Glossop

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This article is on the town in the English county of Derbyshire, England. For other places see Glossop (Australia)
Glossop
Image:dot4gb.svg
Statistics
Population: 32,428 (2001 Census)
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference: SK0393
Administration
Borough: High Peak
Shire county: Derbyshire
Region: North West England
Constituent country: England
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county: Derbyshire
Historic county: Derbyshire
Services
Police force: Derbyshire Constabulary
Fire and rescue: Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
Ambulance: East Midlands
Post office and telephone
Post town:
Postal district:
Dialling code:
Politics
UK Parliament:
European Parliament:

Glossop is a tourist market town in the borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, England.

Lying about 13 miles east of the City of Manchester and 24 miles west of the City of Sheffield, Glossop is close to both the South Yorkshire/Derbyshire boarder and Greater Manchester/Derbyshire boarder.

Glossop is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"[citation needed] (from the east of the National Park) as it is surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenery of the Peak District.

Contents

[edit] Geography and administration

[edit] Physical geography

Glossop nestles in the foothills of the Pennines, with Bleaklow to the northeast and Kinder Scout to the south. It lies on Glossop Brook, a tributary to the River Etherow. The area is commonly known as the Dark Peak. Glossop is the largest town within the borough of High Peak. Glossop is very similar to other north Derbyshire towns in relation to its terrain and scenery.

[edit] Civic history

Glossop has a two-tier local government, with a county council based in Matlock, namely Derbyshire County Council and a borough council based in Chapel-en-le-Frith, namely High Peak Borough Council. The High Peak Borough Council was formed on April 1, 1974 by absorbing the municipal boroughs of Buxton and Glossop, the urban districts of New Mills and Whaley Bridge and the rural district of Chapel-en-le-Frith, all of which had previously been in the administrative county of Derbyshire, as well as the rural district of Tintwistle which had been in the administrative county of Cheshire. The villages of Tintwistle and Charlesworth do have a further level of local government in the form of "Parish Councils" which have certain limited powers.

Glossop was included in the "South East Lancashire Special Review Area" under the Local Government Act 1958, and the Redcliffe-Maud Report of 1969 recommended to include it in a South East Lancashire–North East Cheshire metropolitan area. Glossop was not ultimately included in the Greater Manchester area established by the Local Government Act 1972. Local people voted to stay in within the County of Derbyshire in 1973 (Sharpe 2005). The county council, originally based in Derby, moved to Matlock in the late 1950s to facilitate easier travelling to the county hall from the northern extremities such as Glossop and the High Peak.

[edit] Human geography

Glossop is located close to the county borders of Greater Manchester, and boasts good transport links to the City of Manchester, making the area popular for commuters. For these reasons, Glossop and the western area of High Peak (including such nearby towns as New Mills, Whaley Bridge and Buxton) fall within Greater Manchester's sphere of influence. However, the area maintains a degree of separation from this conurbation due to its somewhat rural location, and upholds its own strong identity in terms of architecture, dialect and geology (e.g. buildings made of characteristic Peak District stone).

[edit] Politics

  • The current Leader of High Peak Borough Council is Councillor David William Lomax. He first took up the post in 1991. He represents the Whaley Bridge Ward for the Liberal Democrats.
  • The current Mayor of the High Peak is Councillor Derek Udale. Since 1999 he has represented Limestone Peak ward on High Peak Borough Council. He has been a parish councillor since 1970, and has been Chairman of Wormhill Parish Council for nineteen years.

[edit] Demographics

Glossop has a population of 32,428 according to the 2001 census; Office of National Statistics and Derbyshire County Council estimates.

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

The site was occupied by the Romans; in Gamesley, there are the remains of a Roman fort, named Ardotalia by the Romans, but renamed Melandra by a 19th-century amateur historian. The fort was first built in the last quarter of the 1st century AD. It stands on high ground above the River Etherow. The extensive site has been excavated, revealing fort walls, a shrine and the fort headquarters. The site has been landscaped to provide parking and picnic areas.

Glossop is mentioned in the Domesday Book and became the property of the monks of Basingwerk Abbey in North Wales. Later on, it became the property of the Dukes of Norfolk. In the nineteenth century it became an important cotton 'mill' town as part of the Industrial Revolution. One of the mills was owned by Edmund Potter, the uncle of Beatrix Potter.

