Bradwell Moor

Bradwell Moor
View towards the Hope Valley
Highest point
Elevation471 metres (1,545 ft)
Geography
Map
LocationPeak District, England
OS gridSK 1443 8039
Topo mapOS Explorer OL24

Bradwell Moor is a moorland hill above the village of Bradwell, Derbyshire in the Peak District. The summit is 471 metres (1,545 ft) above sea level.[1]

Batham Gate Roman road ran across the moor, from nearby Navio Roman fort (at Brough-on-Noe) to Aquae Arnemetiae (Buxton). Batham Gate is Old English for "road to the bath town". Clement Lane follows the original route across the moor.[1][2] The section of Batham Gate road east of Peak Forest is a protected Scheduled Monument.[3]

There are numerous historic lead mines around the moor which are protected Scheduled Monuments. Lead mining in the area dates back to the Bronze Age, with larger scale production in Roman times. Cop Rake and Moss Rake lead mines (include the sites of Starvehouse Mine, New York Mine and Cop Mine) have been extracting lead-bearing ore from veins near the surface since at least the 13th century (when it was recorded as Wardlow Cop).[4]

Hope Quarry is a large limestone quarry that covers the north-east side of the moor between Castleton and Bradwell. The quarry is now operated by Breedon.[5] In 1990 a Mesolithic stone working site was discovered by The Trent & Peak Archaeological Trust where Bradwell Moor Barn once stood, before the land was excavated by the quarry operator at the time (Blue Circle).[6]

The highest point of the Limestone Way long-distance footpath is at 461 metres (1,512 ft) where it crosses Bradwell Moor, slightly west of its summit.[1][7]

  1. ^ a b c OL1 Dark Peak area (Map). 1:25000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. East sheet.
  2. ^ Patterson, Mark (2016). Roman Derbyshire. Five Leaves Publications. pp. 219–221, 239–242. ISBN 978-1910170250.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Batham Gate, Roman road (1007051)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Cop Rake and Moss Rake lead mines 750m north east of Wheston House (1019043)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Hope Cement Works". www.hopecementworks.co.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  6. ^ Guilbert, G., Taylor, C. Malone, S. & Garton, D. (1995). "Excavations of earthworks on the White Peak, near Bradwellmoor Barn, 1990 and 1994". Derbyshire Archaeological Journal. 115: 26–32 – via Archaeology Data Service.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Limestone Way". Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 26 September 2020.