Peak District Books
There are many books and references dealing within the Peak District and / or Derbyshire. A few of the best are listed below:
Title
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Author
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Publisher
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Date
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Notes
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GENERAL BOOKS:
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The Peak District
|
John Barnatt & Ken Smith
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Windgather
|
2004
|
The authors are strongest on archaeology, but a great general book on Peak landscape history.
|
Sheffield's Golden Frame
|
Bill Bevan
|
Sigma
|
2007
|
A landscape survey of Burbage, Houndkirk & Longshaw intended for the casual reader. A good introduction to the area, combining ancient & modern features. For a really detailed account see Moors for the Future Report No. 8
|
The Upper Derwent
|
Bill Bevan
|
Tempus
|
2004
|
Obviously mainly about the Upper Derwent, but local examples are put in general contexts. It is probably possible to visit every site listed in the course of a few visits, but a life's work to fully understand it all.
|
THE PEAK NATIONAL PARK
|
Roland Smith
|
Webb & Bower
|
1987
|
Still the best general read, but appears to be out of print. An excellent summary of the forces that have created the landscape with great photographs by an author who has gone back to original sources.
|
The Peak
|
Gordon Stainforth
|
Constable
|
1998
|
Stunning photography makes this worth buying. However, the text is called a "personal perspective" which turns out to mean it contains New Age meandering and the occasional error. Probably a good source on the history of climbing though. Interesting historic maps.
|
A Picture of the Peak District
|
R.A.Redfearn
|
Hale
|
1987
|
A good general read, based on a first class knowledge of the area.
|
The Seven Blunders of the Peak
|
B.Robinson
|
Scarthin
|
1994
|
Compares the stories of the Eyam Plague, Little John's grave etc. to the known facts. A shock for the credulous. Would be a great text to go with the photos in "The Peak" (see above).
|
Curiosities of the Peak District
|
F.Rodgers
|
Moorland
|
1985
|
Great little book for the visitor - finding the 159 oddities listed here will take you into every part of the Peak.
|
Time Exposure
|
R.Manley
|
Balding & Mansell
|
1991
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Old photos of the Peak. Some priceless images of the 19th Century landscape in general and lead mining in particular
|
Hunting in Britain
|
B.Lewis
|
History Press
|
2009
|
Not a book about the Peak, but identifies historic relationships between hunting and landscapes and many of the examples given are in Derbyshire.
|
GEOLOGY
|
|
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Classic Landforms of the Dark Peak
|
R.Castleden & C.Green
|
The Geographical Association
|
1999
|
Only 50 pages, but first rate; the most useful maps relating to the geological basis of Peak District landforms ever published .
|
Classic Landforms of the White Peak
|
R.Dalton, R.Castleden & C.Green
|
The Geographical Association
|
1999
|
as above, but for the limestone area.
|
Geology Explained in the Peak District
|
F.Wolverson Cope
|
Scarthin
|
1998
|
The title promises much more than it delivers - a description of a series of field trips. Still, a geology book focussed on the Peak and Cope certainly knows his stuff.
|
Landshapes
|
D.Brunsden & others
|
David & Charles
|
1988
|
A good general book on the landscapes of Britain. Contains an easy to understand analysis of the Mam Tor landslip.
|
The Natural History of the Sheffield Area
|
ed. D.Whiteley
|
Sorby Natural History Society
|
1985
|
OK - not obviously a geology book, but the early sections on geology and fossils are clearly written with a minimum of technical terms.
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MINING
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The Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society (PDMHS)
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|
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Free twice a year to members of the PDMHA; join at a visit to the Mining Museum in Matlock Bath. Write to Peak District Mining Museum, Matlock Bath, DE4 3NR England.
|
Lead Mining in the Peak District
|
T.D.Ford &
J.H.Rieuwerts
|
Landmark Publishing
|
2000
|
Delivers exactly what it promises. Compete survey of mines & smelting by the giants of lead mining history.
|
The Lead Legacy
|
J.Barnatt & R. Penny
|
Peak District National Park Authority
|
2004
|
Great summary of lead mining history preceding an extensive, if complicated, listing of sites.
|
The Derbyshire Lead Industry in the 16th Century
|
D.Kiernan
|
Derbyshire Record Society
|
1989
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Awesomely detailed study - the title says it all.
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Derbyshire lead smelting in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
|
L.Willies
|
Bulletin of the PDMHS Vol. 11, No. 1
|
1990
|
Clear & informative, especially useful when read in conjunction with Kiernan (above).
|
Millclose: the mine that drowned
|
L.Willies, K.Gregory & H.Parker
|
Scarthin
|
1989
|
Detailed history of the last successful lead mine
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Lathkill Dale: it's Mines and Miners
|
J.H.Rieuwerts
|
Landmark
|
2000
|
Not an easy read, but for lead mining enthusiasts this is it!
|
The Coal Mines of Buxton
|
A.F.Roberts & J.R.Leach
|
Scarthin
|
1985
|
Good specialist book
|
Limekilns and Lime burning
|
R.Williams
|
Shire
|
1989
|
Not specifically about the Peak, but a good explanation of lime kilns & the processes used.
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HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY
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|
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Derbyshire, a history
|
D.Hey
|
Carnegie
|
2008
|
The best around for Peak landscape history! Up to date and and generally clearly written, although a few more maps and a glossary would make it more accessible for the casual reader (For example, Hey refers to "fothers" of lead, "mullioned" windows and "diapered" bricks without explanation).
