Peter Dale, Hay Dale and Wheston Cross

Back to full strength this week with all 4 of us and starting on time at 06:00. We set off up the A6 into the Peak District and parked up an hour later at the junction of Monks Dale and Peters Dale. We did Monks Dale a few weeks ago and parked in the same spot. Peters Dale started OK then we encountered some uneven limestone rocks and had to watch where your feet landed. We had to negotiate a large number of cattle to get through to Hay Dale, it made me slightly nervous and i was glad to get past them. Hay Dale is lovely and lush and quite wide in places. It was a steady climb through these dales until we got to the tarmac farm track where the signpost was. Walking along this track we saw a quad bike coming up the road followed by a huge herd of cows. We couldn't get past them so we thought wait till they get past and have breakfast. I get nervous around beasts like this but at the back of the herd was 2 kids driving them on!!
From there it was into the hamlet of Wheston with a hall and an ancient cross. then just a mile or so back to the car.

This weeks route through Peters Dale and Hay Dale

Ike was watching a Raven high up in a tree

Limestone crag in Peters Dale

Rob & Ike

Geoff

Hay Dale

Me and Geoff

A couple of hares chasing each other

Ike and Rob

Geoff Rob & Ike

A herd of cows blocking the road

2 kids driving on the herd.

Breakfast

Calves 

Wheston Cross

Wheston Cross dates back to medieval times and stands in a little sheltered copse of trees. It was moved here earlier this century from a position close to the manor house. The cross which stands on four steps is 12 feet tall and is carved to the east with the Crucifixion of Christ. On the west are the Virgin and Child. Wheston Cross probably dates from the 14th century when it marked the way leading from Tideswell to Buxton on the Forest road. This route lead down Wheston Bank and was known as Kirkgate or Crossgate. This era of the middle ages is referred to as the ‘Age of Faith’ because no traveller would have passed a cross without offering a prayer for their safe journey.

Wheston Hall

Wheston Hall was originally built in the late 16th century. At that time the property consisted of a tower three storeys in height but ungabled. For many years Wheston Hall was held in the Alleyne family who were staunch Catholics. In 1592 Edward Alleyne and his brother Henry were arrested for being Roman Catholics and holding secret mass and were heavily fined. 

The family seat was eventually lost due to debt and passed to Thomas Freeman who in 1727 added a new 3-storey, 9-bay range to the north, giving Wheston Hall a Georgian façade. Two further gables were created to the east, and the land around was transformed into a country estate with an avenue of trees, ending in a fine pair of gate piers with pineapple finials. In the next century Wheston Hall passed through several families but fell into disrepair, and the west wing became disused. In 1952 the west wing and north front collapsed in a gale and parts of n Hall were then demolished to reduce it to a more manageable size. Over the years the beautifully set out estate with lawns and trees has returned to farmland where sheep and cattle once again graze. 

Wheston Hall is more often referred to for its ghosts. One is known as the ‘Old Woman of Wheston’ who is said to appear dressed in poke bonnet and crinoline dress. She passes around the house barefoot, shrieking and tearing out her golden hair. Apparently The Old Woman of Wheston had once been married to a man she hated, but in typical ghostly tradition, was parted from the real man that she loved. Murder was said to have been committed by her husband, and her lover’s grave reputedly lies in the former orchard. The lady died at Wheston Hall of a broken heart and was buried at Tideswell. 

The other ghost at Wheston Hall is of ‘Soldier Dick’, apparently being a life-size military figure that once stood in the entrance hall. It was reputed that if he was moved from this place, bad luck fell on the residents of the Hall. It is said that he was finally laid to rest in the cellar of Wheston Hall. 

You don't see many fields full of cows these days

A cracking walk just over 4 1/2 miles and ascent of over 400 feet through some great scenery. Finding the cross was a real bonus and that's another 2 dales crossed off the list.
See you next week.