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The Peak District is one of the most unique areas
in the world. One of the top three visited National
Parks in the WORLD, there are many unique facts
about the area. Here are but a few.......
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The Unique and Enigmatic Peak District. |
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- The Emperor Fountain at Chatsworth House is
the tallest fountain in Britain. It was built
by Sir Joseph Paxton in 1844 to celebrate the
Russian Tsar's visit. The sixth Duke of Devonshire
insisted that his fountain should be higher
than the Tsar's in the Imperial Palace. (Clearly
before the days of who had the biggest BMW).
Sir Joseph succeeded and the Emperor Fountain
reached a height of 269ft (82m), more than twice
as high as the Tsar's !
- The Peak National Park was designated Britains
first National Park in 1951, not indirectly
as a result of one of countries biggest 'Mass
Trepasses'. In 1932, during the recession, rambling
was one of the few free pastimes open to the
unemployed and the Peak District was the nearest
park area accessible from Manchester, Sheffield
and Leeds, however at the time, less than 1%
of the Peak National Park was open to the public.
The highest point in the Peak District is Kinder
Scout (2,088ft/636m) which was privately owned
and opened for only 12 days a year for shooting.
The mass trespass of Kinder Scout, organised
by the British Workers Sports Federation (who
also set up the Sunday Football League) in 1932
was the defining moment that opened up not only
the Peak District but many other areas within
the UK, giving ordinary people the 'Right to
Roam'. On April 24th, 1932, 500 people attended
the first mass trespass of Kinder Scout. They
were met with physical resistance by the police
and gamekeepers but succeeded in reaching the
summit. The trespass continued for year after
year and by 1949, when 10,000 people made the
climb, the Prime Minister Clement Atlee was
persuaded to pass the National Parks Access
to the Countryside Act which nationalised Kinder
Scout and led to the formation of the UK's National
Parks - and it all started here !
- The Smallest Detached House in the World is
Thimble Hall and is located in Youlgrave. It
measures just 3.6m by 3.1m and 3.7m high. Incredibly
in the 1800's it was home to a family of 8!
- Little John, Robin Hood's best friend and
right hand man, is buried in a huge grave in
the churchyard at Hathersage. His cottage, just
to the East of the church, stood until only
100 years ago.
- The Peak District is home to the only two
sources of 'Blue John' in the world. The Blue
John and Treak Cliff Caverns below Castleton
were certainly visited by the Romans. We know
this because Blue John artifacts were found
in the ruins of Pompeii.
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