H1695 Myths Legends v1mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/DS/cms/pdf/pe-myths-legends.pdf · Welcome to the witches, ghosts,highwaymen and horrors of the Bloody Peak. Do the hairs

the bloody peak

THE BLOODY

a sanguinous journeyaround the peak districts

myths and legends

Part financed by theEuropean UnionEconomic RegionalDevelopment Fund

H1695_Myths_Legends_v1.0 11/1/08 12:28 Page 1

Beware the shadows of the night

Written by Carolyn Luscombe.Photographs by Bill Bevan, Si Homfray, Julia Reid, and Dan Boys.Sources include; Julie Bunting, David Clarke, Clarence Daniel,Tony J. Hollins,L. Hutchinson, Charles Maltby, James Merrill, Peter K. Naylor and Doug Pickford.Design by www.hammerdesign.co.uk Printed with vegetable dye inks on recycled paper

Welcome to the witches,ghosts, highwaymen andhorrors of the Bloody Peak.Do the hairs rise on theback of your neck? They should.This is a mosthaunted place.

A strange light at night, asuspicious breeze or the

sound of distantvoices might not

be what youthought.

Listenfor the creak of floorboardsin a haunted hotel, drinkwith an apparition in aparanormal pub.

And if these pages aren’tscary enough you can findout more about each storyand discover other hauntedplaces on

www.peak-experience.org.uk.

You have been warned.Now take a torch and somecourage and go…

“...hairs rise on theback of your neck...”


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Beware when you wandersome of the PeakDistrict’s shady lanes atnight.You might comeacross one of manyheadless ghosts.

Twelve headless mencarry a coffin along Shady

Lane, near ThornbridgeHall, between GreatLongstone and Ashford inthe Water.

Another headless mantravels the road fromYoulgrave to Wenley Hill.

A headless lady was seenat Stoke Hall to the southof Grindleford.

And a headless horsemanrides the Onecote toWarslow road overButterton Moor.Was he a beheadedpedlar, or knight killed bythe Scots? His headlessdoppelgänger rides aphantom white horse onmoonlit nights throughthe Manifold Valley.

Headless ghosts on the roadsGives you a headache just thinking about it!

“was he a beheaded

pedlar or knight killed

by the Scots?”

Stoke Hall, home to a headless lady


1501:The ill-fatedson of King Henry VII

Beneath the Saxon crossnow in All Saintschurchyard, 15-year-oldPrince Arthur saw awoman in white. Shepredicted his earlymarriage and early death.

Within four months allcame true.

“...predicted his early

marriage and early

death.”

Bakewell:Beware witches, ghosts and the woman in white!


1608:The witches ofBakewell?A ne’er-do-well Scotsmanaccused of robbery inLondon made a bizarredefence. He claimed to beonly just transported toLondon, by the power ofa spell he’d heard hisBakewell landladychanting.

Indeed his clothes, hesaid, were still inBakewell, where thelandlady held them asroom rent. By a strangelogic of the times, theclothes were taken asevidence of the woman’sguilt and she and a friendwere killed as witches.

The Friday-nightghostAt Castle Hill House onthe A619, Jim Marlow, aformer butler, still walksto the old gunroom eachFriday – where he shothimself many years ago.

Contact Nicky Crewe forBakewell ghost walks.Tel. 01629 815405.

Access and orientationBakewell has plenty ofaccommodation and visitorattractions, with interesting andunusual shops. Bakewell visitorcentre has information, booksand displays.

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“...by the power of a spell...”


In the highly hauntedCastle Hotel, you’re sureto meet a ghost! There’s ajilted bride in room 4, anurse and legless soldierin the cellar, a smallelderly woman in grey, amiddle-aged man in a pin-striped suit in rooms 7and 10; and a leglesswoman travellingcorridors waist deep inthe floorboards.

At Peveril Castle somehave heard a long-deadknight and the song of amedieval lady.An unluckyprisoner was starved for

six days before his handwas cut off, in 1403.

Privately owned GoosehillHall hosts a ghostlymedieval tournament andanother grey lady. Shiveras you pass the driveway,on the left towardsWinnats Pass.