[edit] Recent history

This is the name given to the original old town (Glossop itself was formerly Howard Town). This most attractive area has some fine 17th- and 18th-century cottages clustered around the Market Square and Cross. The church is Norman in origin and has an 18th-century sundial (and reputedly a ghost in the vicarage). Glossop Brook runs through the centre of the village. There is a history trail around Old Glossop, which is also the starting point of "Doctor's Gate", a footpath which leads up to the Snake Pass and Pennine Way.

In the early part of the 20th century, the Glossop Estate was sold by the Dukes of Norfolk, and Glossop became a town in its own right.

A photo of Old Glossop village square, with Old Glossop Parish (CoE) Church in the background

A row of 17th Century cottages 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.

Welcome sign seen upon entering Glossop.

[edit] Present day

[edit] Leisure

  • Angling
    • Glossop Amalgamated Angling Society
  • Basketball
    • Hollingworth Juniors Football & Basketball
  • Cricket - Glossop has several cricket clubs, which include:
    • Glossop Cricket Club, which plays at North Road. Their professional for several seasons up to 2004 was Damien Eyre who moved to Flowery Field Cricket Club for 2005. For 2005 the club has an overseas amateur, Ben Pahl. Glossop CC is also a host to Derbyshire CCC's 2nd XI on occasion.
    • Old Glossop Cricket Club which plays at Manor Park Road and is the oldest cricket club in the Glossop area. The club have 2 senior teams and 4 junior teams, all competing in the Peak Sports Derbyshire and Cheshire Cricket League.
    • Dinting Cricket Club
    • Hadfield Cricket Club
    • Tintwistle Cricket Club
    • Charlesworth and Chisworth Cricket
    • Mottram Cricket Club
  • Cycling
    • Glossop Kinder Velo Club
    • High Peak Cycles
  • Driving
    • Glossop and District Car Club
    • Glossop 4x4 Group
  • Glossop North End AFC:

The town is notable in sporting terms for having been the smallest town in England ever to have a top division professional football club. Glossop North End played in The Football League from 1898 to 1915, though they are now a semi-professional club playing at the ninth level of English football.

    • In a recent article in 'The Times' Glossop North End were listed 59th most successful football club to have ever played 'top-flight' football in the Enlish Football Association, above teams such as Leyton Orient.
    • Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, a local Glossopian was the Football Chairman of Glossop North End, (was also a MP, county cricketer and successful businessman,) had the choice of remaining Chairman of Glossop or moving clubs and investing in a London Club. In 1929, he moved club and became the Chairman of Arsenal F.C. where he grandson Peter Hill-Wood is currently Club Chairman.
  • Glossop North End Ladies
  • Hare & Hounds FC
  • Hollingworth Juniors Football & Basketball
  • Golf:
    • Glossop and District Sailing Club is based in the below mentioned Longdendale Reservoirs. The Clubs from their Torside Reservoir they provided various activities for members and visitors including sailing, racing, and windsurfing.
  • Health and fitness
    • Bodycheck
    • Glossop Leisure Centre
    • The Studio
  • Martial arts
    • Evade Blackbelt School
    • Glossop Judo Club
    • The Way of the Internal Gate
  • Pigeon racing
    • Old Glossop Homing Society
  • Pool
    • Glossop Pool League
    • The Oakwood pool team
  • Roller Hockey
    • Glossopdale Devils
  • Riding
    • Equiteach
    • Glossop Pony Club
    • Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre
  • Rugby:
    • There is a Glossop Rugby Union Football Club, which has its clubhouse and pitches in the open country between Glossop and Charlesworth. As of 2006, their first team is in the East Midlands (North) League.
  • Running
    • Glossopdale Harriers
  • Sailing:
    • Glossop and District Sailing Club is based in the below mentioned Longdendale Reservoirs. The Clubs from their Torside Reservoir they provided various activities for members and visitors including sailing, racing, and windsurfing.

The club's slipway and club house.

The reservoir and its stunning surroundings.