A fother of lead in Derbyshire was 180 stones (1141 kilos). Mullioned windows are 2 or more windows seperated by vertical stone bars. Diapered bricks are bricks coloured by firing that are often arranged in patterns.
|
Prehistory in the Peak
|
M.Edmonds & T. Seaborne
|
Tempus
|
2001
|
A readable account, occasionally wandering towards mysticism, but all the facts are rooted in archaeology.
|
Chatsworth and Beyond
|
John Barnatt & Nicola Bannister
|
Windgather
|
2009
|
Subtitle is "The Archaeology of a Great Estate" and it does a great job of revealing the layers of history in the grounds of Chatsworth. A classic example of landscape analysis that includes history as well as pre-history. If only the maps were in colour...
|
The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain
|
K.O.Morgan
|
OUP
|
1st pub. 1984
|
Excellent review of the whole of British history which puts events in the Peak into context.
|
|
STONE CIRCLES OF THE PEAK.
|
John Barnatt
|
Turnstone Books
|
1978
|
Superb, exhaustive listing and description of every stone circle in the Peak, complete with astronomical alignments and geometric analysis.
|
Industrial Archaeology of the Peak District
|
H.Harris
|
David & Charles
|
1971
|
Detailed survey + gazetteer
|
Rock around the Peak
|
V.&P. Morgan
|
Sigma Leisure
|
2001
|
Good review of stone circles & real or possible megalithic landmarks in the Peak; useful as a field guide and as a start on a detailed study.
|
Wall-to-Wall History
The story of Roystone Grange
|
Richard Hodges
|
Duckworth
|
1991
|
Not a casual read, but a walk around Roystone Grange referring to this and drystone walls will never seem the same again!
|
The Mystery of Carl Wark: Peak District Fortress or Folly?
|
M.Savage
|
ALD Design & Print
|
1999
|
A review of the literature relating to Carl Wark. The title says it all - Carl Wark might be anything from anytime in a 3,000 year window.
|
ROADS & TRACKS
|
|
|
|
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Peakland Roads & Trackways.
|
A.E.& E.M. Dodd
|
Landmark
|
2000
|
One of the cornerstones of Peak history, now in a updated and improved 2d edition.
|
Packmen, Carriers and Packhorse Roads
|
D.Hey
|
Leicester University Press
|
1980
|
Focussed on the 17th & 18th Centuries in N.Derbyshire & S.Yorkshire. For real enthusiasts
|
The Guide Stoops of the Dark Peak
|
H.Smith
|
West Bar Printing Service
|
1999
|
Gazetteer of stoops in the north west Peak District, plus useful history.
|
MILLSTONES
|
|
|
|
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Historic Hallamshire
|
D.Hey
|
Landmark
|
2001
|
Chapter 7 is an excellent summary by a master of the subject.
|
The Production and Distribution of Peak Millstones from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Centuries.
|
J.P.Polak
|
Derbyshire Archaeological
Journal
|
1987
|
Hold on to your anorak! - an awesomely rigorous review with the definitive list of millstone references .
|
Peak Millstones and Hallamshire Grindstones
|
Jeffrey Radley
|
Transactions of the Newcomen Society
|
1963-4
|
Good source on millstone production
|
Peak District Mining and Quarrying
|
Willies, L. & Parker, H.
|
Tempus
|
1999
|
A book mostly about lead mining and limestone quarrying, but with a brief chapter on millstone grit and some photographs of quarrying in the 1920's.
|
The versatile millstone, workhorse of many industries
|
Jon A. Sass
|
Society for the Preservation of Old Mills
|
1990
|
Description of a collection of specialist industrial millstones in the USA. Strictly peripheral to the Peak, but describes the many industrial uses of "millstones" in the 19th century, including cork grinding stones made of millstone grit that were in usein a factory in Pennsylvania until 1974.
|
Windmills: a pictorial history of their technology
|
Hills, R.L.
|
Landmark
|
2005
|
Good survey of windmills across Europe with a section on millstones from a millers point of view
|
Cauldwell's Mill, Rowsley
|
Arkwright Society
|
G.C.Brittain, Ripley
|
1974
|
Detailed explanation of the workings of Cauldwell's Mill, near Bakewell. Machinery is mostly pre-war. A basic of industrial archaeology.
|
Querns Millstones and Grindstones
|
Tom D. Tomlinson
|
Hathersage Parochial Church Council
|
1981
|
A 20 page pamphlet Not a rigorous academic paper but no millstone enthusiast should miss it.
|
Millstones for Medieval Manors
|
D.L.Farmer
|
Agricultural History Review
|
1992
|
Describes a rapid inflation in millstone prices in the 13th & 14th century; emphasises the importance of water transport and the need for docks with cranes.
|
French Millstones for King's Lynn
|
O.Ward
|
International Molinolgy No. 53
|
1996
|
The Corporation of King's Lynn acted as a wholesaler of millstones; they appear to have started importing millstones from France for a period from the mid 16th century, to the mid 17th century.
|
Stone Quarry Landscapes
|
P.Stanier
|
Tempus
|
2000
|
The chapter on Peak Millstones is a good summary of secondary sources.
|
RESERVOIRS
|
|
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Walls across the valley
|
B.Robinson
|
Scarthin
|
1993
|
Everything any sane person could
want to know about the building of
the Derwent & Howden dams and then some..
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FOLKLORE
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Derbyshire Folklore
|
J.N.Merril
|
J.N.M. Publications
|
1988
|
A credulous assembly which
includes the best known stories.
|
Strange South Yorkshire
|
D.Clarke
|
Sigma Press
|
1994
|
Only a few locations covered are in
the Peak, but a thoughtful account of folklore, including the Robin Hood legend.
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