Grindon
OS Grid ref:- SK085545
Grindon is situated at the western edge of the Manifold Valley, close to its junction with the Hamps.
The village is referred to in the Domesday Book as Grendon, which means green hill.
The gritstone village church of All Saints, known as 'the Cathedral of the Moorlands, boasts an elegant spire which is a conspicuous landmark in the area. The first church to occupy the site was an eleventh century building, although the present church dates only to 1848.
The building is is adorned with interesting stone carvings both inside and out. While most of these are characterful human heads, there are also animals. Inside the church is a memorial to the 8 man crew of a Halifax bomber who lost their lives in a plane crash on the moors near Grindon in 1947. The winter of 1947 was a harsh one and the village had been completely cut off by a heavy fall of snow, tragically, the plane had been on a mission to drop relief supplies to the villagers.
One of the rectors of Grindon was Anthony Draycot who served from 1540 -1560. Draycott was the judge at the heresy trial of Joan Waste, a blind woman who was burned in Derby during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I for stoutly refusing to renounce her Protestant faith, the poor woman was hanged over a fire with a rope until she fell into the fire when the rope burned through. On Elizabeth I's accession to the throne, England again became a Protestant country and Draycot, who refused to take the oath of supremacy, was stripped of all his preferments and sent to the Fleet Prison.
The village pub, the Cavalier, is over 400 years old and was previously the village smithy. Grindon Pinfold (pictured right) was rebuilt on its original foundations as a village Millennium project, stray cattle and sheep were once rounded up by the Pinder and kept in the enclosure. The owner then had to pay a fine to the parish before they were released. The village has been dressing wells for several years. Well dressing, an ancient Derbyshire custom, was celebrated in only one or two villages in Derbyshire by the nineteenth century, but has recenlty seen a revival.
There is a visitors car park and picnic area adjacent to the church. The village is surrounded by some superb countryside and there are spectacular walks from the village to the Manifold Valley and Thors Cave .
Nearby Places of Interest
The Manifold Valley, which runs almost parallel with Dovedale, has been described as the 'Switzerland of Staffordshire' and offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Peak District National Park.
Ilam Park Beautiful Ilam Country Park is situated at the Peak District village of Ilam to the north west of Ashbourne. The park covers 158 acres (0.64 km2) on both sides of the River Manifold.
Dovedale, a dramatic limestone ravine, with its mpressive rock outcrops and tranquil woodlands is arguably the prettiest of the dales in the Peak District National Park and is owned by the National Trust.
Biddulph Grange, one of Britain's most exciting and unusual gardens, was created by the horticulturalist James Bateman (1811–1897), for his large collection of plants from around the world.
Haddon Hall near Bakewell, is an architectural gem. Dating back to the eleventh century, the hall has been described as "the most complete and most interesting house of [its] period", it is the finest example of a medieval manor house currently in existence in England.