Set in the heart of Derbyshire, Ecclesbourne Valley runs 9 miles from Wirksworth to Duffield along the river Ecclesbourne.
Home to wildlife such as Red Kites, Buzzards and the White Clawed Cray Fish, this rural valley is under threat of housing development. Over 40 species of wild birds have been seen locally.
The valley runs from Wirksworth to Duffield through the "Duffield Frith" which is an historic area dating back to the time of the Norman Conquest and comprising a number of deer parks and wooded areas used throughout the centuries for hunting and production of timber etc. and now largely used for agriculture. The boundaries of the deer parks are still visible in places usually comprising a hedge set back from the thoroughfare by about 20 metres and often in conjunction with an earth bank, the combined design being to contain the enclosed deer but to allow deer from outside to enter. Local names persist reflecting this history with Deer Leap Cottage, Shottlegate and Cowers Lane being examples. Shottlegate was one of the gates to Shottle deer park, Cowers Lane is derived from Cow House Lane referring to the presence of cattle sheds in the past.
The area between the road and the deer park boundary, known as the freeboard, was often used for buildings. This gives rise to the historic linear nature of our villages today.
Much of the land in the valley is now owned by the Chatsworth Estate and farmed by tenant farmers many of whose families have held the tenancies for decades. The Chatsworth Shottle Estate comprises 1,424 hectares (3,520 acres) and is administered via the Chatsworth Settlement Trustees with links back to the Duke of Devonshire himself.
We are a group of semi rural communities comprising the villages of Turnditch, Windley, Cowers Lane, Shottle, Idridghay Alton, Ashleyhay and Hazelwood plus a number of outlying farms and houses. The total population of these villages all together amounts to about 1,300 people. We are blessed with some beautiful countryside but with limited other facilities, Those seeking large shopping venues, entertainment (apart from a few pubs) or mainline railway connections have to go North to Wirksworth, South to Duffield or leave the valley for Belper or Ashbourne.
Please explore our Website to see what we are trying to do and get in touch if you would like to be kept up-dated and to have a say on the future of our valley.
Home to wildlife such as Red Kites, Buzzards and the White Clawed Cray Fish, this rural valley is under threat of housing development. Over 40 species of wild birds have been seen locally.
The valley runs from Wirksworth to Duffield through the "Duffield Frith" which is an historic area dating back to the time of the Norman Conquest and comprising a number of deer parks and wooded areas used throughout the centuries for hunting and production of timber etc. and now largely used for agriculture. The boundaries of the deer parks are still visible in places usually comprising a hedge set back from the thoroughfare by about 20 metres and often in conjunction with an earth bank, the combined design being to contain the enclosed deer but to allow deer from outside to enter. Local names persist reflecting this history with Deer Leap Cottage, Shottlegate and Cowers Lane being examples. Shottlegate was one of the gates to Shottle deer park, Cowers Lane is derived from Cow House Lane referring to the presence of cattle sheds in the past.
The area between the road and the deer park boundary, known as the freeboard, was often used for buildings. This gives rise to the historic linear nature of our villages today.
Much of the land in the valley is now owned by the Chatsworth Estate and farmed by tenant farmers many of whose families have held the tenancies for decades. The Chatsworth Shottle Estate comprises 1,424 hectares (3,520 acres) and is administered via the Chatsworth Settlement Trustees with links back to the Duke of Devonshire himself.
We are a group of semi rural communities comprising the villages of Turnditch, Windley, Cowers Lane, Shottle, Idridghay Alton, Ashleyhay and Hazelwood plus a number of outlying farms and houses. The total population of these villages all together amounts to about 1,300 people. We are blessed with some beautiful countryside but with limited other facilities, Those seeking large shopping venues, entertainment (apart from a few pubs) or mainline railway connections have to go North to Wirksworth, South to Duffield or leave the valley for Belper or Ashbourne.
Please explore our Website to see what we are trying to do and get in touch if you would like to be kept up-dated and to have a say on the future of our valley.
Pictures of our lovely valley.
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