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Butterton



OS Grid ref:- SK073566

The small, isolated village of Butterton-in-the-Peak is set in a beautiful location overlooking the Manifold Valley

The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from ‘butere’, meaning butter, and ‘dun’ meaning hill.

The attractive village is built of local sandstone and lies on an old packhorse route, once used to carry ore from the copper mines at Ecton. At the centre of Butterton is a small ford where the Hoo Brook runs across the cobbled village street. (pictured left) The village contains some attractive stone cottages, the village pub, the Black Lion Inn, (pictured below right) dates from 1782. The pub has traditional open fires, serves meals and snacks and offers bed and breakfast accomodation. There is also a village tearoom.

St Bartholomew’s Church was rebuilt in 1871 and designed by Ewan Christian. The church has an extremely tall spire which dominates the local landscape. It contains a memorial plaque to Joseph Wood, Rowland Cantrill and William Hambleton, who died tragically, trying unsuccessfully to rescue Joseph Shenton from a disused mine shaft in 1842. A church has occupied the site since the thirteenth century.

ButtertonThere are several footpaths leading from the village The Manifold Way footpath and cycle way runs for 8 miles (13 km) from Hulme End in the north, where there is a visitors centre within the old station building to Waterhouses in the south, mostly through the Manifold Valley and the valley of its tributary, the River Hamps, following the route of the former Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway.

The nearby Manifold Valley is more open than neighbouring Dovedale with grassland and woodland along the banks of the river, which is occasionally interrupted by the spectacular outcrops and crags. The mix of woodlands, grasslands and limestone crags of the valley combine to provide a very rich variety of habitats for wildlife. The Manifold Valley has a number of caves, the most famous of which is Thor's Cave. The ruins of Throwley Old Hall, a large medieval manor house and once the seat of the influential Meverall family stand nearby.

The Butterton Gala takes place every August bank holiday Monday.

Nearby places of interest

The Manifold Valley, which runs almost parallel with Dovedale, has been described as the 'Switzerland of Staffordshire' and offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Peak District National Park.

Ilam Park Beautiful Ilam Country Park is situated at the Peak District village of Ilam to the north west of Ashbourne. The park covers 158 acres (0.64 km2) on both sides of the River Manifold.

Dovedale, a dramatic limestone ravine, with its mpressive rock outcrops and tranquil woodlands is arguably the prettiest of the dales in the Peak District National Park and is owned by the National Trust.

Biddulph Grange, one of Britain's most exciting and unusual gardens, was created by the horticulturalist James Bateman (1811–1897), for his large collection of plants from around the world.

Haddon Hall near Bakewell, is an architectural gem. Dating back to the eleventh century, the hall has been described as "the most complete and most interesting house of [its] period", it is the finest example of a medieval manor house currently in existence in England.

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