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Site of the decisive battle on 22nd August 1485 where King Richard III was killed and the victor, Henry Tudor, started a new dynasty as Henry VII. There is a heritage centre with an exhibition/museum, shop and café. It is possible to walk round the battlefield on a well-signposted trail. Events are held including an annual re-enactment of the battle.
Sutton Cheney
Very small, attractive, village between Daventry and Rugby. The Jacobean manor was owned by the Catesby family and the gatehouse is famous for being the place where the Gunpowder Plot was planned (neither the gatehouse nor the manor is open to the public). There is a wonderful medieval church, dedicated to St Leodegarius, a pub (the Olde Coach House) and a series of estate workers' cottages designed by Lutyens.
NB Warning notice that village website may be hacked, hence the link has not been included here.
The church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Leodegarius in the charming little village of Ashby St Ledger is a gem. There's a 15th century rood screen, box pews, a minstrels gallery and numerous wall paintings.
The church (and village) is also known for its association with the Catesby family, who owned the manor for centuries. Robert Catesby was the brains behind the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The gatehouse where the plotters met is near the church - but is not open to the public.
Ashby St Ledgers
The Cork Stone is one of a number of natural stone pillars on Derbyshire’s Stanton Moor. It is a well-known landmark, a piece of weathered sandstone that has stood for thousands of years, eroded into a mushroom shape resembling an enormous cork. It is covered in graffiti dating from at least the 19th century and has step holes cut out of one side to facilitate climbing to the top. Metal rods were added later, possibly in Victorian times according to a nearby information board. There is a hollow bowl on top of the stone.
There is no postcode. The address is for guidance only. The Cork Stone will be found a short distance from a lay-by and information board on the east side of Birchover Road.
between Birchover and Stanton in Peak,
W of the A6
Nine Ladies stone circle is probably the best known of many Bronze Age monuments on Derbyshire’s Stanton Moor and one of four stone circles on the moor. The others - Stanton Moor I, III and IV - are largely overgrown and hard to pick out. Nine Ladies is roughly in the centre of the moor, a low circle of worn gritstone blocks about 3 feet (1 metre) above ground. The circle is approximately 36 feet (11 metres) in diameter. According to legend, the stones are nine ladies, petrified for dancing on the Sabbath. A short distance away is the King’s Stone, which in life was the fiddler. Nine Ladies stone circle is some 4000 years old and originally there were ten stones. It is speculated that it was used for rituals and ceremonies, a fairly meaningless observation when you think about it, because it must have been used for something. The reality is that we simply do not know.
There is no postcode and the postcode given by English Heritage is misleading. There are various ways to Nine Ladies and the address here is for guidance only. Find a lay-by on the east side of Birchover Road, where there is an information board. A short distance through some woods is the Cork Stone. Nine Ladies is to the north east; take a map.
between Birchover and Stanton in Peak
West of the A6
Stanton Moor is a small area of upland in the Derbyshire Peak District, up to around 1,000 feet (300+ metres) above sea level, between Matlock and Bakewell and with wonderful views over the Derwent and Wye valleys. It was lived on and farmed 3-4000 years ago and traces of these ancient Bronze Age inhabitants are scattered across the landscape. These remains have survived because the land has not been intensively farmed, thus preserving the type of monuments that have been destroyed in other parts of the country. Some seventy barrows, four stone circles as well as ancient enclosures and standing stones have been identified, though most are covered with heather and hard to spot. A notable exception is Nine Ladies stone circle. Nevertheless, Stanton Moor is of such interest to archaeologists that it is all protected as a scheduled monument. Many of the remains were excavated in the 20th century by local amateur archaeologists JP and JC Heathcote, who created a private museum of their finds in their home village of Birchover, on the edge of the moor. Their collection is now in Weston Park Museum, Sheffield. Stanton Moor has also been used for quarrying, including up to the 20th century.