Allan and Clara still roampast Speedwell Cavern. In1758 the Scots loverswere riding to be marriedin Peak Forest, when localminers robbed and killedthem.Ten years later theirbodies were found in amineshaft. Nobody wascharged for the murderbut the suspectedmurderers suffered

CastletonMurders, torture and haunted hotels

“the song of a

medieval lady.”


madness and untimelydeaths. See Clara’ssaddle in the shop bySpeedwell Cavern atthe foot of dramaticWinnats Pass.Access and orientationExcellent visitor facilities inthe village including aninformation centre andmuseum, accommodation,restaurants and shops. PeverilCastle and Speedwell Cavernare open to the public.

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“bodies found in amineshaft.”


Joan Waste was a Protestantmartyr, executed for heresyin August 1556 during theMarian persecutions.You can read an account ofwhat little is known abouther here:http://www.otteryreformed.freeola.net/jwaste.htm

Some say ancient druidsworshipped at Rowter Rocks.

Here the Revd ThomasEyre (died 1717) carvedout armchairs andreputedly dabbled inwitchcraft. If you sit in themiddle armchair just aftermidnight on Halloweenyou will hear the name ofyour true love.

Access and orientationRowter Rocks is accessible fromthe village.There are two pubs inthe village.

“...druids worshipped

at Rowter Rocks”

“Joan Waste was aProtestant martyr,executed for heresy”

Birchover Home to husband killers and druids

Birchover church


In 1648 1,500 Royalistsoldiers were imprisonedat St Thomas Becketchurch during the EnglishCivil War.When thedoors opened after 2weeks, 44 men had diedinside. Others died later.

More happily, Chapel-en-le-Frith parish registersrecord the very first PeakDistrict UFO sighting. It

was in March 1716. Some now believe it was theNorthern Lights. In anycase, the locals wereterrified.

Access and orientationShops, food and accommodationin Chapel-en-le-Frith markettown. St Thomas church is at theeast end of the cobbled marketsquare.

Chapel-en-le-Frith From Civil War to UFO

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“...the very first Peak

District UFO sighting.”

St Thomas Becket church


Ghostly figures of WWIIairmen haunt Edale’s TheOlde Nags Head pub inGrindsbrook Booth.

Many customers see andhear them.When abomber plane crashed onKinder Scout, localsbrought the airmen’sbodies to the pub.

Their spirits remain tothis day.

Climb Kinder Scout tovisit the immortalmermaid in thebottomless Mermaid’sPool. She rises on EasterEve to reward visitorswith the gift of long life...or to lure down heradmirers to their doom!

Access and orientation Edale has good accommodationand food with excellent walkingand climbing including thechallenging Kinder Scout.Mermaid’s Pool is at SK075887.

Edale Mermaids and ghostly airmen

“...spirits remain to

this day.”

“she rises on Easter Eve to

reward visitors with the

gift of long life...”

The Olde Nags Head pub in Edale


Boggarts and barghastsare troublesome spiritslike poltergeists.Theirname comes from theGerman, Geist (spirit),with barghast the ‘spirit ofthe (funeral) bier’.Theyare soundless, about halfthe size of a calf, with ashaggy black coat.

They forewarn of deathor disaster, and PeakDistrict lead minersconnected certainaccidents with sightings of a ghostly black dog.

Boggarts or barghasts liveall over the Peak District.If you glimpse somethingdark in the shadows itmight be one. Keep aneye out (or hide youreyes!) at Birchover ShaleHillock, Kinder, the Tips atEdale, Bradwell, Bradnop,Ipstones and Swinscoe, toname just a few.

Boggarts and ghostly black dogsA shaggy dog story?

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“...miners connected

certain accidents with

sightings of a ghostly

black dog.”



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where to stay,shop and eat

accommodationattractions & activitiesshopping & eating


Accommodation

Heaton House Farm Rushton Spencer, Nr Macclesfield, CheshireSK11 0RD Contact: Mick HeathTel: 01260 226203 Email: [email protected] Web: www.heatonhousefarm.co.ukSet in scenic Staffordshire Moorlands, HeatonHouse Farm is situated between Leek andMacclesfield, just off the A523 at Rushton Spencer.We have five bedrooms. Four of them are en-suiteand have been awarded Four Star “Silver” Awardfrom the Heart of England Tourist Board.

