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- This ancient
lead - mining village is one of the most popular in the Peak
District. There are 4 separate spectacular caverns awaiting visitors:
the Blue John, Speedwell, Peak and Treak cliff Caverns. Between
them they present a dazzling display of stalactites and stalagmites.
Blue John, a translucent fluorspar peculiar to this area has
been mined since Roman times and today 5cwt of stone a year is
chiefly made into jewellery for tourists.
- Speedwell Cavern, at
600' below ground, is the deepest cave accessible to the public
in Britain. Venture down 100 dripping steps and take the boat
- ride through a quarter mile- long tunnel that was blasted out
in search of lead. At the end lies the Bottomless pit, a pool
where 40,000 tons of mining rubble were dumped without raising
the water level.
- The village
itself is a delightful cluster of stone cottages and interesting
inns, ringed by the limestone hills. It sits beneath the protection
of a castle keep known as Peveril Castle. Built in Norman times
by William I's illegitimate son William Peveril, it was to protect
the king's rights to the forest that then covered vast areas
of the Peak District.
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