Chris and Hilary Barnes joined Julie and me for our walk in the area of Calver. We had parked near the Derwent Arms Inn, now closed, perhaps another example of the downhill slope many hospitality businesses are facing. We arrived at an old-fashioned, cast-iron lamp erected in the middle of the village on a stone plinth, commemorating the coronation of King George V, June 22 1911. On the other side an engraving announced the crowning of Queen Victoria, June 28 1838 and Queen Elizabeth II had her Silver Jubilee 1977, Gold 2002 and Diamond Jubilee 2012. Chris noticed that the engraver had left no space for her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, held in 2022, to be shown.
We crossed the A623, the main road running from Chesterfield towards Stoney Middleton and were met with the fragrant smell of room diffusers wafting from the Calver Craft Shop and in the Cafe, people were enjoying afternoon tea. At Calver Mill we learnt that the first mill was built in 1700 but was destroyed by fire and rebuilt on the present site by 1804. The mill produced cotton until 1923 and is now converted into private apartments.
A helicopter flew above us as we inspected an old building and discussed whether it was a former barn, chapel or even a fire station. Chris later found out from his copy of the Peak District Guide that the building used to be a school house. We continued on our walk and on a nearby gate we saw a plaque
stating “in gratitude to the life and witness of Revd. Leslie Jacques and Margery Jacques of Wakefield, John 13:34”. No further information has been found on this couple.
We arrived at an expanse of still water – a pond, a lake or a river, we couldn’t decide, but could hear another river close by which was running much faster. It was after we were walking in a wooded area with no sign of wild flowers or the sound of birds, that we could see the weir through the trees – and then it fell into place. The large area of water is a ‘goit’ (a common term used in Derbyshire, ‘leet’ in southern England) and is an artificial watercourse dug to divert water from a main river to power a mill’s water wheel.
Calver Weir is a 19 century, grade II listed structure, built to provide water for cotton spinning at Calver Mill.By holding back water to a height of 3.5 metres, it helps sustain the high water level essential for the survival of the wetlands at Calver Marshes, an important habitat for protected great crested newts. If the weir collapses the water would drain and the land dry out.
We negotiated a small wooden bridge surrounded by the large leafed Gunnera, which looks like rhubarb; the stillness broken by the sound of a chiff chaff. We entered a wild flower meadow, noticing Red Campion, blue Cranes Bill and a display of brilliant blue, daisy-like flowers which Hilary named as chicory. Back in another wooded area, with fever-few nearby and elder flower in bud, we stopped to watch a young retriever dog dash into the water after a stick. Once in the
water he changed his mind, swimming straight back and shaking himself vigorously beside us.
Further on, a notice stated the area was important to water voles. As we walked over a bridge we watched a young couple approach in a kayak, so we went to the other side of the bridge and hung over to see them appear beneath us. They noticed us and turned the craft around and retraced their journey. As we
crossed the B625, Julie spotted a scarecrow standing at the side of the road. He was wearing trousers and an orange jacket and holding a 30 mile an hour notice. Perhaps the owners of the nearby bungalow were trying to make a point.
In Curbar, we sat on a stone wall to have a welcome drink before setting off again, this time to get through our first squeeze stile, then between a wooden fence and into a field of long grasses. Two fishermen passed us and cheerfully told us they had caught two brown trout and a grayling. By this time we were on the other side of the river and as we passed some large gardens we saw a silver-coloured statue of an eagle, in a prominent position on a sweeping lawn.
Further along, Chris pointed out a house which had been presented on the TV programme “Escape to the Country” and bought by a couple from Manchester. Eventually, the Bridge Inn came into view and we retraced our steps to the car. We certainly learned a lot on this walk. Thank you to Julie our leader.
New members are very welcome to join us on Sunday 2nd August for a 4pm start outside the church gates.
Evelyn Lowe