Chrome Hill

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Chrome Hill
Derbyshire
Chrome Hill from Hollinsclough.jpg
Chrome Hill viewed from the southwest
Range: Peak District
Summit: 1,394 feet SK070673
53°12’10"N, 1°53’48"W

Chrome Hill is a hill reaching 1,394 feet above sea level in the White Peak area of the Peak District in Derbyshire.

The hill is in form a limestone reef knoll[1] and stands in the upper Dove valley beside the border with Staffordshire. It is adjacent to Parkhouse Hill, another reef knoll. The River Dove, here just a young stream, runs below the southern slope of the hill, marking the county border.

Chrome Hill has been declared open access land, but the only access from the north-west remains along a concessionary footpath.

Chrome Hill contains good exposures of Gigantoproductus fossils; it is part of a designated 'Site of Special Scientific Interest'[2] which makes it an offence for visitors to remove geological samples.

Chrome Hill double sunset part one.jpg
Chrome Hill double sunset part two.jpg
The midsummer double-sunset behind Chrome Hill,; the sun setting and re-emerging behind the hill

In 1997 the writer Jeff Kent discovered that a double sunset could be seen against Chrome Hill from the southern flank of Parkhouse Hill. Two years later he discovered that a similar event took place from nearby Glutton Bridge, on the upper valley of the River Dove, which was more easily accessible.[3] The phenomenon is visible from Glutton Bridge in good weather for a short period around the summer solstice, when the sun sets just to the southwest of the summit of Chrome Hill, begins to re-emerge almost immediately afterwards from its steep north-eastern slope before fully reappearing and later sets for a second and final time at the foot of the hill.

Chrome Hill has had songs written in its honour by the Norwegian musicians Sigurd Hole (Chrome Hill[4]) and Jonas Howden Sjøvaag (Up on Chrome Hill[5]). In 2008 the Norwegian jazz quartet Damp changed its name to Chrome Hill.

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References

  1. Wolverson Cope, F. (1999). The Peak District. Geologist' Association Guide No. 26 (3rd revised ed.). The Geologists' Association. ISBN 0-900717-11-4. 
  2. SSSI listing and designation for Chrome Hill
  3. The Mysterious Double Sunset, pages 102, 110, 111 and 113–114, Jeff Kent, ISBN 0-9529152-5-1, Witan Books, 2001.
  4. Eple Trio (2007). Made This. NORCD. Catalog NORCD0766. 
  5. Navyelectre (2008). The Mourning. Shipwreckords.