Splendid views and regular reminders of the terrible hardships endured by the inhabitants of Eyam make this a very special walk. Stoney Middleton is divided by the busy A623 from Chesterfield to Chapel-en-le-Frith, but the village is much quieter away from the traffic. From here, the walk takes you down to Froggatt Bridge. The return journey involves a moderate climb before levelling out and passing the Riley Graves. Enclosed by a protective stone wall in the middle of a field, seven members of the Hancock family are buried.
LOOK OUT FOR
Route Point 2 – Soon after leaving Eyam, the walk crosses an area of moorland with excellent views of Stoney Middleton lying in the valley below. At this point, look out for the Boundary Stone, where, during the plague, the people of Eyam collected food left by the villagers from Stoney Middleton. Coins soaked in vinegar were placed in the holes in the stone, in payment. The stone is not particularly large, so you will need to keep a careful lookout for it.
Point 3 – St Martin’s Church is in a delightfully secluded spot, by picturesque cottages and a stream. Like the thermal springs in the village, the church is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Cripples and Soldiers. It is an octagonal-shaped building; unusually, all the pews face the centre of the church. There is only one other church like it in the country: Teignmouth, South Devon.
Boundary Stone
St. Martin's Church, Stoney Middleton
Point 4 – The Roman Baths in The Nook still have warm thermal springs at 63 degrees centigrade. It is said that Roman soldiers once liked to bathe there. Although there is no proof of this, Roman coins have been found nearby.
Point 6 – Froggatt Bridge is visited after a short stroll along the riverbank. The bridge dates back to the 17th century and is unusual in that it has a large central arch on the village side and a smaller arch on the far side. This was probably because the bridge was extended following the widening of the river, when the Derwent was dammed at Calver.
Roman Baths, Stoney Middleton
Froggatt Bridge
Point 7 – The Duke of Rutland originally owned Froggatt, when farmers and stonemasons occupied the attractive stone cottages, but they are now mostly commuters’ homes. Above the village, the edges are a popular area for rock climbers and walkers; the views from the top are outstanding.
Point 8 – Enclosed by a protective stone wall in the middle of Riley’s field, seven members of the Hancock family are buried. All of them died from the plague within a few days of one another and were buried by the mother/wife, the sole survivor. Brokenhearted Mrs Hancock soon left the farm and lived with another son in Sheffield. Later, one of her descendants had the headstones erected to identify the graves now surrounded by a wall.
Froggatt Edge
Riley Graves
WALK DETAILS
Length: 4.25 miles.
Start: Off the A623 Chesterfield to Chapel-en-le-Frith Road. The car park is off the main street on the village’s western side, opposite the museum. (SK215768).
Terrain: Fairly steep in places, but nothing too strenuous. It can be muddy in places.
Refreshments: Eyam and Stoney Middleton have a good supply of cafes, pubs, and restaurants to suit all tastes.
Note: The walk can be joined either at Eyam or Stoney Middleton.
THE ROUTE
SignLeave the car park and walk down the hill, turning left at the junction to walk through the centre of the village. On reaching The Square, keep to the right of Eyam Tea Rooms and walk up Lydgate, passing the Lydgate graves and carry straight on along the lane.
At a triangle of grass, do not go down the lane on your left, but take the sign directly in front of you for ‘Stoney Middleton – Boundary Stone’. Follow the well-signed track straight ahead and on reaching a large moorland field, continue in the same direction, passing the Boundary Stone just before a strand of trees.
Soon, the path drops steadily to a stile onto an access road. Here you turn right to follow the road around into Stoney Middleton. Continue straight on down, The Bank, near the bottom where the road bends to the right, turn left into the Nook to walk in front of St. Martin’s Church and then within a few yards go to the right.
Soon after passing the Roman Baths, where the road bends to the left, go through a gate stile and continue straight ahead. Go through some bushes and a stile at the end of the field. In the next field, head slightly to the left up the hillside, towards a gap in the far corner. Then walk up a distinct path between thorn bushes.
Keep close to the hedge on the left when emerging in an open field. After going over a wall stile, follow the path to the left-hand side of Knouchley Farm. Walk around the rear of the farm buildings and follow the farm drive down to the main road.
Cross the road to the stile opposite and continue down the field, keeping close to the wall, to a stile near the bottom corner. Angle to the left across the next field as the path descends gently to the River Derwent. Continue to the left along the riverbank to Froggatt Bridge.
The road to the left, on the other side of the bridge, leads up to Froggatt and Froggatt Edge. However, the walk route does not cross the bridge but goes in the opposite direction and follows a minor road up to a road ‘T’ junction.
Cross the road and go over the stile opposite. Walk straight up a long field, and in the next field, keep close to the wall on the right to reach another road. Cross the road to the left, go through the stile opposite, and walk straight up a field, keeping close to the wall.
After going over a stile in the top corner of the field, the walk continues up a rough track through woodland before turning left at a ‘T’ junction of tracks.
The track soon joins a lane leading from Top Riley Farm, passing the ‘Riley Graves’ on the way down to the outskirts of Eyam.
At the end of the lane, turn right towards the village and follow the road around as it bends to the left. Pass Eyam Tea Rooms on the right and continue down the main street to the walk’s starting point.
The walk can be joined either at Eyam or Stoney Middleton.
