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Grindon
Grindon is a picturesque village situated above a wonderful part of the Manifold valley, close to its junction with the Hamps. The village has a long documented history and was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Grendon; 'green hill'. Grindon was once a staging post along the packhorse route from Ecton Hill, which was once the most productive copper mine in the country with many local people working within the industry.
The church at Grindon dates from 1848 and boasts a soaring spire similar to the one found at Butterton, but there has been a church here since at least the 11th century. The modern church replaced a 16th century building which was burnt down in the early 19th century. Outside the church entrance there is an unusual sight - a 'Rindle' stone. This records that: 'The Lord of the Manor of Grindon Established his right to this rindle at Stafford Assizes on March 17th 1872'. A rindle is a brook which runs only in wet weather - quite why the lord of the manor should want to assert his right to the rindle is unclear, but the stone is unique.
The inside of the church houses a memorial to the crew of a Halifax bomber which crashed on the moors near Grindon in the harsh winter of 1947. The bomber was dropping relief supplies to the villages of the area, which were completely cut off by snowdrifts.
There is a car park and picnic spot beside the church and not far distant is The Cavalier, the village pub - one of the quainter ones in the area. There are fine walks from Grindon down into both the Manifold and the Hamps, to Thors Cave and the Wetton and Alstonefield that are enjoyed by many.
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