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Curbar
Located about 5 miles north of Bakewell and situated on the eastern side of the river Derwent, Curbar is a pretty village spreading from beside the river up the steep hillside beneath the dramatic gritstone escarpment of Curbar Edge. Curbar has many quaint little cottages and select houses which are positioned around the old Roman Road that climbs up through the rocks at a point known as Curbar Gap.A car park which provides well used access to the paths along the top of Curbar Edge, Froggatt Edge and Baslow Edge from where there are fabulous far reaching views over the Derwent Valley below and northwards toward The Dark Peak, with a glimpse of Kinder on a clear day. This is a popular area for both Peak District Walking and Peak District cycling throughout the year.
The dramatic chain of Edges which flank the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park were formed by glacial action in the last Ice Age some 20,000 years ago and are a popular destination for Peak District Climbing. Between Curbar Gap and Curbar village there are also a variety of carved stones to be found close to the roadside, which have biblical references on them. This was done in the 19th century by Edwin Gregory who was a mole catcher for the Duke of Devonshire. He was a devout Wesleyan and evidently so grateful to recover from a serious illness that he carved on the stones as a form of thanksgiving.
Baslow is located nearby, accessible via a footpath just above Curbar. A point of interest can be found about 300 yards along this path known as the Cundy Graves. The Great Plague came to Curbar in the 17th century, although 30 years prior to the more famous Eyam Plague. The Cundy family were from nearby Grislowfield Farm and perished in 1632. It is not known who buried the family but Thomas and Ada Cundy together with their children Olive, Nellie and young Thomas each have a slab carved with their initials. Other Curbar plaque tombs can be found below the Wesleyan Reform Chapel further down the village.
In the centre of Curbar is an unusual covered well with round troughs surrounding it together with sunken millstones. This was Curbar’s main water supply until about 90 years ago. Another feature of interest in Curbar is the village pinfold where stray stock would have been impounded, whilst awaiting collection by their owners.
Curbar has a church which is located down by the river at the side of the school which also serves Froggatt and Calver. All Saints was built in the 19th century.
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