Thomas Hobbes, a 17th century philosopher first mentioned 7 wonders of the Peak in his book, De Mirabilibus Pecci: Being The Wonders of the Peak in Darby-shire
- St Ann’s Well, Buxton
- The Ebbing and Flowing Well, Tideswell
- Poole’s Cavern, Buxton
- The Devil’s Arse, Castleton
- Chatsworth House
- Mam Tor, Hope Valley
- Eldon Hole, near Castleton
There are two on this list I had never heard of so time to investigate:
The Ebbing and Flowing Well in Tideswell – the well would naturally swell up and down with spring water, sometimes overflowing. The phenomenon stopped and the well has subsequently lost its place on the 7 wonders list
Eldon Hole – is a chasm 55m deep which makes it the deepest pothole in Derbyshire (although I think the local council are trying to beat the record through their lack of road maintenance lately!) It’s not clear why the Hole lost its place on the 7 wonders list but perhaps it’s because the hillside has subsequently been quarried and is deemed not safe or desirable to visit.
The modern list of the 7 wonders of the Peak includes:
- Mam Tor
- Dovedale and Thor’s Cave
- Chatsworth
- Kinder Scout
- Ladybower Reservoir and Derwent Dam
- Castleton Caverns
- Bakewell and the Monsal Trail
For the sharp-eyed, you’ll have noticed that St Ann’s Well no longer appears which I think is a tragedy. The well in Buxton (close to the Cresent) holds historical and cultural significance, playing a crucial role in the town’s identity. The water takes 5,000 years to seep through the hillsides and is renowned for its mineral content. The well has been a focal point for health seekers since the 18th century, attracting visitors seeking the purported healing properties of its waters and is the raison d’etre for the town. This is the very same water bottled and sold as Buxton Mineral Water. A 16th century Act of Parliament rules that a free supply must be available to the town’s residents (and visitors!)
I’m tempted to swap out Kinder Scout in St Ann’s Well’s favour, however, Kinder Scout is of incredible ecological importance, harboring a unique ecosystem of plant and animal life. Beyond its natural allure, Kinder Scout also holds historical significance as the birthplace of the mass trespass movement in 1932, advocating for public access to open land.
So there is only one thing for it – we have to have 8 Wonders of the Peak!
