Elton, Derbyshire
Encyclopedia
Elton is an a village in Derbyshire
, England
and in the Peak District
. There are no shops situated in the village (nearest is in Winster
, 1.2 miles (1.9 km)) but Elton has a small post office, cafe, church, school and a sports field. Its nearest towns are Bakewell
and Matlock. Elton was mentioned in the Domesday book
in 1086 when it was owned by Henry de Ferrers
.
Elton is situated on a hillside overlooking a rock formation known as Robin Hood's Stride
. It lies on the division between gritstone and limestone countryside and there are examples of buildings and walls constructed with both types of stone in the village. It is a popular destination for cyclists and tourists looking for a quiet and relaxing time in the countryside away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.
It has numerous music festivals throughout the summer term and a beer festival during August, which are held on the 'Jubilee Field' (known to villagers as 'The Thistle'). Since its elevation is almost 1000 feet above sea level, it isn't sheltered from the wind as well as communities of lower elevation are, and it therefore has a reputation for being cold. The area used to be known for lead mining
. An Iron Age fort
, Castle Ring, is near the village.
, route no. 172. This service links Elton and surrounding villages to both Bakewell
and Matlock. The timetable has recently been improved and there are about 9 through journeys a day from Bakewell
to Matlock and vice versa, and also 2 short runs from Matlock to Elton and back, and 1 from Bakewell
to Elton and back.
There is no longer a Sunday service to Elton. The nearest Sunday services are at Darley Dale
or Youlgrave (two buses to and from Bakewell
, one of these to/from Sheffield
). Until the recent timetable change, Elton was served on Bank Holiday Mondays although this has been abandoned, despite being very popular with both the usual local residents and large number of walkers to the area.
, a long-distance bridleway which lies just to the east of the village, and the many footpaths leading to and from Elton make it a popular place for hikers. Elton also attracts a large number of cyclists to the village particularly at the weekends. The Café acts as a meeting and rest place for many of the walkers and cyclists which frequently return again. The Duke of York Public House is also open on Sunday afternoons, drawing in visitors and locals. The unchanged interior, that of a 1940's style Pub makes the "Duke" as it known locally a tourist attraction in its own right. Ironically the village is most popular with visitors on Sundays yet there is no bus service provided on this day of the week.
in Matlock, or sometimes Lady Manners School
in Bakewell.
The school is currently undergoing extension into the old School House, next door which will allow extra equipment to be bought including a second kitchen to enable children to learn more about food and cooking and encourage healthy eating.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
. There are no shops situated in the village (nearest is in Winster
Winster
Winster is a former lead-mining village in the Derbyshire Dales about from Matlock and from Bakewell at an altitude of approx . The village, which lies within the Peak District National Park, has a large number of listed buildings, including the Market House open daily as a National Trust...
, 1.2 miles (1.9 km)) but Elton has a small post office, cafe, church, school and a sports field. Its nearest towns are Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
and Matlock. Elton was mentioned in the Domesday book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
in 1086 when it was owned by Henry de Ferrers
Henry de Ferrers
Henry de Ferrers was a Norman soldier from a noble family who took part in the conquest of England and is believed to have fought at the Battle of Hastings of 1066 and, in consequence, was rewarded with much land in the subdued nation.His elder brother William fell in the battle. William and Henri...
.
Elton is situated on a hillside overlooking a rock formation known as Robin Hood's Stride
Robin Hood's Stride
Robin Hood's Stride is a rock formation on the Limestone Way in Derbyshire close to Bakewell, between Harthill Moor and the Alport-Winster road. It consists of gritstone boulders deeply seamed by water flows. Limited short climbing is possible; nearby Cratcliffe Tor provides more serious routes...
. It lies on the division between gritstone and limestone countryside and there are examples of buildings and walls constructed with both types of stone in the village. It is a popular destination for cyclists and tourists looking for a quiet and relaxing time in the countryside away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.