The reservoir club is very popular.
  • Swimming
    • Glossop Swimming Pool
    • Glossop Swimming Club
  • Table Tennis
    • Glossop and District Table Tennis League
  • Tennis
    • Pyegrove Tennis Club
  • Walking/Cycling/Hiking
    • Ashton Walking Club
    • High Peak Walks for Health
    • Gamesley Healthy Walking Group
    • Longdendale and Glossopdale Footpath Preservation Society
    • The Red Ramblers
    • Transpeak Walks

[edit] Parks

Howard Park in Glossop.
Enlarge
Howard Park in Glossop.
  • Manor Park - Just a short walk from Glossop's centre. Manor Park is set in 60 acres of formal gardens, woodlands, river and lake, containing a large newly refurbished playground, tennis courts, two bowling greens, crazy golf, miniature train, pavilion, public toilets, café, open play spaces and a recently refurbished car park. A new skate park is also to be installed. Manor Park used to be home and grounds of the Duke of Norfolk before the grounds were presented to the people of Glossop. The Manor Park pavilion, public toilets and café are currently undergoing a £120,000 renovation. The work is scheduled to be finished by the end of March 2007.
  • Howard Park, although smaller, is a formal park containing a playground, lake, stream and is particularly suited to more passive pursuits such as walking and relaxing. A recently formed Friends group, Friends of Howard Park, is working to promote the use of the park with local schools as well as organise events and practical activities. The park, the Victoria Swimming Bath set within the grounds of the park were commission and funded by the wealthy Wood Family of Glossop.

[edit] Tourism

The open moorlands of the Dark Peak lie directly to the east of Glossop and it is not surprising that the town is often dubbed "The Gateway to the Peak". The town is skirted on three sides by the Peak National Park and provides a convenient stopping place for the many thousands of tourists who visit the Park each year. The moorland setting is a haven for walkers of all abilities.

The town has a permanent Tourist Information Centre, which is currently located on Henry Street, sharing the Glossop Heritage Centre.

[edit] Culture

  • Events

The Glossop Victorian Weekend; Glossop Carnival and the Bank Holiday Markets are all very popular with the locals and those whom come from far an wide to these which are held annually in the town.

  • Running parallel with the Glossop Victorian Weekend is Glossop Beer Festival run by The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
  • In recent years, Glossop has become quite well known musically for staging jazz and world music festivals.[citation needed]

[edit] Transport

The main road through Glossop is the A57. To the west, this (and the parallel M67 motorway) lead to Manchester, while Sheffield lies to the east, along the Snake Pass - with the Jeremy Clarkson of BBC Top Gear fame stated was his second favourite UK road to drive on. The B6105 leads north, to the Woodhead Pass and eventually to the South Yorkshire town of Barnsley and city of Sheffield. Chapel-en-le-Frith and Buxton lie to the south, along the A624.

Public transport is governed by Derbyshire County Council, with rail travel and some bus services being subcontracted out to GMPTE.

A train runs every half hour to Manchester, every 20 minutes during peak times, along the remaining stub of the former Woodhead railway. This line has been electrified for over fifty years. A recently formed Friends group, Friends of Glossop Station, is working to bring back the station into the heart of the community and encouraging greater use of environmentally friendly public transport. The group has already made many jobs to help make the station more attractive such as the creating of planting pots, re-painting the station railings and general tidy up parties.

This photograph shows the grand Glossop Railway Station, note the Lion statute on its roof the symbol of the Duke of Norfolk.

This photograph is of Glossop Railway Station overlooking the beautiful hills of the Peak District National Park.

Other public transport connections are very good, with regular bus services running to towns in Tameside, and an infrequent service to Manchester. There is also an hourly bus service to Buxton, New Mills and Whaley Bridge in the south and infrequent services running to other towns and cities. These are operated by various bus companies. See Derbybus or GMPTE. There are infrequent Sunday services to local tourist attractions such as Chatsworth House and the local village of Castleton.

[edit] Health care

Glossop is served by the Tameside and Glossop NHS Trust. The trust operates Tameside General Hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne and an ambulance station within the town.

The trust serves two separate communities is because there are no district general hospitals (hospital with Accident and Emergency Department) within the borough of High Peak, and patients would have to travel over 20 miles to another hospital within the county.

[edit] Policing

Policing in Glossop
Policing in Glossop

Glossop Policing in Glossop and the surrounding area is provided by Derbyshire Constabulary. The force covers an area of over 1,000 square miles with a population of just under one million. To police the county the force is divided into four territorial divisions. The territorial division for Glossop is B Division based in the town of Buxton. The senior officer for this area is Divisional Commander, Roger Flint

Glossop's police officers are based at the new-look station, on Ellison Street which has a custody suite and five cells and a community room for meetings or for any major incidents. The senior office for Glossop is Inspector Stuart Thompson.

Calls for service in the rural areas usually increase during summer as the population is boosted by approximately twenty million visitors each year to the Peak District and its surrounds. Winter weather on the unforgiving high ground around Glossop and Kinder Scout can also cause problems for traffic and residents.

