone wall would be erected, with planted hedgerow along the route of an adjacent public bridleway, according to the council. "The creation of a new haul road would allow HGVs to continue to access the south-east extension area of the quarry safely for the purposes of the extraction of high-purity limestone," the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Derbyshire Dales District Council - which raised no objections to the development - said "due regard" should be given to the adjacent right of a public consultation, one person raised concerns about potential dust, noise pollution, and the impact on the enjoyment of public rights of way. However, the council had to consider concerns that without the proposed haul road, a sufficient supply of minerals from the quarry could not be established for its expected authority said there was no clear viable alternative. The council's planning committee approved planning permission for the scheme during a meeting earlier in July, subject to conditions including dust monitoring, noise and usage time restrictions.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Incredible sacrifice of tiny English village that's become a haven for dark tourism 359 years later
A LOT of historic sites are shrouded in suffering and death, but one UK town is known entirely for its tragic past. Eyam in Derbyshire suffered mass casualties during the Black Death, establishing itself as a haven for dark tourism centuries later. 4 The Peak District village lost a staggering 260 villagers in just 14 months as the plague spread across England. Given the town at the time only housed 350 residents, this loss was felt all the more by those in the area. After the spread of the Black Death in the 1660s, Eyam earned the title of "plague village". The bubonic plague first wreaked havoc worldwide in the 1300s before another outbreak in England during the 1660s. It claimed over 68,000 lives in London alone during this period. The deadly disease eventually made its way north, reaching Eyam in the summer of 1665. In a bid to shield neighbouring villages, Eyam's inhabitants bravely chose to isolate themselves after symptoms of the plague were reported within its borders. A boundary stone, which remains to this day, was erected between plague-ridden Eyam and the nearby unaffected town of Stoney Middleton. Eyam's residents would make their way to this stone to deposit vinegar-soaked money in exchange for food and medical supplies, left by Stoney Middleton's inhabitants. Today, visitors to Eyam can witness the lasting impact of the plague outbreak on the village. English seaside town to transform abandoned beach shelters into new attraction There are numerous graves scattered throughout the village and surrounding fields as families were urged to bury their deceased near their homes instead of in the church graveyard. These stringent rules were established by Reverend William Mompesson and Puritan minister Thomas Stanley. They also opted to move all church services outdoors and ensured no one could enter or leave the village. A recent visitor to Eyam shared a heartbreaking love story that has become part of the folklore surrounding the plague-stricken village. "In 1665, the plague hit Eyam and they locked down the village, separating Emmott Sydall from her fiancé Rowland Torre," the tourist said in an Instagram post. Eyam during the plague The Black Death is thought to have first arrived to the village in September 1665. Historians have hypothesised the disease was brought to Eyam via a parcel of cloth delivered from London to a local tailor. The cloth is believed to have been infested with plague-carrying fleas. During the 14-month voluntary quarantine, 75% of the town's residents passed away. One resident, Elizabeth Hancock, buried her husband and six children with her own hands within eight days. Plague cottages, where victims lived and died, still stand in the town today. "Emmott and Rowland would meet at the village boundary once a week, keeping their distance so he wouldn't contract the disease. "One day, Emmott didn't show up, when the lockdown was lifted, Rowland was among the first to enter the village in search of Emmott." A plaque indicates that Emmott was one of the village's many victims of the black death. The romantic rendezvous of the two at the village boundary has been immortalised in a stained glass image visible in Eyam's St Lawrence's Church. More on dark tourism Plus, the stunning paradise island with WW2 wrecks that has also become a haven for dark tourism. And the darkest and weirdest weekend breaks across Europe. Dark tourism has reached all corners of the globe, with many visiting suicide forests and nuclear disaster zones. Some thrillseekers even risk death in the world's most dangerous countries. 4 4
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Two murders, a strung-up body and a highway robbery haunt one Derbyshire spot
