Birch Vale

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Birch Vale
Derbyshire
Birch Vale 055401 56c02dad.jpg
Birch Vale from Lower Cliff
Location
Grid reference: SK023868
Location: 53°22’42"N, 1°57’59"W
Data
Population: 2,174  (2001)
Post town: High Peak
Postcode: SK22
Dialling code: 01663
Local Government
Council: High Peak
Parliamentary
constituency:
High Peak

Birch Vale is a village in Derbyshire, just outside the boundary of the Peak District National Park, between New Mills and Hayfield. Most of Birch Vale, including the attached hamlet of Thornsett, comes under the administration of New Mills Town Council, though the small part to the east of the former Grouse public house is within the boundaries of Hayfield.

The Vine Tavern, Birch Vale

There are no shops, but two surviving public houses: the Sycamore Inn and Printers Arms in Thornsett (the Vine Tavern has closed permanently, the Waltzing Weasel became a B&B in 2013 and the Grouse Inn closed in January 2020). There is a primary school in Thornsett.[1]

Until 1970, Birch Vale had a railway station on the branch line from New Mills Central to Hayfield with through trains to Manchester Piccadilly.[2] Today the trackbed of the former railway line carries the Sett Valley Trail.

The former Birch Vale railway station in 1965

Factory fire 2009

In the early evening of Friday 2 October 2009 a large explosion was heard by residents as the Stirling Lloyd factory on a local industrial estate caught fire. It took around 16–20 hours to bring the fire under control. Local residents were evacuated shortly after police arrived. New Mills Fire and Rescue Team were among the first on the scene.[3]

Outside links

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References

  1. "School Homepage". Thornsett Primary School. http://www.thornsett.derbyshire.sch.uk/. Retrieved 15 April 2014. 
  2. Smith, Ian R; Fox, G K (2003). Manchester London Road to Hayfield: Scenes from The Past 45. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 1-870119-73-8. 
  3. "Homes evacuated after explosion". BBC News. 2 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/8288078.stm. Retrieved 15 April 2014.