Wakebridge and Crich Memorial Tower.

We had a lay in this week it was a 07:00 start, Ike's turn to drive and he wanted to see where the Wakebridge lead mining sites had been. We parked in a lay by just inside the village and it was just a short walk down to the footpath. The first signs we saw were the remains of the cornish engine House from the Wakebridge Mine. Unfortunately this was the last real bit of the mines that are left to see.
We followed the footpaths which zigzagged all up the hillside and eventually came out in the grounds of the tramway museum. There was a sign pointing to the Old Glory Mine which is now a picnic site. We had a quick look and carried on up to the footpath that took us around the edge of the quarry. That quarry is huge, looks like half the hill has been moved. We came out at the memorial where we had our breakfast. We chatted to the guy that looks after the grounds and the tower after he had put the flags up, very interesting chap.
After that we walked through the fields and tried to find the remains of the old End Mine but couldn't find anything apart from a big spoil heap.
We got back on track and headed back to the car going past the tram museum main gates on the way.

This weeks route around the Crich Memorial Tower.

Old mine map of the area.

Ike, Geoff and Rob

The remains of the Wakebridge cornish mine engine house.

We had a really good chat to this chap who knew all about the mines and gave us lots of good info.

Not sure what this building was but that looks like a capped mineshaft alongside it.

End of the line for the trams

Glory mine picnic site

The massive quarry at Crich

Geoff getting his leg over (the gate)

Crich Memorial Tower

Looking down to the village of Crich

Us 4 at the Crich Memorial Tower

Putting up the flags

Looking for the Old End Mine

Miniature Crich Stand

Tram waiting to go

Back at the car getting the boots off.

A couple of pics from the day before when i went up there to take some shots in the mist

 A short walk of only 2 1/2 miles but very interesting and we met 2 real characters on the way that were full of information.
See you next week.

Crich Carr, Wakebridge and Cromford Canal

There were only 2 of us this week, me and Geoff, Rob and Ike were off to Looms scrapyard on a mission  to salvage some car parts.
So Geoff picked me up at 07:30 and we parked in the same lay by that we parked in last week. There was no frost this week but it was still very cold, we walked to Chase bridge then headed up the same footpath that we did last week, but last week we turned right half way up track, this week we carried straight on until we reached the junction of the B5035 and Shaw's Hill. This was all uphill until we reached the footpath turning off Coddington Lane, across the fields  to Leashaw road. The route went through Wakebridge then down through the woods to Cromford Canal. We made a quick trip to Gregory's Tunnel before turning around and walking all along the canal back to the carpark.

This weeks Route

The first view across the valley

We were tired going up the hill, then he comes running past!!

Alderwasley Hall. A 15th century manor house, built by the Lowe family, which stood on the site was replaced with the present house in the late 18th century by Francis Hurt, (High Sheriff of Derbyshire 1788). His son, also Francis Hurt, was also High Sheriff. The house was made a Grade II listed building in 1967. The hall remained in the Hurt family until 1930, when they moved to Casterne Hall, Staffordshire and it was sold to a Benedictine Order to be used as a school Which it remained until 1976 when it became a Special School.

Lovely cottages

An old water trough

Primitive Methodist 1875

Looks like some development is going on here.

Riber Castle off in the distance with the sunlight reflecting off the windows

Riber Castle is a 19th-century Grade II listed country house situated in the hamlet of Riber on a hill overlooking Matlock, Derbyshire. Known locally as "Smedley's Folly" because of the difficulty of getting water to the hill summit, it was built by John Smedley in 1862 as his private home. His wife lived in it until her death.

It is built of gritstone from a local quarry (Derbyshire is well known for its quarrying) which was pulled up the 200-metre (660 ft) hill by a series of pulleys.

Plans to turn the shell into apartments received planning consent on 15 March 2006. The castle walls have now been secured, chimneys and floors rebuilt, 119 windows replaced and a roof added. It is expected that two show apartments will be ready some time in 2014

Geoff

An unusual view of Crich Memorial Tower

This is the Childhood home of Florence Nightingale

In the Derbyshire Village of Lea, Lea Hall is the childhood home of Florence Nightingale. The hall, which has a 16th century rear part, and a magnificent 18th century front, has been completely restored and converted to self-catering holiday accommodation

Geoff

Geoff

Me, wrapped up against the elements

They made a lot of squealing noises when we walked past.

Some wonderful shaped trees in these woods

This area was dotted with abandoned cars and caravans 

Bridge over the canal (This black and white pic is for Sue)

A lovely greeting

Mr. & Mrs Swan

Gregory's Tunnel

Geoff at the tunnel

We had our breakfast at the tunnel and were visited by these looking for some tit bits

Never seen black ducks before

This is a mink trap

Sims Bridge

The remains of the old Whatstandwell railway platform

Bridge to the new Whatstandwell railway station

Geoff

Chase Bridge

Car parked in the lay by

 This was 4 3/4 miles and was a nice walk with some great views. We saw quite a few squirrels and a lot of wildlife on the canal. We also bumped into a small party we talked to a couple of weeks ago.
See you next week.