Bamford, Derbyshire
| Bamford | |
| Derbyshire | |
|---|---|
 Bamford green during carnival | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK207835 |
| Location: | 53°20’55"N, 1°41’22"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,241 |
| Post town: | Hope Valley |
| Postcode: | S33 |
| Dialling code: | 01433 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | High Peak |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
High Peak |
Bamford is a village in the Peak District of Derbyshire, close to the upper course of the River Derwent. To the north-east is Bamford Edge, and to the north-west the Ladybower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs.
The village is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Banford,[1] and this name is likely to come from the Old English Beamford, meaning 'tree-[trunk] ford'.[2]
The 2011 census recorded a population of 1,241.[3]
Churches
The parish church of St John the Baptist was built c. 1860.[4]
- Church of England: St John The Baptist
- Methodist: Bamford Methodist Church
- Roman Catholic: Our Lady of Sorrows
The village graveyard also contains some re-interred graves from the nearby villages of Derwent and Ashopton which were submerged following the creation of Ladybower Reservoir.[5]
Bamford Mill
As for so many Peak District villages, it developed around its mill, which existed here before the Industrial Revolution. From 1782, a water powered corn mill was built here by a local farmer and miller, Christopher Kirk. This only lasted a few years until destroyed by fire in 1791. It was rebuilt as a cotton mill, still powered by water. In the early 19th century it converted to steam power, with a 60 hp beam engine.[6] A more modern horizontal cross-compound mill engine was installed in 1907, and remains on site today. Water power was still used for generating electricity for this isolated mill, with two reaction turbines of 45 hp and 22 hp. Until 1951 the mill also maintained its own gasworks.
In 1857, the mill was owned by S. M. Moore and Son and employed 230 mill hands. It was sold in 1885, and later was converted for use in the doubling of cotton yarn which had already been carded and spun in Lancashire mills. This employed 130 hands. In 1965 the mill closed.[6]
The mill closed permanently in the 1990s and the building was later converted to flats. The chimney was demolished and the boiler plant and turbines removed. The mill engine was preserved on site and remains there today, but is not operational.
Society and events
In mid-July, there is a well dressing festival. Bamford has four public houses, the Derwent Hotel (now a self-catering venue), the Anglers Rest, the Ladybower Inn and the Yorkshire Bridge Inn
In October 2013 The Anglers Rest was jointly purchased by the Bamford Community Society from the pub chain owners Admiral Taverns to be Derbyshire's first community-owned pub. The pub is be run as a community hub. It offers a daytime café and houses the local post office.
The village has a sculpture trail.
Carnival
Until recently, Bamford hosted a village carnival, normally on the third week of July. The carnival took place throughout the week, with the Committee arranging various events for each day, including the whole family. The carnival was centred on the well dressing.
The blessing of the well took place on the Sunday and was followed by the crowning of the Queen, Princess and Rosebud in the church. The following Wednesday hosts the Senior fell race which many runners attend, including running groups from Yorkshire. Other events included the junior fell race, teen group challenge, car treasure hunt, pet show, village history fair and pub quiz.
The Saturday hosted the actual carnival day. The procession travelled from "the old road" and paraded through the village, ending at the recreation ground, where games and entertainment for the whole family were arranged.
The carnival parade encouraged children to dress up and floats to be made, fitting with the theme of the year. Two bands took part in the procession: Castleton Brass Band was invited every year, along with a visiting band randomly selected each year. There is also a tradition of making a scarecrow and dressing it up and leaving it in your front garden to be admired during the carnival.
Transport links
The village is served by Bamford railway station on the Hope Valley line and by a regular bus service.
Bamford is known as the Gateway to the Hope Valley from Manchester and the north-west as it provides the only road through to the Hope Valley from the A57 Glossop–Sheffield road over the Snake Pass.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Bamford, Derbyshire) |
References
- ↑ Bamford, Derbyshire in the Domesday Book
- ↑ Bamford - Key to English Place-names: English Place Name Society
- ↑ "Area: Bamford (Parish)"
- ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Derbyshire, 1953; 1978 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09591-3page 81
- ↑ Hallam, Vic (1989). Silent Valley: The Story of the lost Derbyshire villages of Derwent and Ashopton. Sheffield: Sheaf Publishing. ISBN 0-9505458-9-9.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Mills in Derbyshire and the Peak District". http://www.derbyshireheritage.co.uk/Menu/Archaeology/Mills.php#Bamford%20Mill.