Parwich is a pretty limestone village on the edge of the White Peak plateau which spreads around its green and village pond (or mere) – once the village sheepwash – above the Bradbourne Brook. Roly Smith explores...
PRETTY AS A PICTURE
Parwich is a pretty limestone village on the edge of the White Peak plateau which spreads around its green and village pond (or mere) – once the village sheepwash – above the Bradbourne Brook. It is dominated by Parwich Hall (private), a commanding 18th century five-bay house with projecting centre bay and stairs and beautiful terraced gardens high on the hill above the village.
WHERE IS IT?
Five miles (8 km) north of Ashbourne, on a minor road off the B5056 Matlock-Ashbourne road.
HISTORY
The name of Parwich comes from the Old English and means the village on the River Pever, which must have been an early name of the village stream. The first recorded spelling is Peurwich in 966, and Pevrewic in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Mining and quarrying
There are old lead mining shafts and numerous small limestone quarries, used for building stone, in the fields around the village.
PLACES TO GO
The Parish Church of St Peter dates back for centuries, and its origins are shrouded in mystery. Features from the original church on this site can be found in the present building.
THINGS TO DO
Walking
An easy six-mile walk is to take the field paths across the valley of the Bletch Brook south towards Tissington, then follow the Tissington Trail northwards, turning off to the pretty village of Alsop en le Dale, and field paths again back to Parwich.
FOOD AND DRINK
The Sycamore Inn at Parwich (01335 390212), also serves as the village shop, where local and tourists can buy everything from free range eggs to toiletries. Light bites to full meals are served in the pub at both lunchtime and in the evening, and the shop’s opening hours dovetail with those of the pub.
The Sycamore was also a regular haunt of Parwich actor Tom Chambers of BBC TV’s Holby City, who won the 2008 series of the BBC TV’s Strictly Come Dancing. Tom’s parents still live in the village.
SELECTION OF PARWICH ACCOMMODATION
Parwich has an array of holiday accommodation choices for visitors looking to stay. See the full list of Parwich accommodation.
Tom’s Barn and Douglas’s Barn make up a pair of five star romantic cottages for two at Orchard Farm. Both are dog friendly and represent ideal accommodation for romancing couples. Also perfect for a pair is The Stable, a Grade II luxury barn conversion.
Parwich Holiday Cottages
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
- Ashbourne, elegant market town in southern Derbyshire
- Buxton, spa town and shopping centre
- Bakewell, ancient market town
- Tissington Hall, home to the Fitzherbert family
- Chatsworth, the “Palace of the Peak”
- Haddon Hall, medieval manor house popular as a film set
- Eyam – the Plague village
TOURIST INFORMATION
Tourist Information Centres:
Ashbourne Tourist Information Centre, 13 Market Place, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1EU, Tel: 01335 343666, www,visitpeakdistrict.com, open daily.
Bakewell TIC, The Old Market Hall, Bridge Street, Bakewell, DE45 1DS; Tel: 01629 816558; www.peakdistrict.gov.uk, open daily.
Buxton Tourist Information Centre, The Crescent, Buxton SK17 6BQ; Tel: 01298 25106; www.highpeak.gov.uk; open daily
Roly Smith
Editor, Let's Stay Peak District
mail@rolysmith.com
March 2010
© 2010 - Let's Stay Peak District
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