You might imagine that a tranquil and beautiful corner of the Derbyshire countryside, where the silence is rarely broken other than by sheep and birds, would hardly be the scene of one grisly murder - let alone two - and also a nasty highway robbery. But between 1815 and 1826 that's exactly what happened - and there was also a family connection for two of the criminals. The story starts in the Peak District area around Litton and Wardlow Mires, not far from Tideswell, and involves a young man called Anthony Lingard, who is described as being aged 21 in newspaper accounts about his trial but is likely to have been nearer to 24 years of age, according to parish records. At Derby Assizes (now the magistrates' court in St Mary's Gate) in March 1815, Anthony Lingard, of Litton, was tried for the murder of a widow called Hannah Oliver, 48, who kept the turnpike gate at Wardlow Mires. It was stated that Lingard committed a robbery and murder on January 15. He took "several pounds in cash and Bank of England notes" and also a pair of women's shoes, which he gave to a young woman who was pregnant by him, along with some of the money. This was provided that she would say that someone else was the father of the child she was expecting. However, the young woman heard about the murder and the missing shoes and gave them back to Lingard, who tried to reassure her by saying he had exchanged them for a pair of stockings for her. The returned shoes, together with other evidence, established the guilt of Lingard, who had already pleaded guilty at a meeting of magistrates earlier. A report in the Nottingham Gazette said: "The learned judge carefully summed up the evidence to the jury, who after a few minutes returned a verdict of guilty. His Lordship then passed the awful sentence of the law upon the prisoner." Read more: The eccentricity of the Harpur-Crewe aristocrats passed down the generations The newspaper account said that, after his trial, he wasn't repentant about what he had done. He acknowledged the crime for which he was about "to suffer the sentence of the law, and was reluctantly induced to pronounce his forgiveness of the young woman who was the principal evidence against him". His trial was on Saturday, March 25, and the sentence was carried out on the following Tuesday, March 28. At 12 noon he was "brought upon the drop in front of the county gaol and after a short time in prayer with the chaplain, he was launched into eternity". The account remarked: "He appeared but little agitated or dejected by his dreadful situation." Going against common practice, which was to give the bodies of hanged felons to doctors for dissection, the judge directed that Lingard's body should be gibbeted - hung in chains in the most convenient place near the spot were the murder was committed - as a lesson to other people. The jury that found Lingard guilty was made up of all the great and good of the county including well-known names such as Sir Robert Wilmot, of Chaddesden; William Drury Lowe, of Locko Park; Richard Arkwright, Ashbourne Hall; William Strutt, Derby, and William Evans, Allestree. The treasurer's accounts for Derbyshire 1815-16 show that the punishment of gibbeting cost a considerable amount of money. The expenses for arresting Lingard amounted to £31 5s 5d but the expenses incurred in the gibbeting reached a total of £85 4s 1d, and this was in addition to the ten guineas charged by the gaoler for conveying the body from Derby to Wardlow. It is understood that Lingard's body continued to hang in the area around St Peter's Stone for up to ten years, and his bleached bones were said to creak in the wind. Eventually, the gibbet was cut down, and what remained was buried. But it was while Lingard's remains were swinging in the wind that a second murder took place within yards of them around four years later. This time a 16-year-old girl called Hannah Bocking was involved. She was hanged in Derby on March 25, 1819, after being found guilty of poisoning Jane Grant, also 16, who had been given a job that Hannah had wanted. Hannah - who lost the job because of her "unamiable temper and disposition" bought arsenic "to kill rats" about ten weeks before she carried out the murder, by putting it in a cake she gave to Jane while out on a walk to bring in cattle in the area close to Lingard's remains. The writers of the Derby Mercury said they thought it had more than 60 years since a woman had been executed in Derby when Hannah was hanged, and this attracted a crowd from neighbouring counties to witness the event. It seems that Hannah exhibited no remorse for what she had done. In fact, she had implicated several of her relations in her guilt. She faced the noose with "composure" but, as she was hanged, an account says: "An involuntary shuddering pervaded the assembled crowd and though she had excited little sympathy, a general feeling of horror was expressed that one so young should have been so guilty and so insensible." Her body was cut down and given over to be dissected, despite protests from family and friends who wanted to bury her. And as if that wasn't enough, William Lingard, 21, brother of gibbeted Anthony, also found himself in court in 1825 - ten years after the death of his brother. He was sentenced to hard labour in the House of Correction for one year after robbing his mother of clothes, which he pawned to get money for drink, and she was the principal witness who testified against him. But he still hadn't learned his lesson because 12 months later he was up before Derby Assizes when he was sentenced to death for highway robbery close to where his brother was gibbeted. A newspaper account said: "It is remarkable that Lingard committed the robbery within view of the gibbet on which the bleaching bones of his brother were hanging." It seems though that he escaped the hangman's noose and instead was transported to New South Wales in Australia for life on board The Speke, with 155 other convicts. He set sail on August 8, 1826, and landed on November 26, 1826. He was given a conditional acquittal in 1852 but not allowed to return to England, after which it is difficult to trace what happened to him. From a family of 13, it is likely that the pair have descendants who may know more about the pair - and what happened to William. Coming up next Sunday in our 'Little Did You Know' series, we will be looking at the curious reason why Derby city centre doesn't have a "High Street" - and the fascinating history behind some of its street names. Read last week's feature about the eccentric Harpur-Crewe aristocrats here.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Derbyshire restaurant loved by Louis Theroux fending off some of the UK's fanciest in national competition