Roaches Tea Rooms and CottagesUpper Hulme, Nr Leek, Staffs ST13 8TY Contact: Karen Oliver and Dianne OliverTel: 01538 300345 Email: [email protected], olde world accommodation with fantasticviews, breakfast available in tea rooms.

Swiss House Hotel & Nero’sRistorante ItalianoHow Lane, Castleton, Hope Valley, DerbyshireS33 8WJContact: Mary or Martha Holmes Tel: 01433 621098Email: [email protected] Web: www.swiss-house.co.ukClean, very friendly, very comfortable. Bestbreakfast this side of the Pennines. 8 en-suitebedrooms, sleeping 20 people. Ideal for groupsor individuals, business or pleasure.

Castle HotelCastle Street, Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 8WGContact: Glen Mills Tel: 01433 620578Web: www.innkeeperslodge.comGood food, friendly service, pub part of VintageInns. Rooms part of Innkeepers Lodge.

The Olde Nags HeadEdale, Hope Valley S33 7ZDContact: Malcolm & Sarah France Tel: 01433 670 291 Fax: 01433 670 429The official start of the Pennine Way.ATraditional pub with cask ales, that takes pride in serving good quality food. Offering a warmwelcome to walkers, bikers, locals and visitors alike.


Attractions & Activities

Bakewell Ghost Walks6 Calton View,Yeld Road, Bakewell, DerbyshireDE45 1FN Contact: Nicky CreweTel: 01629 815405 Mob: 07791 952255 Email: [email protected] the haunted houses and ghostly tales ofold Bakewell with a walking tour of the town.Please ring or email me for further details andto arrange a tour.

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More info: www.visitpeakdistrict.com

Underleigh House B&BOff Edale Road, Hope, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 6RFContact: Philip and Vivienne TaylorTel: 01433 621372 Email: [email protected] Web: www.underleighhouse.co.ukSecluded cottage and barn conversion near thevillage of Hope with magnificent countryside views.Delicious breakfasts featuring local and homemadespecialities, served in flag-stoned dining hall.Weprovide information about the local area to ourguests and also provide walking routes to follow.

Stocks Café and Bistro4 - 6 Market Place, Chapel-en-le-Frith,Derbyshire SK23 0EN Contact: Helen WilliamsTel: 01298 814906 Email: [email protected] Web: www.stockscafeandbistro.co.uk/Ideally located in the centre of the historic marketplace of Chapel-en-le-Frith.At Stocks, the menuis inspired by the spirit of traditional home cooking,with dishes freshly made from local seasonalingredients. Look out for the painting of Chapelin 1897 on original tiles inside the café.

The Post OfficeFountain Square,Youlgrave, Bakewell, DerbyshireDE45 1UR Contact: Roger EastonTel: 01629 636201 Post office, also selling sweets, drinks, ice creams,stationery, birthday cards and walking maps.

Shopping & Eating


The Druid InnMain Street, Birchover, Derbyshire DE42BL Contact: Daniel ReedTel: 01629 650302Contemporary style gastro pub.

Eyam Tea Rooms & BistroThe Square, Eyam, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 5RBTel: 01433 631274 High-quality snacks and meals in peaceful, friendlysurroundings.

Pitstop Homemade Pies2 Buxton Rd, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1DA Contact: Diane HawksworthTel: 01629 815831Homemade pies and sandwiches.

The Winking ManBuxton Road, Upper Hulme, Staffs ST138UHContact: Peter HarveyTel: 01538 300361 Country pub and function facilities.

The Linden TreeFrog Hall Road, Ipstones, Staffordshire ST10 2NAContact: B J AllettTel: 01538 266370Country pub situated in Staffordshire Moorlandsvery close to the Manifold Valley and Dovedaleoffering fine cuisine in a friendly environment.

More info: www.visitpeakdistrict.com

Moon InnTown End, Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire S32 4TWContact: Suzanne SutherlandTel: 01433 630203 Warm and friendly country pub. Home cookedquality food. Traditional Sunday lunches. Attractivewalled beer garden. Cask Ales. Walkers and dogswelcome in bar area. OAP lunchtime specials. Openall day, every day from 12 noon.


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Ipstones Boggarts and the stooped man

Three-hundred-year-oldHermitage farmhouse hasmore than one ghost.A stooped old man with atall hat haunts the building.

A sudden draught orrustling sound could behim.

