From the Stone Age to the Industrial Revolution

Peak District - Stone Age

There are literally dozens of caves and rock shelters in the heart of the Peak District. Please click here for more information.

The Peak District and surrounding areas are rich in archaeological remains, dating back to the stone ages, one of the most important of these being Cresswell Crags. Cresswell Crags are a series of caves that represent the earliest human occupation in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area (late palaeolithic and mesolithic are the oldest remains found there when they were visited seasonally during the last Ice Age). Cresswell Crags lie just outside of the Peak District but are well worth a visit, especially if you are on the East side of the region.

Bronze Age and Later

The Bronze age is well represented by stone circles and the well known Swine Sty settlement, there are Iron age hill forts (notably Mam Tor and Carl Wark although the latter has not been conclusively dated and could span more than one period.), a few Roman remains such as Doctors Gate Roman road and the site of the fort Derventio in Derby, some Anglo-Saxon carvings scattered round the Peak's churches (like T'Owd Man in Wirksworth church, depicting a lead miner with pick and ore basket plus the fine collection in the porch of Bakewell church) and to the south of the Peak in the Trent Valley.

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The Peak District and surrounding area is not just about the stone bronze age caves, stone circles and burial mounds. There are Roman remains too. Not spectacular but certainly interesting. There are some Saxon remains scattered round the Peak District, normally associated with the churches. To the south of the Peak District, still in Derbyshire, Repton was a major Saxon site.

You will also find a few Norman and medieval remains here and there, including ridge and furrow, very well preserved round Tissington. The Peak District is best known for its industrial archaeology, lead mining has been carried out since at least Roman times. The Derbyshire town of Cromford is regarded as the birthplace of the factory system - Arkwright's mill. This is also known as Cromford mill. It was powered by the waste water from the local lead mine flowing out from its sough. The Derwent Valley from Derby Silk Mill to the Masson mill at Matlock Bath has been designated a World Heritage Site.

There are many legends around the Peak, some say that Robin Hood was actually based in the moors around Hathersage. There are various pieces of (possibly) archaeological evidence for this, including the area of Stanage Edge called Robin Hood's Cave. This would have been an ideal refuge for a band of outlaws. It seems more likely that many areas of the country used the name ‘Robin Hood’ to describe their local outlaws.

 



Peak District Roman Archaeology

The Peak District was an important source of lead for the Roman Empire. Several 'pigs' of lead have been found that appear to have been cast by the Romans. You can see one in the Lead Mining Musuem at Matlock Bath. That one was found at Carsington, a little to the south of the Peak District.

A legacy of the Roman Empire are the roads they constructed. The Peak District is no exception. Traces of these roads exist throughout the region. One that we use regularly is the A515 between Ashbourne and Buxton. Doctor's Gate crosses the central moorlands of the Peak District (Glossop). This Roman Road is now a bridleway and makes a great mountain bike descent.

Several Roman roads can be identified in the area of Wirksworth. This has led to speculation that it was the site of a Roman town - Lutudarum. Historians are aware that this town existed, however, its location is unknown. One Roman Settlement that historians know for definite is Aqua Arnemetiae. They were attracted by the spring waters and we now know it as Buxton!

Other Roman remains include the forts of Navio at Brough and Melandra near Glossop. To the casual eye, not much of either remains. They are both of the classic 'playing card' shape and the banks and platform are the most obvious features. They were both built on high ground overlooking rivers.

Melandra had a central HQ building (Principia), a bath house (outside the walls) and a large civilian settlement around it. Not much is recorded about the use of the fort but there is evidence it was built around AD75 by a cohort recruited in Germany. Its Latin name is Ardotalia.

The archaeology of Navio is well documented in books and elsewhere on the Internet. This fort guarded the road that ran southwards into the Peak District lead mining areas.

Selected books about Peak District Archaeology

Archaeology Walks in the Peak District

Industrial Archaeology of the Peak District

Archaeology in the Peak District: A Guide to the Region's Prehistory

Prehistory in The Peak: Landscape and Prehistory in the Peak District

Archeology Walks in the Peak District

Rock Around the Peak: Megalithic Monuments of the Peak District

Anglo Saxon Archaeology

A lot of the towns and villages of the Peak District were established during Saxon times, places like Hartington and Eyam for example. There are a number of Saxon crosses in church yards and villages, so keep your eyes open when out and about. Bakewell church has a particularly impressive collection. Wirksworth church has 'T'Owd Man' which is a Saxon carving of a miner. There is also a carved saxon coffin lid at Wirksworth Church too.

 

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Peak District Archaeological Time Line

A very brief summary of some of the key archaeological events and places in Derbyshire's Peak District

12000 to 8000 BC (late upper Palaeolithic)

Environment - Tundra, main trees were dwarf birch and there were beaver, fox, horse and badger present. Land bridge to Europe still available.

Archaeology - Limited to a few finds in caves in the Manifold Valley (see caves page for more information)

8000 to 4000 BC (Mesolithic)

Environment - Warmer conditions, birch and pine giving way to deciduous forests. Wet, many small lakes, rivers and streams. Land bridge to Europe now cut off by rising sea levels. Peat formation initiated, possibly by forest clearance using fire.

Archaeology - Manifold valley, including microliths indicating a hunter-gatherer culture with possible seasonal migration.

4000 to 2000 BC (Neolithic)

Environment - warm conditions with oak woodland dominant.

Archaeology - Bark ringing to clear woodland, earthworks (Arbor Low is best known and it had a stone circle added at a later date) built late in the period, standing stones, burial mounds with cists (burial chambers).

2000 to 700 BC (Bronze Age)

Environment - weather deteriorated towards end of the Bronze Age, main trees were oak, ash, hazel and elm.

Archaeology - Fortified settlements (late bronze age), tools or mainly stone and bone, stone circles with possible astronomical alignments, jewellery, weapons that appears to be more about status than fighting, barrows, and the arrival of the Beaker culture (not known if it was an invasion, mixing of peoples or an adoption of external ideas).

700 BC to 50 AD (Iron Age)

Environment - even cooler and wetter than at end of Bronze Age.

Archaeology - some hill forts e.g. Mam Tor and crop marks of settlements, generally poorly represented.

50 - 350 AD (Roman)

Archaeology - Derbyshire ware and evidence of lead mining. Minor Roman forts e.g. Navio, Roman roads.

400 - 900 AD (Saxon)

Archaeology - Carved crosses, barrows with grave goods and also place names. Saxon Trading route the 'Portweg' (Portway).

900 to 1600 AD (medieval)

Archaeology - Norman castles e.g. Peveril Castle and Motte and Bailey castles, Manorial centres. Ridge and furrow cultivation.

1600 AD onwards

Archaeology - mining and the industrial revolution, Arkwright’s Cromford Mill the first water powered factory, other mills along the river Derwent, now designated a World Heritage site.

The times are approximate and applicable only to the Peak District, the equivalent ages begin and end sooner or later in different regions of the UK.

DISCLAIMER

Probably not necessary but we need to let you know that this information and all of the other information in the archaeology section is given in good faith and has been compiled from notes taken whilst attending an evening class in archaeology (quite a few years ago now so there will most likely be new knowledge of these sites). If you decide to visit any of the sites, please take great care. We cannot accept any liability for your actions in exploring any of the sites mentioned on our website. Many are on private land so you should seek permission from the landowner before visiting. Nor can we accept any liability from any use of the information given here. If it is for educational purposes, please cross check with other sources to confirm accuracy.