A fancy Peak District restaurant recently visited by Louis Theroux is well and truly putting little old Derbyshire on the map as it looks to fend off some of the biggest names in the restaurant scene. It comes after Deacon's Bank, a stunningly restored bank in Chapel-en-le-Frith, was named as a finalist for 'Restaurant of the Year' at the national British Restaurant Awards. It joins the famed Ritz in Mayfair, The Ledbury in Notting Hill, Azzurra in Chelsea and Happy Bar and Grill in Soho, as well as fellow Northerners at Moor Hall in Lancashire and the Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye. It is the sixth edition of the awards and looks to shine a spotlight on the UK's best restaurants and food vendors across the UK, with categories including best new restaurant, best chef, best luxury restaurant and best hospitality team - among many more. Nestled on Market Street in Chapel-en-le-Frith, and just over an hour's drive from Derby, the restaurant is housed in a majestic Grade II-listed building that stood empty for four years before being transformed into Deacon's Bank. Although only opening in 2023, the restaurant quickly gained recognition, bagging two AA Rosettes and a mention in the coveted Michelin Guide within its first year. READ MORE: The longstanding Chaddesden takeaway where customers ask the boss to put the prices up READ MORE: Dozens of arts, crafts, food and drink stalls set for Denby Pottery Village event this weekend Helmed by proprietor Tom Gouldburn, with head chef Simon Harrison leading the culinary creativity, Deacon's Bank prides itself on a dedication to seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Patrons can indulge in dishes such as braised lamb shoulder, halibut, prosciutto wrapped pork fillet, After Eight mousse and white chocolate parfait. Renowned documentary maker Louis Theroux visited the Peak District restaurant earlier this year, with a spokesperson for the restaurant saying, "Had a special visitor for dinner last night. @officiallouistheroux popped in for a meal on this cold, snowy January weekend." The restaurant staff expressed their excitement online, posting: "Hope you all enjoyed your meal, we certainly enjoyed serving you. We have braved the snow and are open today if you fancy a lovely roast dinner or even just a few drinks." As you'd expect, Deacon's Bank has a catalogue of glowing reviews online, with a 4.9/5-star rating on Tripadvisor, from almost 100 reviews. One recent visitor, Alan G, called it a "wonderful experience", adding: "Being talked through the dishes and the preparation that goes into producing truly exceptional food made for a fabulous evening. "Simon, the chef, and the rest of the staff made our evening very special. We could have chatted for hours. "Good food is hard to come by, and a great dining experience is even harder. Don't miss this place, the food is simply amazing." User Rebbux, giving five stars, said: "Wonderful Sunday lunch, had three courses and all absolutely gorgeous. The parfait was so nice on a bed of tomatoes and herb reduction was the nicest starter I've had for ages. "The guys had roast cod with shellfish reduction which they said was fab and I had a great roast lamb dinner. My son had the caramel tart and said it's the best pudding he's ever had, and the cheeseboard was great too. Would recommend, service was friendly and smooth and the wines were good too." The restaurant will be flying the Derbyshire flag high at the British Restaurant Awards ceremony on Monday, August 18. A spokesperson for the awards said: "From Michelin-starred establishments to beloved local gems, the British Restaurant Awards shines a spotlight on the culinary talent shaping the future of food and dining culture. Join us as we honour excellence, taste the extraordinary, and network with leading voices in hospitality, media, and entertainment."
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Peak District ravine woodlands restored with 84,000 trees
Tens of thousands of trees have been planted to help restore the Peak District's "critically damaged" woodland five-year, £5m LIFE in the Ravines project has placed more than 84,000 native trees at the sites of ancient woodlands in Derbyshire "devastated" by ash dieback, specifically the Peak District Dales Special Area of Evans, woodland restoration manager for Natural England, said the scheme "shows what can be achieved when we work with nature rather than against it".The government organisation said it had restored up to a quarter of the region's damaged woodlands. A mix of native trees, including large and small-leaved lime and wych elm, have been planted to make the woodlands more resilient. Without the work, Natural England said "entire woodlands" would have been lost to ash dieback, the fungal disease that kills ash Evans said: "These restored ravine woodlands are truly unique habitats."By planting 84,000 trees, we're not just replacing what was lost to ash dieback - we're creating more diverse and resilient woodlands that will thrive for generations to come."Natural England added there had been "success" with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust-managed sites, with 16,000 trees planted in the Wye Valley including Cramside, Cheedale, and Millers Dale. Kyle Winney, living landscape officer for the trust, said: "Although it's devastating to see the effects of ash dieback, it has provided us an opportunity."Seeds collected from existing trees within the ravines are being grown by specialist nurseries and community groups. This approach "ensures planted trees can thrive in the challenging conditions of steep, rocky limestone terrain", Natural England added.
