Background of the Peak District
History
As the Peak District is mainly uncultivated and mostly upland, it has been left with stone circles, burial mounds and in fact information on how people used to live from the pattern of their hut circles and field systems, this is pure evidence of the earliest settlers.
The Middle Stone Age (6000 - 7000 years ago) is when it is believed people to have first settled in the Peak District. However it is assumed their camps were usually temporary and therefore they left behind little.
It is predicted that the climate must have been much less severe and warmer than the modern day's as shown by burial mounds, clearance cairns and hut circles, found just above Baslow on the Eastern Moors. This also suggests that a large population must have lived in the Peak District around 3000 - 4000 years ago during the Bronze Age.
Lead Roman pigs were found with the inscription 'LVTVDARES'. This is referencing to the name of a lost lead mining centre/ ore fielf called 'Lutudarum' (most likely around the area of Wirksworth), suggesting that it was actually the supplies of lead ore (found in the White Peak), which were so easy to obtain, that led the Imperial legions to the District in around 80 AD.
Many roads constructed by the Romans pass through the District, for example: the straight route followed by the A515 between Ashbourne and Buxton; the Doctor's Gate, a route followed still by the A57 (between Glossop to Navio at Brough); and the A61 (previously known as Ryknild Street - between Chesterfield and Derby).
The Peak District's name originates from around 700 AD, from Saxon settlers in the Dark age. This is due to the 'Pecsaeten' tribe occupying the District - 'Pecsaeten' meaning dwellers of the pecs or hills. The name of the Peak District is predicted to have been used to seperate the hill-settlers from the Mercians who occupied the surrounding lowlands in the Midland Shires.
The Industrial Revolution and creation of railways opened up the opportunities for people to visit the Peak District and as the working class got bigger the visitor count grew. It is still growing today.
The Middle Stone Age (6000 - 7000 years ago) is when it is believed people to have first settled in the Peak District. However it is assumed their camps were usually temporary and therefore they left behind little.
It is predicted that the climate must have been much less severe and warmer than the modern day's as shown by burial mounds, clearance cairns and hut circles, found just above Baslow on the Eastern Moors. This also suggests that a large population must have lived in the Peak District around 3000 - 4000 years ago during the Bronze Age.
Lead Roman pigs were found with the inscription 'LVTVDARES'. This is referencing to the name of a lost lead mining centre/ ore fielf called 'Lutudarum' (most likely around the area of Wirksworth), suggesting that it was actually the supplies of lead ore (found in the White Peak), which were so easy to obtain, that led the Imperial legions to the District in around 80 AD.
Many roads constructed by the Romans pass through the District, for example: the straight route followed by the A515 between Ashbourne and Buxton; the Doctor's Gate, a route followed still by the A57 (between Glossop to Navio at Brough); and the A61 (previously known as Ryknild Street - between Chesterfield and Derby).
The Peak District's name originates from around 700 AD, from Saxon settlers in the Dark age. This is due to the 'Pecsaeten' tribe occupying the District - 'Pecsaeten' meaning dwellers of the pecs or hills. The name of the Peak District is predicted to have been used to seperate the hill-settlers from the Mercians who occupied the surrounding lowlands in the Midland Shires.
The Industrial Revolution and creation of railways opened up the opportunities for people to visit the Peak District and as the working class got bigger the visitor count grew. It is still growing today.
What is the Peak District like? - Quick Facts
- The majority of the Peak District is uplands, above 1000 feet, the highest point of upland being 2087 feet on Kinder Scout.
- In England and Wales it is the fifth largest National park.
- 12% of the Peak District National Park is owned by the National Trust and the Peak District National Park Authority owns about 5%
- The Peak District is formed mainly from sedimentary rocks (limestone, overlying gritstone and coal measures), however there are some outcrops of igneous rocks.
The Background of Tourism in Castleton
Tourism has always created many challenges throughout Castleton, whether that be problems with local residents or creating major congestion on the roads, yet it has created many benefits, such as bringing in greater economy for the local economy.
The Peak District was designated a National Park in 1951 with a population of 38,000.
The Peak District was designated a National Park in 1951 with a population of 38,000.