Cales Dale
Cales Dale is a short valley towards the head of Lathkill Dale near Monyash, in the Peak District in Derbyshire. It is popular with tourists who visit for its natural environment and wildlife. Most of Cales Dale is designated as Open Access Land.
Nature and conservation
Together with Lathkill Dale, Cales Dale is part of the 'Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve', managed by Natural England: the reserve covers five separate dales of the White Peak (Lathkill Dale, Cressbrook Dale, Hay Dale, Long Dale and Monk's Dale).[1]
The Lathkill Dale Site of Special Scientific Interest includes Cales Dale and is known for its range of wildflower species (including orchids and the rare Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum), butterflies, ancient woodland and the presence of birds of prey, dippers, woodpeckers and water voles.[2]
History
Calling Low bowl barrow is a Bronze Age burial mound above the east side of Cales Dale and is a Scheduled Monument. It was excavated by Thomas Bateman in 1846. He found a cist containing a human skeleton, a sandstone sphere and flint tools.[3]
The mediæval settlement on the north-western slopes of Cales Dale is a Scheduled Monument. The monument consists of earthwork remains from a settlement related to the neighbouring monastic grange at One Ash, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.
In the late 12th century the Cistercian monks of Roche Abbey established the grange. The foundations of a building 65 feet long by 40 feet wide have been identified. Parts of a stone cross head, from the 10th or 11th century were found nearby and are now on display in Buxton Museum.[4] One Ash Grange Farm's farmhouse, barn and pigstyes are Grade II listed buildings.[5][6]
About the dale
The Limestone Way long-distance footpath crosses Cales Dale near One Ash Grange Farm.[7]
The 'Battle of Wits' scene of the film The Princess Bride was shot at the foot of Cales Dale in 1986.[8]
References
- ↑ Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve: Natural England
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Lathkill
- ↑ National Heritage List 1008003: Calling Low bowl barrow (Scheduled ancient monument entry)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1021245: Medieval settlement on the north western slopes of Cales Dale, north-west of Cales Farm (Scheduled ancient monument entry)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1159150: Pigstyes at One Ash Grange (Grade II listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1087825: One Ash Grange Farmhouse Cottage and barn (Grade II listing)
- ↑ "The Limestone Way Walker's Guide". February 2007. https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/downloads/dmsimgs/LimestoneWay_1577877634.pdf.
- ↑ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office The Princess Bride Film Focus". http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/1987/03/the-princess-bride-1987/.
