4 L. tilted. Wham Rake Head, Tadding- 2 L. and 2 T. Marble Quarry. Here are Rottenstone Pits. Here are Lime Quarries. LATHKIL, OR BRAD FORD RIDGES. The north or north-west ridge west ridge of the Wye. On Masson Low, Matlock, 2 T. 1 L. and 1 T. The north Ridge of this small Mouse Low, G. The southern Ridge begins at Combs Rocks, near Charles- RIDGES OF THE NOE, OR NOW. North Ridge. South Ridge. Sir William Hill, Eyam, G. Hartle Moor, Yolgrave, G. High-field-farm, G. The cast Ridge South Anston Hill, in Yorkshire, a few miles beyond the boundaries of this county, remarkable for its yellow Lime and salmon-coloured Grit. Hay Hill, Ashover, G. sh. Lindow-lane-Hill, Ashover, G. The south Ridge Ripley village, Pentrich, G. Darley Hill, near Derby, R. M. | Cro-po-Top, Sutton-on-the Hill, R. M. South of the Trent. between the Trent and the Mease are very confused. M. Upon the borders of Derbyshire Cadley Hill, Church Gresley, Linton Village, Church Gresley, Midway Houses, Hartshorn, New Hall, Windmill House, Old Park, near Smithsby. M. This view of the elevated parts of the county, from the grit-stone of the Peak to the red-marl, or, as some authors denominate that rich prolific earth on the banks of the Trent and the lower Derwent, the red-loam, of the southern district, presents, we conceive, as correct an idea of the diversity of strata, as could be done by a geological map. The heights of some of the loftiest mountains in these ridges have been ascertained, but the investigation and description is far from being complete. In the list of " Altitudes of the stations and other remarkable hills," calculated during the CHAP. 1. CHAP. 1. progress of the Trigonometrical survey, under the direction of Col. Mudge, the following are given as the chief eminences in Derbyshire. Valleys. VALLEYS, and the beds of rivers, have a natural connexion with each other, or, rather, they would be identically the same if the theory of Dr. Hutton and Professor Playfair were true, who have asserted "that all valleys have been excavated by rivers that flow through them." But it appears to be now generally admitted by geologists, that other and more powerful causes must have combined in the formation of valleys; and that, as far as water has been an agent, we must rather contemplate the force of a deluge, than the erosive powers of even the largest or most rapid rivers. The valleys of Derbyshire are extremely interesting, not only on account of the rock and river scenery with which they abound, but because, as Mr. Farey observes, they afford the miner and geologist "situations for examining and comparing the edges of corresponding strata, on the two sides of a valley, the ledges of rock in its bottom, and of studying the truly surprising and powerful causes that have operated in the formation of valleys." Narrow, precipitous valleys have, undoubtedly, stronger claims upon the artist and the scientific student than those of wider extent. The continuity of their cliffs is more majestic, their projections are bolder, and their chasms are more abrupt and awful: they present the order of the strata more clearly to the research of the geologist, and more accurately and intimately disclose to him some of nature's abstrusest secrets. We shall subjoin, with a few omissions and alterations, the list of these defiles or rocky valleys, as given by the author of the Agricultural Survey; pointing out to the mineralogist and geologist, those objects that may be conducive to a correct knowledge of our basaltic and calcareous rocks, and their mineral productions. At the same time, we would have it understood, that, although we do not particularise the wider valleys, they are not without beauty, nor are they deficient in objects of instructive interest. The meadows and cornlands intervening amidst the gritstone rocks that appear and disappear along their sides, are objects of bright and picturesque contrast, frequently replete with sources of encouraging reflections. “The hand of industry,” says Mr. Rhodes, in describing Hope-Dale, "was busily employed in this rude place, where stone walls, intersecting each other at right angles, have obtruded on the wildness of these moorland wastes, and robbed them of a beauty which they once possessed. In a few years