Burbage Brook

Burbage Brook in Padley Gorge

Burbage Brook is an upper tributary stream of the River Derwent in the Peak District of Derbyshire.

The source of the brook is on moorland to the north of the brook's valley, whence it drains the land south of Friar's Ridge on White Path Moss, close to Stanage Edge.

Burbage Valley

Within the first half mile the altitude of the brook falls 200 feet, from 1,300 feet above sea level to 1,100 feet. The water enters Burbage Valley at the Upper Burbage Bridge. It then flows through the Burbage valley and the remains of Burbage conifer plantation, which included Lodgepole pine, Scots pine and Japanese larch. This was planted by Sheffield City Council between 1968 and 1971 with an outline designed to represent Great Britain when viewed from the air. It was sometimes known as the Great Britain Plantation. The West Country was not represented by the plantation due to unexploded ordnance being found where the planting was to have taken place. This is a result of the area around the brook being used as a training ground by British Home Guard and Canadian infantry during the Second World War. Before the planting of trees, the area was to have been the site of a reservoir, though this plan was rejected due to unsuitable underlying geology. The plantation was felled following recommendations by the local fire service. The seeds of native trees have been planted in some parts of the former plantation, with the seeds, including those of Sessile Oak, having been gathered from Clough Woodlands on the nearby Longshaw Estate.

The valley is overlooked by Higger Tor and Carl Wark to the west and Burbage Rocks to the east, one of the birth places of modern British climbing. As it flows out of the remnants of the plantation, the brook passes under a Grade II listed packhorse bridge.

Lawrence Field and Padley Gorge

It continues down the valley and below the A6187 at (lower) Burbage Bridge, close to a rock feature known as Toad's Mouth and the associated Toad's Mouth prehistoric field system, where it re-enters Derbyshire at Lawrence Field. It then flows into Padley Gorge, Derbyshire, as it passes through the Longshaw Estate

At Upper Padley, before it flows into the river Derwent, the Burbage Brook flows close to Grindleford railway station and Padley Chapel.

In art

The brook, as seen from Upper Burbage Bridge was depicted in a painting by artist Stanley Royle in 1919, and again, this time from (lower) Burbage Bridge at an unknown date.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Burbage Brook)