We are lucky to be nestled right in the heart of some of the best walking and outdoor activity in the country. The Peak District also has some of Britain's finest Country Houses including, Chatsworth, Haddon, Lymm Park, and Hardwick Hall to name a few.
However, from the heritage of Buxton to the hidden caves of Castleton, the Peak District has a rich history. Here are 4 things you might not know….
Born Out of Public Demand
During the turn of the 1990s, there was a developing appreciation for outdoor activity and the benefits of exercise. As the industrial revolution transformed our towns and cities, people's appetite to explore the great outdoors grew.
This sparked a growing conflict with landowners as the general public began accessing the countryside.
The Mass Trespass
By 1931 the public discontent was growing following a government inquiry that recommended an authority select areas for designation as national parks, yet nothing was being done.
1932 saw a mass trespass on Kinder Scout in the Peak District. Walkers took it upon themselves to walk unhindered on open moorland. They were opposed by gamekeepers who were employed by local landowners which resulted in 5 trespassers being imprisoned. According to Stuart Maconie author of ‘‘Pies and Prejudice’ the Mass Trespass was planned by the Manchester and Sheffield ramblers at Losehill House or the Moorgate CHA as it was then.
The voluntary Standing Committee on National Parks (SCNP) was formed in 1936 to argue for national parks and to lobby the government. The committee was made up of The Youth Hostels' Association, The Rambler's Association, The Council for the Preservation for Rural England, and The Council for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW).
The Millstone
The emblem of the Peak District National Park is the Millstone and can be found on the boundary markers on key gateway routes.
It can be traced back to the Norman conquest of 1066 and is recorded in the Doomsday Book 1068. Archaeological evidence suggests that millstone production began during the Roman period in order to grind corn and sharpen tools.
You can visit Millstone Edge, near Hathersage, and see the remains of millstones that have been left behind.
The First National Park
Whilst the UK now has many national parks such as Lake District, Snowdonia, Dartmoor, Pembrokeshire Coast, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, Brecon Beacons, and more.
In 1951, the Peak District was the first designated national park and is now visited by over 13.5 million people each year.