they will wear a different appearance, and corn will wave where the yellow gorse and the purple heath now flourish; and the oak, the ash, the elm and the pine, will each contribute to enrich and ennoble the scene.' * Peak Scenery, Part I. An Alphabetical LIST of the NAMES of the principal NARROW and ROCKY VALLEYS, or DEFILES, with precipitous CLIFFS, in and near to DERBYSHIRE, describing their SITUATIONS, the STRATA exhibited in their sides and bottoms, and the NAMES of the most noted ROCKS, CAVERNS, &c. in each. Barbrook Dale, NE of Baslow, about 4 m. long, E of Derwent river, in the NE direction; cliffs and loose blocks of 1st grit rock, a lead cupola, slag-mill and sulphur work in it. Berresford Dale, S SW of Hartington, between Derbyshire and Staffordshire, extending about m. S along the course of Dove river, in 4th lime; ruins of a castle. Bonsal Dale, S of the town, extending nearly W 2 m. from Cromford town to Griffe and Via Gellia dales, with branches on the N up to the town; 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th lime rocks, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd toadstones, tufa at Marygrot spring, hot springs formerly: very deep and striking, with a good turnpike road through it, towards Buxton: it has two lead cupolas and slag-mills, a sulphur work, calamine works, a stone saw-mill, &c. in it. Bradford Dale, S and SW of Yolgrave, extending about SW 14 m. from Lathkil dale; shale, 1st lime, and 1st toadstone (in the river SW of Yolgrave) slither, or indestructible and barren lime-rubble on its sides; a prodigious large spring at Middleton. Bradwell Dale, S of the village, extending thence S about m. in 1st lime, with black chert nodules in very regular layers. Brook-bottom Dale, N NW of Tideswell, extending about 14 m. from the town, 2nd lime, and 2nd toadstone (in the brook at its NW end); black marble of the 2nd lime rock, is dug here, an ebbing well formerly; road through it, towards Chapel-en-le-Frith. Burbadge Dale, N NE of Nether Padley, extending N NE about m. in 1st grit, with grindstone quarries. Callenge Dale, SE of Monyash, a branch from Lathkil dale S, 1st lime, slither. Cave Dale, SW of Castleton, extending 1 m. from the town, 3rd lime, 3rd toadstone, and 4th lime at its W end; a very narrow entrance from the town, columnar toadstone. Combs Dale, S of Stoney Middleton, extending from near Calver W SW about 14 m., deep, in 1st lime, and toadstone at High-field sough mouth. Cressbrook Dale, SE of Litton, extending about 1 m. N from the Wye at Monsal dale; 1st lime, and 1st toadstone at N end; 2nd lime, and 2nd toadstone, and 3rd lime at S end; slither, hobsthrust rocks. Cresswell Crags, E of Elmton, between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, extending E about one third m. in a lifted part of the yellow lime, small caverns. Cummins Dale, E of Buxton, extending from Dale-end mill on the Wye about m. NW, 4th lime, with a crystallized granular bed of limestone on S side; a dry dale, owing to the swallow-holes at Water-swallows above. Deep Dale, N of Brierley-foot toll-bar, near Chelmerton, extending aboutm. S SW from Marl dale, 4th lime. Devil's Bowling-alley, N of Alderwasley, extending from the Derwent one third m. SW, 1st grit, with large loose blocks. Dimins Dale, NW of Sheldon, extending from near the Wye river SW about 14 m., 1st lime at SW end, 1st toadstone, and 2nd lime. Dove Dale, N NW of Thorpe, between Derbyshire and Staffordshire, extending northward nearly 5 m. along the course of the Dove, surprisingly deep in the 4th lime, much slither, but no loose blocks: the high and isolated rocks in this grand dale are called, Dove-dale Church, Lover's Leap, Pickerings, SugarLoaves, Tissington-Spires, Thorpe-Cloud (at the S end) &c. Reynard's Hall and Cave, and Dove-hole, are curious caves; there is here also, a fine natural arch at Reynard's Hall: many very wide and barren or dead veins, cross this dale obliquely. Devonshire Dale, NE of Fairfield, extending about 14 m. NNW from Great-Rocks dale, in 4th lime, a dry dale, owing to swallowholes at Dove-hole cotton-mill. Eyam Dale. See Middleton Dale. Flag Dale, SW of Wormhill, extending about 1 m. NW from the Wye river at Chee Tor, in 4th lime, with 3rd toadstone along its NE border; large