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Birchover
Birchover is positioned within magnificent rock scenery of the White Peaks on a west facing hillside beneath the towering bulk of Stanton Moor, and the stone from the regions grand quarries is famed throughout the land. Birchover is rich in mineral deposits, and lead mining, quarrying for stone, and spar mining for barytes has provided the population with its main industry down the centuries. Birchover stone from Stanton quarries has provided the raw material for the construction of many noteable buildings including the Tower of London, Windsor Castle and the Houses of Parliament.
Birchover is not the original settlement in the area. Uppertown has this claim and is found about half a mile south and slightly higher up the hill than the modern-day village of Birchover.
The Saxons first settled in the area, with the Normans built the first church, but by the Middle Ages the population of `Barcovere` as it is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 had outgrown the available water supply and so the whole village moved further down the hill to where the water was more plentiful. The village has a delighful blend of ancient and modern architecture and boasts a local shop, two public houses, the Red Lion and the Druid Inn, a late 17th century church built originally as a private chapel, and two Non-Conformist Chapels no longer used for worship.
The cottages are mainly composed of local gritstone and the hillside village has some unusual and spectacular cottage gardens to please the visitor. The gardens are a popular attraction during July when the residents open them to the public during Birchover Open Gardens Weekend, and local produce and refreshments are available as the village takes on a gala atmosphere centred around the war memorial and the Red Lion.
The Druid Inn is a well known feature of the village to many visitors, being an old picturesque hostelry known for the excellent country fare provided by its restaurant and wonderful location just below the spectacular Rowtor Rocks. Both public houses provide a welcome rest for those taking part in Peak District Cycling and Peak District Walking. Many Rock Climbers can also be found relaxing after an exciting day on the local rock faces.
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