In 1916 a servant heardghostly screams beneathher bedroom window, arelative lay in bed andheard an organ playeddownstairs.The hauntings occurred

regularly at Easter,Christmas and haymakingtime.

A phantom large dog – orboggart – has been seenmany times at the end ofthe lane to the farm. Oneman kicked at the beastonly for his boot to touchnothing as the dogvanished.

Access and orientation Ipstones is on the B5053 south-east of Leek.There are severalshops and pubs in the village andaccommodation in the surroundingarea.

“a servant heard ghostly

screams beneath her

bedroom window...”


Hob Hurst, the woodsprite or elf, is like a giantPuck or RobinGoodfellow. Hob blessesthe farm, especially thedairy. But woe betide thefarmer who crosses him!Careful people leave abowl of milk on thehearth for Hob to drink.

Hob’s houses lie inisolated, often sacred,

places. Seek them out atThor’s Cave in theManifold Valley, in MonsalDale, at the Bronze Ageburial barrow on BeeleyMoor and Hob Cottageat Elkstone. RushtonSpencer church is built ontop of one!

Hob Hurst’s houses Farmer’s blessing or curse!

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“...woe betide the farmerwho crosses him!”

Hob Hurst's House in Monsal Dale

Rushton Spencer church, builton a Hob Hurst's house


One look at the Roachescrags reveals a place oflegends.

Lud’s Church rock chasmis reputedly the legendaryGreen Chapel of medievalsaga, Sir Gawain and theGreen Knight.

Local ‘doxey’ (not aflattering term!) Hannahwas descended from thenotorious highwayman,Bowyers of the Rocks.

Doxey Cottage at SK006622 was certainly named

for her. But manyclaim that the

scenic and allegedlybottomless Doxey Pool isnamed after its legendary mermaid.Access and orientationAccess the Roaches from UpperHulme off the A53.Visitorfacilities at Tittesworth Reservoirnearby. Doxey Pool is on theRoaches at SK003627.

The Roaches – via Upper Hulme A mermaid, a knight and a highwayman

“...scenic and allegedly

bottomless Doxey Pool...”


Thomas Meakyn wasburied alive in 1781, afterrejecting his master’sdaughter’s advances. Noone was charged.TheMurder Stone at StLawrence’s church markswhere Thomas was laterreburied in his homevillage.

A cruel woman murderedher servant girl in the1800s. Every night thegirl’s ghost revisited hermistress. Locals asked 12clergymen to ‘lay’ theghost on the Cloud

hillside. She still appearson the hill as a dim bluelight.

Access and orientation The village is off the A523between Macclesfield and Leek.There are three pubs sellingfood.

Rushton Spencer Buried alive! And the ghost of themurdered servant girl

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Rushton Spencer graveyard

“...every night the girl’s

ghost revisited her...”


Two hundred and fiftyyears ago a Scottishpedlar was murdered atthe Moon Inn by rivallocal pedlars while thelandlord turned a blindeye. His assailants tookhis body to a nearby cave.

Find Lover’s Leap Café tosee where poor jilted

Hannah Baddeley leaptover the cliff – andsurvived! Her crinolinedress acted as aparachute and checkedher fall.

Trace highwaymen’s stepsup the bridleway to BlackHarry Lane as far as BlackHarry Gate. He was thescourge of packhorsetrains crossing the moorsaround Longstone andWardlow until he swungon the gibbet at WardlowMires.

Access and orientation Parking, toilets, a pub and caféin the village. Black Harry Laneis opposite the B652 Eyamturning.

StoneyMiddleton Lovers leapt,highwaymen roamedand murderersmurdered

“trace highwaymen’ssteps up... to BlackHarry Lane”

“...murdered at theMoon Inn...”

Left: Lover's Leap


Ghosts of Bonnie PrinceCharlie’s Scottish soldiersstill haunt the Old Wayaround Bearda Hill atSwythamley.The Prince,Young Pretender to theEnglish crown, led hisarmy south in theJacobite Rebellion of1745.They turned back atDerby and nearly all losttheir lives in a massacre.

They retreated along theOld Way, an ancient routebetween Manchester andAshbourne.

The ghosts of black dogsare still sighted along theroute, allegedly guardingthe soldiers’ graves.

Access and orientationBearda Hill is south of Winclewhere there is a pub.The OldWay is followed by the line ofthe modern road. Bearda Hill isat SJ963643.

