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Peak District Towns and Villages: Brassington

An index to Peak District towns and villages including Brassington, Ashbourne, Bakewell, Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Leek, Matlock, Macclesfield and Wirksworth in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire, England, UK.
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Brassington

Local Services:

B & B

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Food and Drink

Local Geography:
Area Map

Nearby Villages

Local Attractions

Brassington is a former lead-mining village, nestling high on the southern edge of the high ridge of Limestone which forms Minninglow, Harboro rocks and the outcrops above Middleton by Wirksworth.

Brassington Church
Brassington Church
There is a fine Norman church - or at least half of it is Norman, in Victorian times the south side was removed and rebuild to make the nave much wider - presumably to accommodate a much larger congregation. This is a pity, since it has ruined what would have been a perfect Norman building. However, worse happened to other Norman churches locally - at least here there is much fine Norman handiwork still extant.

The houses of the village testify to its former wealth - there are several fine houses from the 16th & 17th centuries with mullioned windows. Now however most local people work in farming, quarrying or commute to Derby. There are two pubs and a village shop.

Bradbourne lies about 1 mile west of Brassington. It too has a fine church which is partly Norman in construction. The point of greatest interest however is the Saxon Cross which stands in the churchyard. This probably dates from the 8th or 9th centuries and, though made from soft sandstone and very weathered, is still quite impressive.

Nearby Places of Interest

Carsington WaterCarsington Water is a Severn Trent Water reservoir in Derbyshire, between Ashbourne and Wirksworth. It has a visitor centre, sailing club, fishing, and cycling and walking trails.
Ecclesbourne Valley RailwayEcclesbourne Valley Railway is a project to reopen the railway between Wirksworth and Duffield. This is staffed and run by volunteers, based at Wirksworth Station.
Harboro RocksHarboro Rocks are an edge of magnesian limestone near Brassington, offering rock climbing and fantastic scenery. Harboro Cave was inhabited from the Ice Age.
High Peak TrailThe High Peak Trail takes the line of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway betwen Parsley Hey and Cromford, in the Derbyshire Peak District.
Middleton TopMiddleton Top is the last surviving winding engine from the now defunct Cromford and High Peak Railway, near Middleton by Wirksworth, Derbyshire.
National Stone Centre, Middleton by WirksworthThe National Stone Centre, Middleton by Wirksworth, Derbyshire, has geological displays, fossils, stone walling courses, panning for gems and other activities.
Tissington HallTissington Hall is the 17th century home of the FitzHerbert family in Tissington Village near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Wonderful furniture, paintings and porcelain collection.
Tissington TrailThe Tissington Trail, a Derbyshire Peak District cycling trail follows the former railway line between Buxton and Ashbourne.
Wirksworth ChurchWirksworth Church, Derbyshire, has important and impressive Saxon carvings. Betti the Mercian monk may have been buried here, as are the Gell family and Anthony Lowe
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