Derbyshire County stretches northwards from the Midlands to the outskirts of Manchester, and enjoys some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in England. It hosts market towns, of which Glossop is one, and spas, delightful stone-built villages, impressive churches and stately homes. Glossop has its roots deep in English history, with evidence of occupation during Roman, Saxon, Norman and medieval times. Known as the "Gateway Town" to the Peak district, it is bordered on three sides by open countryside-much of it in the Peak National Park.

The Romans came to Glossopdale about 79AD when they built their fort at Melandra. By 140AD, the fort was abandoned. Later on, between 410 and 850AD, the first settlements were made. One of the settlers was called Glott, and the valley where he worked the land became known as Glott's valley. The Anglo-saxon word for valley was "hop", so the place was known as "Glott's hop", from which Glossop was derived.

The main street of Glossop in the late 1800's.

Glossop Main Street and Glossop Square

Glossop Cenotaph in the town centre

Glossop is surrounded by small villages, each with their own piece of history.

Charlesworth Village has had an industrial past associated with wool, cotton, rope and twine. A small village which has 4 churches and 2 schools.

This is Hadfield village, now well known for the filming of the TV series "A League of Gentlemen". It is an excellent base for walkers for the moors, Longdendale Way footpath and reservoir walks.
Hadfield and Charlesworth villages are both mentioned in the Domesday Book

The Snake Pass

One of the most famous pennine Passes, the notorious Snake Pass outside Glossop, with an early motor car negotiating a tight bend. So different from the heavy traffic today.

Old Glossop

This is Old Glossop-the original Glossop-and once known as Howardtown. Glossop lands were given to the Talbot Earls of Shrewsbury. The Earl's youngest daughter married a Thomas Howard in 1606, and hence the Glossopdale Estate passed into the Howard family. Over 100 of these 17th century houses still survive today.

Below, the same row of cottages as they were in the 1700's. Used by the old yeoman farmers. The large house at the top of the street was the home of the Bailiff of the Duke of Norfolk.

Typical cottages along the main street of Glossop in 1905 to the present day

Here, in 1944, where two streams meet, the water used to overflow onto the main road into Glossop.
Below is a picture of the recent July flood to devastate many homes along the same stretch of the main street.

The Deep Cutting

One of the main roads from Manchester to Glossop. Formed by a deep cutting through the hard rock, hence it's name. Still the same today, but one of the busiest roads out of the town.

Glossop is famous for its Bank Holiday markets, where stallholders come from near and far. Another popular attraction is the popular Victorian weekend.Shops dress their windows with a victorian theme, and people dress up and parade the streets amid a hive of victorian activities. We also have our own Queen Victoria!!

"These are views from my house"

Black and white photographs by kind permission of Edith Bennett "Compilation of Archive Photographs Series"

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