It has numerous music festivals throughout the summer term and a beer festival during August, which are held on the 'Jubilee Field' (known to villagers as 'The Thistle'). Since its elevation is almost 1000 feet above sea level, it isn't sheltered from the wind as well as communities of lower elevation are, and it therefore has a reputation for being cold. The area used to be known for lead mining
Derbyshire lead mining history
This article details some of the history of lead mining in Derbyshire, England.- Background :On one of the walls in Wirksworth church is a crude stone carving, found nearby at Bonsall and placed in the church in the 1870s. Probably executed in Anglo-Saxon times, it shows a man carrying a kibble or...
. An Iron Age fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
, Castle Ring, is near the village.
Sport
Elton boasts a playing field, which doubles up as a soccer field for the soccer season, and a cricket field for the cricket season. Elton Cricket Club (ECC) has a strict policy that only villagers may join the team. In more recent times Elton's team have enjoyed success having finished twice runners up in the Longstone League and Orme Shield thanks to the performances of Andrew Cooper and Alan Dakin (76 years old). Elton Football Club (EFC) was re-vamped in 2004, but struggled until Billy Lester took over as player/manager in 2006. In Lester's reign the club has risen from division 8 to division 4 of the Chesterfield Sunday League, winning the division 7 title in 2008 and the Hutson Cup in 2007 with a 5-0 win over Palterton at Chesterfield FC's Saltergate stadium. The 2008/09 season has seen Elton's 2 year unbeaten home record taken and a Derbyshire Junior Cup semi-final appearance, which saw a 4-1 defeat to Harpur Hill.Public transport
There is a bus service that serves Elton which is operated by Hulleys of BaslowHulleys of Baslow
Henry Hulley and Sons Ltd, trading as Hulleys of Baslow, is a bus company based in Baslow, Derbyshire, England. It has been in business for over eighty years. As well as operating scheduled bus services and school contracts, it also operates chartered coach services. The company comprises 16...
, route no. 172. This service links Elton and surrounding villages to both Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
and Matlock. The timetable has recently been improved and there are about 9 through journeys a day from Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
to Matlock and vice versa, and also 2 short runs from Matlock to Elton and back, and 1 from Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
to Elton and back.
There is no longer a Sunday service to Elton. The nearest Sunday services are at Darley Dale
Darley Dale
Darley Dale, also known simply as Darley, is a town in Derbyshire, England, with a population of around 6,000 people. It lies north of Matlock, on the River Derwent and the A6 road.- History :...
or Youlgrave (two buses to and from Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
, one of these to/from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
). Until the recent timetable change, Elton was served on Bank Holiday Mondays although this has been abandoned, despite being very popular with both the usual local residents and large number of walkers to the area.
Tourism
The Limestone WayLimestone Way
The Limestone Way is a long-distance bridleway in Derbyshire, England. It runs through the White Peak of the Peak District National Park, from Castleton south east to Rocester over the county boundary in Staffordshire. It originally ran to Matlock, but was diverted to its current, longer route to...
, a long-distance bridleway which lies just to the east of the village, and the many footpaths leading to and from Elton make it a popular place for hikers. Elton also attracts a large number of cyclists to the village particularly at the weekends. The Café acts as a meeting and rest place for many of the walkers and cyclists which frequently return again. The Duke of York Public House is also open on Sunday afternoons, drawing in visitors and locals. The unchanged interior, that of a 1940's style Pub makes the "Duke" as it known locally a tourist attraction in its own right. Ironically the village is most popular with visitors on Sundays yet there is no bus service provided on this day of the week.
School
Elton C of E Primary School was built in the Victorian times. It is known for its surprisingly small number of students, usually not exceeding 40 for the whole school. Over recent years the interior has been refurbished with modern equipment and furniture. At the end of primary school life, most students will move to Highfields SchoolHighfields School
Highfields School is a coeducational secondary comprehensive school located in Matlock, Derbyshire. The school has 1,414 pupils on roll with 247 in the sixth form and is split across two sites in the town 1.7 miles apart...
in Matlock, or sometimes Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School is an English secondary school and Specialist Music College as designated by the Specialist Schools Trust situated in Bakewell, a market town in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire...
in Bakewell.
The school is currently undergoing extension into the old School House, next door which will allow extra equipment to be bought including a second kitchen to enable children to learn more about food and cooking and encourage healthy eating.