In addition to traditional police officers, Glossop has two Police Community Support Officers, Brian Buller and Ann Morris. As uniformed civilian staff, the pair do not have the powers of police officers but support bobbies dealing with issues such as dropping litter, dog fouling, cycling offences and throwing fireworks.

[edit] Town twinning

Glossop is twinned with the spa town of Bad Vilbel, which is in the state of Hesse in the south-west of Germany, only 10km from the city of Frankfurt. Each town has a Twinning Association which organise annual visits to one town by the other. Residents from Bad Vilbel will be in Glossop in the summer of 2007.

The Glossop/Bad Vilbel Twinning Association was established in 1985 and the formal twinning ceremonies were held in Glossop and Bad Vilbel in 1987. The aims of the association are:

"To promote and foster friendship and understanding between the people of Glosssop and district and those of Bad Vilbel and district in Germany.

"To encourage visits by individuals and groups to and from the linked towns, particularly by children and young people, and the development of personal contacts, and by doing so to broaden the mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities of the linked towns."

[edit] Education

Glossop has an excellent educational amenities. These facilities include:

  • Primary schools:
    • All Saints RC Primary School
    • Charlesworth School
    • Dinting C of E Primary School
    • Duke of Norfolk's C of E Primary School
    • Gamesley County Primary School
    • Hadfield Infant School
    • Hadfield Nursery School
    • Padfield County Primary School
    • Simmondley Primary School
    • St Andrew's C of E Junior School
    • St Charles RC Primary School
    • St James's C of E Primary School (formerly Whitfield Primary School)
    • St Luke's C of E Primary School
    • St Margaret's RC Primary School
    • St Mary's RC Primary School
  • Public libraries:
    • Glossop Library - Victoria Hall, Talbot Street, Glossop
    • Hadfield Library - Station Rd, Hadfield
    • Eric Read Community Library- Gamesley Primary School, Grindleford Grove, Gamesley

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Trivia

  • High Peak's regional TV service has always been Granada Television, which covers North West England also technically being in an East Midlands county.
  • "Glossop" is defined in The Meaning of Liff, by Douglas Adams & John Lloyd as a globule of hot food which lands on your friend's newly polished solid wood dining table.
  • Glossop is mentioned in the satirical book, England, Their England by A. G. Macdonell. The town and its fictional newspaper, the Glossop Evening Mail are described as the lowest rung in the journalistic profession.
  • Students from Glossopdale Community College appear in The League of Gentlemen, first season as audience to the Legz Akimbo theatre group in a play about homosexuality.
  • Glossop North End, the town's then professional football club, was the first football side in the world to play in, and register its strip as, all-white in colour, well before Real Madrid.
  • W. Mettrick & Son butcher's shop in the High Street is used as the exterior of the shop owned by Hilary Briss in "The League of Gentlemen" fictional village of Royston Vasey. It featured in The Independent's Saturday 50 Best Food Shops listing of 16-22 September 2006 (at number 2). The panelists were Sue Lawrence, one of Scotland's leading cookery writers; Dan Lepard, Britain's top baker; Roopa Gulati, Deputy Chanel Editor for UKTV Food; Lyn Hall, acclaimed cookery teacher; and Mike Cook, general manager of food importer and distributor R H Amar. The shop was also the 2005 winner of Best Local Retailer in BBC Radio 4's Food and Farming Awards.
  • The character "Lord Morgan" in the radio show Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge came from Glossop.

[edit] References

    1. Sharpe, N. 2005. Glossop Remembered. Landmark Publishing: Lomdon.

    [edit] External links


    Ceremonial county of Derbyshire
    Unitary authorities: Derby
    Boroughs/Districts: Amber Valley • Bolsover • Chesterfield • Derbyshire Dales • Erewash • High Peak • North East Derbyshire • South Derbyshire
    Cities/Towns: Alfreton • Ashbourne • Bakewell • Belper • Bolsover • Buxton • Chapel-en-le-Frith • Chesterfield • Clay Cross • Derby • Dronfield • Glossop • Heanor • Ilkeston • Killamarsh • Long Eaton • Matlock • New Mills • Ripley • Sandiacre • Shirebrook • Staveley • Swadlincote • Whaley Bridge • Wirksworth
    See also: List of civil parishes in Derbyshire
    Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../g/l/o/Glossop.html"
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