Darley Dale
Darley Dale is a town in the county of Derbyshire in the East Midlands region of England. Locally the town is also often referred to as Darley. The town lies on the River Derwent close to Matlock.
It is thought that people have settled in the Darley Dale area since Anglian times. In its entry in the Domesday Book Darley Dale was registered as Dereleie and it was listed as having its own priest. At this point in time it was part of the area known as the Wirksworth Hundred. The name of Darley in Darley Dale comes from the Anglo Saxon word ‘deor-leah’ which means ‘the clearing visited by animals’.
During the 19th to 20th centuries the town became particularly well known for its lead mining and smelting industries. Cawdor Quarry which lies close to the town also played a part in the economy of Darley Dale. The stone quarried here was much prized and was used in the construction of various London landmarks, for example, such as Hyde Park Corner and for the famous stately home in the area, Chatsworth House. The town also became known as a railway centre.
Visitors to Darley Dale who are interested in history should take a look at the town’s church (St Helen’s) which has a stained glass window that was designed by William Morris and Burne-Jones of Pre-Raphaelite fame. There is a yew tree in the church grounds which some people consider to be around two thousand years old. There has been a church in this location in the town since the 11th century although the earliest remaining parts of the current church date back to the 14th century.
The town is home to the Darley Dale Arts Festival which runs every two years in the month of July. The town also has a station stop on the Peak Rail heritage steam railway - a trip on this railway is a sure fire hit with all the family. If you go a little farther afield to Stanton Moor and Arbour Low you can also see some ancient sites of interest including the Nine Ladies Stone Circle.
The town is also popular with walkers and hikers. There are approximately 20 miles of public footpaths in and around the town area which include a variety of interesting woodland walks. The Whitworth Trail is also worth doing which takes in various local places associated with the famous resident of Darley Dale, Sir Joseph Whitworth.