SwythamleyPhantoms of the Pretender

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“ghosts of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottishsoldiers still haunt theOld Way...”

“...ghosts of black dogs...guarding the soldiers’graves”

The Old Way around Bearda Hill


Look out for the ghost ofOld Sarah, a Victorianserving wench, at theGeorge Hotel. If you see

a woman in a long dressand cap it could be her.

Listen for an undergroundchoir. Some say theformer Catholic Chapelon Church Street had asecret passage to the newchurch. Invisiblechoristers sang belowground, foretelling thedeaths of importantvillagers.

One night a young ladwoke screaming.Whenhis mother arrived hepointed to the emptychair saying he didn’t likethe old man sitting in it.She realised he could seehis dead grandfather anddestroyed the chair.

Access and orientationGood shops, tearooms andaccommodation.Tideswell’sbeautiful church is the‘Cathedral of the Peak’.

Tideswell A haunted pub and invisible choristers

“foretelling the deaths of

important villagers...”


Sir John Rossingtoncornered a hare here,which miraculouslybecame a beautifulmaiden. He was soshocked his heart flewinto his hands, where itstill rests. Find his effigy inYoulgrave church.

A Roundhead andCavalier fought to theirdeaths in the Old Hallduring the English CivilWar.Their ghosts appearin the duel room everyNovember. Nearby OldHall Farm is haunted byanother grey lady.

Watch out for thephantom coach and

horses at RoughwoodHollow, on the roadbetween Youlgrave andMiddleton. Eerie lightscould be their lamps.

Access and orientationChoice of pubs, tearoom andshops in the village.

YoulgraveA ‘harey’ tale

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“a hare...miraculously

became a beautiful

maiden”

Sir John Rossington's effigy in Youlgrave church



This leaflet is one of a series of newPeak Experience guides to theheritage of the Peak District. Explorethe wild and the historic startingfrom here. Inside, you’ll find places to visit in the Peak’s beautifulcountryside and historic villages,well-served by holidayaccommodation, cafés, restaurantsand shops. Look out for other guidesin the series or visit the web site forfurther details and even more placesto visit.

www.peak-experience.org.uk

www.visitpeakdistrict.com

TRAVELINE 0870 608 2 608

What does quality assessed accommodation mean?

When you choose to stay in Peak District qualityassessed accommodation you can be confidentthat it has been checked out before you check in.The majority of the accommodation featured inthis leaflet has been assessed by VisitBritain or theAA. You will see a star rating and the type of

accommodation. Each property that chooses to take part inthe quality assurance scheme is assessed annually and youcan check their latest rating online atwww.visitpeakdistrict.com. We cannot vouch for thequality of any accommodation that is not part of a scheme.

The National Accessibility Scheme will show you propertiesthat can provide a certain level of accessibility and that theneeds of disabled guests have been considered. Please callto check the facilities available before you book.


Visitor Centres

Ashbourne 13 Market Place, DE6 1EU Tel: 01335 343666 Email: [email protected]

Bakewell Old Market Hall, Bridge Street, DE45 1DS Tel: 01629 813227 Email: [email protected]

Buxton The Crescent, SK17 6BQ Tel: 01298 25106 Email: [email protected]

Castleton Buxton Road, S33 8WN Tel: 01433 620679 Email: [email protected]

Edale Main Street, S33 7HA Tel: 01433 670207 Email: [email protected]

Glossop Heritage & Information Centre Henry Street, Glossop,Derbyshire, SK13 8BW Tel: 01457 855920Email: [email protected]

Leek 1 Market Place, ST13 5HH Tel: 01538 483741 Email: [email protected]

Matlock Crown Square, DE4 3AT Tel: 01629 583388 Email: [email protected]

Matlock Bath The Pavilion, DE4 3NR Tel: 01629 55082 Email: [email protected]

Upper Derwent Valley Derwent Bamford, S33 0AQ Tel: 01433 650953

Symbols

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B6106Myths & Legends Attraction

Motorway

Main Road

Secondary Road

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Documents

H1695 Myths Legends v1mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/DS/cms/pdf/pe-myths-legends.pdf · Welcome to the witches, ghosts,highwaymen and horrors of the Bloody Peak. Do the hairs