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Bradwell
Bradwell is a well hidden Derbyshire village that lies in a narrow valley of its own along a minor road which runs between Tideswell and the Hope Valley deep in the limestone hills to the north of the county. The village can be found at the northern limits of the White Peak, and seems to blend perfectly into the natural landscape, with its narrow ginnels and stone houses either clinging in haphazard clusters to the steep hillsides, or following the course of the road and the Bradwell Brook which meander through the village along the valley floor.
This ancient settlement takes its name from the Bradwell Brook, which these days runs mainly culverted through the village northwards toward the Hope Valley, of which Bradwell is on the southern edge. The Romans certainly knew this area and mined lead here, as the rock is rich in a variety of minerals. The rich veins of lead just beneath the surface in the surrounding limestone hills were worked from the Middle Ages to the end of the nineteenth century and Bradwell became a centre for the lead mining industry at the extreme northern edge of the Derbyshire lead-field. Originally the miners cottages were built along the rich veins of lead, which has created a wonderful swarm of housing that isn't based around a traditional village centre. Adding to the charm to the village, many of these delightful dwellings still stand today.
Lead mining however, was not the only industry in Bradwell as two hundred years ago there were several hat manufacturers here. Like many Derbyshire villages Bradwell was famous for both its fashionable felt hats and the Bradda Beaver, a hard hat use by miners around the country.
The earliest of Bradwell's substantial dwellings is from the Tudor period; with a date stone of 1549 atop the coat of arms of the Vernon and Swynnerton families carved above the five-arched mullioned windows on its west gable, Hazelbadge Hall stands at the roadside, now part of a large farm complex on the outskirts of the village at the southern end of Bradwell Dale.
Limestone is still quarried in the surrounding hills and heavy traffic through the village's narrow main street does disturb the tranquility of the surrounding countryside. However, modern Bradwell has the amenities and attractions of a small town with post-office, newsagent, fruit and veg shop and the inevitable fish and chips from Bradwell Fisheries forming a parade of shops along the main street - where it has its own petrol station, garage and Fire Station.
Bradwell not currently on the tourist map but is well worth a visit, especially during the late summer months. The entire village comes alive during the first two weeks in August when several wells are dressed and the village-in-the-valley is festooned with colourful bunting and thronged by various parades as it celebrates its annual Carnival and the traditional Hope Valley Wakes Week.
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