A TO Z – DERBYSHIRE AND THE PEAK DISTRICT – CHAPTER 49 

THORPE (off the A515 Ashbourne to Buxton road – SK157503)

The picturesque village of Thorpe is often overlooked by many of the thousands of visitors who pass through on their way to explore the spectacular valleys of the Dove and Manifold, which lie just beyond. Many more walkers and cyclists also pass it by on the Tissington Trail, a short distance to the east of the village. But Thorpe, unlike Tissington, does not attract large numbers of admirers. Even the walkers, who pass through the centre of the village, anxious to reach the next beauty spot on their itineraries, rarely seem to slacken pace to comprehend what the village has to offer fully.

St Leonard’s Church has a stocky little Norman tower and a tub font, one of only three in Derbyshire. The marks made by the sharpening of arrows on the outside of the south porch remain. After the Black Death, there was a decrease in the number of archers available to defend king and country. Edward III, finding archery was being neglected, ordered men to stop playing football and other games to practice archery instead. The people kept their arrows at home, but since they lived in wooden houses, they had no means of sharpening them. They found the stone porch at the church to be the most convenient place. Shooting at the butts took place after the Sunday service, usually at the bottom of the churchyard.

THORPE CLOUD (northwest of Thorpe overlooking Dovedale)

Approaching the River Dove from Thorpe, the distinctive cone-like hill, known as Thorpe Cloud, guards the entrance to Dovedale. The summit is a short, steep climb from Thorpe village or along the path from The Peveril of the Peak Hotel, both of which are somewhat easier than the long, steep climb up from the River Dove. Whatever route you choose, the panoramic views from the top are fantastic and well worth the effort.

TIBSHELF (1 mile from M1 Motorway, on the B6025 north of Alfreton – SK439607)

An ancient village that had relied on agriculture for many years until coal was discovered. Framework knitting was also a significant industry in the village during the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1553, the Tibshelf estate was given to the Crown as a source of income for the recently built St Thomas’s Hospital in London. Following the closure of the local pits, the land has been tastefully reclaimed, and Tibshelf has become a very popular place to live due to its proximity to the M1 motorway. It is the starting point of the Five Pits Trail and follows much of the former railway line’s track bed.

TICKNALL (on the A514 between Derby and Swadlincote – SK354241)

The ancient village of Ticknall is surrounded by beautiful parkland in attractive, well-wooded countryside. It is one of South Derbyshire’s prettiest villages. Initially, the Harpur-Crewe family built it as the estate village to Calke Abbey. However, following the sudden death of Sir Charles Harpur-Crewe in March 1981, while out setting mole-traps, the estate was crippled by death duties and the Abbey was handed over to the National Trust in 1985.

Ticknall had its heyday in the late 18th and 19th centuries, when lime yards, brick making, tile, and pottery operations were in full swing. Lime was used to fertilise crops and to produce mortar for local buildings. Bricks were put to use not only in Ticknall and Calke but also in other villages on the Harpur-Crewe estate. Earthenware pottery was also another long-established industry in the village. A horse-drawn tramway was constructed running from Ticknall to the Ashby Canal, to link up with the Midlands canal system. It carried limestone in one direction and coal in the other. To comply with the sensitivities of the Harpur-Crewe family, its journey through the park was hidden from view, in a tunnel only about one foot below the surface.