There is no postcode. There are various points of access to Stanton Moor and the address given is one and for guidance only. Find a lay-by on the east side of Birchover Road, where there is an information board.
between Birchover and Stanton in Peak
West of the A6
The Heights of Abraham is a 60 acre country park on top of Masson Hill, Matlock, accessed either by cable car or a steep zig-zag path. The heights are named after a supposed resemblance to the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Heights of Abraham, in Quebec, Canada, where James Wolfe died in battle. The park has been an attraction since Victorian times and includes two show caves, views over the Derwent and its valley, picnic areas, exhibitions, shops, cafes and a play area. A cable car ticket is relatively expensive, but you can understand why - and it includes tours of the show caves.
Note: To visit by cable car, the station is adjacent to Matlock Bath railway station, where there is a pay and display car park operated by the local council. Post code is for this car park - there are others.
The Peak District National Park was Britain’s first, in 1951. It sits surrounded by major conurbations, broadly between Manchester and Sheffield, mainly in Derbyshire, but also partly in Staffordshire, Cheshire and South and West Yorkshire. The Park covers an area of 555 square miles (1437 square kilometres) and the highest point is Kinder Scout in the north of the region at 2087 feet (636 metres).
The development of national parks has often seen conflict between landowners and the public. Kinder was the scene of a mass trespass undertaken by ramblers in 1932, to raise awareness of the fact that the public was denied access to open country. Some believe this act of civil disobedience, which amazingly resulted in some arrests, was instrumental in producing national parks legislation in 1949.
The Peak District is a park of two halves. In the north, the ‘Dark Peak’ is characterised by millstone grit pokes through areas of moorland, whereas the central and southern areas, known as ‘White Peak’ are largely limestone country. Neolithic man was here and the Romans used to export lead mined from the limestone areas, and admire the unique semi-precious Blue John stone found near Castleton.
Like most of Britain’s national parks, the Peak district is favoured by walkers, climbers, campers, cyclists – and so on. Beneath the ground, cavers enjoy exploring the natural caverns and old mine workings.
Villages in the Peak District are renowned for the tradition of well dressing in spring and summer.
The principal settlements within the National Park are Bakewell and Tideswell, though Buxton, just outside the park authority, is an important town, famed for its spring water since Roman times.
Aldern House
Baslow Road
Bakewell
Haddon Hall dates from the 11th century, was formerly the seat of the Duke of Rutland, and is currently the private home of Lord and Lady Edward Manners. The Manners acquired Haddon through marriage and can therefore claim to have owned it for its entire existence; the hall is one of the oldest houses in the country.
From the 1700s, the family preferred their main seat at Belvoir Castle, so Haddon was empty for two centuries. Unaltered by Georgians or Victorians, venturing into Haddon Hall has been described as like stepping back in time. The Medieval Banqueting Hall remains furnished with its original Dais table, behind which hangs a tapestry gifted to the family by visiting Henry VIII. The Parlour boasts its glorious Tudor painted ceiling of Tudor roses and marvellous heraldic panelling. Exquisite and rare 15th century frescos adorn the walls of the Medieval Chapel. In contrast to the Tudor and Medieval Rooms below, the light and airy first floor Elizabethan rooms culminate in the spectacular 110ft Robert Smythson designed Long Gallery; reputed to be one of the most beautiful rooms in England.
Outside, the terraced Elizabethan Walled Gardens cascade down to the River Wye and provide spectacular views over ancient parkland to the Peak District beyond.
Haddon is a favourite film location, featuring in no fewer than three different film adaptations of Jane Eyre, as well as Mary Queen of Scots, The Other Boleyn Girl, Pride & Prejudice and various documentaries.
Image credit: Historic Houses
Chatsworth is one of Britain's great stately houses. It is the palatial home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, whose family, the Cavendishes, has owned the 35,000 acre estate since the 16th century, when the first house was built. The house is famous for its magnificent Baroque interiors and works of art from ancient Egypt, Rome, the great masters - and more modern artists. Outside, there are acres of parkland and lovely gardens to explore, including a maze to get lost in. It is famous for its cascade, a large water feature with water tumbling down a long series of steps - which dates from the 17th century. It is also famous for its Emperor Fountain. Events are held throughout the year, including concerts and outdoor theatre.
If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch.