Graves, guide stoops and graffiti in the Peak District
Rod Smallwood: Nether Moor Images
Stone is everywhere in the Peak District, and carving on stone is universal. Some is obviously legitimate – boundary markers, guide stoops, gravestones. But where do graffiti fit – vandalism or art? I get annoyed when I see people scratching their names on rocks, and tell them off. On the other hand, I love beautifully carved script. I have stopped trying to reconcile the two responses.
Rainster Rocks. Beautiful script from 1691 on a little-visited dolomitic limestone outcrop.Monument to Nelson on Birchen Edge, erected in 1810 to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar (1805).‘Victory’, ‘Royal Soverin’ and ‘Defiance’ on Birchen Edge.‘Victory’, ‘Royal Soverin’ and ‘Defiance’ on Birchen Edge.Guide stoop on Longshaw Estate in the Peak District. The right-hand face says ‘To Shafild 1709’. If you are facing the name of the town, the road to it is on your right. The spelling presumably reflects the local pronunciation of ‘Sheffield’.Guide stoops are scattered over the East Moor on packhorse routes – this on is on the Longshaw Estate. Well-formed lettering, but again phonetic spelling of ‘Chesterfield’.A boundary marker at the northern end of Stanage Edge.Carved water trough 33 at Stanage End, with Win Hill and Kinder Scout on the horizon. There are 171 altogether, in three groups, at the north end of Stanage Edge. They were made to provide water for grouse.Guidestone of 1860 near High Bradfield in the Peak District.A guidestone on Mortimer Road with an added Ordnance Survey benchmark. Mortimer Road is a turnpike road, constructed in 1777.The head of Grindsbrook.Youlgrave churchyard, 1713 and 1731.Bakewell churchyard, 1718.High Bradfield churchyard – no visible date. The script is very fine, but the layout was not well planned!Benchmark on Derwent Edge.Edale Cross. There is a date on the cross (HG 1610), which Historic England think refers to a survey, and four sets of initials, presumed to be graffiti.Ramshaw Rocks in the Peak District. There are a number of sets of initials and punch marks around here, but no apparent reason for an arrow.Curbar Edge.Curbar Edge.Inscription at the base of the Great Slab, Froggatt Edge, 1622.Cratcliff Tor has several sets of initials, and the adjacent outcrop of Robin Hood’s Stride is covered in graffiti, some old and some very large.Beautiful script from 1977 on Stanage Edge.
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