Out & About: Hope Church & Darley Dale

The mist was bad again this week and it was only 7 degree's when we set off for St. Peters Church in Hope.
The mist was still swirling around when we got to Hope, parked up Hope market place which is about the size of 6 cars. The yew avenue through the church yard was impressive and it led us straight to the stoop.
The stoop was found in 2000 and was erected in the church yard in 2003 by the Hope Historical Society.

The stoops new position since 2003

The wording is well worn and showing evidence of it being used as a gate post

Saxon cross & stoop

Very impressive Saxon Cross

The Church is famous for its Gargoyles.

Another fine structure in the Church grounds.

We had a general wander about Hope pokeing in here and there to see what we could find. People walk along the main road and many dont realise the old village stocks are builtinto the wall that runs in front of the church notice board. Admitted they are not obvious until they are pointed out.

The remains of the stocks are at pavement level just between the small services markers.

St. Peters Church, Hope

We had a wander down the lane adjacent to the church and found an old Pinfold.

Geoff reading the rules for the Pinfold.

A Pinfold was used to keep any stray animals under control until their owners paid for there return or they were sold on at market.

The old school on School Lane.

Another old letterbox King George V 1910 - 1936

We found another letterbox with GR markings on it. Hands up all that spotted the difference between this one and last weeks. Last weeks GR was in a decorative font with V1 intermingled in the GR which is obviously King George V1.

From Hope we made our way towards Darley Dale and stopped for breakfast in a layby next to a park.
We chatted to a couple of fly fishermen on there way to the river. Rob had met one of these guys before he owns a fishing tackle shop in Bakewell. They are part of a fishing syndicate and told us this was the only area in the UK where rainbow trout breed naturally. I had a lesson in fly tieing and it was all very interesting. Thanks a lot guys.

I hope they had a good catch

After breakfast we went in search of the elusive Darley Dale stoop, which by deduction we eventually found.

This stoop (E20) has been moved from its original position some time ago.

The lads at stoop E20

I spotted a nice old hand pump in a field complete with a set of stone steps. Presumably the outlet was high enough to fit some sort of wheeled container underneath while the operator furiously cranked the handle to draw the water up from the well.