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Middleton - by - Youlgreave
Middleton-by-Youlgreave is quiet unspoilt village lies a mile and a half south west of Youlgreave and is set amidst the beautiful rolling hills and limestone dales at the very heart of the White Peak. The River Bradford skirts the fringes of the village to the east, and runs the length of Bradford Dale below Middleton to Alport where it joins the River Lathkill just beyond Youlgreave. Middleton - by – Youlgreave is a sleepy Peka District village which has few amenities, with residents depending on the nearby village of Youlgreave for these essential services.
The most notable feature of the village is the grave of Thomas Bateman (1820-61), an important local archaeologist and excavator of some 500 local barrows. Though he took some care to record and analyse his finds, his methods were unfortunately not nearly as scientific as modern techniques, and he was known to have excavated as many as five barrows in one day. Many of his finds are now in Sheffield Museum, and some in the British Museum. He is buried in a field behind the former Congregational chapel, in a small enclosure surrounded by cast-iron railings.
There are several large farms in and around Middleton, mostly sheep and dairy farming in an area where the limestone rock outcrops in almost every field and there is no depth of soil for any arable farming. Lowfield Farm now provides holiday accommodation, whilst Castle Farm is one of a small number of local places which provide bed & breakfast. Otherwise there is no industry in Middleton, and thus no local economy save for the growing number of holiday homes.There is no school either and resident school children attend either the Primary School in Youlgreave or the Secondary School in Bakewell.
A popular building in Middleton - by – Youlgreave is Middleton Hall, which has been the home for almost a century now of the Waterhouse Family, direct relations of the Duke of Marlborough, and friends of the Royal Family. Prince Charles has been a frequent visitor and a number of years ago he and the late Lady Diana were guests at the wedding of Major Hugo and Lady Caroline Waterhouse`s daughter. Middleton also has a village hall and a small recreation area on the south side of the square, - and surprisingly unlike most peakland villages, the Parish Council have provided the amenity of a Public Convenience in recent years for the many walkers who `pass through` the centre of their attractive village.
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