Lets Go Castleton, Cartledge House Farm, Great Hucklow, Derbyshire, SK17 8RG, United Kingdom
Email : info@letsgo-castleton.co.uk
Sales Tel : 01433 639095
Sales Tel : 01433 639095
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One of the premier villages of the Peak District and at the heart of the Peak District National Park stands the village of Castleton - the "Gem of the Peaks" - sitting at the start of the Hope Valley, snuggled in a fabulously picturesque bowl of imposing steep hills and caverns. It lies between the Dark and the White Peak areas of the Peak District. The Dark Peak in the north is renowned for its gritstone edges, Froggatt and Stanage Edge along with Kinder Downfall being the most well known. The White Peak in the south is the area created more of limestone plateaus.
It is a working lively village and one that lends itself well to tourists who flock throughout the year to stay or walk and enjoy this beautiful part of the world, as well as visit the small shops that sit amongst the nooks and crannies within the lanes of village.
Overlooked by Mam Tor, which supports the remains of a Celtic hill fort, this historic village is one of little nooks and crannies and winding paths that lead to the main street and the village green, which is flanked by traditional Derbyshire limestone buildings. With six pubs, plenty of cafes and numerous gift shops which sell souvenirs fashioned from Blue John, it is still the surrounding hills and what lies below them that attracts the majority of visitors to Castleton.
Overlooking the village stands Peveril Castle granted to William Peveril by his father, William the Conqueror, in 1086 and beneath the hills lie the 4 show caves that are open for visitors to explore. Peak Cavern lies directly beneath Peveril Castle and is the largest cavern in Britain. In the caves of Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern you can see the Blue John Fluorspar in its glory. Speedwell Cavern is to be visited if you dare, a place rich with stories of hundred year old murders. This cave is explored by boat and culminates with a look into the “Bottomless Pit”.
Within the village, if you look through the "nooks and crannies" you will find plenty to view, alongside the pubs, eateries and shops. Causeways House, near the school on Back Street is possibly the oldest house in the village and has two and a half pairs of crucks still existing. Hancock's, on Cross Street, an old shop now known as Cruck Barn, has paperwork dated to 1620 which details the division of an ancient cruck barn.
Tricket Gate House is a traditionally built Peak District Long House, initially part dwelling and half farm, all in one building. William Tricket is recorded as living there in 1455 and it was converted into a green grocer's shop in the 1900's, to later belome the renowned fish and chip of the village.
On Hollowford Lane, a few metres below Tricket Bridge Sough Trail , was a cobbled area with stagecoaches and other heavy vehicles being washed ther, daily. Beyond Tricket Bridge to the right side of Hollowford Lane was a building, previously the Chandler's Shop where tallow candles were made. This is now converted to a dwelling though its huge rendering vats still exist and can be seen at the Castleton Methodist Church.
On Back Street, nearly opposite to Tricket Gate House there was a dilapidated barn which is believed to have housed a cotton mill that spun yarn from 1760 to 1800. It alos produced the wicks for candles for the nearby Chandler's Shop. Further along on Back Street is a small single story building known locally as Pepper Hall, modified from Pauper Hall, which housed and sheltered vagrants banned from entering the village.
Back Street in Castleton starts from Market Place leading down to Tricket Bridge, via Hollowford Lane. The remaining named folds along Back Street are Eades Fold, Frost Fold, Burrows Fold, Biddock Fold and Turnbull Fold. All of the barns and other buildings enclosing these folds have now been converetd to dwellings now, or demolished. There are still two farms residing on Back Street though Bene Hill Farm has been unused for years and Mill Bridge Farm was ised up unto 2001, when stock was moved to a new building just off Hollowford Lane. All buildings, including the cotton mill, are now, sadly converted to dwellings.
Behind Causeway House there used to be farm buildings including barns, a shippon and a slaugterhouse. A butcher's shop was historically housed in the building, which is now Causeway House Crafts. There is another large barn on Mill Lane with a smaller, corrugated iron building next to it where over the last few years the Garland has been made for Garland Day.
Peveril Castle
The village of Castleton is dominated by the keep of Peveril Castle. This Norman castle was built by William the conqueror's son, William Peveril in 1080. It was built to oversee the King's Royal Forest of the Peak, although little of this forest now remains. It was originally a wooden building but was later rebuilt in stone around 1175 and this is the keep can be seen today. Built under the direction of King Henry II, it was here in 1157 that Henry accepted the submission of King Malcolm of Scotland.
English Heritage are now responsible for the running and upkeep of Peveril Castle In 2011, it is open every day from 1st April to 1st November and Thursday to Monday from 2nd November to 31st March 2012. It is closed from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day and on New Year's Day.