springs at its SE end." Grange-mill Dale. See Griffe Dale. Grass Dale, NE of Wormhill, extending about 1 m. N NW from Monks dale to Hay dale, 3rd lime at S end, 3rd toadstone, and 4th lime at N end; a dry dale, owing to swallow-holes in this and Hay dale above. Great Rocks Dale, W of Wormhill, extending 23 m. from the Wye N NW to Dovehole dale, in 4th lime, with sunk pieces of 3rd toadstone in it; near the Buxton road; a dry dale, owing to the swallow-holes at Dove-hole cottonmill above. Griffe Dale (or Grange-mill Dale) S of Grange mill, extending thence southward about 14 m. to Via Gellia and Bonsal dales, in 4th lime, 3rd toadstone at its N end; a new turnpike road through it. Hamps Dale, in Staffordshire, N NE of Caldon, extending about 24 m. S SW from Ilam and Wetton dales at Beaston tor, in 4th lime. The channel of the Hamps river is here dry, when not swoln by great rains, and its waters, which fall into swallow-holes at Waterfall and Waterhouses, pass more than 3 m. under ground to Hamps springs, W of Ilam Hall. Hay Dale, S of Peak Forest town, extending about 1 m. N from Grass dale, in 4th lime; a dry dale, below the swallow-holes near its N end. Hay Dale, S of Wardlow, extending N about 1 m. from Monsal dale, in 2nd lime, with 1st toadstone at its N end, and nearly along its eastern border; vast beds of slither, or indestructible and barren lime-rubble, on its E side. Hipple Dale, W of Brassington, extending about m. N NE, with a branch E, in 4th lime; a prodigious spring breaks out at its S end, near the great limestone fault, about once in twenty years. Ilam Dale, in Staffordshire, NW of the town, extending thence nearly 3 m. to the Hamps and Wetton dales, 4th lime. The channel of the Manifold river is here dry in dry seasons, owing to the vast swallow-holes at Darfa cliff, waterfall and waterhouses above, until the great Hamps and Manifold springs break out, in and near to Ilam gardens; Beaston tor rock at its NW end. Lathkil Dale, N and E of Yolgrave, extending from near Stanton to near Monyash about 5 m.; shale near Alport, 1st lime, 1st toadstone and 2nd lime S of Over Haddon, tufa at Alport, slither, Raventor rock near Alport. Markland Grips, NE of Elmton, extending NE CHAP. I. CHAP. I. Caverns. aboutm. to Cresswell upper mill, in yellow lime. Marl Dale, NW of Chelmerton, extending S SW about 14 m. from the Wye river to Deep dale, 4th lime; a large cavern. Matlock-Bath Dale, SW of Matlock, extending nearly N along the course of the Derwent river more than 2 m. from Cromford cottonmills; shale S of High Tor, 1st lime, 1st toadstone, 2nd lime and 2nd toadstone at the foot of High Tor; tufa, petrifying springs, hot springs and baths; High Tor, Scarthen cliffs, Wild-cat Tor rocks, &c. Cumberland cavern: a good turnpike road through this beautiful dale, towards Bakewell. Meadow Dale, S of Tideswell, extending W aboutm. from Tideswell dale; 3rd lime, and 3rd toadstone at its E end. Middleton (or Eyam) Dale, W of Stoney Middleton town, extending thence about 13 m. W, 1st lime, deep and romantic, with several deep collateral branches; Castle, High Tor, Steeple and Lover's Leap rocks; Bamford, Charleswark and Merlin's caverns: a lead cupola and slag-mill, and sulphur work; a good turnpike road passes through this curious dale between Tideswell and Sheffield. Mill Dale, E of Buxton, extending about 4 m. NW from Sherbrook and Wye dales, 3rd lime at its NW end, 3rd toadstone and 4th lime, white marble; a good private coach-road through this dale. Mill Dale, in Staffordshire, S of Alstonfield, extending W about 1 m. from Dove dale; deep and rugged, in 4th lime. Miller's Dale, SE of Wormhill, extending W about 1 m. along the course of the Wye river, from Monsal dale to Wye dale and Sandy dale; 3rd lime, with 2nd toadstone and 2nd lime skirting its S border and parts of its N border; the 3rd toadstone appears in the river, about its middle and at its W end, tufa. Ravens Tor, and other bold and high rocks skirt this dale. Monks Dale, E of Wormhill, extending N NW about 14 m. from the Wye at Millers dale to Grass dale: in 3rd lime, the 3rd toadstone seen at its N end, where the Buxton and Tideswell road crosses it, and the 2nd toadstone skirts both sides of it at the S end: tufa is found in it at