Bamford
Bamford in the Peak district is a lovely village to visit while you are traveling around this beautiful area of the Peak District National Park. The village is approximately 11 miles west of Sheffield and 25 miles east of Manchester surrounded by high moorland. The grit stone edges of Derwent and Bamford are situated to the north and at the west side lays the peak of Win Hill and the Derwent river flows through the village.
There is a lot of interesting history around this small village and has even been included in the Doomsday book. Centuries ago, it was a small agricultural village that is until, sadly, the corn mill burned down and was later sold in 1780, after which it was converted to a water powered cotton spinning mill.
It was with thanks to the Moore family, who owned similar properties in Manchester, who developed the mill after which the village underwent an industrial revolution. The mill today has been converted for residential use but the generous legacy of the Moore family can still be seen around the village, church, church hall, and school and mill houses for the workers.
Derwent and Howden dams came under construction in 1901, these are seven miles from Bamford in the upper Derwent valley, a temporary village for the men working on the dams and their families was built in the valley, the official name was Birchinlee, better known locally as Tin Town, due to the style of construction.
There were approximately 2,000 people who came to work on the dams, with some families staying after completion and even today descendants still live in the village.
Ladybower Reservoir was completed in 1945 covering 504 acres, the reservoir lies downstream of the Derwent dam, the villages of Ashopton and Derwent were inundated with water when the reservoir was filled. There were some inhabitants of these two villages who had to be re-housed in purpose built dwellings at Yorkshire Bridge. If ever there are drought years and the level falls at Ladybower ruins of old Derwent village can be seen from the banks.
It is because of the beautiful magnificent scenery in and around the village of Bamford that visitors go year after year to fish, cycle, walk or simply just to relax and enjoy the beauty and magnificent scenery. The paths and cycle tracks circle the waters of Derwent, Howden and Ladybower reservoirs, this makes for excellent walking or cycling as these are fringed by woodlands, forests and steep fields.
To commemorate the millennium, the Bamford Touchstone Sculpture Trail is approximately a five mile walk around the boundary of the village. The village post office has a pamphlet with maps and description of the trail also all of the public houses.
As with many villages, Bamford in the Peak District was a mill town, with the old cotton mill having seen many industries come and go. Today luxury flats have been built on the site.
There is on offer around the Peak District National Park plenty of accommodation to choose from, country and village pubs, hotels, self catering cottages, cozy pine lodges, and bed and breakfast guest houses and for those who wish to well equipped caravan and camping parks.
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