Our final stop last month was the village of Castleton, where we took in an 11th century castle and a Bronze Age hill fort. Peveril Castle, completed in 1086 (only twenty years after William of Normandy successfully invaded the country and sitting very far to the exposed North), was givin to Peveril, a supporter of William. As Cavedale was the historic centre of the lead-mining industry in the Peak Forest, Peveril Castle was to be used to control the trade and access to the area. Because this area is considered the “Light Peak,” meaning that it’s set upon a limestone bases as opposed to the rougher and less agriculture-friendly gritstone of the “Dark Peak,” caves abound in the area. There is actually a large cave system under the Castle and surrounding valley itself, including a nearby cave that is the only cave in Britain that one can actually take a boat into.
Across the valley, the large Bronze Age site of Mam Tor (“Mother Hill” or “Shivering Mountain”) can be seen. During this period, these hill forts pop up across England, seeming to be temporary areas of respite and protection. From Peveril Castle, you can actually make out the tall (10 m) earthworks that comprise large cuts in the side of the tor to produce a steep and insurmountable wall. Once on top of Mam Tor, we discussed cultural landscapes and built environments, as well as the need to control valley routes throughout history in the area.
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