the S end; a dry dale, owing to swallow-holes in Hay and Grass dales above. Monsal Dale, NW of Ashford, extending about NNW by a crooked course (along with the Wye river) of about 22 m. from the W face of Fin Copt hill to Miller's dale; in 2nd lime, 2nd toadstone, and 3rd lime at its northern end, having the 1st toadstone and 1st lime on its eastern skirt at the southern end, and the 2nd lime along all its western skirt or border: much slither, or indestructible and barren lime-rubble is lodged on the sides of this valJey; black marble of the 2nd lime is dug here, near Little Longsdon. New-Mills Dale, S of the village (in Glossop) between Derbyshire and Cheshire, extending about W one third m. from the junction of New-Mills brook with the Goyte river, in 3rd grit and coal shale, called Tor Cliff. This is a very singular and striking grit-stone valley. Pleasley Forge Dale, E of the town, between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, extending E about m. in yellow lime. Hobsthrust and other bold rocks are here much admired; a large cotton-mill occupies the site of the ancient iron forge. Ricklow Dale, Ë of Monyash, extending nearly N about one third m. in 1st lime; entrochi marble is here dug. Sandy Dale, S SE of Wormhill, extending S SW about m. from Wye dale to near Blackwall village, in 3rd lime, and 3rd toadstone at its southern end: the 2nd toadstone skirts its eastern border at the northern end, and produces numerous quartz crystals, or Derbyshire diamonds. Sherbrook Dale, SE of Buxton, extending nearly SW about 14 m. from Wye and Mill dales, in 4th lime, and a patch of 3rd toadstone, at the crossing of the Buxton and Ashbourn road, whence a private coach-road proceeds through this dale eastward. Small Dale, SW of Peak Forest town, extending NE aboutm. from Dove-hole dale, in 4th lime, which on the sides of this dale assumes a columnar structure. Thatch Dale, W of Wheston, near Tideswell, extending E about one third m. from Grass dale, 3rd lime and 3rd toadstone; 4th lime on its N skirt. Tideswell Dale, S of the town, extending therefrom 1 m. to Millers dale, in 3rd lime and 3rd toadstone, which is thrown up therein by a fault: the 2nd toadstone skirts along near its E border; tufa is found in it at its S end. is often a dry dale, owing to the swallow-holes at the S end of Tideswell town. Via-Gellia Dale, N of Hopton, extending about It m. S from Bousal and Griffe dales, in 4th lime. The Hopton-wood freestone quarries are on the E side of this dale, just below the 3rd toadstone basset. Mr. Gell's private road passes through this valley. Walley Furnace Dale, N of Over Langwith, extending about m. nearly N, in yellow lime. Wensley Dale, S of the village, extending à m. E SE, in 1st line. Wetton Dale, in Staffordshire, W of the town, extending nearly N about 1 m. from Hamps and Ilam dales; deep in the 4th lime. Thor's House Tor is a remarkable rock with a natural arch and cave, by this dale, which is dry in dry seasons, below Darfa swallow-holes, which suddenly absorb this considerable river, after it has crossed the great limestone fault. Winnets Dale, W of Castleton, extending about m. W, in 4th lime, deep and rugged; the turnpike road to Chapel-en-le-Frith goes up this steep and curious valley. Wirksworth Dale, in NW end of the town, extending NW about one third m. in 3rd lime. Woo Dale, E of Buxton, extending N about ₫ m. from Wye dale, in 4th lime. Wye Dale, E of Buxton, extends E about 4 m. from Mill and Sherbrook dales to Miller's dale, in 4th lime, and 3rd toadstone at its E end, the 3rd lime there also skirting it on each side. Chee Tor, Peterson Pike, and Lover's Leap, are noted rocks in this dale, which has some slither in it, particularly opposite to Chee Tor in Wormhill, where are two very large springs of water. Amongst the objects that render the High and Low Peak of Derbyshire particularly interesting to visitors of every description, are their remarkable caverns. Respecting the formation of these subterranean cavities, the most intelligent enquirers are still in dispute. Mr. Bakewell, who, as we have Sometimes the term Wye Dale is used to designate the entire limestone valley from Buxton to Bakewell, in which sense, it includes Mill dale, Miller's dale, Monsal dale, &c. |