Derbyshire

I

Introduction

Derbyshire, county, central England, bordered on the north by the unitary authorities of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire metropolitan counties; on the east by Nottinghamshire; on the south by Leicestershire; and on the west by Staffordshire and Cheshire. A small portion of Cheshire was added to the county as a result of the local government reorganization of 1974. Derbyshire’s boundaries were changed again on April 1, 1997, when the city of Derby was separated from the rest of the county, to become a unitary authority (see Population and Administration below). Derbyshire now has an area of 2,551 sq km (985 sq mi), compared with the pre-April 1997 area of 2,629 sq km (1,015 sq mi). Matlock is the administrative centre.

Derbyshire is a mainly rural county. It contains the larger part of the Peak District, one of the most beautiful parts of Britain, which occupies more than half the county to the north and west.

II

Land and Resources

Derbyshire is very hilly in the north, where the southern end of the Pennine Hills forms a plateau that is sometimes called the Derbyshire Dome. The area is better known as the Peak District, and comprises a central plateau composed mainly of limestone (the White Peak), surrounded by gritstones (the Dark Peak) (see Peak District National Park). The area known as High Peak, lying between Sheffield to the east and Manchester to the west, reaches a height of 637 m (2,088 ft) at the flat-topped hill, Kinder Scout. On the eastern side of the county there is a coalfield, and in the south, which is mainly flat or undulating, the underlying material is marls, boulder clay, and pebble beds.

The main river is the Trent, which crosses the county in the south, entering from Staffordshire soon after Burton upon Trent. In the east, the Trent forms part of Derbyshire’s border with Leicestershire, before continuing into Nottinghamshire, just past Long Eaton. Other important rivers are the Dove, the Derwent, and the Erewash. The Dove forms the boundary with Staffordshire for most of its course, joining the Trent near Repton. The Derwent rises in the High Peak, then flows southward, joining the Trent near Long Eaton. The Erewash forms part of the boundary with Nottinghamshire. The Trent and Mersey Canal (Grand Junction Canal) crosses the southernmost part of the county.

The Peak District has been designated by The Countryside Agency as a national park. Dove Dale, in the Peak, presents some of the most beautiful river scenery in England. The valley of the Derwent also has great charm, especially at Derwent Edge in the High Peak, where there are curious rock formations, and from where the Derwent reservoirs can be seen. Miller’s Dale is where the River Wye runs between Buxton and Bakewell. There are several caves in the High Peak near Castleton, the most noteworthy of which is Peak Cavern, which, like Poole’s Cavern, near Buxton, has spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Other caverns include Speedwell Cavern, which has a large underground lake at its centre (Bottomless Pit), and Treak Cliff Cavern. The Pennine Way footpath enters the north of the county and continues to the High Peak and the village of Edale. The High Peak Trail runs north-westward from High Peak Junction near Wirksworth. Mam Tor, known as the shivering mountain, is the site of an Iron Age fort.

III

Climate

Derbyshire’s climate is moderate, but somewhat cooler and damper overall than that of the surrounding counties as a result of the high hills of the Peak District. Average annual rainfall is in the 635 to 760 mm (25 to 30 in) range in the south of the county, but rises to 1,520 to 2,540 mm (60 to 100 in) in the north. In winter, snow can fall heavily in the Peak District, making many of its roads impassable, especially, for instance, the A57 as it goes through Snake Pass.

IV

Wildlife

The Peak District can be regarded as a vast nature reserve, populated by all manner of small animals, including hares, voles, and rabbits, and birds such as grouse, dunlin, goshawks, larks, and twites. Its varied soils bring forth a profusion of wildflowers, among them the giant bellflower and Jacob’s Ladder.